You did the surgery. But what about your marriage, your mental health, and the patterns you brought with you?

In Part 2, licensed therapist and bariatric patient Danielle Palermo, LMSW joins Jatoyia Armour to get real about the work that makes bariatric surgery actually stick — accountability, support systems, GLP-1 as a tool, marriage after surgery, addiction transfer, depression after weight loss, and why the mental health piece is the one nobody prepares you for.

This episode covers: how to stop self-sabotage, what real accountability looks like post-op, why your support network matters more than any coping skill, GLP-1 after bariatric surgery, the real reason bariatric divorce rates are high, and why insurance is failing bariatric patients on mental health coverage.

If you've ever felt like you're doing everything right but still falling apart — this episode is for you.

Connect with Danielle: Instagram @daniellepalermo.lmsw Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095 Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246 Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com

00:00 How to get unstuck after bariatric surgery

01:14 Identity — are you doing this for you or for others?

03:12 Acceptance, self-awareness, and breaking old patterns

04:01 What real accountability looks like post-op

05:22 Coping tools that actually work long-term

06:20 Why your support network matters more than coping skills

08:09 Bringing your family and partner into your new routine

09:24 Working out with an accountability partner (real talk)

10:25 GLP-1 after bariatric surgery — it's just another tool

11:21 Why the mental work matters even more on GLP-1

12:36 Why mental health is deprioritized in bariatric programs

13:02 The psych eval that doesn't actually prepare you

14:06 What should change in bariatric pre-op and post-op care

15:39 Insurance gaps — mental health and GLP-1 coverage

16:30 How bariatric surgery can trigger depression

17:08 Bariatric surgery and divorce — the real conversation

19:06 How to recalibrate your marriage after massive weight loss

20:20 Starting therapy and marriage counseling at the same time

21:37 Embracing your new body — loose skin, crop tops, and confidence

22:16 Why weight can't be your only measure of success

23:59 How to find and work with Danielle Palermo

24:24 My Journey, My Business: Danielle's moment of truth

You lost the weight. But the emotional healing? Surgery can't do that part.

In this episode of the Bariatric Paths Podcast, licensed therapist and bariatric patient Danielle Palermo joins host Jatoyia Armour for an unfiltered conversation about the emotional side of bariatric surgery — the part nobody prepares you for.

In this episode:

• Why goal weight doesn't automatically create happiness or confidence
• Identity shifts after massive weight loss
• Addiction transfer and fixation patterns post-op
• Self-sabotage cycles and how to break them
• Why women lose their emotional 'shield' after surgery
• Regain anxiety, shame, and fear
• Body image struggles after bariatric surgery
• Why so many bariatric patients still feel lost post-op
• How therapy and self-awareness create lasting change

If you've ever asked yourself: 'Why do I still feel stuck after losing the weight?' — this episode is for you.

Connect with Danielle Palermo for coaching and support focused on emotional healing, identity shifts, self-sabotage patterns, and navigating life after bariatric surgery.

🌐 Website: www.daniellepalermocoaching.com
📧 Coaching Consultations: daniellepalermolsw@gmail.com
📱Instagram: @daniellepalermocoaching

🎙️ Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095

👥 Join the Community: Bariatric Paths: Your Journey, Your Tribe

🌐 Visit the Website: BariatricPaths.com

00:00 The Emotional Healing Bariatric Surgery Can’t Do
00:49 Why We Keep Starting Over In Weight Loss
02:33 Regain Fears and Self-Sabotage
03:35 The Emotional Weight Moms Carry
05:13 Why Progress Feels Like It Disappears
06:38 Addiction, Weight Loss Highs, and Transfer Behaviors
08:03 Goal Weight Doesn’t Create Happiness
09:17 Discovering Your Identity Beyond Weight Loss
10:17 The Emotional Reality After Surgery
11:58 Why Women Blame Themselves
12:32 Society’s Expectations After Massive Weight Loss
14:00 Obesity as Emotional Protection
15:39 Identity Shifts After Bariatric Surgery
17:47 The Questions People Ask After Weight Loss
18:59 Old Habits and Patterns Returning
20:10 Life After The Honeymoon Phase
21:48 Food Freedom, Balance, and Accountability
23:24 Self-Compassion Without Self-Sabotage
25:52 Emotional Triggers and Mental Health
27:17 Balancing Mental and Physical Health
28:49 Lasting Change Starts With Understanding Yourself
30:03 Self-Awareness Can Feel Uncomfortable
31:40 Healing Through The Layers
32:49 What Happens When You Avoid The Inner Work

