Avsnitt

  • We know that movement is one of the most important things we need to focus on after bariatric surgery; it’s even one of BariNation’s Pillars of Bariatric Success. We also know that it can be one of the hardest Pillars to live because of the role exercise played in our lives before bariatric surgery. If movement was how we “punished” ourselves for food-related decisions, we might not be overjoyed to start moving again.

    We sat down with Daryl Perry, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Habit-Based Nutritional Coach, and founder of You Level Fitness to understand the connection between mental health and movement. We want to know what we can do when we know what we need to do but are having a hard time doing it. Our discussion explored some of the elements or things we might be inviting into our lives (looking at you, social media) that could be negatively impacting movement and shared how comparison and unrealistic expectations keep us stuck.

    We hope you leave this episode inspired to look at the things in your life that could be holding you back from moving more and adopting some new mindsets around movement that pull you towards more activity!

    Members of the BariNation Support Community and our Patreon supporters of the BariNation Podcast will get access to the amazing Bonus Episode with Daryl. He shares more about his personal wellness journey and how weight has impacted his life.

    Connect with Daryl online at darylperry.com on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @darylperry

    About our Guest: Darul Perry is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Habit Based Nutrition Coach, and the owner of Your Level Fitness. He holds a B.S. in Marketing, and produces multiple fitness and motivational podcasts. Daryl helps people embrace who they are, as they are, using his personal story and struggles to guide and inspire.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Every bariatric patient thinks about pain management during their pre-operative journey. We worry about what the pain will feel like after surgery and how we will manage it. It can be something we are nervous about even talking with our surgeon about because we don’t want to seem pushy or rude, or we could be afraid to bring it up because we don’t want to seem desperate for relief. And with millions of Americans and their families impacted by the opioid epidemic, it can be a scary topic.

    Pain management is something we need to consider and discuss with our surgical care team. Ensuring that we can recover at home with minimal pain and have a management plan that we can follow is critical to our short- and long-term success.

    We sat down with Dr. Lucian Panait, a bariatric surgeon who strives to ensure his patients are empowered to onboard a pain management plan that is right for them. In this episode, he explains why having a solid pain management plan before surgery is so necessary and gives us questions we can ask our surgeon and care team in our pre-operative appointments. He also teaches us about non-opioid pain management products that we can ask for and request to maximize our recovery time after surgery.

    We know you will leave this episode feeling empowered to create a pain management plan with your care team that is right for you!

    We are so thankful that Pacira BioSciences, Inc., the maker of EXPAREL, has sponsored this episode. Their sponsorship allows us to ensure that this important educational content can reach you and positively impact your bariatric and surgical journey. Visit YourXFactor.com to learn more about EXPAREL, the pain medication Jason received during this recent bariatric revision surgery.

    If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode with Dr. Panait will dive deeper into creating a pain management plan that works for you.

    About our Guest: Dr. Lucian Panait is a general surgery specialist and bariatric weight loss surgeon at the North Memorial Health Hospital and Minnesota Hernia Center in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Panait is also the president of the Minnesota Bariatric Center and has 24 years of experience specializing in general surgery, bariatric surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. Since specializing in laparoscopic gastric bypass or sleeve surgeries, as well as revisions, Dr. Panait is well-versed in bariatric procedures.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie were all bariatric patients inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this, and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Saknas det avsnitt?

    Klicka här för att uppdatera flödet manuellt.

  • Walking is one of the most accessible yet underrated forms of movement. We often tell ourselves and others that we “just” went for a walk, discounting its tremendous physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits.

    In 2023, our friend and BariNation Expert Bariatric Therapist Lora Grabow, LMSW, walked daily and joined us to share her aha moments and most significant takeaways from 365 days of movement. She ran into the same setbacks we all do regarding motivation and willpower and often laced up her shoes mad, angry, and sad. In this episode, she talks about the power of accountability and the many forms it can look and feel like, the importance of community when looking to accomplish a big goal, and why it can be so difficult to keep the promises we make to ourselves.

