BariNation Podcast BariNation Podcast

While it may be a newly federally recognized holiday, Juneteenth is not new for those in the African American community. Today, the CEO of Bariatric Society, Nerissa Stewart joins the show to talk about Juneteenth, the importance of the holiday, where some of the traditions come from, and how the day is celebrated within black communities. We encourage you to listen to this episode to learn more about a day that celebrates freedom. 

Comment “Juneteenth” below, and we will DM you links to the BariNation podcast playlist, amplifying black voices and expertise in our community, an educational resource, and a robust website to find and support black-owned businesses local to you. 

IN THIS EPISODE:


[1:16] Nerissa describes what it means to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth.


[3:24] What opportunities does Juneteenth open up?


[5:38] How is Juneteeth celebrated? 


[9:12] What are some ways Nerissa enjoys seeing people commemorating the day? 


[14:08] Where can you find Nerissa? 



KEY TAKEAWAYS:


Take the time to pause and think about and really understand the deeper meaning of what other communities went through throughout history. 


Juneteenth is celebrated in the black community with togetherness!


Think of different ways that you can support the black community - refer someone to an opportunity, donate to an organization, learn more about the history of the day, think about the presidential candidates and what they support, and find a business that you can support!





RESOURCES:


RissaRecharged Instagram


RissaRecharged Popular Links


National Museum of African American History - Juneteenth 


By Black Website 


PMI Inc. Online Website 




Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community


Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast starting at just $5 a month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast





BIOGRAPHY:

Nerissa Stewart is the CEO of Bariatric Society and four years post-op VSG. Aside from her work within the Bariatric Community, Nerissa is a respected leader and speaker in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) field with over 15 years experience leading diverse teams and initiatives. In her corporate roles, Nerissa has worked for the inclusion of all and has received numerous awards including the distinction of Outstanding Black Alumni by her Alma mater Mary Baldwin University.



ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

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.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We cannot believe we have made it to our 200th episode! Come celebrate by getting a peak into a BariNation Community Member meeting. This is a safe place for our community members to share their wins, struggles, and goals with likeminded people. During this episode, you will hear from several of our BariNation members, with a focus on self love and self talk throughout your bariatric journey. You’ll understand why having a support system is so important after bariatric surgery. Tune in today to learn more about the community and connect with others.  



IN THIS EPISODE:


[2:29] BariNation Member shares their experience seeing other members in person and the difficulties they experience getting back to "real life"


[9:12] How to handle negative self-talk about your journey. 


[10:46] A BariNation Member shares one of his wins around movement!


[15:25] Another BariNation member talks about the power of community and support as well as his struggles with love. 


[22:15] BariNation member, Margaret shares how she feels about self love.


[24:00] Andrea shares about her journey with self love and learning to put herself first.


[26:52] BariNation member, Christine, shares about her wins and realizations during one weekend with friends.


[28:56] Natalie shares her thoughts on self love and celebrating wins.


[31:52] BariNation member, Ashlea, shares a win for her getting back to habits consistently. 


[33:17] BariNation Member, Tony, talks about the importance of support. 


[35:57] BariNation Member, Tabitha, shares about her current win, struggle, and goal and onboarding with Ozempic. 



KEY TAKEAWAYS:


Each body is individual. Just because someone else had a huge weight loss post surgery, doesn’t mean that your body will react the same. You will go back and forth between commitment and life and maintenance stages. 


One of the best things you can do while you navigate your journey is to have a community and support group. People you can lean on to celebrate wins and struggles. 


The BariNation Membership Community is a network of experts and peers where you can connect with the support, education, and resources that you need in the moment to move through your bariatric life with confidence. 





RESOURCES:

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

Join the BariNation Membership community for daily meetups just like the one you're listening to or watching - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community



ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.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.


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Welcome to the very first professionally produced episode of the BariNation Podcast! Your hosts, April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney, are thrilled to embark on this journey with you. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Pesta, a renowned expert in bariatrics. Dr. Pesta starts the discussion by sharing the critical markers of obesity. He then delves into the various preliminary approaches to overcoming the disease of obesity, including bariatric surgery. He also highlights how different cultures are affected. The conversation continues with an in-depth look at post-surgery medical approaches, weight loss statistics, the safety of bariatric procedures, insurance considerations, and the importance of patient readiness for surgery. Finally, Dr. Pesta leaves us with an essential tip: don’t give up. Take the first step and commit to weight loss for long-term good health.



IN THIS EPISODE:



[0:33] Hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are excited to welcome you to the first professionally produced BariNation Podcast. 



[8:38] Dr. Pesta shares his background and profession. He provides the markers of obesity



[15:17] Dr. Pesta explains the different options patients should explore going from a preliminary approach to bariatric surgery and how cultures are affected differently



[22:50] Discussion of continuation of various medical approaches after surgery



[28:59] Dr. Pesta discusses weight loss in percentages, the safety of bariatric surgery and insurance coverage 



[33:47] Discussion of readiness of a patient to have surgery



[37:36] One consideration is that once you start the weight loss medication, it is a lifelong decision



[41:22] Explanation of the BariNation Community and why membership is beneficial





KEY TAKEAWAYS:



[10:05] Obesity is a disease. A doctor can diagnose a patient to determine whether they are obese by establishing the patient’s BMI.



