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!