    We are so thankful that Lora shared her personal walking story with us. We often look to our experts as superhuman figures who do not share our struggles. In this powerful episode, you will learn about Lora’s personal struggles in 2023 and how she used walking to get through it all.

    Members of the BariNation Support Community or a $ 5-a-month Patreon supporters of the BariNation Podcast will get access to the amazing Bonus Episode with Lora. She shares with us some very personal stories of strife and helps us understand how movement can really help us through the darkest of days.

    Connect with Lora in the BariNation Support Community, in her online digital courses, and online at @bariatric.therapist on Instagram!

    About our Guest: Lora Grabow is a Licensed Master Social Worker with 21 years of experience serving the bariatric community. She is an accomplished practitioner, course author, speaker, and trainer who is on a mission to connect patients with the missing piece she calls Headwork™. Connect with Lora at www.loragrabow.com

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Hunger is something every human can experience, but in people who suffer from the disease of obesity, hunger is more than a physical experience. Hunger can be ever-present, insatiable, and a constant worry. Emotional or “head” hunger can drive what many people recognize as “food noise”- the continual thought of food. How can we learn to recognize when our hunger is real or emotional? What can we do to honor not only our physical hunger but our emotional hunger?

    We sat down with Jane Stoltz, a Registered Bariatric Dietitian from Australia, to better understand and honor hunger in all the ways we might experience it. Our hunger might completely disappear after surgery or always be present, even when we wake up from our bariatric procedure. We want to help you take the fear out of hunger and give you tools to understand what drives hunger and creative ways you can honor it in ways that are aligned with your bariatric goals.

    Join us for this robust conversation on hunger. We know you will leave this conversation with new insights into your hunger and a fresh perspective on how you can honor it. Follow Jane on Instagram and connect with her online at https://www.bariatricnutritioncoach.com.au/

    If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding emotional hunger and how the cues are different from physical hunger. She shares some “aha” moments her clients have had over the years and helps us better understand how to control physical hunger with balanced nutrition.

    About our Guest: Jane Stoltze has been a dietitian for nearly 30 years, specializing in bariatric nutrition for the last 6 years. She is passionate about providing excellent nutritional care for people before and after their bariatric surgery. She believes support and education are fundamental to a successful outcome from weight loss surgery.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Our relationships with family and friends can change after bariatric surgery, and we wanted to know why. Many of us feel these changes but struggle to articulate how and why they change. Sometimes, our loved ones will tell us we have changed and express worry about this “new” person they see us becoming. As patients, we go through massive changes that can cause shifts in our relationships. How do we cope with this change, as so much is changing around and in us?

    We sat down with Amber Boyd, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to understand the causes of these relationship changes and how we can navigate them. She helped us understand that some relationships might not be worth saving and that moving on from them might be our best action. She also taught us some fantastic tools for working with our loved ones on our relationship before and after weight loss surgery and offered some personal advice. Amber is a bariatric patient who has experienced these relationship changes.

    Join us for this robust conversation on relationships with expert and fellow patient Aber Boyd. We know you will leave this conversation with new insights into your relationship and actions you can take to strengthen the ones that serve you and move on from the ones that don't. Follow Amber on Instagram and connect with her online at https://amberboydtherapy.com

    If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding how connected our mindset is to your nutrition and helping us reach those goals, how to ensure we hit our nutritional goals if the medication makes us feel nauseous, and if the medication impacts how our digestive system breaks down food.

    About our Guest: Amber Boyd is a distinguished Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, esteemed CEO/Owner of Healing Through Authenticity, PLLC, accomplished Author, innovative YouTube creator, and engaging Podcast Host, originally from Oakland, CA, now based in Houston, TX. With over a decade of experience in therapy provision, Amber is renowned for her expertise in dispelling the misconception that mental health is dispensable for marginalized and maligned communities. Her practice focuses on addressing a spectrum of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, boundary setting, and trauma, with a commitment to promoting wellness and authenticity in every individual she serves.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Obesity is a lifelong and chronic disease that millions of Americans battle every day. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment of the disease, but weight loss medication advancements are making them a viable treatment option. A recent Goldman Sachs study estimated that by 2030, 15 million Americans would be taking an anti-obesity medication to treat the disease and live at a weight that allows them to metabolize well. These medications are promising, but are they the “magic pill” many people hope for?

