Bariatric Banter Podcast

Worried about scars and incisions before your bariatric surgery? You're not alone — it's one of the most Googled (and most fear-inducing) parts of the whole journey. In Episode 55, Hannah and Steph get real about what those 5–6 little incisions are actually like: how much they hurt (spoiler: barely), the gauze-and-tape healing phase, the itchiness no one warns you about, and what to do if one open...

Episode 54 and yes, Hannah finally looked at the number this time. Buckle up, because this one starts exactly where you'd hope a bariatric podcast wouldn't: with a deeply unhinged trip down memory lane involving dog food kielbasa (human grade, allegedly), a handful of Whiskas Temptations mistaken for Gravol while the entire room just watched , and a tender childhood tradition of peeling pre-chewed...

Fair. Let me strip it down — no "dig into," no "real one," no "roaring back," no em-dashes doing emotional work. Just how you'd actually describe it. Episode Description Hannah and Steph are back, and neither of them remembers what episode number this is. (It's 53. Probably.) This one starts with both of them admitting that some weeks, recording the podcast is the only time they actually sit down...

Hannah is back from Miami with conference plague and a lot of feelings. Steph just survived her longest run interval to date and nearly died (she didn't). This week we're getting into all of it — what it actually feels like to start running when your whole relationship with exercise has been shaped by being the last kid picked, the one who dreaded track and field day, the one who got yelled at dur...

Episode 51 and we're back with back-to-back weeks — which means we're either very dedicated or very unhinged. Possibly both. This week we're getting into the stuff nobody talks about enough: what it actually feels like to slip, own it, and claw your way back. Hannah gives a raw, honest update on where she's at with her weight, her clothes, and the GLP-1 prescription sitting unused in her drawer. S...

We're re-releasing Episode 1 for Matinee Monday — and if you've never heard it, this is your starting point. In our very first episode, Hannah and Steph introduce themselves, break down their bariatric journeys, and give you an honest, no-filter look at what it actually takes to get weight loss surgery in Canada. We cover how we both ended up at the same Ontario clinic, why we chose VSG (vertical...

Hannah and Steph are back, one of them sick as a dog and both of them with extremely strong opinions about protein bars. This week kicks off with a little Easter nostalgia — because nothing says "first post-op holiday" like surviving a candy-filled occasion on tuna salad and mashed potatoes. Then things take a turn, as they do, into a PSA about Russell Stover sugar-free chocolate and why Ricola ne...

Hannah and Steph are back with a jam-packed episode that somehow covers a $5,000 food convention neither of them can afford, the rise of flavoured dates (yes, really), and why protein is absolutely everywhere right now. Hannah's been doing a deep dive on Expo West from her couch and has a LOT of thoughts on egg white chips, oat milk leather (wait, what?), and whether the low-sugar movement is actu...

Steph and Hannah are joined by bariatric coach and fellow post-op bad-ass Rob DiMedio for one of our most real conversations yet. We’re talking: Why bariatric surgery isn’t a magic pill (and never was) The truth about regain (and why it’s fixable) Strength training without the gym intimidation Why walking AND lifting both matter Healing your relationship with food before and after surgery The mind...

This week on Bariatric Banter, we’re getting honest about something nobody talks about enough: what happens when the bad habits start creeping back in. From “healthy” restaurant traps that are secretly 900+ calories, to under-eating protein, to hitting that bariatric crash where your whole body shuts down — we’ve been there. And we’re talking about it. We dive into: The reality of “zero to hangry”...

The honeymoon phase is real… and so is what comes after it. In this episode of Bariatric Banter , Hannah and Steph get brutally honest about what life looks like 2–3+ years post-op — when routines slip, food noise creeps back in, hormones rear their ugly heads, and consistency suddenly feels a lot harder than it used to. They talk about: Why the habits that felt easy in year one don’t always cut i...

Let's talk about the elephant in the room that nobody warned you about before surgery: being a bariatric patient is EXPENSIVE. And not just in the obvious ways. In this episode, Hannah and Steph get real about the hidden costs of bariatric life in Canada – from $60 bottles of Fairlife protein to the mental load of meal prepping for work trips. They're diving into why it's so damn hard to hit your...

Welcome to the first Bariatric Banter episode of 2026! Hannah and Steph kick off the year with some real talk about the dangers of pushing your body too hard post-surgery, the pressure of New Year's goals, and why slowing down isn't failure—it's necessary. Hannah opens up about her incredibly challenging 2025, from severe pneumonia to cardiac issues, blood sugar crashes, and ultimately hitting a w...