[15:34] Research shows that improving a patient’s BMI earlier helps them return to a normal body mass index under 25.



[30:05] Data supports that bariatric surgery is even safer than having your gallbladder out because of all the workups done before weight loss surgery. 





RESOURCES:

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast



BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Carl Pesta is a McLaren Macomb board-certified general surgeon who specializes in advanced laparoscopic surgical weight loss procedures. He is also a “Center of Excellence” bariatric surgeon.

He earned his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Pesta completed his residency at McLaren Macomb and a bariatric surgery proctorship at Henry Ford Bi-County Hospital. He performs a wide variety of bariatric procedures, as well as revision and conversion procedures.

Dr. Pesta is leading the comprehensive bariatric program  Dr. Carl Pestaat the McLaren Macomb. With 18 years experience as a surgeon, Dr. Pesta has performed more than 5,000 bariatric procedures. The bariatrics program at McLaren Macomb provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to caring for the healthcare needs of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.



ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.



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 license

Do you think about food often? Are there constant food-related thoughts racing through your brain every day? This constant chatter centered around food has been dubbed “food noise,” and it seems to be a topic of great discussion lately, but for good reason. For decades, people fighting the disease of obesity knew what it was because they experienced it constantly, we just never had a term for it, and we just didn’t know it was something other people experienced. 



Obesity is an isolating disease, and for so long, April, Jason, and Natalie through their excess weight were 100% their fault. Despite trying every diet, workout program, cleanse, fast, and pill, they could never find and maintain a healthy weight. But after they each underwent bariatric surgery, they noticed that food noise disappeared. It just went away, leaving them in shock at just how much time, energy, and capacity the disease was taking from them. 



In this episode, your hosts shared their experiences with "food noise," the constant chatter in the mind about food, and its impact on their relationship with food post-surgery. They shared strategies for managing this food noise, including visualization, community, education, therapy, mindful eating, and self-compassion.



They also share some very exciting news at the end of this episode, so listen and watch to the end! BariNation is growing in the most amazing ways and we have YOU, our listeners, watchers, supporters, and community members to thank! 



If you are struggling with food noise and want some professional help dealing with it, join the BariNation Support Community, and connect with fellow patients and experts in our safe and inclusive community. Visit https://barination.mn.co to learn more!

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty. 

 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!


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Is there a right time to have bariatric surgery? 

We always hear this question from BariNation Members, our friends, and followers. Undergoing bariatric surgery requires months to prepare for your procedure and can require a few months of recovery. The process often involves our friends and family and significantly disrupts our daily lives. Many of us will take extended time off work to recoup, and arrangements must be made for the humans we care for. There is a lot that goes into planning and preparing for surgery. 

But at the end of the day, we do think there is a right time to have surgery. And our answer might surprise you! 

In this episode, BariNation hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney have an honest conversation about the process they went through when deciding to have bariatric surgery. Each followed a different path, but their worries and concerns were the same. In the end, the decision to treat their disease of obesity through surgery has been one of the most pivotal moments of their lives, and they would make the same decision again. 

If you have been thinking about having surgery or are committed to surgery but are worried about the timing of it all, this episode is for you! If you have questions, you would love to ask other bariatric patients, join the BariNation Support Community, and connect with fellow patients and experts in the pre-operative stages today! Visit https://barination.mn.co to learn more!

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty. 

 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!


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

The disease of obesity will require a lifelong fight and many different treatment modalities. With the advancements in medication and care, anti-obesity drugs like Zepbound and Wegovy are positioned to become viable options for bariatric patients in their pre and post-operative stages. But what happens if you lose access to these medications? Will you regain some or all of the weight you lost while taking these powerful and effective drugs?

In this episode, BariNation CoFounder April sat down with BariNation Expert and Professional Chef Stephanie Mitchell, a bariatric patient and professional chef who shares her experience with GLP-1 medication and life after stopping it. Stephanie discusses her journey on the medication, the challenges she faced after stopping it, and how she has maintained the low weight that she achieved while on Mounjuaro. 

The conversation highlights the importance of mindset, self-acceptance, and constant self-reflection in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stephanie emphasizes having conversations with oneself, setting goals, and staying accountable. The episode also touches on the bariatric community's and BariNation's power in providing support and guidance. In this conversation, she discusses the importance of maintaining healthy habits and mindset after bariatric surgery. She has learned to lean into BariNation’s Pillars of Bariatric Success of Movement, Mindset, Metabolic Wellness, and Community when things started to feel overwhelming. 

If you have been thinking about onboarding an anti-obesity medication but are worried about what could happen if you ever stop taking medication, this powerful episode is for you. We hope you leave this conversation knowing that you can maintain your low weight, with or without medication; you have the tools you need to find lasting success. 

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty. 

About our Guests: Stephanie Mitchell is a professional chef, wife, and mother living in Bear, Delaware. After battling obesity since childhood, she decided to have VSG surgery in 2020 and introduced Mounjaro as an adjunct treatment in 2022. After reaching her goal weight in 2023, she has been inspired to help others maintain with or without anti-obesity medication. Follow Stephanie on Instagram @steph_the_shrinking_chef and listen to her podcast, We Are Losing It. 

 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!


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ba