    Without focusing on all of the pillars of bariatric success, these medications, like bariatric surgery, will not be as effective or safe. BariNation co-host April Williams sat down with Jeannie Boyter, RD, CSOWM, for a conversation about the importance of nutrition while taking anti-obesity medications. Jeannie explains how these new obesity medications work from a nutritional standpoint, how Setpoint Theory can explain regain (weight recurrence) after surgery, and practice steps we can take to ensure our nutrition adequately fuels our bodies and cells for optimal health when our appetite and capacity have been reduced.

    Jeannie is leading a class in the BariNation Support Community on March 26th at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST about GLP1 Nutrition. If you are taking one of these medications and are worried about hitting your nutritional goals, join BariNation and attend her class! This class will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from an obesity nutrition expert and ask your questions in real-time. Join us today to connect, learn, and grow with experts and bariatric peers.

    If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding how connected our mindset is to your nutrition and helping us reach those goals, how to ensure we hit our nutritional goals if the medication makes us feel nauseous, and if the medication impacts how our digestive system breaks down food.

    About our Guest: Jeannie Boyer is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management who has over two decades of clinical experience working with bariatric patients. In her one-on-one work with patients, she connects each personal obesity story with their goals to craft nutritional plans that meet their unique needs. Visit Jeannie online at www.bariatricsuccessrd.com to work with Jeannie!

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • We are told that resistance movement is critically important after weight loss surgery, but why? We had so many questions about this topic. We sat down with Dr. Shannon McMann, a board-certified Internal and Obesity Medicine specialist who is also a bariatric patient, to understand why muscle matters before and after surgery.

    In this conversation, we asked her why maintaining and building muscle is so important for short and long-term recovery and why the quality of our muscles matters. We wanted to know if there were specific kinds of movement that would help us build more high-quality muscle and where the best place to start is. And she helped us understand how tied our nutrition is to our ability to keep and grow our muscles.

    We are so thankful to have such a fantastic expert in BariNation who can help us understand the why’s behind the things we are asked to focus on as patients. Get to know Shannon more in the BariNation Membership Community by attending our weekly support groups, classes, and meetups!

    If you are a member of BariNation or a Patreon Supporter, check out this podcast's bonus episode, where April, Jason, and Natalie learn about tweaks they can and should be making in their movement efforts to maximize muscle retention and growth!

    About our Guest: Dr. McMann is a board-certified doctor in both Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. She practices at a teaching clinic where we train medical students and internal medicine residents in Clinton Township, Michigan.

    Her undergraduate and medical school was at Michigan State University, and she completed her residency training in 2002 at McLaren Macomb Regional Medical Center. Dr. McMann is also a bariatric patient, undergoing RNY gastric bypass in 2020 with Dr. Carl Pesta. After gaining the upper hand in her lifelong battle against the

    disease of obesity, she decided to pursue additional training to help other patients and give back to the bariatric community.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Our lives look and feel so different after bariatric surgery. One area of our life that can change, or we want to see change in, is our sexuality. We might have felt unworthy of these experiences or relationships before surgery because of our size or shape. Maybe we were disconnected from this area of life because the disease of obesity made it seem impossible to connect with. Or perhaps we felt that our size was holding us back from exploring our sexuality in ways that felt authentic to us. We each experience our sexuality in different ways, and our needs, wants, and desires change throughout our lives, just like everything else.

    We sat down with Rodolfo Alvarez, a Certified Wellness Coach who holds a Master in Sexuality, for a conversation on what sexuality is, how it can change our life, the impacts weight loss can have on our desires, and strategies for exploring our sexuality after bariatric surgery. This conversation was grounded in a desire to understand what sexuality means, what it can look like in our life, and how it is, on many levels, a small part of sex. Rodolfo shared with us personal stories of how he discovered his sexuality and the tools he uses to ensure that his needs as an individual and a partner are met. He offered some fantastic questions we can ask ourselves as we open ourselves to exploring what our current needs, wants, and desires are and how we can safely start exploring them on a personal level.

