The BariNation Foundation Podcast

Every bariatric patient thinks about pain management during their pre-operative journey. We worry about what the pain will feel like after surgery and how we will manage it. It can be something we are nervous about even talking with our surgeon about because we don’t want to seem pushy or rude, or we could be afraid to bring it up because we don’t want to seem desperate for relief. And with millions of Americans and their families impacted by the opioid epidemic, it can be a scary topic.

Pain management is something we need to consider and discuss with our surgical care team. Ensuring that we can recover at home with minimal pain and have a management plan that we can follow is critical to our short- and long-term success. 

We sat down with Dr. Lucian Panait, a bariatric surgeon who strives to ensure his patients are empowered to onboard a pain management plan that is right for them. In this episode, he explains why having a solid pain management plan before surgery is so necessary and gives us questions we can ask our surgeon and care team in our pre-operative appointments. He also teaches us about non-opioid pain management products that we can ask for and request to maximize our recovery time after surgery. 

We know you will leave this episode feeling empowered to create a pain management plan with your care team that is right for you! 

We are so thankful that Pacira BioSciences, Inc., the maker of EXPAREL, has sponsored this episode. Their sponsorship allows us to ensure that this important educational content can reach you and positively impact your bariatric and surgical journey. Visit YourXFactor.com to learn more about EXPAREL, the pain medication Jason received during this recent bariatric revision surgery. 

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode with Dr. Panait will dive deeper into creating a pain management plan that works for you.  

About our Guest: Dr. Lucian Panait is a general surgery specialist and bariatric weight loss surgeon at the North Memorial Health Hospital and Minnesota Hernia Center in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Panait is also the president of the Minnesota Bariatric Center and has 24 years of experience specializing in general surgery, bariatric surgery, and laparoscopic surgery. Since specializing in laparoscopic gastric bypass or sleeve surgeries, as well as revisions, Dr. Panait is well-versed in bariatric procedures.

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie were all bariatric patients 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!

Walking is one of the most accessible yet underrated forms of movement. We often tell ourselves and others that we “just” went for a walk, discounting its tremendous physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits. 

In 2023, our friend and BariNation Expert Bariatric Therapist Lora Grabow, LMSW, walked daily and joined us to share her aha moments and most significant takeaways from 365 days of movement. She ran into the same setbacks we all do regarding motivation and willpower and often laced up her shoes mad, angry, and sad. In this episode, she talks about the power of accountability and the many forms it can look and feel like, the importance of community when looking to accomplish a big goal, and why it can be so difficult to keep the promises we make to ourselves. 

We are so thankful that Lora shared her personal walking story with us. We often look to our experts as superhuman figures who do not share our struggles. In this powerful episode, you will learn about Lora’s personal struggles in 2023 and how she used walking to get through it all. 

Members of the BariNation Support Community or a $ 5-a-month Patreon supporters of the BariNation Podcast will get access to the amazing Bonus Episode with Lora. She shares with us some very personal stories of strife and helps us understand how movement can really help us through the darkest of days.

Connect with Lora in the BariNation Support Community, in her online digital courses, and online at @bariatric.therapist on Instagram!

About our Guest: Lora Grabow is a Licensed Master Social Worker with 21 years of experience serving the bariatric community. She is an accomplished practitioner, course author, speaker, and trainer who is on a mission to connect patients with the missing piece she calls Headwork™. Connect with Lora at www.loragrabow.com

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!

Hunger is something every human can experience, but in people who suffer from the disease of obesity, hunger is more than a physical experience. Hunger can be ever-present, insatiable, and a constant worry. Emotional or “head” hunger can drive what many people recognize as “food noise”- the continual thought of food. How can we learn to recognize when our hunger is real or emotional? What can we do to honor not only our physical hunger but our emotional hunger?

We sat down with Jane Stoltz, a Registered Bariatric Dietitian from Australia, to better understand and honor hunger in all the ways we might experience it. Our hunger might completely disappear after surgery or always be present, even when we wake up from our bariatric procedure. We want to help you take the fear out of hunger and give you tools to understand what drives hunger and creative ways you can honor it in ways that are aligned with your bariatric goals. 

Join us for this robust conversation on hunger. We know you will leave this conversation with new insights into your hunger and a fresh perspective on how you can honor it. Follow Jane on Instagram and connect with her online at https://www.bariatricnutritioncoach.com.au/

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding emotional hunger and how the cues are different from physical hunger. She shares some “aha” moments her clients have had over the years and helps us better understand how to control physical hunger with balanced nutrition. 

About our Guest: Jane Stoltze has been a dietitian for nearly 30 years, specializing in bariatric nutrition for the last 6 years. She is passionate about providing excellent nutritional care for people before and after their bariatric surgery. She believes support and education are fundamental to a successful outcome from weight loss surgery.

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!

Our relationships with family and friends can change after bariatric surgery, and we wanted to know why. Many of us feel these changes but struggle to articulate how and why they change. Sometimes, our loved ones will tell us we have changed and express worry about this “new” person they see us becoming. As patients, we go through massive changes that can cause shifts in our relationships. How do we cope with this change, as so much is changing around and in us?

