The BariNation Foundation Podcast

By April WilliamsAlternative Health Health & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement

The BariNation Foundation Podcast episodes

October 20, 2021072: Partying After WLS
There is the plan…and then there is what happens. This episode is a *perfect* example of that because we started out talking about partying before and after WLS and we ended up making some DEEP connections about how we are using partying after WLS and what it is helping teach us. None of us thought we would go THIS DEEP but we are so thankful for the safe place to have meaningful conversations like this one.
A HUGE thank you to Katie @katie.vsg for her openness and honesty. Her bravery shows us just how powerful conversations can be.
Episode Topics:
What does “partying” mean to us?

How did we party before WLS?

How do we party now, after WLS? How has post-op partying changed?

Do you feel guilty about partying now? Why or why not?

Do you still have the same drive to party as you did before WLS? How do you -safely- party now?

Listen to this episode on all major podcast players or on our Anchor homepage at www.anchor.fm/east2westwls or watch it on our YouTube channel! If you want to be the first to know when new episodes drop, subscribe to our email list and YouTube channel.
You've got this and we've got you!
1 hr 26 min
October 13, 2021 071: Cravings with Lora and Jana
We had the *amazing* opportunity to sit down with Lora Grabow, bariatric therapist and Jana Wolff, Registered Dietitian and founder of BariBox to learn about CRAVINGS. This unique opportunity allowed us to learn about this hot topic from two different and important perspectives- from a mindset and metabolic wellness lens. This one-two punch will offer fresh insights into cravings and how we can learn to live with them!
Episode Topics:
What is craving?
Is it true, is ever craving a LIE?
Is it physical, emotional, mental, or a combination of all three?
Does it indicate something wrong?
Are they natural and normal?
What makes cravings stronger or more pronounced in our lives?
Two women are outstanding resources in our bariatric community and we encourage you to give them a follow!
Lora Grabow @lorabrabow and www.loragrabow.com
Jana Wolff @mybaribox and www.baribox.com
Listen to this episode on all major podcast players or on our Anchor homepage at www.anchor.fm/east2westwls or watch it on our YouTube channel! If you want to be first to know when new episodes drop, subscribe to the podcast on your player app and on our YouTube channel!
1 hr 1 min
October 06, 2021070: The Fear of WLS
Bariatric surgery is a life-altering decision. The fear that surrounds this procedure is real, despite the life-saving effects and impacts it can make on your life. Undergoing any type of weight loss procedure comes with risks and costs. It is important to weigh these risks with the potential rewards that come with living on the lighter side of life.
We sat down with Dr. Joe Cribbins, the Director of The Texas Center for Bariatric Surgeries in Dallas, Texas to help us talk through some of the most common bariatric fears. We wanted to know:
Why are patients scared to have bariatric surgery?

What are the risks of NOT having bariatric surgery?

Are there some people who are not good candidates for bariatric surgery?

How do you help people make a decision that is best for them?

How do people tackle their surgery and COVID setbacks?

If people are scared to have bariatric surgery but think it might be a good decision for them, where do you recommend they start their research?

Our mission here at East2West_WLS is to connect patients with the EXPERTS, so we can trust the information we are getting. Dr. Cribbins is one of our most trusted experts and we are so thankful to have him on Team East2West_WLS! Follow him on Instagram @one_operation_changes_life
We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
1 hr 8 min
September 29, 2021069: Back to Basics Review
Well...we made it through September. BARLEY. What we learned this month was a little shocking, in all good ways.
By focusing on getting back to our bariatric basics, we learned that:
Sometimes you have to slow down to go faster.

Even with all of the support in the world, you will still find ways to talk yourself out of doing things to reach your goals.

That by hyper-focusing on a few things, we can regain control.

If we are intentional with our time, we can accomplish more.

Whole food feels different in our bodies.

We all need to check out once in a while

All three of us left this conversation even more committed to sticking with our basics. We even made a game plan for carrying forward our baby habits into October and have a clear plan for what we want and need to focus on in October.
We encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
Natalie: @breakingbari_ers
42 min
September 28, 2021068: Natalie's One Year Surgiversary!
We are SO PROUD of Natalie! She has reached her ONE YEAR milestone of post-op life and sat down with us to reflect on what this past year has meat to her. This is actually her *third* one-year milestone because she has undergone three, separate bariatric surgeries. Her resilience, grit, and tenacity has allowed to to fine success, and redefine what that means to her. We also had a pretty profound discussion about stalls and how they are NOT reserved for our bariatric journey.
In this episode, we wanted to know:
How this one-year milestone is different from her past milestones.

What was easier and harder than what she expected.

If she is where she thought she would be after one year post-op.

What her goals and intentions are in her second year!

Follow Natalies amazing bariatric journey on Instagram @breakingbari_ers.
If you are interested in learning more about metabolic wellness, we encourage you to listen to Episodes 33 and 38, both with Dr. Ariel Ortiz!
We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
50 min
September 22, 2021067: Metabolic Wellness Basics
We made the decision to have bariatric surgery for many reasons. Many of us are seeking metabolic wellness...we have just never called it that! Metabolic wellness can be defined as having ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference, without using medications. These factors directly relate to a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
If we lose our metabolic flexibility, we will have a much harder time fighting off diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart failure. BMI can be misleading and only gives us a very small picture of our overall health. If we shift our focus to metabolic wellness, we are actually focusing on the things that will keep us alive for the most amount of years!
In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie deep dive into their own metabolic wellness goals and share how they are using it as a tool to get back to basics!
Episode Topics:
What is metabolic wellness?

Why and how can we use metabolic wellness as a tool in our bariatric journey?

How do you pursue metabolic wellness?

How do you monitor and track your metabolic wellness?

