Bariatric support groups provide an essential community for weight loss surgery patients. Today, we welcome Jonathan Cleveland to the BariNation Podcast to discuss his transformative experience just two months after VSG surgery. Jonathan shares how the BariNation community helped him navigate post-op bariatric surgery recovery challenges, from managing protein intake to celebrating non-scale victories. He reveals how the "space and grace" motto became his daily mantra when struggling with post-op bariatric life expectations. Natalie Tierney and Herb Lentz, who host the beginner bariatric meetup groups in the BariNation Community, co-host the episode to advocate for the power of peer connection versus unreliable internet searches and Facebook groups.
Tune in, and don’t forget to join the BariNation Community to attend community meetups, watch exclusive bonus content and support the podcast for as little as $5 per month! You can also contribute to BariNation and become a Drive To Thrive Supporter with a one-time or recurring donation.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- 00:00 Natalie Tierney opens the episode and invites Jonathan Cleveland and Herb Lentz to introduce themselves as members of the BariNation membership community. Jonathan is a two-month post-op bariatric patient, and Herb hosts beginner bariatric meetups
- 02:36 How bariatric support groups provide a community with like-minded individuals who understand the unique struggles and non-scale victories
- 06:05 The "space and grace" motto helps manage frustration with protein intake after surgery and hydration goals during weight loss surgery recovery, and other tips
- 10:17 Overcoming fear of joining bariatric community online meetups as a newbie and finding welcoming peer support
- 12:32 Jonathan shares why bariatric support groups provide trusted advice versus going down rabbit holes on Facebook groups and unreliable internet sources
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Bariatric support groups offer understanding that friends and family cannot provide, creating a space where members celebrate non-scale victories like not needing seatbelt extenders with genuine excitement
- The "space and grace" mantra helps manage early post-op bariatric life frustrations when struggling to meet protein intake after surgery and hydration targets during weight loss surgery recovery
- Virtual support groups provide vetted advice from real bariatric patient support members and medical professionals, preventing harmful self-diagnosis from unreliable Facebook groups and internet rabbit holes
- Beginner bariatric community online meetups create cohorts where pre-op and newly post-op patients practice curiosity, ask questions without judgment, and build family-like connections
BariNation - Partnership Monthly Membership
BariNation’s How to Find an Obesity Specialist Guide
BIOGRAPHY:
Jonathan Cleveland currently resides in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. He is 6 months post-op from VSG surgery by Dr. Edmund Chen of the Texas Center for Bariatrics & Advanced Surgery. He has lost a total of 115 pounds. He loves to travel across the world in his free time.
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.