    We are so thankful to have such a fantastic expert in BariNation who can help us grow and expand in this critical area of our lives. Get to know Rodolfo more in the BariNation Membership Community by taking one of his upcoming classes! We hope you leave this conversation feeling excited to turn inward and expand your awareness of your sexuality!

    If you are a member of BariNation or a Patreon Supporter, be sure you check out the bonus episode of this podcast, where April, Natalie, and Rodolfo share some personal “aha” moments they have recently had about their sexuality and how some “simple” conversations with themselves and partners led to positive changes in their relationships.

    About our Guest: Rodolfo Alvarez is a multi-faceted Wellness Coach who utilizes his engineer background to help individuals break through roadblocks along their wellness journey. Rodolfo holds master's degrees in Sexology and works with organizations, coprotations, small groups, and individuals to identify areas of growth, coaching them to new personal understandings. Follow Rodolfo on Instagram @rodolfoalvarezx.

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Is plastic surgery something you are considering after bariatric surgery? Many of us experience loose skin that can impede our day-to-day lives, make us feel uncomfortable, or prevent us from feeling like ourselves. Plastic surgery might be something in your future, and we want to arm you with the most accurate information from the experts themselves!

    We sat down with Dr. Omar Beidas, an AdventHealth Orlando board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in procedures after massive weight loss, and Stephanie Abeles, a bariatric patient with several plastic surgeries. We wanted to know what the difference is between plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and body contouring and why picking the right surgeon with the proper credentials and experiences is so important if we choose to undergo a body modification procedure. We also wanted to know how Stephanie decided to undergo her procedures and understand how she prepared for and cared for herself through her plastic journey. Even if you think plastic surgery might not be in your future, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of the “whys” behind these types of procedures and the power of selecting the right professionals. We know this conversation will help you understand the differences between plastic surgery and body contouring, some of the most common procedures after bariatric surgery, and some insights from the patient's perspective.

    AdventHealth Central Florida and BariNation have teamed up to ensure their patients can access outstanding support when and where they need it! If you are a patient of AdventHealth Central Florida, contact your office today by phone or email to access your special BariNation Membership discounted monthly rate! We can’t wait to “see” you in The Nation soon! And be sure you check out the bonus episode with Dr. Beidas and Stephanie in the BariNation Membership Community or our Patreon Community!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients committed to living their best bariatric life! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guests: Omar E. Beidas, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon of plastic and reconstructive surgery. His specialties include body contouring after weight loss, aesthetics, and surgical treatment of lipedema. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Practice Management Subcommittee, a member of the Clinical Guideline Workgroup for Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy, and previously served on the Young Plastic Surgeons Steering Committee. Dr. Beidas is also a member of The Aesthetic Society and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

    At 48 years old, Stephanie Abeles transformed her life by undergoing weight loss surgery. After years of struggling with dieting, Steph opted for bariatric surgery and lost an incredible 116lbs. Maintaining her goal weight for over four years, Steph attributes a healthy, balanced lifestyle and regular weight training to her success. She's had two rounds of plastic surgery to remove excess skin. Steph shares her inspiring journey on Instagram as @metamorphasteph, hoping to help others on their own weight loss and plastic surgery journeys.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness.

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • How many times have you attempted to institute new habits or rouintes, but find yourself never being able to stick with them? Are you frustrated and feeling like you are always “falling back into old habits?” Dont worry, we feel and experience the same thing when we attempt to establish a bew bariatric-aligned routine.

    April sat down with Aransas Savas, a personal development expert with decades of experience helping people move past their personal barriers and create lasting change in their lives. April wanted to know if there is a better way to really change what we do and how we do it. Turns out, there is. Focusing on practices, not establishing new routines and habits, is the best path to lasting change.

    In this episode, Aransas breaks down the differences between habits, routines, and practices and shares strategies for identifying our reasons behind the change and how building routines from practices is actually how to create a new and lasting habit. .

