The BariNation Foundation Podcast

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

The BariNation Foundation Podcast episodes

August 18, 2021 062: Food Swaps!
Life after bariatric surgery can be filled with food anxiety, even though we were hoping to move away from it after our procedure. Making food choices that align with our health goals means that we are -at times- thinking more about food after surgery than we ever have before. And finding creative, interesting, and delicious alternatives to our favorite foods can feel like more work than what it is worth.
In this episode, April @actively_april and Natalie @breakingbari_ers sat down to talk about food swaps: what they are, why we use them when we use them, and what these swaps mean for our health. Sometimes we get a food "itch" that just needs to be scratched. How do we handle these itches as they come in a way that supports our health? Listen (or watch) to find out!
And if you are looking for some swap inspiration, check out of friend Maddie @maddie5088 on Instagram and her website https://foodfitnessandbeauty.com/ for all kinds of amazing food swap ideas!
Follow us on Instagram @east2west_wls and click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
You've got this and we've got you!
35 min
August 11, 2021 061: 6-Month Post-Op Check-In with katie.vsg
We sat down with our friend Katie @katie.vsg to see how life has changed 6-month post-op VSG surgery! We wanted to know what has stayed the same, what has changed, what has gotten easier, and what has been harder than expected! Katie has made amazing progress and is honest about her struggles, stalls, let downs, disappointments. But Katie is a FIGHTER and determined to craft the life of her dreams. No matter where you are in the bariatric process, this conversation will resonate with you!
Follow us on Instagram for support that is grounded in humor, humility, and honesty! Find us @east2west_wls
You've got this and we've got you!
1 hr 7 min
August 04, 2021 060: Celebrating TWO YEARS Post-Op!
We have a 50% chance of regaining our weight two years after our bariatric procedure. These two critical years will make or break our long-term success and once we reach this milestone and have maintained our new low weight, we should take a moment to CELEBRATE!
April recently reached this milestone and we took some time to reflect on what has changed and what has stayed the same. The trio had the opportunity to talk about what fun is and looks like after bariatric surgery and think about how we can continue to have fun in ways that support our new life and identity!
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 9 min
July 28, 2021059: Bariatric Plastic Surgery with Dr. Gavin Dry
Are you considering plastic surgery after your bariatric procedure? We sat down with two experts in the plastic surgery field Dr. Gavin Dry, MD and his wife, Melissa Dry, Surgical RN, and answer all of your plastic surgery questions! Many of us undergo plastic surgery after our weight loss to tackle our extra skin but there are quite a few factors that go into making the decision to have a plastic surgery procedure and then recovering from that procedure! We want to know:
Why would our plastic surgery experience and procedures be different from non-bariatric patients?

When is the right time to undergo plastic surgery?

How do we find a surgeon that specializes in bariatric plastic surgery?

What are the most common procedures and what do they do?

Will plastic surgery make me look perfect?

How can I set myself up for success before and after plastic surgery?

What will recovery be like?

What do we need to be sure we ask at our consultations?

Follow Dr. Dry on Instagram @drgavindrymd and @athenixbody. Feel free to reach out to him with all of our plastic surgery questions!
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 1 min
July 21, 2021058: The In's and Out's of Plastic Surgery with Dez
Plastic surgery is something many people in the bariatric community consider after losing a significant amount of weight. But knowing where to even START can be daunting. We sat down with one of our favorite humans, Dez @wokeuplikedez, to learn about her plastic surgery experience. She is not afraid to talk about everything and we got to say, we got into EVERYTHING! In this episode, you will hear answers to these important and frequently asked questions about plastic surgery.
Questions about Plastic Surgery:
When is the right time to undergo plastic surgery?

How do we know what type of plastic surgery is right for us?

How do we find qualified bariatric surgeons?

What do we have to do to get the body of our dreams?

Is plastic surgery worth it in the end?

