BariDiaries

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Destinee LeBlanc joins CeCe for an honest conversation about the emotional work that can come with bariatric surgery. She shares how trauma, food scarcity, and years of food noise shaped her relationship with food; what changed after gastric bypass; and the sometimes disorienting process of recognizing herself as her body changed.Destinee also talks about moving through fear, finding support, and making room for life beyond the scale—including the active, playful life she wants with her daughter. This conversation reflects Destinee’s experience; every bariatric journey is personal.You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Find your place in Bariatric Community and start here: https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Megan and Melissa are sisters who had bariatric surgery together on the same day. In this conversation with CeCe, they talk about the fears before surgery, the challenges afterward, and how they leaned on each other as sisters through the process. They share how accountability and persistence helped them find food freedom one sip and one step at a time.They reflect on healing side by side, finding peace beyond the plate, and what they would tell anyone wondering whether they can start again. Their story is a reminder that you do not have to navigate this journey alone.Find your place in Bariatric Community: https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#bariatriccommunity #bcfirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Some seasons ask us to hold grief and hope at the same time. Jaime Erin Blair joins CeCe for a heartfelt conversation about navigating loss, family, illness, and the strength it takes to keep showing up when life changes you.Jaime reflects on how grief can shape the way we see ourselves and our bodies, and what it means to pursue health and healing while still making room for pain. Together, Jaime and CeCe talk about resilience as a day-by-day practice: finding support, rebuilding after heartbreak, and allowing yourself to grieve and grow at your own pace.If you’re moving through a hard season, you deserve care and connection along the way.Find your place in Bariatric Community: https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#bariatriccommunity #bcfirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Angela Poll joins CeCe for an honest conversation about choosing bariatric surgery, and learning that the surgery itself is only part of the journey. After finding a Center of Excellence close to home, Angela made the decision to choose herself. What followed was the ongoing work of navigating food allergies, overeating, body changes, and rebuilding trust in herself along the way.Angela opens up about comparison, confidence, and why self-care became non-negotiable. Her story is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, and that healing doesn’t require you to move at anyone else’s pace.Whether you’re preparing for surgery, rebuilding after it, or learning how to put yourself back on your own list, there is room for you to grow one day at a time.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Jovanna Brown joins CeCe to share the story behind BariHair & Skin Care and the personal healing that inspired it. After experiencing hair and skin changes following bariatric surgery, Jovanna helped create support for others in the bariatric community. She opens up about choosing surgery, raising a family, building a business, and continuing to care for her own health along the way.Her story is a reminder that healing and purpose can grow together. You can take a step toward yourself while life is still busy and imperfect.Find your place in Bariatric Community: https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#bariatriccommunity #bcfirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Gina Genovese joins CeCe for a conversation about something bariatric patients eventually discover: surgery may happen on one day, but learning how to live in the body and life that follow takes time.Drawing from their shared experience with bariatric surgery, Gina and CeCe talk about the changes that happen beyond the scale, the parts of the journey people don't always prepare you for, and what it means to keep learning about yourself long after surgery. This isn't about reaching a finish line. It's about finding your way through the changes, giving yourself room to grow, and building a life that works for you.Wherever you are in your journey, you don't have to have everything figured out. There is a community here that understands.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Teresa Marie joins CeCe to talk about a part of the bariatric journey that doesn't fit neatly into a before-and-after photo: learning to see yourself differently when your life and body begin to change.Together, they explore the mindset shifts that happen beyond diets and routines, including facing the past, letting go of old versions of yourself, and learning to trust yourself again. Transformation isn't only about what you lose. It can also be about what you discover, what you release, and who you give yourself permission to become.Wherever you are in your journey, you don't have to have everything figured out. There is a community here that understands.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,For years, Ked Barrett watched his sons ride the attractions at theme parks while he waited on the sidelines. He wanted to share those moments with them, and as his health declined, he knew he needed to make a change. After years of fear and putting off surgery, Ked chose bariatric surgery in 2019. His wife’s support helped him take that step.Ked and CeCe talk about what comes after the big milestones. Ked shares why maintenance can be the hardest part, how he pays attention to small weight changes, and why going back to the basics matters. He also talks about the role food and cooking have played in his life, and the everyday care that comes with this being a lifelong journey.Ked’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t only measured by a number on the scale. It can mean getting to share more of life with the people you love, and learning how to keep caring for yourself along the way.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,Kasey Morris struggled with her weight from childhood into adulthood. After years of trying to manage it on her own, she chose bariatric surgery and initially kept the decision private, wanting it to be hers without outside opinions or the fear of failing again.Kasey shares how her self-image took time to catch up with her changing body and how she found a new relationship with movement through surfing, volleyball, and simply doing things she enjoys.Her message is clear: struggling with weight does not make you a moral failure, and asking for help can make a real difference. The stories of other bariatric patients helped Kasey feel less alone, and now her lived experience becomes part of that shared wisdom for someone else.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst

Welcome Home to BariDiaries,More than 20 years after bariatric surgery, Monica Weaver joins CeCe with something only time can give: perspective.Monica looks back on her own bariatric journey, including the challenges, missteps, and lessons that shaped the decades that followed surgery. She shares what she has learned about moving beyond diet culture, recognizing common pitfalls, and continuing to care for yourself when bariatric surgery is no longer the new thing in your life.Monica also talks about her work as a coach and why she wants to help others learn from the experiences that shaped her own journey.Her story offers something especially valuable to anyone wondering what life can look like years after surgery. There is still room to learn, change, and make different choices, no matter how long you've been on this road.Find your place in Bariatric Community:https://www.bariatriccommunity.org/get-involvedBariDiaries is a podcast from Bariatric Community, a nonprofit organization.#BariatricCommunity #BCFirst