BariNation

I struggle with movement. Exercise. Training. All of it. And what’s so weird is that before bariatric surgery- obesity treatment- it was *not* a struggle.

I practiced hot yoga 5,6,7 times a week.

I walked or slogged 5k’s a few times a year.

I went to the gym.

And now, I struggle to find any rhythm or cadence when it comes to movement.

It’s always on my “to-do” list, but it always slides to the very bottom.

Why?

Well…I’m sure it has something to do with my motivation to move *before* treatment.

Movement was my way of publically showing the world that I was not a “bad” fat person (I know…I cringe when I say and type those words now but it was what was true for me back then).

I was doing the work. Even though the work did nothing for my weight or health.

I had sleep apnea and was pre-diabetic sweating every ounce of water during my 90 minute hot yoga classes.

But I loved it. I really did.

When I have the honor of interviewing people and experts who dedicate their focus to movement, something changes.

It’s not immediate. But it plants a seed of awareness in my brain that it keeps chewing on.

This week, I talked with Kelly McGonigal about movement and motivation and she said something mind blowing.

When we move, we open a door to a pharmacy in our brain. And that pharmacy makes and dispenses hope. HOPE.

I don’t know about you, but I feel hopeless more days than not. When the disease reared its ugly head again and again, it saps my hope bank account. But Kelly helped me understand that movement deposits hope back into my life and helps me grow that hope account.

Huh.

Interesting.

A new reason to move.

I’m not saying a single conversation will instantly inspire you to move. If it does, awesome! But the more we surround ourselves with things that help us move in the direction we want to go, the more often we will move in that direction.

If you’re struggling with movement, me too.

If you want something for your brain to chew on, listen or watch this conversation.

Comment below or send us a DM and I will pass along the link.

Movement can sometimes be a mystery. And I love solving mysteries. Maybe you do, too.

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If you struggle with exercise or movement, consistency, or motivation, this conversation is for you.

Sometimes, we need a different “why” behind movement to light that fire to start and keep going.
Kelly McGonigal teaches us how hope- yes…hope…is created when we move and why hope is the thing that keeps us coming back for more.

This is a powerful mindset shift that has the power to change how we approach movement forever. Thank you to long time member Charity Shantell Guerrero for joining A P R I L 👑 W I L L I A M S for this much needed conversation.

Drop your favorite platform in the comments of find the links to watch and listen in our In The Know channel.

You got this and we got you.

Treating obesity can also mean you treat other health issues, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and even fertility and family planning.

One treatment, so many positive health impacts!

If you have onboarded treatment- bariatric surgery and/or medication like GLP1, have you seen other benefits besides weight loss?

Full episode with Dr. Galvani on all major platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube!

It’s about more than your weight.

Obesity is not just about weight loss, it’s about metabolic health. And the goal of treatment is not necessarily about losing weight, it’s about improving health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, even lowering cancer risks.

But guess what? There is not a comprehensive and consistent treatment pathway for people, doctors, or practitioners. So depending on who you see, your treatment options could be different.

The TREO Foundation 501(c)(3) wants to develop this pathway and they need our help to make it happen.

On September 26th, we are participating in the TREO Foundation’s The Walk to raise awareness and funds for projects, like this Treatment Pathway because everyone needs and deserves consistent and compassionate obesity treatment.

Join our free virtual BariNation walk team and move with us! Comment “link” below to register or find it in our BariNation In The Know channel on Instagram.

Let’s move, BariNation!

What IS your goal when it comes to losing weigh and treating this disease of obesity?

Has your doctor ever asked you that?

It’s ok if they haven’t, and in this day and age, they should.

Dr. Monique Hassan Monique Hassan, MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS joined us on the BariNation Foundation Podcast to walk us through how we can find a provider who is always helping us reach our goals.

Our BariNation Community member Jasmine fernandezdiecastcustomz shared how her team and community has helped her every step of the way.

She also gave the most epic car analogy to help us understand why having that person or care team in or corner as we fight obesity is absolutely needed and necessary.

Links to watch or listen are in our BariNation In The Know channel here on IG or just let us know your favorite platform to watch or listen in the comments and we will pass along that link.

You got this and we got you!

Keywords: obesity treatment, weight loss, ongoing care, holistic care, goals, weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, medication, GLP1, community, support groups

What has your experience been like? Is your surgeon and team been your champion, fighting with your every step of the way?

If not, it might be time to find a new one!

Lucky for you, this week’s podcast is about exactly that- how to find a team that will walk alongside you and help your fight the disease of obesity for the long-haul.

Links to the guides and full episodes in our In The Know channel on Instagram and wherever you watch and listen! (Or just send us a DM and we will pass along the links!)

Thank you Monique Hassan, MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS and BariNation Community member Jasmine fernandezdiecastcustomz for having this conversation with us!

You got this and we got you.

Keywords: find a provider, obesity specialist, obesity treatment, weight loss, weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery, community, guide, help, support, BariNation

Our conversation with Dr. Eric Smith about whole food eating was about so much more thank adding whole foods back into our diet.

For so many of us, food was something we turned to for comfort. And it didn’t really matter what food it was- if it brought us comfort. But as we learned from Melanie Lindell, trauma therapist and BariNation expert, comfort and relief are not the same thing.

Full episode on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and YouTube.

Has your relationship with food changed after surgery or medications?

You got this and we got you.

Keywords: emotional eating, whole food, whole food eating, obesity, weight loss, bariatric surgery, relationships, GLP1

Can food noise be healed with whole food eating?

Turns out, it’s not a yes or a no answer. What has your experience been like? How has food noise shown up in your life and what has helped you quiet it?

And in our second “Levers” podcast series with Dr. Eric Smith , we talk through this very question- is there something contributing to food noise and if so, is there something we can do about it?

Most bariatric patients are told to consume ultra-processed foods right out of surgery to help us heal, recover, and protect our muscle mass.

After this stage, whole food eating is the recommended next step. We wanted to know what impact that could have on not only our progress, but our over all health- our metabolic wellness.

Why is it hard for some people to make this switch? And what about the people who still experience “food noise” no matter what they try?

For some people, whole food eating helps quiet that food noise. For others, it’s doesn’t. And that’s ok. Whole food eating is about fueling our body with the things it needs to function at its peak, even if it doesn’t totally quiet that food noise.

Like so many things in life, we need more than one thing to treat the disease for the rest of our lives. Whole food eating is a lever we can pull that is in our control. And talking with our doctor about what we still experience after pulling the whole food lever is just as important.

If you want to know more about the whole food lever and real people’s experience with quieting food noise, watch and listen to Ep 290 of the BariNation Podcast. Send us a DM or find the links in our In The Know channel here on Instagram.

Every person is different and the disease can impacts in different ways. There is space for all of our experiences. And there are amazing treatments out there to help us with the things that are beyond our control 💙

You got this and we got you.