Sources of Support for Post-Ops: Have you Considered Hiring a Health Coach?

We all need support in life! During the years following bariatric surgery, it is especially wise to have multiple forms of support. Health coaching is becoming more and more widely utilized - for a lot of good reasons. And yet – there is a lot of misinformation and some confusion among the public about what, exactly, health coaching is. This week’s first video will be a video with an Altanta-based health coach who works extensively with bariatric patients. She will help clarify exactly what health coaching is and how it can be extraordinarily helpful to bariatric post-op patients. If you have specific questions you’d like me to ask her during our interview, please let me know on Monday or early Tuesday!

This week’s second video will focus on various other forms of support for post-ops, some which you may not have thought of.

Looking forward to a week that promises to bring gorgeous weather to the Atlanta area this week! Hope this is true for you, as well, no matter where you live!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Predictors for Sustained Weight Loss: Overall Psychological Strength and Stability.

In the article titled Who Succeeds in Maintaining Weight Loss? A Conceptual Review of Factors Associated with Weight Loss Maintenance and Weight Regain, the authors suggest that people who are able to maintain weight loss have “overall psychological strength and stability.” What do they mean by this? What is psychological strength and stability?

More importantly, DO YOU have “overall psychological strength and stability,” and if not, how can you develop it?

This week’s talks will focus on what it looks like in real life to be a psychologically strong and stable person. We’ll review the traits mentioned by these researchers and provide suggestions for improving your chances of maintaining weight loss by focusing on how to develop more of the characteristics that people who maintain weight loss have.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week I’ll be talking about the last two of the list I’ve been sharing on predictors for sustained weight loss. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal following bariatric surgery is to maintain your weight loss and live a healthier, fuller life.

We’ll talk about the importance of autonomy and taking full responsibility for your own choices related to food, exercise and lifestyle. It’s nice to have people with you on the journey and to support you. The ultimate truth is, however, that no one but you can make the healthy food and behavior choices that need to be made to get the weight off and keep the weight off!

Autonomy means making your own decisions and acting in a way that you choose to behave. As an adult, you have the right to make your own decisions and as a healthy adult, you will (hopefully) make responsible choices that support your health. We’ll talk about all that “adulting” on this week’s videos!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Hey, friends! I hope that wherever you live, Spring is hinting at its arrival in the next weeks! I saw buds on the trees in Atlanta this week! New life is always heartwarming and inspires hope! Speaking of hope… I sincerely hope the information you are obtaining through BariAftercare is assisting you as you go through this life-affirming (and life-altering) process of bariatric surgery and developing a life-long healthy way of living. One. Day. At. A. Time.

I’m going to be away this week and so you’ll be getting all-new, inspiring, educational information from Taylor, our BariAftercare bariatric dietician, along with Dana Mitchell Rosser, who has been doing quite a tour with her husband, a bariatric surgeon AND bariatric patient himself. Dana and Dr. Butch Rosser having been appearing on television across the nation, educating people about the disease of obesity and how it affects entire families, even if only one person in the family has the disease!

Taylor brings information this week about ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.

Dana gives additional information about loving and living with your loved one who suffers from the disease of obesity.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

SELF EFFICACY… a CRITICAL aspect of Maintaining Your Weight Loss.

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on Self Efficacy… what exactly is self-efficacy and the reasons it is so important in order to maintain weight loss.

• Self Efficacy is something that many bariatric patients lack due to histories of weight loss followed by regain… time and time again.

• Learn how to develop self-efficacy and improve your long-term outcome!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The THIRD and FOURTH Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Ems For Sustained Weight Loss: Coping Strategies and Ability to Handle Life Stress.

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on the CRITICAL importance of avoiding turning to food when upset, stressed, anxious, bored, etc. etc. etc. What do you do INSTEAD of eating when life “happens,” when you’re struggling with the difficult realities of life, or experiencing stress or overwhelmed by intense emotions?

