Bari Connected

While Elle Woods from Legally Blonde taught us the iconic "Bend & Snap," Renea Paulsen is here to teach you something even more impactful – the "Grab & Flip" for nutrition labels! Why? Because it's not just about learning; it's about reaping the benefits! Did you know that only 9% of the folks in the US really get this stuff? Well, no worries – we're about to change that, and here's what you'll ga...

It's the holiday season and you may be Bari-worried! How can you enjoy the season without gaining weight?   Should you go on a crash diet or liquid fast? Before deciding, let's step back and take the FEAR out by staying on point with your overall desire to confidently stay on track.   Let's embody this journey and find peace within it. Join us as Alicia guides us through the development of a posit...

Henry Baker, a bariatric surgery patient, culinary chef, and aspiring online entrepreneur and author, will be joining us to talk about his journey and share some bariatric-friendly healthy holiday menu ideas full of protein and fiber!   Hello celebrations! Look forward to his story – a heart-warming narrative while learning more about making your own delicious and healthy dishes! *Includes ending...

We are often under-prepared by our care providers for the psychological effects bariatric hair loss can have on us.   Not all experience it, but if it does occur, typically we start noticing its effects around the 3-month mark.   This can include finding extra hair in our combs and showers, scalp dryness and skin eczema, and notable changes in the thickness and texture of the hair. There can be ma...

It's easy to have your whole identity wrapped into your bariatric journey. While bariatric surgery is a big part of our stories, it's not what makes us, us! We were created with intention and are so much more than our bariatric surgeries, what the scale says or what food we consume. We will dive into talking about what it means to find your true identity, what blockages get in the way and how to f...

Tired for no seemingly good reason; what's the deal? Finding out what is causing your fatigue can sometimes be challenging as there can be a number of factors involved. This subject can even perplex the experts (like doctors). Sometimes it takes combining medical history and lifestyle habits to better understand what is contributing to the problem. Join us as we look at a list of conditions most a...

Here, we will dive into the "all-or-nothing" mindset that often plagues the quest for sustainable living after weight loss surgery. Bariatric patients often find themselves caught in a cycle of either following a super-restrictive diet or giving into old, unhealthy eating habits because of feeling overwhelmed and deprived. This, in turn, triggers emotional eating, binge eating, or neglecting criti...

Imposter Syndrome is the mindset when a person doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments, despite external evidence of their competence.  This can occur anywhere and anytime in life, whether it be at home, at work or in the community.  Imposter Syndrome can be debilitating, frustrating and can lead to more severe situations like depression, anxiety, or even total lack of motivation and the...

Setting boundaries takes strength, resilience, and courage. It can often feel like a daunting task when you may have been a people pleaser in the past. You have made a commitment to yourself when you chose to have bariatric surgery and part of that is making health and wellness a priority, which means making YOURSELF a priority for possibly the first time in your life. We will discuss what is in a...

We all tend to lead busy lifestyles and no matter how health-conscious you might be, at one point or another you are bound to find yourself short on time, hangry, and looking at the menus in either a Fast Food joint or a Restaurant Chain!   It could be that you woke up late or forgot to meal-prep, but the great news is, many food places are making their menus more accessible to healthy eating styl...

Let's ensure that you THRIVE and beat the "ber"; during the final third of the year & during the months of SeptemBER, NovemBER, and DecemBER! So many times the hard work we put in from January to August starts to fall apart towards the last months with holidays and end-of-the-season parties. Rob will share tips on working out, nutrition, mindset, meal planning, and a holistic approach to safeguard...

"Why do I feel this way?" Many emotions can come up after making a major life choice like weight loss surgery; both positive and negative. While the transformation can be very optimistic, sometimes feelings of sadness or loss can unexpectedly drop in. This can be impactful for not only for the person going through the surgery but also their family. The excitement and anticipation of weight loss ca...