If you are interested in learning more about metabolic wellness, we encourage you to listen to Episodes 33 and 38, both with Dr. Ariel Ortiz!
We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
Natalie: @breakingbari_ers
49 min
September 15, 2021 066: Mindset Basics
Mindset is the last thing we think of when we think of weight loss but it is actually the most crucial of all of the pillars of bariatric success. When our motivation and willpower disappear, our mindset is what will actually push us through to make those lasting changes necessary to live at our happy, healthy weight.
In this episode, Jason, April, and Natalie sat down to talk about mindset. We wanted to know what it meant to each other, how it has become a tool in our bariatric toolbox, and how we are using it this month to help us get back to our bariatric basics!
We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
Natalie: @breakingbari_ers
55 min
September 08, 2021065: Movement Basics with Michaela
Our body is designed to move. We also understand that you might not always feel like moving! We define “movement” as “intentional movement that is beyond your everyday normal.” We love this definition because it meets you where you are at NOW, not where you were or where you are going. In this episode, April and Jason sat down with Michaela @losingtoblooming to deep dive into movement. We wanted to know:
How bariatric movement is different

How it can help us find lasting success after bariatric surgery

How we can overcome our movement doubts and excuses

How we can get back to our movement basics

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
1 hr 11 min
September 01, 2021 064: Getting Back to Bariatric Basics
Have you fallen off your bariatric wagon? Has your wagon crashed into a ravine somewhere and do you need some help getting back on track? Don't worry...ours has too. WE GOT YOU!
In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie share their recent bariatric struggles, setbacks, and stumbles and talk about how they will be getting back on track in September. They set goals and talk through the goal-setting process, helping set each other up for SUCCUSS!
Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram!
Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.
Where to follow along:
Instagram: @east2west_wls
YouTube: East2West_WLS
Jason: @tha_smithsonian
April: @actively_april
1 hr 8 min
August 25, 2021063: Food Guilt
We have all experienced food shame and guilt after eating something we deemed "bad" or "unhealthy'. This shame and guilt are what might have kept us in a cycle of unrelenting darkness and struggle because we thought there was something wrong with us...something is so broken it could never be fixed. We are here to tell you that you can break this cycle and find your pathway out of food shame and guilt. We are walking this path with you now, and have some tips, tricks, suggestions, and stories to pass along to you!
April @actively_april and Natalie @breakingbari_ers sat down to talk about their food guilt and shame; they wanted to understand what it is, how it has manifested in their own lives, and how they are overcoming these feelings and emotions today. In this episode, they will share a working definition of food shame and guilt and share strategies for facing and overcoming these obstacles. We think that by keeping these feelings in the dark they cannot hurt us. But the darkness feeds these emotions. If we want to rid ourselves of these monsters, we need to shine the light directly on them so we can see them for what they are- remnants from our outdated past and misconceived notions that are not at all true.
We hope you get as much out of this episode as we did. Follow East2West_WLS on Instagram @east2west_wls and visit us online at www.east2westwls.com
Episode Mentions:
https://www.self.com/story/tips-for-combating-food-guilt-and-shame

https://nutritionstripped.com/food-guilt/

https://www.health.com/food/stop-food-guilt
59 min

About The BariNation Foundation Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to The BariNation Foundation Podcast, where you’ll hear real talk about bariatric surgery, obesity medicine, medical weight loss, metabolic health, weight management, and lifelong obesity care. Whether you're considering bariatric surgery, preparing for weight loss surgery, recovering after surgery, or looking for evidence-based strategies to maintain long-term weight loss, this podcast gives you the education, support, and community you need to succeed.

Hosted by members of the bariatric community who are living the journey themselves, The BariNation Foundation Podcast brings together leading bariatric surgeons, obesity medicine physicians, registered dietitians, psychologists, exercise specialists, and real patients to share practical advice, inspiring stories, and the latest research in obesity treatment.

Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, and lasting success requires more than a procedure. Every episode explores the science, strategies, and mindset behind sustainable weight management. We discuss bariatric surgery, gastric bypass,vertical sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch SADI, revision/conversion surgeries, medical weight loss, bariatric nutrition, healthy weight loss, obesity medicine, lifestyle medicine, metabolic health, obesity care, emotional eating, body image, mental health, exercise, protein, vitamins, supplementation, meal planning, and long-term success after surgery.

You'll also hear honest conversations about the challenges that many people face, including weight reoccurrence, plateaus, transfer addiction, emotional health, relationships, loose skin, excess skin surgery, fertility, pregnancy after bariatric surgery, hormone changes, body confidence, and navigating life before and after surgery as well as GLP1’s. Our goal is to provide realistic expectations, expert guidance, and encouragement so you never feel like you're facing your journey alone.

As obesity treatment continues to evolve, we also explore the latest advances in obesity medicine, including GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro, and emerging therapies, while helping you understand how these medications may fit alongside bariatric surgery and comprehensive medical weight loss. We break down the latest research into practical, easy-to-understand conversations that empower you to make informed decisions with your healthcare team.

Where ever you are in seeking treatment for the chronic disease of obesity, be it researching bariatric surgery for the first time, preparing for your procedure, celebrating major milestones, overcoming setbacks, or supporting a friend or family member through their journey, you'll find expert interviews, patient success stories, nutritional guidance, motivation, and actionable strategies that help you build healthy habits for life.

The BariNation Foundation Podcast is more than a podcast. It's a supportive community built on education, compassion, accountability, and hope. We believe every person deserves access to trusted information, meaningful support, and evidence-based resources that improve health and quality of life.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon or wherever you listen to podcasts, and join thousands of people committed to improving their metabolic health, achieving sustainable weight loss, and thriving after bariatric surgery. No matter where you are on your journey, BariNation is here to help you take the next step with confidence.

Website: https://www.barination.com