Epi 336

What’s the real secret to sustainable fitness, flexible nutrition, and body confidence—without losing your mind or social life? 🤯 In this powerful episode, we sit down with Truth Body Systems, the sibling-led coaching powerhouse helping real people transform their health—for good. 💥

Meet:

👩‍⚕️ Parris Strouthos, B.Sc., PN1, CPT, CCPE

👩 Courtney Strouthos, B.A., PN1, NASM-CPT

Whether you’re post-bariatric surgery, tired of yo-yo dieting, or just want true transformation without restriction, this episode is packed with tools, truth, and takeaways you can use TODAY. 🎯

🔥 What You’ll Learn

How to create a sustainable fitness routine (even through the holidays 🎄)

What flexible nutrition looks like IRL (no off-limit foods 🍕)

The mindset shifts that lead to lasting weight loss 💭

How Truth Body Systems empowers clients to OWN their health journey

🎧 Explore More from Truth Body Systems

🌐 Website: Truth Body Systems

📸 Instagram: @truthbodysystems

👩‍🏫 Courtney’s IG: @courtney_truth

🧠 Parris’ IG: @parris_truth

📘 Facebook: Truth Body Systems

🎥 YouTube: Truth Body Systems

🎙️ Podcast:

 • Spotify – Truth Talks

 • Apple Podcasts – Truth Talks

📋 Want to Refer a Coaching Client?

Fill out the custom application form to help us track referrals from you and OSLP 💕

👉 Coaching Referral Form

🔗 Subscribe for more weight loss real talk

@OurSleevedLifePodcast 🎙️ New episodes weekly!

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Epi 3

Welcome back to The Cutting Edge! In this episode, Mel sits down with Dr. Omar Beidas, MD FACS (Plastic Surgeon) and Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW (Bariatric & Trauma Therapist) for a deep dive on one of the most overlooked steps in plastic-surgery readiness after weight loss: protein intake, healing nutrition, and how your body actually recovers after surgery.

If you’re preparing for skin removal surgery, tummy tuck, arm lift, back lift, breast lift, lipo, or ANY post-weight-loss plastics… this episode is your new bible.

We cover the exact protein targets, why low protein causes wound-healing complications, how seromas form, how drains work, why compression affects blood pressure, and why your surgeon keeps yelling “Get your protein in!”

Plus: weird protein sources, vegetarian struggles, bug-based protein (yes, really), GLP-1 nausea tips, food noise vs cravings, and why bariatric patients struggle with solid protein.

Most complications in post-weight-loss plastic surgery happen because patients:
• aren’t eating enough protein
• don’t preload before surgery
• rely only on shakes instead of food
• aren’t aware of how healing actually works

Dr. Beidas explains EXACTLY why protein reduces:
• wound openings
• seromas
• swelling
• delayed healing
• prolonged drains
• muscle breakdown (yes, you can lose lean mass while healing)

And Ashlyn breaks down the mental health side — perfectionism, overwhelm, food noise, sensory issues with solid protein, and GLP-1 adjustments.

• Chicken breast
• Shrimp cocktail (the unexpected hero)
• Salmon
• Greek yogurt
• Cottage cheese ranch
• Lean meats
• Tofu & beans
• Hemp hearts
• Eggs
• Crispy protein snacks (like Crisp Power)
• Protein puddings
• Casein ice cream (“Creamey” recipes)
• AND… grasshoppers, crickets & mealworms (seriously)

Drop your questions in the comments! What plastics are YOU preparing for?
Need help with protein? Want a plastics prep checklist? ASK BELOW!
And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and turn on bell notifications so you never miss the next Cutting Edge episode.

Your dream body deserves your best prep. Let’s get you healing strong, recovering faster, and stepping into plastics with confidence.

Come hang out with us on IG and stay connected. Mel (Host) – @melunfiltered 

Dr. Omar Beidas (Plastic Surgeon) –  @drbodycontouring 

 Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes (Therapist) – @ashlynchange4life2012

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Epi 2

Are you truly ready for plastic surgery after weight loss?

In this powerful episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast, we sit down with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Omar Beidas and therapist Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW to answer the biggest post-op question:

👉 “How do I know I’m ready for skin removal or body contouring surgery after WLS?”

Whether you’re months or years out from your gastric sleeve or bariatric surgery, this episode breaks down the physical, mental, and financial signs that it might be the right time for plastic surgery.

🎯 Topics We Cover:

When is the right time for skin removal after weight loss?

