Bariatric Body Image: What No One Tells You About Loving the Body You Fought For

Bariatric Body Image: What No One Tells You About Loving the Body You Fought For

What happens when you lose 140 pounds and still cry at your reflection? This week I sit down with Annalise, who went from 330 pounds and an abusive marriage to running 5Ks, shopping in stores she never walked into before, and learning to love a body she spent 30 years hating. But the real conversation? The grief. The body dysmorphia. The little voice in her head she named Vanessa. And what it actually takes to forgive yourself for how you treated your body before you knew better. If you've ever looked in the mirror after surgery and still not recognized yourself — this episode is for you. What we cover: * The midnight Google search that started everything * Why loving yourself before surgery matters more than the scale * Grieving your old self even when the transformation is a blessing * Body dysmorphia stealing joy at a 5K finish line * Why we still reach for the plus-size section out of habit * Affirmations, journaling, and gratitude as the real tools of transformation * Forgiving yourself — over and over again Timestamps: 00:00 Bariatric Intro — Lost 140 Pounds, Still Cried at the Mirror 01:13 Bariatric Breaking Point — Abusive Marriage, Single Mom, 330 Pounds 04:03 Bariatric Why — When Your Child Becomes Your North Star 07:12 Bariatric Surgery Decision — The Midnight Google Search 10:21 Bariatric Weight Loss — 140 Pounds and Still Chasing a Number 12:32 Bariatric Grief — Mourning the Person You Used to Be 17:38 Bariatric Healing — Affirmations, Journaling & Forgiving Yourself 22:24 Bariatric Body Dysmorphia — How It Stole Her 5K Joy 28:10 Bariatric Body Image — Shopping in Stores You Never Fit Before Connect with Annalise: 📱 Social: https://www.tiktok.com/@findinganalyse [https://www.tiktok.com/@findinganalyse] Join the Parallel Paths membership community: 👉 https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths [https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths] Come see us in person — Echoes of You Wellness Fest: September 19, 2026 | Kroc Center, Atlanta, GA 🎟️ www.EchoesOfYouFest.com [http://www.EchoesOfYouFest.com] Subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode.

Bariatric Hormones — What I Didn't Expect After Surgery

Ever been doing everything right and your body still does something completely different? That's exactly what happened to me. Two years post-op, my periods got irregular, my weight started fluctuating for no reason, and my energy was all over the place. Every lab came back normal. So what was going on? In this Fuel Your Journey episode, I'm sharing my personal experience with how major weight loss affects your hormones — and what I wish someone had told me sooner. What we cover: * Why your body may feel "off" even when labs come back normal * How significant weight loss disrupts hormone production and balance * What symptoms to watch for — and what to actually ask your doctor * Why we need to stop normalizing feeling miserable post-op * Shifting from "what's wrong with me" to "what does my body need" Timestamps: 00:00 Bariatric FYJ Intro — Something Felt Off 02:14 Bariatric Hormones — What Fat Actually Does 05:30 Bariatric Body Changes — This Is Not In Your Head 08:45 Bariatric Symptoms — What To Watch For & Ask Your Doctor 12:20 Bariatric Mindset — Stop Blaming Yourself 16:10 Bariatric Community — You Don't Have To Do This Alone 18:30 My Journey My Business — Happy Birthday To Me 🎂 Join the Parallel Paths membership community: 👉 https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths [https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths] Join the free Facebook community: 👉 bariatricpaths.com [http://bariatricpaths.com] Come see us in person — Echoes of You Wellness Fest: September 19, 2026 | Kroc Center, Atlanta, GA 🎟️ www.EchoesOfYouFest.com [http://www.EchoesOfYouFest.com] Subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode. ---------------------------------------- This podcast is for informational and community support purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or care team about what's right for you.

Bariatric Surgery — There's No One Right Way to Do This

We spend so much time looking for the "right way" to do bariatric surgery — the right surgery, the right diet, the right rules. But after talking to so many people on this podcast, I've realized something: there probably isn't one right way. Cory Padarathsingh is back for Part 2, and we're getting into his full research process — how he chose the sleeve, why Facebook groups told him more than his surgeon consultations did, and the moment daily life (literally just getting the mail) told him it was time. We also talk about grieving food, the friendships that didn't survive the journey, and why "everyone can't be right" when it comes to what your body needs. If you've ever felt like you were doing this wrong because your journey didn't look like someone else's — this episode is for you. What we cover: * Researching surgeons, surgeries, and sorting through conflicting advice * Why Facebook groups can tell you more than consultations * Choosing the sleeve vs. the bypass * The daily-life moment that made surgery undeniable * Grieving food, lost friendships, and old habits * Building a real relationship with a nutritionist post-op * Why there's no single "right way" to do this journey Timestamps: 00:00 Bariatric Intro — There's No One Right Way 01:21 Bariatric Research — Facebook Groups vs. Surgeon Consultations 07:12 Bariatric Surgery Choice — Sleeve vs. Bypass 09:16 Bariatric Daily Life — The Moment Surgery Became Necessary 10:10 Bariatric Food Grief — Losing Friends and Old Habits 17:34 Bariatric Nutritionist Relationship — Year-Long Support 20:46 Bariatric Vitamins — Why Skipping Them Is Dangerous 28:14 My Journey, My Business — Cory's Honest Take Connect with Cory: 🔗 All links: https://linktr.ee/sleevedwithcory [https://linktr.ee/sleevedwithcory] 📖 His Bariatric Journal: https://a.co/d/0dlvK7AW [https://a.co/d/0dlvK7AW] 🎙️ His Podcast — Heavy Topics & Lighter Lives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcEcKWufK7CdoiAOXwJiLCg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcEcKWufK7CdoiAOXwJiLCg] 📱 Social: @sleevedwithcory Join the Parallel Paths membership community: 👉 https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths [https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths] Subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode.