#bariatricsurgery #weightlossjourney #bariatricpodcast #emotionalhealing #bariatricmentalhealth #vsgjourney #gastricbypass #weightlosssupport #bariatriclife #selfworth

People always ask moms how bariatric surgery changed their lives. But no one asks the kids.

In this Mother's Day special, my 9-year-old son RJ sits down with me for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what he saw, felt, and noticed throughout my 179-pound weight loss journey after gastric sleeve surgery.

From the stitches that confused him to the trampoline he finally got to share with me — RJ saw things I didn't even realize. And he said things that stopped me in my tracks.

This one is for every bariatric mom who's doing it for her kids.

Topics covered:

• What RJ remembered about me before surgery
• How he noticed (and didn't notice) the weight loss
• Changes in my energy, personality, and habits
• What confused him most during recovery
• The moment he knew mom had really changed
• Why I got the surgery — in his own words
• Mom vs. Son quiz
• My Journey, My Business moment

🎙️ Bariatric Paths Podcast — Season 2, Episode 16

🔗 Subscribe: https://pod.link/1797899095 👥 Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246 🌐 Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com

Weight regain after bariatric surgery is one of the hardest and least discussed parts of the journey — and it does not mean you failed.

In Part 2 of this Bariatric Paths conversation, Jatoyia and bariatric coach Allyson Jackson go deeper on food noise, emotional eating, GLP-1 medications, and the mental side of long-term success after gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery.

This episode covers the real conversation around why so many post-op patients struggle years after surgery — the shame around regain, the trap of "starting over," and how to rebuild without punishment or extremes.

You'll hear honest conversation about emotional eating and coping mechanisms after weight loss surgery, why therapy should be part of standard bariatric care, the truth about food cravings post-op, sustainable habit changes vs crash dieting, and why a slip is not a slide.

This episode is a reminder: regain is not failure, and you are not alone in this process.

Guest: Allyson Jackson IG: @ajacks324 | TikTok: @allysonjackson5 | Facebook: Allyson Elizabeth FB Group: The Bariatric Comeback | Support After Weight Regain | YouTube: coachallysonj

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095 Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246 Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com

Weight regain after bariatric surgery is one of the most common and least discussed parts of the journey. In this episode of Bariatric Paths, we talk about the end of the honeymoon phase, the emotional impact of regain, and how to rebuild structure and consistency without shame.

Jatoyia is joined by Allyson Jackson, a bariatric coach and gastric sleeve patient over a decade post-op. Together, they break down what really happens years after surgery, why so many patients struggle in silence, and how to create sustainable habits that support long-term success.

You’ll hear honest conversation around identity shifts, fear of regain, the pressure to “get it right,” and why extreme dieting cycles keep showing up—even after surgery. This episode focuses on practical mindset shifts and simple actions you can take to reset your journey.

If you’re post-op, feeling stuck, or afraid the weight is coming back, this episode will meet you where you are and help you move forward.

Guest: Allyson Jackson
For Coaching Sessions: https://paperbell.me/allyson-jackson
IG: @ajacks324
TikTok: @allysonjackson5
Facebook: Allyson Elizabeth
FB Group: the Bariatric Comeback- Support After Weight Regain
YouTube: coachallysonj

🔗 Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095

👥 Join the Community:
Facebook Group: Bariatric Paths: Your Journey, Your Tribe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246

🌐 Explore More:
Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com

Sign up for tips, events, and podcast drops!