    We know you will leave this episode ready to take a personal inventory on your own habits and perhaps shift your mindset around practices. And be sure you check out the bonus episode with Aransas in the BariNation Membership Community or our Patreon Community!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Aransas Savas is a veteran Wellbeing and Leadership Coach, and has spent her career at the intersection of research, behavior change, and coaching. She created a uniquely holistic and proven approach to coaching that blends practical, science-backed techniques with energy coaching. Aransas has partnered with companies like Weight Watchers, Best Buy, Truist, Edward Jones, US Bank, and many more, to create transformative experiences.

    Follow Aransas in all the following places:

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_uplifters_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theuplifterspodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aransas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aransassavas/

    About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Are you tired of feeling “stuffed” all the time? Everywhere you look, you see and feel stuffed with things, with memories, with things that you think you should be doing but don’t have the time or energy to do? Yeah, we know the feeling too.

    We recently welcomed a new Expert in the BariNation Membership Community who is a professionally trained organizer. Her name is Spring Coourtright and she was trained by one of the world's most recognized organizer, Marie Konda. Spring has been leading a Decluttering Challenge in the BariNation Community and the impacts have been deep and meaningful. She is showing us all how decluttering and organizing can actually help us feel full, feel satisfied and content by decluttering.

    We sat down with two of our Community members, April and Chylynn, to hear the impacts decluttering is having on their lives and their bariatric journeys. In this episode, they share how they have started decluttering the spaces in their lives and found areas where they can grow and expand. They also share the similarities they are finding between decluttering and their bariatric journey and how cleaning out the spaces in their homes has opened up opportunities to clear out space in their mindset too.

    You will leave this episode with some “aha” moments and connections that can help you begin your own decluttering journey! Join April, Chylynn, and Spring in the BariNation Membership Community if you are ready for some guided Decluttering help along your own journey!

    If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where April and Chylynn talk in-depth about the bariatric connections they have made and what they are discovering about themselves through the Decluttering Challenge.

    Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: April and Chylynn are bariatric patients who are committed to lifelong treatment of the disease of obesity. They are active members of the community who attend weekly groups, classes, and meetups. They are patient advocates and share their stories and experiences with anyone who is ready to change their life through bariatric surgery.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Movement is one of our pillars of bariatric life. It is something that is a critical and integral part of our journey. But for many of us, movement has not been something that is joyful or exciting; it is seem as something we “have” to do or a way we punished ourselves for food choices in the past. If we want to live our Movement pillar, we need to shift our mindset around movement and find creative and fun ways to move everyday.

    In this episode, we sit down with Monique Coleman, a certified dance movement instructor, bariatric patient, and BariNation Expert to learn how we can make room in our life for movement.

    For us, movement is any type of movement that is above and beyond your daily activities and is accessible to you in the moment. Movement is not bound by time or type, meaning any moments of movement are important and meaningful and that we should not judge ourselves for the movement that we can or cannot do. Movement is all about what we can do now, not what we used to be able to do or what we hope to do in the future. When we start moving and meeting ourselves in the moment, we are making room for movement.

    We hope you leave this episode feeling empowered to find creative and easy ways to make movement a part of each day and that you are inspired to move with us, today! We invite you to join Moniques Movement Meetups in BariNation, hosted every other Friday. Connect with fellow patients and members to talk about movement and tap into the inspiration and motivation of our amazing community!

    If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where Monique answered some insightful questions and shares more of her personal bariatric story.

    Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Monique Coleman is a bariatric patient and founder of ThickChic Fitness, a company focused on creating and providing movement for people of every age and size. She is an advocate for patients seeking to incoprorate movement and rest into their lives. She is a Fabletics Fitness Partner and an Expert int he BariNation Members Community. Connect with Monique at https://www.thethickchixx.com/and on Instagram!

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Welcome to another insightful episode of the BariNation Podcast. In this week's discussion, we dive deep into a topic that resonates with many in the bariatric realm: food addiction and abstinence post-surgery. Many weight loss surgery patients worry or wonder if they will ever be able to enjoy the foods they love after surgery. Some even have a “food funeral” before surgery as a way to mark the change in their lives. But what do we do if we have difficulty with certain foods? What do we do if we can’t enjoy just one of them? Does it make us a bad person if certain foods trigger disordered or unhealthy eating patterns?

