Alex Lauren shares insights and experiences around the complexities of weight management, the impact of bariatric surgery, and how diet and nutrition can influence overall wellbeing. This episode offers an honest and thoughtful discussion for anyone navigating their own health journey or wanting to better understand these topics.

Follow Formulite https://www.instagram.com/formulite_www.formulite.com

Follow Alex https://www.instagram.com/keepingupwithalexlauren/

Join us for a deep dive into the dynamic world of obesity management with Dr. Terri-Lynne South, Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' Obesity Medicine Group. In this episode, Dr. South shares her expertise on the revolutionary impact of semaglutide and other GLP1 receptor agonists in combating chronic obesity. From mechanisms of action to clinical considerations, discover how these medications are reshaping treatment paradigms and empowering healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for patients struggling with obesity.

Key Highlights:

Tune in to gain invaluable insights from Dr. Terri-Lynne South and explore the evolving landscape of obesity management on Spotify.

Unlock the secrets to a healthier you as Dr. Luke Crantock, a veteran gastroenterologist, shares his wealth of knowledge on gut health and the human microbiome. Together, we journey through the vast universe within our digestive systems, discussing how our lifestyle choices—from our diet to the way we were born—shape this complex internal ecosystem. Dr. Crantock's 27 years of expertise illuminate the fascinating world of gut flora, revealing its profound influence on our overall wellness, and the transformative effects of treatments like fecal transplantation for stubborn infections.

Our conversation with Dr. Crantock doesn't stop at the science; it's also a treasure trove of practical guidance for those seeking to enhance their gut health. We spotlight the power of Lactobacillus and the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, while also dissecting the modern pitfalls of processed foods. With a focus on dietary choices and their direct impact on our microbiome, Dr. Crantock offers a compelling look at food intolerances, the dynamic between gut health and conditions like IBS, and the promising yet complex world of probiotics and prebiotics.

Wrapping up this enlightening episode, Dr. Crantock leaves us with pearls of wisdom on nurturing not just our bodily health, but our emotional well-being too. He shares invaluable lifestyle tips, including the integration of a Mediterranean-style diet, remaining active, and fostering deep connections with our community and the earth. This is more than a discussion; it's a call to embrace a holistic approach to life for happiness and longevity. So tune in, and let's embark on this journey to a happier, healthier existence together.

In this podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with two highly respected women, each with over 10 years of experience working in the bariatric space. Margaret Hayes is a bariatric dietitian with over 30 years of experience in dietetics, and Georgie Beames is a psychologist specialising in bariatrics. Together, we delved into a discussion about the challenges faced by bariatric surgery patients and the significance of adopting a holistic approach to weight loss.

Margaret emphasises the positive impact of bariatric surgery on patients' lives, viewing it as an opportunity to give people a second chance at improving their health and overall well-being.  On the other hand, Georgie shed light on the psychological aspects of weight loss and the tools she utilises to support patients throughout their weight loss journey. She explained her use of evidence-based rewiring techniques to help patients break free from detrimental eating patterns and cultivate new, healthier pathways in the brain.

We also discuss food cravings. Georgie explained that these cravings often stem from the pleasurable feelings associated with particular foods or habits, which in turn reinforce the brain's existing pathways.

Excitingly, Margaret and Georgie shared their plans for an upcoming online workshop designed for both pre and post-operative patients. The workshop aims to empower participants by equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome obstacles, strengthen their commitment to weight loss, and ultimately thrive in their lives.

Promotional Links:

Workshop:

https://www.bariatricdietitian.com.au/resetandrewire

Margaret’s meal plan: https://www.bariatricdietitian.com.au/meal-plans-5fd96af6-2b57-4ae4-8c67-af658814b200

Margaret’s Protein Training Course and ebook:

https://www.bariatricdietitian.com.au/ProteineBookTraining

Cravings reset (Georgie):

https://georgiebeames.clickfunnels.com/cravings-control-reset 

Welcome to the SHIFT IT podcast, with our host Glennis Winnet. Join Glennis as she introduces Professor Wendy Brown, an Upper GI and Bariatric Surgeon. The pair discuss the evolution of bariatric surgery, the barriers that limit patients from receiving the treatment, and Wendy’s contribution to creating a registry for the surgery.

Follow Glennis as we discover Wendy’s journey from being one of the few women training surgery in 1995 to becoming the Chair of the Monash University Department of Surgery at Alfred Health, the Director of the Oesophago-Gastric and Bariatric Unit Alfred Hospital as well as Clinical Director of the ANZ Bariatric Surgery Registry and Clinical Lead of the Victorian State Upper GI Cancer Registry.

With a sub-specialty interest in oesophago-gastric cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease and bariatric surgery, Wedny provides expertise to improve efficiency and effectiveness of surgery treatments. Wendy details the developments of bariatric surgery over time becoming more effective and safer for bariatric patients - who often are present greater risk when operating.

Wendy continues to dedicate herself to researching and educating healthcare professionals on the health benefits from weight loss, physiology of upper GI procedures, optimal service delivery models for bariatric surgery and registry science.

Her passion has helped many patients over the years and continues to revolutionise the healthcare industry. The Professor is inspired and motivated by the improvement in patients' health post-surgery. Listen in as Wendy explores an in depth overview of the bariatric surgery process and the benefits it provides to patients.