We sat down with Amber Boyd, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to understand the causes of these relationship changes and how we can navigate them. She helped us understand that some relationships might not be worth saving and that moving on from them might be our best action. She also taught us some fantastic tools for working with our loved ones on our relationship before and after weight loss surgery and offered some personal advice. Amber is a bariatric patient who has experienced these relationship changes. 

Join us for this robust conversation on relationships with expert and fellow patient Aber Boyd. We know you will leave this conversation with new insights into your relationship and actions you can take to strengthen the ones that serve you and move on from the ones that don't. Follow Amber on Instagram and connect with her online at https://amberboydtherapy.com

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding how connected our mindset is to your nutrition and helping us reach those goals, how to ensure we hit our nutritional goals if the medication makes us feel nauseous, and if the medication impacts how our digestive system breaks down food. 

About our Guest: Amber Boyd is a distinguished Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, esteemed CEO/Owner of Healing Through Authenticity, PLLC, accomplished Author, innovative YouTube creator, and engaging Podcast Host, originally from Oakland, CA, now based in Houston, TX. With over a decade of experience in therapy provision, Amber is renowned for her expertise in dispelling the misconception that mental health is dispensable for marginalized and maligned communities. Her practice focuses on addressing a spectrum of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, boundary setting, and trauma, with a commitment to promoting wellness and authenticity in every individual she serves. 

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!

Obesity is a lifelong and chronic disease that millions of Americans battle every day. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment of the disease, but weight loss medication advancements are making them a viable treatment option. A recent Goldman Sachs study estimated that by 2030, 15  million Americans would be taking an anti-obesity medication to treat the disease and live at a weight that allows them to metabolize well. These medications are promising, but are they the “magic pill” many people hope for?

Without focusing on all of the pillars of bariatric success, these medications, like bariatric surgery, will not be as effective or safe. BariNation co-host April Williams sat down with Jeannie Boyter, RD, CSOWM, for a conversation about the importance of nutrition while taking anti-obesity medications. Jeannie explains how these new obesity medications work from a nutritional standpoint, how Setpoint Theory can explain regain (weight recurrence) after surgery, and practice steps we can take to ensure our nutrition adequately fuels our bodies and cells for optimal health when our appetite and capacity have been reduced.

Jeannie is leading a class in the BariNation Support Community on March 26th at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST about GLP1 Nutrition. If you are taking one of these medications and are worried about hitting your nutritional goals, join BariNation and attend her class! This class will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from an obesity nutrition expert and ask your questions in real-time. Join us today to connect, learn, and grow with experts and bariatric peers. 

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding how connected our mindset is to your nutrition and helping us reach those goals, how to ensure we hit our nutritional goals if the medication makes us feel nauseous, and if the medication impacts how our digestive system breaks down food. 

About our Guest: Jeannie Boyer is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management who has over two decades of clinical experience working with bariatric patients. In her one-on-one work with patients, she connects each personal obesity story with their goals to craft nutritional plans that meet their unique needs. Visit Jeannie online at www.bariatricsuccessrd.com to work with Jeannie!

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!

We are told that resistance movement is critically important after weight loss surgery, but why? We had so many questions about this topic. We sat down with Dr. Shannon McMann, a board-certified Internal and Obesity Medicine specialist who is also a bariatric patient, to understand why muscle matters before and after surgery. 

In this conversation, we asked her why maintaining and building muscle is so important for short and long-term recovery and why the quality of our muscles matters. We wanted to know if there were specific kinds of movement that would help us build more high-quality muscle and where the best place to start is. And she helped us understand how tied our nutrition is to our ability to keep and grow our muscles. 

We are so thankful to have such a fantastic expert in BariNation who can help us understand the why’s behind the things we are asked to focus on as patients. Get to know Shannon more in the BariNation Membership Community by attending our weekly support groups, classes, and meetups!

If you are a member of BariNation or a Patreon Supporter, check out this podcast's bonus episode, where April, Jason, and Natalie  learn about tweaks they can and should be making in their movement efforts to maximize muscle retention and growth!

About our Guest: Dr. McMann is a board-certified doctor in both Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. She practices at a teaching clinic where we train medical students and internal medicine residents in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Her undergraduate and medical school was at Michigan State University, and she completed her residency training in 2002 at McLaren Macomb Regional Medical Center. Dr. McMann is also a bariatric patient, undergoing RNY gastric bypass in 2020 with Dr. Carl Pesta. After gaining the upper hand in her lifelong battle against the

disease of obesity, she decided to pursue additional training to help other patients and give back to the bariatric community.

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!

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!

Is plastic surgery something you are considering after bariatric surgery? Many of us experience loose skin that can impede our day-to-day lives, make us feel uncomfortable, or prevent us from feeling like ourselves. Plastic surgery might be something in your future, and we want to arm you with the most accurate information from the experts themselves!

