Ep 225 - Slider Foods and Blood Sugar: Managing the Roller Coaster Effect with Kayla Girgen

Ep 225 - Slider Foods and Blood Sugar: Managing the Roller Coaster Effect with Kayla Girgen

Ep 225 - Slider Foods and Blood Sugar: Managing the Roller Coaster Effect with Kayla Girgen

Welcome to the Barination Podcast! I'm thrilled you're tuning in today because we have an incredible guest: Kayla Girgen, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer. Kayla has a wealth of knowledge about life after bariatric surgery, and today, we're diving into some powerful topics that can make a real difference in your journey.

We’ll explore the concept of slider foods—what they are, why they’re easier to consume than whole foods, and where protein shakes fit in. Kayla also sheds light on managing gut hormones, cushioning carbs to maintain stable blood sugar, and how anxiety can impact the process of post-surgery nutrition.

If you’ve ever struggled with protein choices, Kayla’s here to guide you in making choices that truly support a healthier lifestyle. She reminds us to give ourselves grace as we navigate the ups and downs.

Tune in, and don’t forget to join us in the BariNation Membership Community or become a Patreon Supporter, where we continue our conversations with bonus episodes! 

“Feel satisfied that you're proud of the work that you put in. Looking at things like cooking, meal prep or feeding yourself is a form of self-care. And if you are kind of pouring back into yourself, I think ultimately that will show in the long run.” Kayla Girgen

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

  • [0:28] Some programs BariNation offers to its members.
  • [2:11] What is a slider food? Why are they easier to consume than whole foods, and how is a protein shake classified?
  • [8:31] Cushioning your carbs, gut hormones and blood sugar.
  • [13:54] How does anxiety play a negative role in the process? The protein struggle. 
  • [18:57] Life choices after surgery, the Good Day checklist, and giving yourself grace.
  • [25:22] Kayla wants the listener to know these takeaways. 


    KEY TAKEAWAYS:

    • After bariatric surgery, slider foods digest quickly, impacting hunger hormones and causing blood sugar spikes. Pairing them with other nutrients helps maintain balance.
    • After bariatric surgery, hunger hormones shift—ghrelin ("grr" for hunger) decreases, while leptin signals fullness. Understanding these changes helps manage appetite and satiety.
    • Processed protein foods may meet bariatric patients' goals but often fail to sustain satiety. Whole proteins like chicken or tofu offer better digestion, hormonal balance, and lasting satisfaction.


    RESOURCES:


    GUEST RESOURCES:

    Kayla Girgen - Instagram

    Kayla Girgen - Website

    Sugar and Strength Academy - Website


    BIOGRAPHY: Kayla Girgen

    Kayla Girgen is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer determined to help women stop dieting, ditch all-or-nothing thinking, and develop healthy habits for life. With technology like CGM, Kayla shows women how to balance their blood sugar and maximize their tools for sustainable success after 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 and 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

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