Follow Dez on Instagram to find all of the resources she mentions in this episode!
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 15 min
July 14, 2021 057: Life After Plastic Surgery
Spoiler Alert- we think this is one of the BEST patient-to-patient conversations we have had to date on the podcast. ⁠
Don't get us wrong...we have had some AMAZING conversations with fellow bariatric friends, but this one was so far-reaching, so targeted to our emotional and physical changes, and really dove into the hard things that we don't want to talk about or admit- that our friends, family, and even strangers treat us differently after bariatric surgery and then again after plastic surgery. Either real or perceived, these changes mess with our minds and our hearts.⁠
In this DEEP (and long) conversation with Veronica @vko_1977, we wanted to know three things: how did you make the decision to have plastic surgery, how has your body recovered, and did it "do" for you what are you hoping for plastic surgery would do? Turns out...those were some loaded and packed questions! No matter where you are in the process, you will find this conversation insightful, meaningful, and relatable. ⁠
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 53 min
July 07, 2021 056: Loving our Scars with ESTAS Beauty
What do you think of your scars? Do you love them? Do you hate them? Do you show them off or do you hide them? Our scars are something we rarely talk about, yet they are a visual representation of our history. They help tell the story of us. Most humans have a scar by two years old and as we age, we keep accumulating scars as our history progresses.
After bariatric surgery, many of us are left with scars of varying degrees and after plastic surgery, the scars are large and prominent. We recently met Alejandra and Christina, the founders of ESTAS Beauty. ESTAS stands for Every scar Tells A Story and their mission and vision are beyond uplifting and empowering. They are on a *mission* to help us share our scar stories with the world by learning to embrace and love our scars!
In this POWERFUL episode, you will meet these amazing women, learn about their histories through their scars, and better understand how and why we should lovingly care for our scars. Learning more about ESTAS beauty by visiting them online at www.estasbeauty.com and on Instagram at @estasbeauty
"If you treat your scars like an alien, they will look like an alien"
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
57 min
June 30, 2021 055: Skin Transformations with VSG Tea!
Our size and shape are not the only things that #transforms after #wls...our #skin does too! We recently sat down with the amazing women of @vsgtea, Sammi @therealslimsammii, and Bre @thebresg to talk about the transformation of their skin and #skincaretoutine have gone through #wlspostop! We anticipate loose and saggy skin after surgery, but what about wrinkles, dimples, and bumps? It all happens and it's OK! We can learn to love our new skin and pursue different ways of caring for our skin through every stage of our journey!
In this episode, Bre shares how she has revamped how she cares for her skin and Sammi talks about her plastic surgery experiences! If you are wondering how you can best care for your skin before and after #bariatricsurgery, this episode is for you!
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
51 min
June 23, 2021 054: Learning To Love Our Skin with Charity
We know that many of us struggle with loving our skin before bariatric surgery. So how do we get to the point after surgery where we can accept, acknowledge, and even love our skin? We sat down with Charity @wanderlust.wls to better understand her recipe for loving her skin at every stage of her journey! And let us tell you...she has been through it ALL. She has overcome life-threatening surgical complications and has come out of those experiences with an attitude of gratitude and positivity. You will be blown away by Charity's humor, humility, and honesty; she is a true gem in our bariatric community! In this episode, we will discuss the differences between body positivity and body neutraltiy, bariatric surgery complications, patient advocacy, and how we can care for our skin at every stage!
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 18 min
June 16, 2021053: Caring For Our Skin
Caring for our skin might have been something we *neglected* before bariatric surgery. Maybe we didn't enjoy interacting with our bodies, maybe it was never a priority, maybe we couldn't *touch* parts of our body because we simply could not reach it. Whatever the reason, skincare is a VERY important part of our overall health, and neglecting our skin can lead to lasting negative impacts.
In this episode, we welcome Celia @estetics.by.celia to talk all things skincare! She is a licensed Esthetician practicing in Tacoma, Washington who has over 10 years of experience in the industry. In this to-the-point (and hilarious) conversation, she helps us understand what skin is, the role that it plays in our overall health, and how we can nourish it for the rest of our lives! If you are just dipping your toe into skincare or are looking for ways to refresh your routine, you will find this episode valuable!
Follow Celia on Instagram @estetics.by.celia
Products referenced in this episode:
Osea

Skin Authority

Supergoop

Booda Organics

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
58 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