Bariatric Dating: What No One Tells You After Major Weight Loss

Ever wonder what really happens after you lose 100+ pounds? The attention changes. The dating changes. And the fear of gaining it all back? That gets LOUDER. This week I'm joined by Cory Padarathsingh, who lost 162 pounds and is giving us something we rarely hear in this space — the male perspective. We're talking pretty privilege, the DM flood, dating when you're still a "big guy at heart," and why the surgery changes your stomach but NOT your brain. If you've ever questioned someone's motives after your transformation, mourned your relationship with food, or lie awake scared of regaining — this episode is for you. What we cover: * How people treat you differently after major weight loss * Pretty privilege — and why it's uncomfortable at first * Dating standards, confidence, and finding someone who gets the lifestyle * Why food triggers don't disappear after surgery * The fear of regain and how to manage it mentally * Emotional eating, binge patterns, and building real discipline Timestamps: 00:00 Intro — Losing 162 Pounds 01:23 Bariatric Dating — Being Treated Differently 03:38 Bariatric Weight Loss & Pretty Privilege 07:45 Bariatric Dating Standards & Finding a Partner 12:31 Bariatric Food Triggers — When Love Looks Like Cookies 14:45 The Bariatric Mental Battle — Stomach, Not Brain 21:19 Bariatric Discipline & Binge-Eating Triggers 25:18 Bariatric Fear of Regain & the Scale Connect with Cory: All links: https://linktr.ee/sleevedwithcory [https://linktr.ee/sleevedwithcory] His Bariatric Journal: https://a.co/d/0dlvK7AW [https://a.co/d/0dlvK7AW] His Podcast — Heavy Topics & Lighter Lives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcEcKWufK7CdoiAOXwJiLCg [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcEcKWufK7CdoiAOXwJiLCg] Social: @sleevedwithcory Join the Parallel Paths membership community: https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths [https://www.bariatricpaths.com/parallel-paths] Subscribe so you never miss a Tuesday episode.

How To Stop Self-Sabotage After Bariatric Surgery (Therapist Explains)

You did the surgery. But what about your marriage, your mental health, and the patterns you brought with you? In Part 2, licensed therapist and bariatric patient Danielle Palermo, LMSW joins Jatoyia Armour to get real about the work that makes bariatric surgery actually stick — accountability, support systems, GLP-1 as a tool, marriage after surgery, addiction transfer, depression after weight loss, and why the mental health piece is the one nobody prepares you for. This episode covers: how to stop self-sabotage, what real accountability looks like post-op, why your support network matters more than any coping skill, GLP-1 after bariatric surgery, the real reason bariatric divorce rates are high, and why insurance is failing bariatric patients on mental health coverage. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but still falling apart — this episode is for you. Connect with Danielle: Instagram @daniellepalermo.lmsw Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095 [https://pod.link/1797899095] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246] Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com [https://www.BariatricPaths.com] 00:00 How to get unstuck after bariatric surgery 01:14 Identity — are you doing this for you or for others? 03:12 Acceptance, self-awareness, and breaking old patterns 04:01 What real accountability looks like post-op 05:22 Coping tools that actually work long-term 06:20 Why your support network matters more than coping skills 08:09 Bringing your family and partner into your new routine 09:24 Working out with an accountability partner (real talk) 10:25 GLP-1 after bariatric surgery — it's just another tool 11:21 Why the mental work matters even more on GLP-1 12:36 Why mental health is deprioritized in bariatric programs 13:02 The psych eval that doesn't actually prepare you 14:06 What should change in bariatric pre-op and post-op care 15:39 Insurance gaps — mental health and GLP-1 coverage 16:30 How bariatric surgery can trigger depression 17:08 Bariatric surgery and divorce — the real conversation 19:06 How to recalibrate your marriage after massive weight loss 20:20 Starting therapy and marriage counseling at the same time 21:37 Embracing your new body — loose skin, crop tops, and confidence 22:16 Why weight can't be your only measure of success 23:59 How to find and work with Danielle Palermo 24:24 My Journey, My Business: Danielle's moment of truth