    Many of us enter our weight loss surgery journeys with the idea that we will never think about food, never have cravings again, and never struggle with food as something we rely on to soothe ourselves. The reality? Many of us have used food for years to comfort, distract, and numb, and that will not change after surgery without intentional mindset work.

    In this episode, Dr. Stapleton elaborates on why we experience food addiction, and how we can choose to say no to certain foods harming our progress. We answer our BariNation community member’s question: “How do I know I need to abstain from certain foods?”

    We hope you leave this episode feeling validated and empowered to tackle the disease of obesity and the disease of addiction - and we encourage you not to tackle this beast alone. By utilizing the community and experts like Dr. Connie Stapleton, you can work through your food addiction.

    If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where Dr. Stapleton answered some insightful questions, like given the biological need to eat to sustain life - unlike some other addictions, are there suggestions on how to navigate this - as you can’t go “cold-turkey”?

    Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Doctor Connie Stapleton is an educational and inspirational speaker, with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She is also an author of several books, including “Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction” and “Mind Prep The Book: How To Prepare for Bariatric Surgery and Live as a Healthy Post-Op.” Connie also has her own podcast called “BariAftercare” where she delves into the mindset work of life post-operative weight loss surgery. She is a catalyst in the community as well, co-authoring several articles and research studies from the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC).

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Life after weight loss surgery can feel overwhelming. There are vitamins to schedule, meals to plan, macros to count, water goals to hit, exercise milestones to reach, and so many other things that fall into the “lifestyle change” category. It can (and sometimes is) a full-time job learning how to be a bariatric patient. And on top of all of the things we need to do, there is a fear that we will do it wrong, or mess up along the way, and all of our weight will return. We worry that if we don’t do everything perfectly, we will fail. And that failure can sometimes parallelize us.

    Jason, Natalie, and April have been living as bariatric patients now for years, and they have learned so much about what it really takes to be a bariatric patient. Through their lived experiences, they developed the BariNation Pillars of Bariatric Success out of need and necessity. But we knew there must be a better way, a simplified guide, a bariatric way of living that helped us lower our temperature, not raise it.

    We turned to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Patient Guidelines, we talked with countless experts in their respective fields, and reached the research studies ourselves. Bariatric success after surgery comes down to focus and compliance in four major areas- movement, mindset, metabolic wellness, and community. That’s it. Really.

    In this episode, the BariNation crew will break down what each of these pillars is all about; what they mean to them, why it is important to focus in these four areas every day, and what it looks like to live the BariNation Pillars of Bariatric Success before and after surgery. What makes the Pillars so powerful is that they flex to meet you where you are at. They are designed to grow with you and remain the powerful and steadfast supports that allow you to live the live of your dreams. When the Pillars are set in the foundation of Community, you can achieve anything.

    Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Many of us went into weight loss surgery believing not only that surgery would be the only “thing” we needed to find and maintain a healthy weight, but that having a second bariatric surgery was not even on our radar. But for thousands of bariatric patients every year, revisional surgeries are medically needed and necessary.

    A “revisionist” has a revisited attitude to a previously accepted situation or point of view. A Revisionist is someone who never stops seeking answers and is open to new and different possibilities. A Revisionist is someone who never gives up on themselves, and in today's episode, you will learn how Jason became a Revisionist.

    Bariatric revision surgeries are needed for many different reasons. Some patients experience the onset or return of acid reflux or GERD, others have complications that are related to or unrelated to surgery, and other patients see the result of metabolic conditions, syndromes, or disease or the onset of these issues after their procedure. Sometimes, patients cannot reach a weight that would allow them to be metabolically well, and other times it is a combination of factors that require revision surgery. No matter the reason, patients need to be supported, seen, and heard throughout their lifetime if they are to continue to access the care and treatment needed to manage their lifelong and chronic disease of obesity.