Travel after bariatric surgery, plus size travel tips, bariatric lifestyle, post-op confidence, flying plus size, weight loss surgery journey, travel hacks after surgery—this episode breaks down what it really takes to travel confidently after bariatric surgery.

What does it look like to explore the world when your body, confidence, and mindset are changing?

In this episode of the Bariatric Paths Podcast, we sit down with Kaycee Bivens, creator of The Plus Size Passport, to talk about the real experience of traveling before and after weight loss surgery.

From navigating airports and airplane seating to asking for accommodations without shame, Kaycee shares what most people don’t talk about when it comes to plus size travel and life after bariatric surgery.

This conversation dives into confidence, accessibility, mindset shifts, and how to stop shrinking yourself in spaces that were not built with you in mind.

If you’ve ever avoided traveling because of your weight, felt anxious about flying, or wondered how to enjoy trips after surgery, this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to travel after bariatric surgery without derailing your progress
• The truth about flying plus size and what to expect
• Must-have travel tips for bariatric patients
• How to advocate for your needs without embarrassment
• Why confidence changes everything post-op
• How to balance food, fun, and your bariatric goals while traveling

📱 Follow Kaycee:
TikTok: @the_kayceebivens
Other: https://linktr.ee/purposewithkaycee

🔗 Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095

👥 Join the Community:
Facebook Group: Bariatric Paths: Your Journey, Your Tribe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246

🌐 Explore More:
Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com
Sign up for tips, events, and podcast drops!

Chapters:
00:00 Why She Finally Said Yes to Surgery
09:51 Creating a Safe Space for Plus Size Travel
20:16 The Truth About Traveling After Surgery
22:18 What You Actually Need to Pack
24:18 The Fear Nobody Talks About
25:39 What You Can and Can’t Do on Vacation
27:57 Dream Destinations After Weight Loss
32:41 Confidence, Growth, and Owning Your Journey

Weight loss surgery, bariatric journey, post-op life, weight regain, emotional eating, food noise, skin removal, bariatric maintenance, weight loss mindset—this episode breaks down what really happens after the weight is gone.

You lost the weight… so why does it still feel hard?

In this episode of the Bariatric Paths Podcast, we talk about the real, unfiltered truth of life after weight loss surgery. From food cravings and mental battles to skin removal fears and long-term maintenance, this conversation goes beyond the transformation and into what it actually takes to stay there.

If you’re post-op, considering surgery, or struggling with maintaining your progress, this episode will hit home.

🔗 Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095

👥 Join the Community:
Facebook Group: Bariatric Paths: Your Journey, Your Tribe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246

🌐 Explore More:
Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com
Sign up for tips, events, and podcast drops!

What replaces food after weight loss surgery… when it was your coping mechanism for so long?

In this episode of the Bariatric Paths Podcast, we’re having a real conversation about addiction transfer, emotional eating, and the mental side of bariatric surgery that most people are not prepared for.

Lou is 17 years post-op after gastric bypass and has lost over 130 pounds. But her journey didn’t end with weight loss. She shares what it was like to grieve food, struggle with addiction, and learn how to rebuild her life without using food as a coping tool.

This episode goes beyond the scale. It dives into identity, mindset, and the truth about what happens after the weight is gone.

If you are pre-op, post-op, or struggling in maintenance, this conversation will help you understand why the battle doesn’t just disappear—and what it really takes to move forward.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• What replaces food after bariatric surgery
• The reality of addiction transfer and emotional coping
• Why weight loss surgery doesn’t fix your mindset
• Food grief and losing your comfort habits
• Body image and identity after major weight loss
• Long-term life 17 years after gastric bypass
• Sobriety, healing, and building new coping strategies
• The truth about maintenance and staying consistent

🔗 Subscribe to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1797899095

👥 Join the Community:
Facebook Group: Bariatric Paths: Your Journey, Your Tribe
https://www.facebook.com/groups/595270663220246

🌐 Explore More:
Visit the Website: https://www.BariatricPaths.com
Sign up for tips, events, and podcast drops!