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!