Joined by Dr John Dixon, the Swinburne and Melbourne University Professor, we discover the genetic and environmental conditions that may develop into obesity in an individual. Dr John Dixon is one of the leading clinical researchers into obesity, creating impactful studies regarding the risks and complications of obesity in conjunction with weight loss treatments and their effect on our health. Beginning his career as a country General Practitioner, Dr John Dixon became inspired to research and investigate the issue of obesity and the impact it has in Australia and globally. The experienced clinician has produced over 300 original research and review publications in the obesity and weight gain area of health and is well-versed and experienced with all effective weight management therapies currently available. The doctor and clinician focus on translating theories and findings into clinical practice and advocacy for patients.

Through this episode, we focus on the associations beyond nutrition, diet, and exercise that may impact our weight and evolve into obesity. With an emphasis on developments in our society and lifestyle, Dr John Dixon discusses how we may be more inclined to gain weight in our everyday lives as we change and advance in our regular routines. The researcher forwards the notion that our weight may be a product of our environment and disregards the tendency to blame patients but rather promotes patient education and effective weight management treatments.

This week we are joined with Dr. Catherine Bacus, a Melbourne-based General Practitioner who specialises in bariatrics and is the founder of Alevia Medical Weight Loss - a group of primary care clinics in Melbourne and Adelaide specialising in medical obesity management. Throughout her career, Dr Catherine Bacus discovered that weight loss is greater than lifestyle changes and moving more, while it can be attributed to genetic and chronic conditions. Dedicated to alleviating the stigma and burden of obesity, her passion, empathy, and expertise enable her to support her patients throughout their weight loss journey through evidence-based approaches to provide patients with a healthy lifestyle and greater wellbeing. In this episode, Dr. Catherine Bacus and Glennis Winnet discuss the weight gain during menopause and emphasise the effects this period may have on a woman’s weight and body.

Training and mentoring GPs, Dr. Catherine Bacus is committed to educating patients and promoting weight management awareness, maintaining a compassionate and informative approach, so patients can achieve the treatment and care they deserve. Focusing on the hormonal and physical changes a woman’s body may endure through hormonal to physical changes, the pair discuss how these changes may develop into weight gain and how to manage the changes and promote weight loss. We discover, through Dr Catherine Bacus's expertise, the tools and techniques to promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle as our body manages the changing hormones while acknowledging and recognising the struggle individuals may incur.

Carol Angelosanto joins us this week, the Head of Marketing for 20 years at the Westfield Group and now the founder of her own strategic and creative agency – Marketing Warehouse, which operates across three continents.

Carol talks to us about her long-term struggles with her weight, dating back to her childhood, and how she never let it interfere with becoming the trailblazing businesswoman she is today.

We also discuss societal pressures surrounding the number on the scales, and the debilitating impacts her weight had on her day-to-day activities. She reveals what finally made her feel confident enough to seek medical advice for weight loss surgery, while urging those who are hesitant about taking the next step to just go for it.

You’ll also hear about the life-changing physiological benefits that accompany significant weight loss and taking the next step to booking in a consult with a Bariatric Surgeon.

In this podcast, I am joined by Rob Anderson, current CEO of Musculoskeletal Australia and former CEO of People and Parks Foundation, Disability Sport and Recreation, Australian Professional Footballers’ Association and the AFL Umpires’ Association.

With a long and distinguished career in leading not for profit organisations across a number of sectors, Rob has a reputation for delivering organisational success. With particular focus on community advocacy and welfare, he lets us in on his achievements in developing and leading strategic transformation and innovation thus far. We also go through the impacts of musculoskeletal conditions and the causes that are often undermined by many.

Rob sheds light on the unspoken aspects of living with musculoskeletal conditions such as reduced quality of life involving their family and personal relationships, mental health, and intimacy with their partners.

Rob shares how Musculoskeletal Australia is able to help people with over 150 conditions including osteoarthritis, early onset arthritis, back pain, gout and more. Rob claims 3.1 million Australians deal with back pain and 1 in 6 Australians suffer from non-specific back pain. He discusses the common causes of these issues including soft tissue injuries, sprains, depression, poor sleep and more.

To find out more information about how you can seek assistance with your musculoskeletal conditions, visit msk.org.au or call the nurses at 1800 263 265.

Useful Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennis-winnett/

Formulite: https://formulite.com.au/

Dr/Prof Antigone Kouris, an Adjunct Associate Professor at La Trobe University with a PhD in the Mediterranean diet joins us this week on Shift It. Dr Kouris has co-authored several nutrition textbooks and her research played a key role in putting the Mediterranean diet on the map in the 1990s.

You’ll receive insights on a career in research, being an author and a professor, as well as what makes the Mediterranean diet stand out. We also talk about the unique nutrition profile of lupins, and why they’re so beneficial for our diet.

We also discuss:

Listen to find out why Dr Kouris’ thinks we should all be making the move towards a part-time vegetarian diet for weight loss.

Learn more about Antigone’s experience in publishing & research through the links to her papers below:

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1239

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26965756/

Useful Links

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennis-winnett/

Formulite: https://formulite.com.au/