The BariNation Foundation Podcast

Finding or creating time in our busy day for reflection does not take time away from us; it is using our time wisely. Reflection is necessary and needed for our bariatric recovery, yet it is most often missed or overlooked. By reflecting on what we have achieved, accomplished, and faced, we can identify the work ahead of us and create a plan to take on that work. In this episode, all 5 East2West_W...

After bariatric surgery, our entire relationship with food changes. And many times, we are taken aback by just how much anything food-related changes...it can be downright daunting. Many of us find even our tastebuds change and our entire food palet is reformed. In this episode, we sit down with Kristin Willard, a certified bariatric dietitian to talk about all things FOOD! Kristin's approach is d...

Sometimes we get overwhelmed thinking about all of the things we have to do after weight loss surgery to find ourselves on the lighter side of life. Between water and macros, movement, and our mental health, it can feel like it is all just too much. We have to follow our eating plan 100% after weight loss surgery to lose and maintain our weight. Making no mistake, reaching our low weight was one o...

Celebrations can be tricky after weight loss surgery. Traditionally, these gatherings centered around food and beverages, and after our procedures, we can only partake in very small qualities, and sometimes we find we cannot partake at all. But celebrating is apart of life, and none of us want to give up this joyous part of life. In this episode, we welcome Callie Holcomb, founder and creative dir...

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! Hop on the Struggle Bus with @East2west_WLS as we help our community through some of their current struggles.  In this episode, we talk through:  Stalls and how to work through them  What do you when we feel like we are just going through the motions  Dealing with dry skin and brittle hair.   Episode Mentions: Palmers Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick&nb...

Many of us have noticed that when we can no longer turn to food in moments of discomfort and pain, we turn to something else to help us regain that old, familiar feeling of relief. It could be drinking, it could be shopping, it might be gambling, or it might still involve food, but purging after binging. This behavior is a tactic that we will use to find comfort after our bariatric procedure. It i...

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! Hop on the Struggle Bus with @East2west_WLS as we help our community through some of their current struggles. In this episode, we talk through: Major sugar cravings- all I want to do is eat sugar! Not being able to hit my daily water goals Being totally D O N E with food (spoiler alert- this is a BIG struggle that taps into multiple areas of struggle) The Struggle Bus is all...

We continue to be amazed at the wisdom and power that exists in the bariatric community. Ashlea recently underwent RNY- a type of weight loss surgery. After being in the pre-op stage for a year, she successfully underwent her procedure and is enjoying the lighter side of life! But she has come to understand the POWER of community and our stories. As she reflected on the life of a fellow bariatric...

Are you struggling with something along your bariatric journey? Do you not know where to turn for support? GET ON THE STRUGGLE BUS WITH US! We are so excited to be rolling out a *new* way to support you along your weight loss surgery journey. Each week, we will share the struggles of this community and talk about ways we can fight back, overcome, and move beyond the struggles and set us on a road...

Food is more than nutrition. Food- and the pressure that can come from and with food- is emotional. With the holiday’s right around the corner or that big celebration coming up, we are feeling the “food pressure”. Life after bariatric surgery requires that we develop and maintain a different relationship with food. Understanding how food can be used against us and then utilizing tools to help us f...

Fate introduced us to Natalie, an active member of the bariatric community on Instagram. Her humor is infectious, her positive attitude uplifts the community and her dedication to living her life at a healthy weight is unparalleled. In this episode, Natalie describes the long and twisted bariatric path that has to lead her to the present moment and how she is moving into her new life with persiste...

Happiness- what does it mean and how do we each define it? We start our conversation there and dive deep into how we can find lasting happiness before and after WLS! Check out the full episode for some deep and meaningful conversations about happiness. 

People often ask us, “Will I be happier after WLS?” or “Will I find happiness after WLS”. Our short answer is no. Our long answer is yes. Happiness- what it is and what it looks like, is unique to you. But it is something we are all seeking. The key to finding happiness, living a life of fullness and contentment is to define what being happy means to you, and taking active steps to live and feel t...

Tracking...the bane of our existence. For some people, tracking is easy and natural. It’s just what they do. For many of us, tracking is just a giant pain in the ass. It’s time-consuming, can be confusing, and when we track, we have to face the reality of our decisions. If we don’t track, we can tell ourselves stories about why we are not losing weight or regaining our weight. It can be easier to...

It is one thing to research and connect and prepare for life after your bariatric surgery. It is another thing to live through it. In Episode 13 of the East2West_WLS podcast, Jason and April sit down with Becca @ refreshing.becca to talk about her -very current- post-op life!  We have all received "the handbook" from our surgeon, filled with tangible information needed to succeed after weight...

Welcome to Season 2 of the East2West _WLS podcast! We are so excited to continue to dive deep into topics that are important to the bariatric community! This season, we will be talking with our community members about their journeys, discussing how to handle small ups and downs, explore how the stories we tell ourselves hold us back, and clear up some common misconceptions about bariatric surgery....

Stall: When something stops running, typically because of an overload the system; to stop or cause something to stop making progress. Synonyms: obstruct, impede, interrupt, hinder, hamper, frustrate, sabotage, slow, delay. In our bariatric world, a stall can refer to points in your recovery where you stop losing or gain weight, resulting in holes being punched in your walls.  Stalls after bar...

Life changes the moment you wake up from your bariatric procedure- your physical self has changed and the lens' that you use to view your life change too. In this episode, Jason and April dive deep in life after weight loss surgery, exploring the physical and emotional changes they experienced after their VSG procedures. And what makes the conversation interesting is learning how their different r...

Dating- trying out people for the role of "significant other". Dating is a straight-up workout- it takes mental toughness, stamina, and a whole lot of planning to get it right. The rewards can be life long...and so can the scars. In Episode 9, April's friend Veronica (@vko_1977) joins Jason and April to talk all things dating and compare the ups and downs before and after WLS. Having any weight lo...

We asked, then you asked...and we answer! Thank you to everyone who submitted questions for our first Q and A episode...you sent ins some good ones! Here are the questions that we address in this episode: How can I prepare for taking 20 minutes to eat a meal post WLS? How can someone build confidence before and after WLS? What negative side effects have we noticed post-WLS? What has been the most...

After we have decided to have weight loss surgery, we want to share our decision with our closest friends and family. We are excited and want them to share in our new adventure! But sometimes, our news is met with reactions that we were not anticipating; negative statements, constant and digging questions about our decision, and attempts to talk us out of our weight loss procedure. Often, we are t...

The road you have to travel to get to your actual bariatric procedure can be a long and twisty one filled with pit stops, roadblocks, and potholes. In this episode, Jason and April talk about ways to navigate the seemingly endless checkpoints with efficiency and joy . Of course, you need to follow your doctor's orders and meet all requirements set forth by your surgeon and the insurance company. A...

Knowing that our identity needs to change after weight loss surgery is one thing, but what if we don't really know what our current identity is? What if we have never thought about our identity before? In this episode, April and Jason welcome Becca- a community member and follower of East2West_WLS, who asked this very question. After listening and watch the podcast episodes on identity and joining...

How to craft and maintain an identity that supports our weight loss goals.

What is identity, how has it shaped our lives, and how can it help us find success after bariatric surgery.