Most people don’t struggle with change because they don’t care.
They struggle because they’ve been taught the wrong story about why change is hard.
And if you're reading this blog, we know you pretty much know what you need to do; you're just struggling to actually do the things. We have been there...and we have figured it out. It's what this Deep Dive is all about.
If you’re living with the disease of obesity, you’ve likely spent years being told that habits are about discipline, motivation, or “just sticking with it.” When things didn’t work, the blame often landed on you, not on biology, environment, nervous system safety, or the lack of real support.
At BariNation, we believe there’s a better way to understand change.
That belief is at the heart of our Atomic Habits Deep Dive.
What is the Atomic Habits Deep Dive?
The Atomic Habits Deep Dive is a guided, small-group learning experience inside the BariNation Support Community. It uses the principles from Atomic Habits by James Clear as a foundation, but the experience itself goes far beyond reading or discussion.
This is not a book club.
It’s not a productivity course.
It’s not about fixing yourself.
Instead, it’s a chance to:
- Learn how habits actually work in real human bodies and lives
- Reflect on your own patterns without shame
- Practice one small habit, chosen with intention
- Integrate what you learn into your bariatric journey in a sustainable way
The focus is not on doing more. It’s about understanding more and letting that understanding change how you relate to yourself.
Why Atomic Habits?
At its core, Atomic Habits offers a powerful reframe: Habits are not a measure of character. They are systems responding to cues, environments, and rewards.
For people living with obesity, this reframe can be transformative.
It helps explain:
- Why willpower often fails
- Why change feels harder in certain bodies
- Why shame and pressure backfire
- Why small changes are not weak, they’re effective
In the Deep Dive, we translate these concepts specifically into bariatric life, honoring the realities of:
- Changed anatomy
- Hormonal shifts
- Fatigue and recovery
- Weight recurrence and complications
- Long-term, lifelong care
What makes this experience different?
1. It’s built for safety, not pressure
You don’t need to be motivated, consistent, or “ready.” You’re encouraged to go at your own pace. Silence and observing count as participation.
2. It centers identity, not outcomes
Instead of asking “What should I do?”, we explore “Who am I becoming?” Habits are treated as a way to practice care, not control.
3. It’s facilitated by both expertise and lived experience
The Deep Dive is led by Melanie Lindell, LMHC, a therapist and bariatric patient who understands both the clinical and human sides of change.
4. It happens in real community
This takes place inside the BariNation Support Community, a living, breathing ecosystem where people can learn, connect, and practice in real time, with vetted on-demand resources always available.
This is not a Facebook group or a chat forum. It’s a structured, supported environment designed to reduce shame and increase self-trust.
What will you actually do?
Over six sessions, you’ll move through a gentle arc:
- Understanding how habits form and why old habits once made sense
- Learning to notice cues and cravings without self-correction
- Designing environments that support care instead of fighting it
- Making habits small enough to fit real energy
- Practicing return instead of perfection
- Integrating habits as lifelong, flexible care
Along the way, participants are invited (never required) to work on a creative capstone project called the Bariatric Coat of Arms, a personal reflection on identity, survival, support, and return.
It’s not about making something beautiful.
It’s about telling the truth kindly.
Who is this for?
This experience is for people living with the disease of obesity who want to:
- Understand themselves better
- Create sustainable change without shame
- Practice care instead of self-control
- Move forward quietly and intentionally
You may be pre-surgery, post-surgery, long-term, or never-surgery. You may be actively changing or just beginning to question old narratives.
You don’t have to know your “one habit” yet.
Curiosity is enough.
A different way to think about transformation
At BariNation, we believe transformation isn’t loud. It’s not a breakthrough or a reset.
Transformation is often:
- A pause where there used to be a spiral
- A return instead of quitting
- A kinder inner voice
- A small habit repeated with care
The Atomic Habits Deep Dive exists to help you experience that kind of transformation, not by pushing harder, but by learning better.
If you’re curious…
If this feels like the kind of growth you’ve been looking for, thoughtful, science-based, and human. We’d love to have you join us inside the BariNation Support Community for the Atomic Habits Deep Dive.
Small shifts matter.
Quiet progress counts.
And you don’t have to do this alone.
- Join the BariNation Community (only $29 a month, no long-term commitment)
- Revisit or purchase the book
- Connect, learn, and grow with fellow members
Do you have questions about this experience? Send us an email to hello@barination.com, and we will be happy to help.
You got this, and we got you.
