Bariatric Banter Podcast

Episode 53: The Bariatric Life Isn't a Side Quest

Fair. Let me strip it down — no "dig into," no "real one," no "roaring back," no em-dashes doing emotional work. Just how you'd actually describe it. Episode Description Hannah and Steph are back, and neither of them remembers what episode number this is. (It's 53. Probably.) This one starts with both of them admitting that some weeks, recording the podcast is the only time they actually sit down and think about bariatrics. Which is kind of the whole point of the episode: you can't put this on autopilot. Not at one year out, not at three, not at ten. They talk about treating bariatric life like a job (sorry), the mindset people bring into surgery and why "I'm not giving anything up" tends to catch up with people, the 3-5 year mark when hunger hormones come back, transfer addiction, and why tying your self-worth to the scale will wreck you the second the number stops moving. Also covered: Steph storming out of a pizza place over a missing slice, Hannah's therapist making her figure out why she actually runs, and both of them giving themselves homework to pay better attention this week.

Ep 52: We're Baby Runners and We're Not Okay (But Also We Are)

Hannah is back from Miami with conference plague and a lot of feelings. Steph just survived her longest run interval to date and nearly died (she didn't). This week we're getting into all of it — what it actually feels like to start running when your whole relationship with exercise has been shaped by being the last kid picked, the one who dreaded track and field day, the one who got yelled at during The Loop. We talk about the treadmill-to-outdoor humbling experience, why "conversational pace" sounds like a personal attack, and what happens when you pass someone in your first 5K and immediately blow your entire race plan because the thrill of not being last is too powerful. Hannah also gets vulnerable about something she hasn't fully admitted until now: she's grieving. Grieving the running version of herself she was building before pneumonia, tanking iron levels, and cardiac scares took it all away. She shares a raw therapy session moment that a lot of you are probably going to relate to — what happens when you realize you're not lazy, you're just carrying a lot. We also shout out Emma Flynn (@itsemflynn) and Tatiana Forbes, two runners worth following who actually keep it real, and talk about why obsession and motivation aren't the same thing — and how confusing the two will make you hate something you used to love. Come run with us. We're slow, we're loud, and we're not stopping.

Ep 51: Protein Balls, a 5K Announcement & Hannah's Honest Weight Check-In

Episode 51 and we're back with back-to-back weeks — which means we're either very dedicated or very unhinged. Possibly both. This week we're getting into the stuff nobody talks about enough: what it actually feels like to slip, own it, and claw your way back. Hannah gives a raw, honest update on where she's at with her weight, her clothes, and the GLP-1 prescription sitting unused in her drawer. Steph drops the protein ball recipe that her whole family is absolutely devouring (and that Hannah is already obsessed with). We also get into the 10-minute workout rule — the one trick that gets you off the couch even when your brain is screaming at you to stay home — and Steph casually reveals she's training for a 5K. No big deal. We cover: * The 10-minute rule for when you really, really don't want to work out * Steph's protein ball recipe (and whether they're actually as good for you as they feel) * Post-workout protein: 30g in 30 minutes and why it matters * Hannah's honest weight check-in: what "regain" looks like after bariatric surgery * GLP-1 fears, side effects, and why Hannah still hasn't taken the plunge * Steph's 5:30am running era begins * Why Steph says: "It's not a regain. It's a re-lose." New page. Let's go.

[Matinee Monday] Episode 50: Our Very First Bariatric Banter Podcast Episode

We're re-releasing Episode 1 for Matinee Monday — and if you've never heard it, this is your starting point. In our very first episode, Hannah and Steph introduce themselves, break down their bariatric journeys, and give you an honest, no-filter look at what it actually takes to get weight loss surgery in Canada. We cover how we both ended up at the same Ontario clinic, why we chose VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) over bypass, and what the Canadian bariatric process actually looks like — from the referral to orientation to the 8-12 month checklist of bloodwork, dietitian meetings, social worker sessions, and psychological check-ins before anyone lets you near an OR. We also talk about the orientation experience, which... let's just say the chat was a lot. If you've ever wondered whether someone genuinely asked if McDonald's counts as a soft food on a post-op diet, we have your answer. Plus: why Canada's fully covered program changed how we think about surgery, the real talk on why 30% of people regain their weight, and Hannah's hot take on who's actually ready for this surgery and who isn't. Raw, real, and a little chaotic — just like us.

Episode 49: Hot Takes, Sour Puffs & One Very Bad Korean Protein Shake

Hannah and Steph are back, one of them sick as a dog and both of them with extremely strong opinions about protein bars. This week kicks off with a little Easter nostalgia — because nothing says "first post-op holiday" like surviving a candy-filled occasion on tuna salad and mashed potatoes. Then things take a turn, as they do, into a PSA about Russell Stover sugar-free chocolate and why Ricola nearly derailed Steph's new job certification call. You'll want to hear this one before Easter weekend. Then we get into the real content: * Built Bar Sour Puffs have arrived in Canada and Hannah is having a full moment. Spoiler: they're not actually sour, they taste like Laffy Taffy, and candy is officially back on the table * The full Built Bar flavour ranking — peanut butter cup cold from the fridge is elite, coconut is cancelled, and birthday cake is a gamble nobody should take * The Korean pouched protein shake from Costco that went viral and absolutely should not have. Roasted soybean flavour. Does not blend. Genuinely the worst thing either of them has consumed post-op * Milton's crackers — Hannah bought three Costco-sized bags and has zero regrets. 10g of protein, great crunch, worth every penny * Prime cookies and cream protein shakes — drink them cold, full stop