    In this episode, Jason shares his Revisionist story, explaining how we went from never wanting another surgery to being on the path to a revision from VSG to SADI. He talks about the mindset shifts he had to make and the conversations he needed to have with himself and others that made this change possible. He will share what he wishes he had done the first time around and the changes he plans on making after surgery to do all that he can to treat his disease.

    A revision might not be in your future. But learning and the struggles of other members of our greater bariatric community will only add to your understanding of the disease of obesity and help you become an ally for those who are working so hard to onboard the treatment the disease of obesity requires. If you think a revision might be in your future, this episode will empower you to become a Revisionist through self-reflection and patient advocacy.

    Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com, become a supporter, and help us share bariatric education and stories to those who need it most.

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • As this year comes to a close, BariNation co-hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney sit down to reflect on this year, and predict what is to come in 2024.

    This year was full of learning, growth, some turbulence, and best of all: community. The three co-hosts discuss how leaning on their support systems and their bariatric community have helped them navigate some intense moments this year. April and Natalie both made the taxing decisions to leave their jobs and continue to build the BariNation support community on a volunteer basis, while Jason pursued and had his revision in December.

    We are elated to take on the next year that is to come, and we are grateful to have all of you, our listeners, viewers, podcast supporters and support community members along for the ride.

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Spring Courtright is a Marie Kondo-trained organizational expert who is passionate about helping people reclaim the calm in their lives through decluttering and organization. She is a compassionate expert who meets clients where they are and gently walks them through the decluttering process. Visit Spring online at https://www.tidywild.com/, subscribe to her newsletter, or work with her in a one-on-one capacity.

    About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Welcome to a clutter-free episode of The BariNation Podcast, where we take a deep dive into decluttering with our special guest, Spring Courtright, a Marie Kondo-trained organizing expert. In this insightful episode, we delve into decluttering, unraveling the mysteries of what clutter is, why it accumulates, and how to initiate the transformative process.

    Spring Courtright defines clutter as anything that no longer serves a purpose or brings joy. Together, we explore clutter's psychological and emotional impact, understanding its roots and the reasons behind our tendency to accumulate it. From sentimental attachments to the fear of letting go, our clutter often reflects deeper aspects of our lives.

    Spring shares practical strategies, drawing from the principles of Marie Kondo's renowned KonMari Method. April and Natalie shared their own personal experiences with clutter and then the work they have done to clear it from their lives. But what if your family members are not on board with the decluttering mission? Spring offers invaluable insights on involving your loved ones, even if they're hesitant. Discover strategies to navigate differing perspectives on clutter and foster a collaborative approach to creating an organized, harmonious living space.

    And as many of us know, its one thing to get a space decluttered, it is another thing to keep it that way. In this episode, you will learn the importance of celebrating small victories and cultivating a mindset shift. The journey is not just about physical spaces but also about mental and emotional well-being. We hope you leave this episode inspired to clean out some of the clutter in your own life and join BariNation Community Members in our upcoming Decluttering Challenge in January!

    Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

    Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Spring Courtright is a Marie Kondo-trained organizational expert who is passionate about helping people reclaim the calm in their lives through decluttering and organization. She is a compassionate expert who meets clients where they are and gently walks them through the decluttering process. Visit Spring online at https://www.tidywild.com/, subscribe to her newsletter, or work with her in a one-on-one capacity.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Welcome to a transformative episode of The BariNation Podcast, a show dedicated to supporting individuals on their bariatric and weight loss journey. In this episode, we explore the pivotal topic of lifting the heavy burden of shame. We draw inspiration and insights from Dr. Eric Smith, the Director of the Kentucky Bariatric Institute and BariNation co-founders and hosts April Williams and Natalie Tierney.

    Dr. Brené Brown defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging—something we’ve experienced, done, or failed to do makes us unworthy of connection.” As patients, we have experienced this shame for years, if not decades, before our bariatric surgery. We often call this the “work of weight loss surgery,” and in this episode, Dr. Smith shares how has learned from the shame he has experienced in his own, personal life and helps his patients utilize those lessons.