Emotional & mental health considerations

BMI and weight stability before surgery

Surgeon consultation tips (from Dr. Beidas!)

How to avoid financial traps & “shark loans”

Support systems: who should be in your corner?

Whether you're exploring plastic surgery after VSG, or just curious if your body transformation is complete — this is the real talk you need!

💜 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE if this resonated with your journey!  

➕ New episodes every week — always real, always raw, always The Cutting Edge!

Sponsored by Findabariatrictherapist.com - Which is an online directory that helps people who’ve had weight loss surgery connect with therapists who specialize in bariatric care.

#PlasticSurgeryAfterWLS #SkinRemovalJourney #WeightLossSurgery #OurSleevedLife #DrOmarBeidas #BariatricSurgeryCommunity #PostOpPlastics #WLSRecovery #WLSMentalHealth #BodyAfterWLS #EmotionalReadiness #BariatricSupport

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Epi 335

New from Our Sleeved Life Podcast

Welcome to the newest episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast! Today, we sit down with Josie Wilson, a bariatric patient who’s 3.5 years post-op — and she’s keeping it real about life after surgery.

This isn’t the before-and-after fantasy. This is what happens when the honeymoon phase ends — and the emotional, physical, and mental battles begin.

🎯 If you’ve ever felt:

Like you're silently struggling with regain

Triggered by food you used to control

Emotionally overwhelmed and unsure who to turn to...Josie’s story will speak to your soul.

In This Episode:✅ What regain looked like for Josie after 3 years✅ Her biggest trigger foods and how she faced them✅ The surprising role mental health therapy played in her healing✅ Real talk on daily struggles & what’s helped her get back on track✅ Tips Josie wishes she knew earlier — and advice she’d give YOU

👤 Guest: Josie Wilson — 3.5 years post-op, mental health advocate, bariatric warrior🎧 Host: MelUnfiltered

🔔 Subscribe for more real stories from the bariatric world!💬 Drop your questions for Josie or share your story in the comments — we’d love to hear from you!📅 Join our LIVE Q&A — every last Monday of the month. Let’s connect and grow together.

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Epi 1

Welcome to the first episode of our NEW series on The Sleeved Life Podcast!

If you've had bariatric surgery, are considering plastic surgery after weight loss, or struggling with mental health during your transformation — this is for you. 💪

Join hosts Mel, Ashlyn Douglass-Barnes, LCSW, and Dr. Omar Beidas, MD, FACS as they share unfiltered stories, professional insight, and expert advice on:

✅ The truth about weight loss surgery recovery

✅ Skin removal surgery: what to expect, how to prepare

✅ Why mental health must be part of your transformation journey

✅ Real-life mistakes and lessons from experienced bariatric patients

✅ What questions to ask your plastic surgeon (but no one tells you)

✅ The role of protein intake, compression garments, and MLD

✅ Ashlyn’s rare journey: VSG, plastic surgery, and GLP-1 meds

🔍 Whether you’re just beginning or years post-op, this episode breaks down what most people skip: the real, raw experience behind every stage of massive weight loss and reconstruction.

We believe education + empathy = empowerment 🧠💛

Let’s get real. Let’s talk healing. Let’s support each other.

💬 Drop your questions in the comments – we’ll answer them in our LIVE monthly Q&A on the last Monday of every month!

🛎️ Don’t forget to Subscribe & hit the bell to follow this powerful new series.

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Epi 334

Are carbs the enemy—or the answer—after weight loss surgery?

In this explosive episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast, host Mel sits down with bariatric dietitian Kim Tirapelle, MS, RD, CSSD, to uncover the real science behind carb intake after bariatric surgery.

Learn how carbohydrates can actually help you build muscle, prevent fatigue, and fuel your post-op workouts—without sabotaging your weight loss. If you've ever felt guilty for eating a potato or scared of adding fruit back into your diet, this episode is for you 💥

✅ What you'll learn:

The truth about carbs after gastric sleeve or bypass

How to safely increase carbs for performance and energy

Signs you’re not eating enough after surgery

How to fuel your body for 5Ks, lifting, or strength training

Why building muscle is essential for long-term success

🏃‍♀️ Want to perform better & feel stronger after WLS?

📲 Learn more about Kim Tirapelle’s services at Active Bariatric Nutrition

🎧 Subscribe for weekly empowerment + real talk about post-op life

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Epi 333

Can you imagine going through weight loss surgery and never tracking protein or water—not once? In this jaw-dropping clip from Our Sleeved Life Podcast, Mel sits down with Jenna from The Sleeve Cub, who reveals how she lost over 100 pounds after gastric sleeve surgery without measuring a single ounce or gram. Instead, she learned to listen to her body, trust her hunger cues, and rebuild her relationship with food after VSG.