Bariatric surgery helps give us that extra nudge to shed unwanted pounds by helping us with portion size, varying the rate of absorption of foods, and sometimes even changing our hunger signals. But what happens when we find that there is more to surgery than just physical changes?   Transforming our "whole" self encompasses taking our emotional and mental health into consideration.   Here, we tal...

Weight control can be very challenging in our modern world filled with messages about losing weight fast and the latest fad diets. Those ideas can be very tempting. But what most of us want is to be healthy and to feel more energized and happier.  How do we reach our health goals without dieting or following the next fad diet? There is a way to get out of this cycle and it starts with nourishing y...

Here, we will discuss navigating nutrition after weight loss surgery. Listen in to navigate your journey in a sustainable and realistic way. Gather ideas for properly fueling yourself to mindfulness and more!  Jamie Mills is a Registered Dietitian and a fellow bariatric patient. She is the creator and founder of T.R.I.B.E. ® membership program.      She had WLS in 2017, after which she soon realiz...

Let's overcome the challenge of starting a new habit!   First by becoming aware and expectant of the new change, and then by stopping the struggle that we have had back and forth in our brains – to finally be able to move forward!   At the end of this session, let us meet on the other side of the challenge and find new beginnings!       Bio: Mabel Joseph is a 5-year sleeve veteran that has lost 12...

Kate Fuss, PA-C, a bariatric provider, shares her experiences in seeing patients long-term in clinic.   She will discuss how very common it is to hear patients mention (typically before surgery- but also after!) that they've lost weight and then regained it. This occurs in a cycle. What typically kicks off this cycle is the re-introduction of old habits sneaking back into one's lifestyle and the l...

Obesity is a chronic and progressive disease. After bariatric surgery, the metabolic changes are often dramatic and result in rapid and durable weight loss. Nonetheless, life moves forward, and the struggle continues. What are the main strategic ideas in preventing obesity recurrence? Intro (10 minutes) Speaker, Bariatric program, and participant introductions. Overview of topic.  Topic "Preventio...

Weight Loss Surgery can certainly result in changing the body's appearance, but what happens when body dysmorphia creeps in?   Body Dysmorphia is  a condition where a person spends more time than necessary perceiving their own flaws in their appearance . These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.   In this episode, Anna, a 4-year post-op VSG patient (who's lost 165lbs +/-), talks about her own...

Warrior Up presentation is to help individuals shift their mindset into warrior mode, enabling them to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams. Through inspiring stories, practical strategies, and actionable advice, attendees will learn how to tap into their inner strength, cultivate a sense of purpose, and approach life's challenges with courage and determination. By the end of the presentati...

Progress not Perfection. That mantra has stuck with our speaker Nina through several years working with patients on their bariatric surgery journey as it helps them define what their markers of "success" and "progress" really are. Defining success is highly personal, and not all about a number on the scale! As you look beyond the scale, it is important to have other outcome measures to show progre...

Focusing on protein intake after bariatric surgery is a recommendation that promotes faster healing, longer satiety, increases potential weight loss, and is a main building block for adding and maintaining muscle. Bariatric patients only have so much space in their stomach, so picking the right foods is essential. Protein is in a lot of foods but that doesn't always mean that the source is of high...

In this presentation, Bariatric Sports Dietitian Kim Tirapelle and Bariatric Athlete Rob DiMedio will discuss how to merge sports nutrition and bariatric nutrition guidelines, understanding your macros and how they apply to your goals, and combining these areas to help with muscle gaining after bariatric surgery. We will highlight Rob's muscle building phase and how he and Kim worked together to a...

Here we talk about how weight loss surgery and working towards maintaining weight can sometimes be a challenging process. Struggling to find motivation can be frustrating, overwhelming, and scary. Here, Rick will focus on understanding why it's important to identify our extrinsic and intrinsic value to identify success at work, in the community and in life. He teaches how to adapt business models...

In this event we explore the benefits and potential risks of plastic surgery from the patient's perspective (Amber) who has undergone multiple cosmetic procedures . We discuss the positive effects that plastic surgery can have on a person's self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as the potential physical improvements that can be made. At the same time, we also examine the risks and potential com...