Your Bariatric Journey

Today on the podcast, Janine interviews Beth Marks, a personal trainer of fifteen years who specializes in bariatric patients. As an athlete in the women’s high jump, Beth is a top-tier trainer who knows how to motivate and inspire people who might have limited experience exercising. In this episode, Janine and Beth discuss how bariatric patients can improve their lives through achievable fitness goals. Topics include:

• The progression of weight loss, and how bariatric patients can incorporate fitness into the resources they use to keep the weight off.
• The importance of training early in your weight-loss journey, as well as finding the proper level of training to maximize the benefits you will receive.
• Advice on building your confidence to go to the gym, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of exercising.
• Marrying nutrition and fitness to improve your physical and mental health.
• Different workouts you can try to find the right workout for you.
• The personality you can expect from personal trainers, and the conversations you should have with your personal trainer to improve your workouts.
• Why the foods that are good for us don’t taste good at first, but will eventually.

Beth can be found on Instagram @getfitnownj, where she posts about fitness and weight loss.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

Janine interviews dietitian and therapist Megan Moore. Megan holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Washington State University and has been working with bariatric patients since 2013. We discuss:

• What a pre-surgery bariatric diet looks like, and why it is so restrictive.
• The flexibility of a diet post-surgery, including the best foods to eat and whether a strict low-carb or high-protein diet is necessary after weight-loss surgery.
• The stages of weight loss after surgery, and the healing process the stomach must go through to return patients to their best selves.
• Examples of recommended meals for bariatric patients, both before and after surgery.
• Ways bariatric patients can cook food that will minimize complications post-surgery and make tasty meals.
• The “three week stall”, and what bariatric patients can expect from weight loss in the early months.
• The commonality of struggles bariatric patients face, and the resources those patients can turn to.

Megan can be found at her website, My Bariatric Dietitian. Her website is a comprehensive resource for bariatric patients at any stage of their weight-loss journey, and provides understanding and encouragement. She is also active on Pinterest and Instagram, where she posts recipes that she suggests for bariatric patients. Her book of recipes, “The Complete Bariatric Cookbook and Meal Plan: Recipes and Guidance for Life Before and After Surgery”, is available now on Amazon.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In today’s interview episode, Janine speaks with independent blogger and bariatric patient Kimberly H. Kimberly has been documenting her bariatric journey on YouTube since 2014. She makes videos where she discusses her weight-loss surgery, reviews different foods and bariatric products, and provides motivation and encouragement for people in similar situations. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• The start of Kimberly’s weight-loss journey and what inspired her to seek out bariatric surgery.
• How bariatric patients’ relationship with food tends to change after surgery, and the pitfalls that can emerge from them.
• Pregnancy post-surgery, and the challenges that pregnancy can bring to the weight-loss process.
• The difference between a gastric sleeve and a mini-bypass, as well as the surgery that convert one to another.

Kimberly goes by “Kimberly H” on social media and can be found at the following links:

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram

Kimberly documents her “successes and failures” through her social media, while providing a safe and supportive space for other weight-loss surgery patients to interact and motivate each other. She’s an extremely positive, honest person and a terrific resource as you begin your bariatric journey.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

Bariatric surgery is a process that relies on a support team including your peers, doctors, and nutritionists to guide a patient on the journey to success. In this episode, Janine talks to nutritionist Elizabeth Anderson with CrackerJack Nutrition. Elizabeth is a registered and licensed dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. She writes blogs about the science behind eating and nutrition with a focus on busting common myths behind weight loss. She also offers online nutrition courses through her website, as well as live counseling via Skype. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Elizabeth’s career path, and what got her interested in the science behind weight loss and nutrition.
• The emotional relationships people have with food, and how bariatric patients can cope with the changes that surgery brings to their lives.
• Seeing weight-loss surgery as a tool rather than a cure.
• Common myths about weight loss and bariatric surgery.
• The balance between wanting to experience a fulfilling palette of food while also trying to maintain a healthy diet, and how best to do so.
• Common problems and issues bariatric patients face and how to overcome them. 

Visit Elizabeth’s website, https://crackerjacknutrition.com/, to learn more about making the decision to undergo bariatric surgery, overcome obstacles you may face, and achieving your long-term weight-loss goals. Elizabeth promises “no judgment, no shame,” just practical advice that can make a positive difference in your life.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

A reality of massive weight-loss is dealing with your changing body, including loose skin and plastic surgery. In this episode, Janine talks to bariatric patient Jessica Weber. Jessica has been documenting her weight-loss journey on Instagram, with a focus on issues relating to plastic surgery and the aesthetics of loose skin. Jessica and Janine discuss Jessica’s 2016 surgery, the positive attitude she has developed about her body, and the experience of plastic surgery.  Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Jessica’s reasoning for seeking out bariatric surgery and the mindset the surgery cultivates.
• The importance of honesty surrounding the surgery and accompanying the experience with a positive attitude.
• The likelihood of loose skin resulting from bariatric surgery and learning to adjust to those changes to your body.
• The difference getting plastic surgery to remove loose skin can make in your life.

Check out Jessica’s Instagram page, @gypsyj44, to read more about her personal journey and discuss issues related to bariatric surgery. Her blog is informative and her positive attitude is contagious!