💬 In this conversation, Mel reacts in total shock as Jenna explains her “no-tracking” approach, sharing how intuitive eating, hydration habits, and mindful nutrition changed her post-op journey for good. Whether you’re a bariatric patient, pre-op, or just curious about how others thrive after surgery—this one will blow your mind.

🔑 What you’ll learn:

Why some VSG patients ditch protein & water tracking

How intuitive eating works after bariatric surgery

What “listening to your body” really means after VSG

The pros & cons of tracking vs mindful eating

Bariatric hydration tips that actually work

👀 Watch more inspiring stories & real talk episodes:

👉 Subscribe to Our Sleeved Life Podcast on YouTube

👉 Listen on all major podcast platforms

👉 Join our Patreon community for exclusive lives & behind-the-scenes content: www.patreon.com/OSLP

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Epi 332

What do most bariatric surgeons NOT tell you about reflux, GERD, and hidden hernias? 😳

In this exclusive episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jay Jorge, a leading bariatric and metabolic surgeon, as he exposes the real challenges patients face after weight loss surgery — from acid reflux and internal hernias to revisional surgeries and gallbladder issues.

Dr. Jay Jorge shares what every patient should know before and after getting a gastric sleeve, bypass, or duodenal switch — and why pelvic floor health might be the missing piece in your recovery journey.

👉 Inside This Episode:

What causes reflux after gastric sleeve surgery?

How to know if you have a hiatal hernia or internal hernia

When revision surgery is necessary (and why)

The truth about gallbladder issues after bariatric surgery

Pelvic floor therapy for post-op patients

How Dr. Jay Jorge supports patients in Augusta, Georgia and online

🎙️ If you're considering bariatric surgery or struggling with post-op symptoms, this episode is packed with insights you won’t hear from most surgeons.

🔔 Subscribe for more life-changing bariatric conversations

💬 Comment: Have you had reflux or hernia issues after surgery? Let’s talk!

📍Dr. Jay Jorge sees patients in Northeastern Georgia (Augusta) and offers virtual consultations nationwide.

https://www.leandreamsweightloss.com/transform-your-weight-loss  

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Epi 331

Did you know up to 75% of patients experience weight regain after weight loss surgery (WLS)? 😳

You're not alone — but you can fight back. In this powerful episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast, host Mel interviews bariatric educator Alison Pizanie, author of Regain Remedy — a game-changing guide to using intermittent fasting for bariatric patients.

💬 Learn the truth about insulin resistance, fasting windows, satiety hormones, and autophagy — and why traditional bariatric eating plans might not be enough. Whether you're battling regain or just maintaining your results, this episode offers science-backed strategies that actually work.

🔑 Topics we cover:

Why bariatric regain happens even with good habits

How intermittent fasting balances hormones & boosts metabolism

The best fasting schedules for WLS patients (without starving!)

How to stop emotional eating & rebuild mindset

How to use holistic weight loss tools like hydration, sleep & sunlight ☀️

💡 You’ll also hear powerful real-life experiences from Mel + Alison — no gimmicks, just truth and transformation.

📘 Grab the book “Regain Remedy” and reclaim control.

🎧 Subscribe for more tips, support, and stories from the Our Sleeved Life fam.

🔁 Share this with your WLS bestie — it could change everything.

#BariatricLife #IntermittentFasting #RegainRemedy

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Epi 330  

In this powerful episode of Our Sleeved Life Podcast, Jess—also known as @Time4Change365—shares his deeply personal journey through bariatric surgery, weight regain, and rediscovery through GLP-1 medication. 💉 From growing up obese in a food-centered family to reaching 588 pounds, Jess takes us through the emotional and physical rollercoaster of being a man navigating weight loss surgery.

💬 We talk about:

Why more men need to speak up in the bariatric community

The hidden impact of childhood obesity and family food habits

The harsh reality of weight regain post-op and how Jess is fighting back

Using ZepBound and GLP-1s to manage insulin resistance

How to break free from food noise, emotional eating, and self-sabotage

Redefining health for himself and his family 💪

Whether you're pre-op, post-op, or just curious about male weight loss surgery stories, this episode will leave you inspired and empowered.

 Subscribe for more real, raw weight loss stories:  Our Sleeved Life Podcast on YouTube

🎧 Audio Available wherever you get your podcasts!

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