    Join us as we delve into the strategies employed by Dr. Eric Smith, April, and Natalie to lift the weight of shame. By fostering empathy and understanding, destigmatizing weight issues, promoting self-compassion, celebrating victories, sharing our shame and struggles with a trusted community, and redefining success, bariatric patients can navigate their transformative journey with resilience and pride.

    It is in a community like BariNation that you can begin to foster a sense of community and break the isolation that shame can breed.

    Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    About our Guest: Dr. Eric Smith, DO is the Medical Director of the Kentucky Bariatric Institute and a Key Opinion Leader in Bariatric Medicine and Robotic Surgery. He is a National proctor, speaker, and teacher for Intuitive Surgical in the specialty of robotic bariatric surgery and is board-certified in bariatric and robotic surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS). He is an engaged, caring, and dedicated physician who has completed thousands of bariatric surgeries since 2006.

    About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Connect with us personally on Instagram; April @actively_april, Jason @tha_smithsonian, and Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Regain, now known as weight recurrence in the medical community, is something most bariatric patients worry about. In today's episode, we deeply dive with obesity doctor and researcher Dr. Robert Kushner, to understand why patients regain weight after bariatric surgery. We want you to leave this episode with an understanding of why weight recurrence happens, why it is not something to be ashamed of, and some steps you can take to reverse any regain you might experience.

    Weight recurrence happens for many reasons, and most are out of a patient’s control. Our body has a weight set point, and as soon as we start to lose weight rapidly, our bodies are triggered to hold on to or return us to our previous high weight. Our weight is also impacted by the medications we take, our life stage, and our biology. Behavioral actions and changes affect our weight as well. If we notice that we are struggling with emotional or binge eating or that our life has been more stressful than in the past and are not taking action to mitigate these behaviors, we could experience weight reoccurrence.

    With so many factors contributing to weight recurrence, it is essential to know that, as a patient, it is not your fault or something to be ashamed of. Regain is a part of the bariatric journey and indicates that our disease is once again active in our lives. It just means that it is time to onboard more treatments to help you manage your chronic and lifelong disease of obesity. If you are struggling with regain, we hope you leave this conversation with fresh hope and a pathway forward.

    Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

    Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter!

    About our Guest: Dr. Kushner is a Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL An obesity researcher, educator, and clinician for the past 40 years. He is a published researcher, author, and esteemed medical professional passionate about serving his patients.

    About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.

    About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

    Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

    You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support
  • Movement is a pillar of bariatric success, but increased movement can mean we also need to increase our nutritional intake. For pre and post-op weight loss surgery patients, this can be a scary undertaking. Surgery reduces the amount of food we can take in at one time, and knowing how to fuel our bodies for movement can be triggering for so many reasons. What kinds of foods do we need to include? How much will be too much or excessive? How will we know when it is time to increase our intake? These are some big, scary questions that many patients ask when they start to increase or add movement back into their lives.April, Jason, and Natalie sat down with our friend and bariatric dietitian Kim Tirapelle, Ms, RD, CSSM, and our friend, patient, professional chef and BariNation expert Stephanie Mitchell to answer all questions! After surgery, Stephanie becme a runner but was noticing that her hunger levels, intake requirements, and general energy levels changed as she added more minutes and miles to her movement practice. She turned to BariNation for support and we turned to Kim to get answers to all of these questions, and more!In this amazing episode, you will learn what it means to fuel our bariatric bodies for movement and some creative and healthy ways that we can meet our increased energy needs. You will leave this conversation empowered to safely up your macro’s when the time is right and fuel your movement with confidence! Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer nutritional support led by bariatric nutritionists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey.Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. And you can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! About our Guest: Kim Tirapelle is a Registered Dietitian, with 16 years of experience working with bariatric individuals who want to level up their nutrition to meet their training goals. She can help you to bridge the gap between your bariatric nutrition guidelines and sports nutrition guidelines to save you time and frustration. Visit her online at www.activebariatricnutrition.com and follow her on Instagram @activebariatricAbout Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.You’ve got this and we’ve got you!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/messageSupport this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support