What is it really like to support someone through bariatric surgery? In this special mini matinee episode of Bariatric Banter , Hannah is joined by a very special guest—her mom, Mary Ann—for an honest, down-to-earth conversation about what it looks like to be on the other side of the bariatric journey. From the moment Hannah announced she was having surgery, to attending surgeon appointments, navi...

This week on Bariatric Banter , we’re cozying up with tea (lots of it), navigating rogue stomach gurgles, laughing through unexpected burps, and sharing our top bariatric-friendly food gift ideas for the holiday season. 🌲✨ From Smart Sweets to collagen powders, protein hot chocolate, condiment must-haves, edamame snacks, and the stocking stuffers we wish we had early post-op — we’re giving you t...

This episode felt like one big “okay… let’s get honest.” We’re heading into the holidays while juggling work chaos, winter moods, and the lovely little sugar voice that keeps trying to drag us back into old habits. Both of us admit we’ve slipped in different ways these past few months. Hannah talks about going a bit wild with sugar over the summer and trying to pull things back before Christmas hi...

Welcome back to the Bariatric Banter Podcast! This week Steph and Hannah both tried that cottage cheese pizza recipe that's all over TikTok and Instagram. Spoilers: We both disliked it. Like, really did not like it. But it got us talking about something bigger - all these bariatric substitute recipes that are supposed to replace the foods we love, and how most of them just... suck. And then you're...

This week, Hannah and Steph are getting into the REAL shit – like why did our parents let us believe Pop-Tarts were an acceptable breakfast? And why is the North American breakfast basically just "sugar: the meal"? We're diving into childhood food trauma (shoutout to those judgy grocery store vibes), the absolute mindfuck that is "breakfast food," and Hannah's new obsession with dates that taste l...

We’re back with a full serving of sass, snacks, and seriously good ideas! 🍁 In this week’s episode, Hannah and Steph dive into the recent protein controversay, lead in leading brands! They also explore alternative protein sources that don’t come from a shaker bottle — from bone broth hot chocolate (yes, really!) to maple sugar magic and the legendary Vector protein cereal. 🥣 The ladies also spil...

Ever tried eating a block of cheese in a hotel room with no cutlery? Been personally victimized by Starbucks’ “protein” coffee calories? Same. In this week’s episode, Hannah and Steph swap hilarious travel stories, unpack the truth behind Starbucks and Tim Hortons’ new protein drinks, and share their favourite fast-food and coffee hacks that actually work for bariatric life. From Happy Meals to DI...

What happens when the scale stops moving, the compliments fade, and real life creeps back in? 😳 In this episode, Hannah and Steph pull back the curtain on the mental rollercoaster of bariatric life — from the rush of early milestones to the gut-punch of comparison, the sting of shame, and the silence of support fatigue. It’s messy. It’s hilarious. It’s brutally honest. And it’s exactly the conver...

The conversation gets real in Part 2 of our GLP-1 series! Hannah and Steph are joined by the amazing @bypasskass , who shares her honest experience trying GLP-1s before bariatric surgery. From virtual doctors and missing support systems, to side effects, gallbladder scares, and the mental load of weight loss — nothing is off the table. We laugh, we debate, and we bust some myths about what GLP-1s...

This week on Bariatric Banter , Hannah and Steph dive into one of the most hotly debated questions in the bariatric community: Are personal trainers worth it? They open up about their own experiences — from splurging on memberships and training sessions to realizing that sometimes the best (and cheapest) tool is simply a pair of walking shoes. Hannah shares how burnout and pneumonia reshaped her v...

This week, Hannah and Steph are diving into a hot topic in the bariatric community — GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. 👀 We’ve been seeing more and more people talking about (and using) these meds, but there’s also a lot of confusion, a lot of comparisons to surgery, and honestly… a lot of questions. In part one of this two-part series, we’re sharing our own thoughts, concerns, and a few...

Hair today, gone tomorrow… literally. In this week’s raw and unfiltered episode of Bariatric Banter , Hannah and Steph dive into the ugly truth about post-op hair loss — the tears in the shower, the clumps on your shirt, and the desperate Amazon searches for miracle shampoos that never work. From grieving the hair you loved, to finding humor in “baby hairs that have a mind of their own,” we share...