We sat down with Dr. Omar Beidas, an AdventHealth Orlando board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in procedures after massive weight loss, and Stephanie Abeles, a bariatric patient with several plastic surgeries. We wanted to know what the difference is between plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and body contouring and why picking the right surgeon with the proper credentials and experiences is so important if we choose to undergo a body modification procedure. We also wanted to know how Stephanie decided to undergo her procedures and understand how she prepared for and cared for herself through her plastic journey. Even if you think plastic surgery might not be in your future, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of the “whys” behind these types of procedures and the power of selecting the right professionals. We know this conversation will help you understand the differences between plastic surgery and body contouring, some of the most common procedures after bariatric surgery, and some insights from the patient's perspective.

AdventHealth Central Florida and BariNation have teamed up to ensure their patients can access outstanding support when and where they need it! If you are a patient of AdventHealth Central Florida, contact your office today by phone or email to access your special BariNation Membership discounted monthly rate! We can’t wait to “see” you in The Nation soon! And be sure you check out the bonus episode with Dr. Beidas and Stephanie in the BariNation Membership Community or our Patreon Community!

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes!

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients committed to living their best bariatric life! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!

About our Guests: Omar E. Beidas, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon of plastic and reconstructive surgery. His specialties include body contouring after weight loss, aesthetics, and surgical treatment of lipedema. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, where he serves as Vice Chair of the Practice Management Subcommittee, a member of the Clinical Guideline Workgroup for Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy, and previously served on the Young Plastic Surgeons Steering Committee. Dr. Beidas is also a member of The Aesthetic Society and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

At 48 years old, Stephanie Abeles transformed her life by undergoing weight loss surgery. After years of struggling with dieting, Steph opted for bariatric surgery and lost an incredible 116lbs. Maintaining her goal weight for over four years, Steph attributes a healthy, balanced lifestyle and regular weight training to her success. She's had two rounds of plastic surgery to remove excess skin. Steph shares her inspiring journey on Instagram as @metamorphasteph, hoping to help others on their own weight loss and plastic surgery journeys.

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.

How many times have you attempted to institute new habits or rouintes, but find yourself never being able to stick with them? Are you frustrated and feeling like you are always “falling back into old habits?” Dont worry, we feel and experience the same thing when we attempt to establish a bew bariatric-aligned routine. 

April sat down with Aransas Savas, a personal development expert with decades of experience helping people move past their personal barriers and create lasting change in their lives. April wanted to know if there is a better way to really change what we do and how we do it. Turns out, there is. Focusing on practices, not establishing new routines and habits, is the best path to lasting change. 

In this episode, Aransas breaks down the differences between habits, routines, and practices and shares strategies for identifying our reasons behind the change and how building routines from practices is actually how to create a new and lasting habit. .  

We know you will leave this episode ready to take a personal inventory on your own habits and perhaps shift your mindset around practices. And be sure you check out the bonus episode with Aransas in the BariNation Membership Community or our Patreon Community!

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: Aransas Savas is a  veteran Wellbeing and Leadership Coach, and has spent her career at the intersection of research, behavior change, and coaching. She created a uniquely holistic and proven approach to coaching that blends practical, science-backed techniques with energy coaching. Aransas has partnered with companies like Weight Watchers, Best Buy, Truist, Edward Jones, US Bank, and many more, to create transformative experiences. 

Follow Aransas in all the following places:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_uplifters_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theuplifterspodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aransas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aransassavas/

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. You can also connect with us 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!

 Are you tired of feeling “stuffed” all the time? Everywhere you look, you see and feel stuffed with things, with memories, with things that you think you should be doing but don’t have the time or energy to do? Yeah, we know the feeling too.

We recently welcomed a new Expert in the BariNation Membership Community who is a professionally trained organizer. Her name is Spring Coourtright and she was trained by one of the world's most recognized organizer, Marie Konda. Spring has been leading a Decluttering Challenge in the BariNation Community and the impacts have been deep and meaningful. She is showing us all how decluttering and organizing can actually help us feel full, feel satisfied and content by decluttering.

We sat down with two of our Community members, April and Chylynn, to hear the impacts decluttering is having on their lives and their bariatric journeys. In this episode, they share how they have started decluttering the spaces in their lives and found areas where they can grow and expand. They also share the similarities they are finding between decluttering and their bariatric journey and how cleaning out the spaces in their homes has opened up opportunities to clear out space in their mindset too.  

You will leave this episode with some “aha” moments and connections that can help you begin your own decluttering journey! Join April, Chylynn, and Spring in the BariNation Membership Community  if you are ready for some guided Decluttering help along your own journey! 

If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where April and Chylynn talk in-depth about the bariatric connections they have made and what they are discovering about themselves through the Decluttering Challenge.  

Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: April and Chylynn are bariatric patients who are committed to lifelong treatment of the disease of obesity. They are active members of the community who attend weekly groups, classes, and meetups. They are patient advocates and share their stories and experiences with anyone who is ready to change their life through bariatric surgery. 

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. You can also connect with us 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!