• Listen and and learn how to develop healthy coping skills and the ability to handle life stress so that you can maintain your weight loss for life!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The SECOND Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Em For Sustained Weight Loss: Social Support

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on Social Support… what to look for when seeking HEALTHY Social Support and what to stay away from!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The FIRST Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Em For Sustained Weight Loss: Internal Motivation

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• For the next several weeks, we will be talking about INTERNAL motivation, what it is, and whether or not your weight loss journey is built on internal motivation, external motivation, or a combination of both!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Book Review: ReGain Be Gone: 12 Strategies on Reclaiming the Body You Earned After Bariatric Surgery by Sameera Khan, RD, PA-C (Parts 1 and 2)

2. Taylor, the BariAftercare dietician: All Things Carbohydrate

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• In keeping with the prior weeks discussion about regain, Dr. Stapleton will review a book specifically written for bariatric patients about the topic of regain.

• Taylor will provide education about CARBS! They get a bad rap, but there are some important contributions carbohydrates make to a healthy diet. Listen in as Taylor informs us about the many important facts about carbohydrates that will help keep you on track in your overall nutrition plan.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Emotional/Psychological “Gotta Do Ems”

2. Behavioral “Gotta Do Ems”

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• To lose regain and maintain a healthy weight for your body, there are some behavior things you GOTTA DO!

• Print a copy (or several) of the GOTTA DO EMS at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf

• There are also some emotional/psychological GOTTA DO EMS necessary to lose regain and maintain a healthy behavior.

• Print a copy of Dr. Stapleton’s Daily Reflections form at http://www.conniestapletonphd.com/s/Daily_Reflections.pdf.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Taylor talks about SMART GOALS

2. Connie discusses one very specific and VERY smart goal to help you many times throughout each day!

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• Learn about the reasons using SMART Goals helps you accomplish your goals.

• Use the handout on SMART goals to set your own healthy goals.

• Learn one specific tool that will help you in a variety of situations throughout the day, assisting you to be better able to say “no” to unhealthy foods and stay on track with your health goals.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Interview with Tonimarie who lost 50+ pounds of regain (Part 1)

2. Interview with Tonimarie who lost 50+ pounds of regain (Part 2)

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• Listen to one bariatric post-op who successfully lost over 50 pounds of regain in 2021.

• Learn how she went out setting her mind to succeed in this challenge.

• Find out her tips for staying on track with her goals.

• Listen to the impact achieving this goal has had on her health (emotionally, as well as physically).

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie's BariAftercare Talks this week:
1) Onward and Forward
2) Ready, Set, Go

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• Last week, last year, and the past holidays are over!

• Focus on TODAY and learn to LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT!

• CHOOSE HEALTH (in all areas of life)

• Ready, Set, Go...

  • Prepare your environment.

  • Get a mealtime eating groove going!

  • Keep it simple!

  • Have a (SAFE) treat every day!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie's BariAftercare Talks this week:
1) The Precious Present (by Spencer Johnson)

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• We often spend a lot of time (in our minds) thinking about the past and the future. That steals the joy of the current moment.

• In the story, The Precious Present, you’ll hear a parable that makes it very clear that the current moment is a gift, indeed!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie's BariAftercare Talks this week:
1) Get a Jump Start on the New Year (A.K.A. Resolutions No More!)
2) SMART Goals

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• The problem with Resolutions

• The importance of Goals … and the problem with Goals

• The Daily Grind Wins! (Find out what this means)

• When goals are appropriate, use SMART Goals!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie's BariAftercare Talks this week:
The Gift of YOU! AND The Gifts of Bariatric Surgery for Your Amazing Self!

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• YOU are an amazing gift simply because you exist!

• Being reminded of your unique place in the world is something everyone can benefit from.

• Remembering that you are loved by others just as much as we love them is a gift to give ourselves.

• Bariatric surgery offers you gifts in a lot of different ways.

• You can use the gift of bariatric surgery to help you enhance the gift that you are!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).