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!