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In this episode, Janine converses with Dr. Randy Seeley, a Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Seeley serves as the Director of the Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center and works in understanding the physiology of obesity and weight gain. Dr. Seeley takes Janine on a deep dive of the mechanics and chemistry behind why the human body gains weight, what triggers the desire to eat, and how food affects the body. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• The inspiration for Dr. Seeley’s research into obesity and the way our hormones affect weight gain.
• The vocabulary of weight-loss surgery and obesity: set points and hunger hormones
• Weight-loss surgery as a tool rather than a miracle cure
• Hormones and the control we have over our appetite
• The social stigma and myths surrounding obesity
• How Dr. Seeley’s research has impacted his own relationship with food
• Areas of interest and surprises in Dr. Seeley’s research
• Suggested resources for patients who want to learn more about hunger hormones and obesity

Check out the resources Dr. Seeley discusses in this episode for reliable, academic information about weight loss:

• The Obesity Action Coalition (https://www.obesityaction.org/)
• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management)
• ObesityWeek, a joint meeting between the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and The Obesity Society. In 2019, Obesity Week will take place between November 3 and November 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (https://obesityweek.com/) 

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In this episode, Janine speaks with Mili Metz, a former bariatric support group leader. In their conversation, Mili discusses the importance of support groups for bariatric patients and how a support group can help a patient to succeed in their bariatric journey. The journey is easier when we travel together! Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Mili’s inspiration to work with bariatric patients
• Support group and how they differ from individual therapy
• The specific needs and concerns of bariatric patients following surgery
• What a newcomer can expect from a support group
• Supplementing your existing support systems with support groups
• Preparing for weight-loss surgery through emotional honesty
• The accepting nature of bariatric support groups
• Suggestions for patients who don’t have access to in-person support groups
• Mili’s advice for new bariatric patients

Mili has her own podcast, Ask an American, where she interviews people, just like you, to explore diversity and opportunities for collaboration in America today. Her organization is The Swell Collective, an “unconventional nonprofit organization” that focuses on “intersectional needs & strengths of marginalized communities” as well as “themes of ethical collaboration, effective communication, and resiliency & wellness.” You can find out more about The Swell Collective on their website, https://swellcollective.org/.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In this episode, Janine talks to Nikki Lynn, the Bariatric Foodie. Bariatric Patient (and part-time gardener) Nikki shares with us how you can still be a foodie, even post Bariatric Surgery. Nikki and Janine talk about how just because you're undergoing weight loss, you do not have to suffer bland, boring foods. You can still live the full life you deserve post-surgery, and Nikki can teach you how. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Our relationships with food and the obstacles that come with them
• Food choices patients have in the pre-surgery stages (puree and soft food)
• Bariatric food adaptations of your favorite foods
• Opportunities to build healthy eating habits long-term following surgery
• Nikki’s advice for new and considering bariatric patients.
• Myths of weight-loss surgery and tough love
• Nikki’s cookbooks and Bariatric Foodie toolkits

If you’d like to join Nikki’s online weight-loss community and check out her cookbooks, you can find Nikki at the addresses below. Just look for the red heart inside the circle, so you know it’s the Bariatric Foodie.

• Website: https://www.bariatricfoodie.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BariatricFoodie/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bariatric_foodie_nation/

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In this episode, Janine speaks with Lou Schopfer, a bariatric patient who underwent gastric sleeve surgery in 2014. Since that time, Lou has lost over 100 pounds and advocates for bariatric surgery as a means for transforming the lives of others like himself. He shares the story of his life, from the roots of his struggles with obesity, the questions he had before the surgery, and how his life dramatically improved afterward. If you’re undecided about weight-loss surgery, Lou's Bariatric Journey may help you transform your life for the better. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Deciding whether weight-loss surgery is right for you
• The pre-surgery consultation process and emotions surrounding it
• Lou’s life post-surgery and what other patients can expect
• Lou’s story and personal journey through the surgery process
• Weight-loss surgery is a tool rather than a miracle cure
• Diet and lifestyle following weight-loss surgery.
• Lou’s advice for successful weight-loss surgery

You can read more about Lou’s weight-loss journey at Penn Medicine’s page about his surgery. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/bariatric-surgery/patient-stories/lou-story.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!

In this episode, Janine speaks with Kristin Lloyd, a psychotherapist and mindset coach for bariatric patients, who shares the story of her own Bariatric Journey. During their conversation, Kristen and Janine connect over the common issues worrying many Bariatric Patients and how to help address and overcome any fears you may have if you’re considering weight-loss surgery. Here’s a brief overview of the topics we discuss:

• Kristen’s bariatric experience and advice for patients in the first few months following surgery
• The proper mindset to succeed after bariatric surgery
• How self-doubt can impact success after weight loss surgery
• How weight loss surgery can affect your personal relationships
• The importance of journaling for bariatric patients
• The most persistent myths surrounding bariatric surgery
• The experience of being five years removed from weight-loss surgery 

You can find Kristin Lloyd on her website, BariatricMindset.com. If you would like to hear more from her, check out her books, including Bariatric Mindset Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Bariatric-Mindset-Success-Weight-Surgery-ebook/dp/B0762ZF68P.

This podcast wouldn't be possible without our sponsor, BariatricPal.com. If you're looking for a supportive online network of bariatric patients, be sure to browse their forums and connect with other WLS patients from around the world. Also, you'll find amazing bariatric-friendly foods in their store https://Store.BariatricPal.com. If you use the promo code PODCAST with your first order, you'll get 10% off!