Have you ever found yourself shrinking—physically or emotionally—just to make others feel more comfortable? We’ve been there. But what if you permitted yourself to take up space, to share, to grow, and to heal? That’s precisely what BariNation is about: creating space for every part of your journey, with people who get it.

Today, Natalie speaks with two amazing BariNation community members, Herb and Christine, a host and regular attendee of The Beginner Bariatrics group. They’ve not only walked the walk, but they’ve also made it their mission to help others feel safe and seen along the way. We discuss the emotional weight of obesity, the power of community, and the unexpected mindset shifts that can change everything. Christine shares how attending Bariatric Beginning meetups in the BariNation Community helped her understand that the disease of obesity is not a moral failing and needs to be a lifelong commitment to wellness. If you’ve ever felt alone or unsure about where you belong in this process, this episode is for you.

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 donation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• (00:00) Opening
• (04:27) Christine reveals her emotional "why" for weight loss surgery 
• (09:23) A support group is a simple but powerful way to stay engaged in the bariatric lifestyle
• (13:25) Herb’s meetups are welcoming, warm, and a place where anyone can take up space without judgment
• (17:12) Christine discusses her initial hesitation to join groups, how isolation pushed her to engage, and the emotional reward that comes from connecting
• (21:09) Discussion of the "power of the pause" of moral failure and obesity as a disease
• (27:59) Every day is brand new, and thoughts on a pumpkin spice latte

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Beginner Bariatric Meetups are a powerful support tool for those just starting their bariatric surgery journey, helping members feel less alone and more confident in their process.
• The BariNation membership community plays a vital role in rekindling hope and sustaining long-term post-op success, proving that community connection can transform not just your health but your life.
• Sharing personal bariatric stories builds deeper understanding and connection within the weight loss surgery community, offering relatable insights for both new and seasoned members.

RESOURCES:

• BariNation Website
• 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 donation.
• BariNation - Email

BIOGRAPHY:

Hi, I’m Christine Donovan. I had VSG in 2024 with Dr. Joe Cribbins at the Texas Center for Bariatrics & Advanced Surgery and have lost over 225 pounds—but more importantly, I’ve gained a whole new perspective on life. I’m here to talk about the real stuff—how community, mindset, and support make all the difference on this wild ride. Oh, and I’m powered almost entirely by Barebells protein bars at this point; they should probably sponsor me.

Herb Lentz: Whether as a classically trained singer, business management professional, or peer-to-peer messaging consultant, Herb’s passion lies in the formation of community. Having had VSG surgery in 2021, he has successfully lost over 150 pounds and achieved a newfound active lifestyle, keeping up with his family. As lifelong bariatric patients, Herb encourages us all to focus on mindset challenges and is constantly exploring what it means to be committed, focused, and motivated. He is enthusiastic about empowering others in the bariatric world by meeting them at whatever point they are on in their journey, specifically for individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community.

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.

April Williams: You've just tuned into a podcast that welcomes you into a community, a resource center, and a safe place that powers your [00:00:15] journey towards personal wellness.

Natalie Tierney: Our goal is you leave us today feeling hopeful, inspired, and ready to live your best bariatric life.

She's attended our beginner bariatric meetups. Almost weekly. And in today's episode, she's going to share how the community helped her through her first year and really beyond. I think that as you're listening, you're gonna be nodding your [00:01:15] head in agreement. You're gonna be laughing out loud like I was, and you're going to really hear and see your own story in the one that Chris is going to share.

We, I. Reconnect with that hope that we all felt the moment we made the decision to undergo bariatric surgery and that hope is rekindled each and every [00:02:00] day in the Bari Nation membership community. So sit back and enjoy this conversation where Chris is going to explain just how impactful our beginner bariatric meetups have been, not only on her bariatric journey, but on her life as a person.[00:02:15]

All right, friends, let's dive in.

So thank you Herb and Chris for joining me today to [00:02:45] just kind of share our stories and our perspectives about the magic that happens in the Bari Nation support community. I. Chris, I'll have you introduce yourself and then Herb will, we'll have you introduce yourself and then we'll get started. [00:03:00] Sure. Hi guys,

Christine Donovan: I'm Chris.

Herb Lentz: Hey y'all. I'm Herb. I've been a very nation member for a Goodly while. I don't know, I remember when a while.

Natalie Tierney: It is, it really is a, a, a joy. I was just telling April before we logged in, uh, to record that. The magic that is happening in variation right now is palpable, and [00:04:00] we're having a lot of really great discussions and supporting each other all along the way. So, uh, really excited to hear more about Chris's story and just share about beginner bariatrics in general.

Christine Donovan: Sure. So I really have been overweight my whole life [00:04:30] and always aware, very aware of how much space I was taking up, and I'm sure you guys can relate to that.

My sister, her husband, and their three kids came to visit and I'm in Texas and they're on the east coast, [00:05:00] so they took their spring break trip out to visit me and I was really on the sideline for most of it. I was just not able to participate like I wanted to and it was killing me and I, I really. I was having a hard time with it, but trying [00:05:15] to, you know, be the host and all that good stuff.

Nonjudgmentally said, Hey [00:05:45] Chris, if this is something, you know, I noticed you're not able to participate, like you wanna, if this is something you wanna pursue, if this is a path you wanna go down, I'm willing to be your support. Like, I'll come down and help you recover whatever you need. Not saying you [00:06:00] have to, but like just.

So I really appreciated her. Just having that conversation convers. And then it's funny because I opened up to a friend at work when I got back just saying, Hey, I think this is something I wanna do. And she was like, oh yeah, [00:06:30] I did that a few years ago. Oh, oh. And it's amazing. I, I dunno if you guys have had that experience, you start talking about it and then you're like, oh, this is like a well known thing, or like not well known, but people are doing this.

Let me give you [00:07:00] his name. And then really from there, it was beyond Rapid. It was about a month from consultation to operation. So I mean, it just, everything fell online and it was really just. I had been in my head for a while, but my sister came forward [00:07:15] and was like, I'll support you if this is what you wanna do.

Natalie Tierney: I love that so much.

Herb Lentz: Yeah. From, for those of you listening to, you may not have been able to see the magic that just happened, which happens all the time. And beginner, our bariatric meetups, Chris said something.

Totally done that.

Natalie Tierney: That's

Christine Donovan: the best

Christine Donovan: Yes. Mm-hmm. Makes

Natalie Tierney: sense.

Christine Donovan: And often it's the thing that you think, am I nuts for thinking this?

Natalie Tierney: Absolutely. Speaking of relating right to to each other and having that safe space. Um, in Bari Nation, you've been a very active member and I've gotten to know [00:09:00] you pretty well.

Christine Donovan: Yeah, so only recently have I been able to put words to it, you know, sometimes when you have a little space from something.

But now that I'm here, I'm like, oh, this is a lifestyle and this is the thing, but, and sometimes you've got it all on point, but sometimes it's tough to show up for yourself or show up. For this process every day. And maybe there's a day where your movement's not on track or my [00:10:00] eating's on track or, or what all the other things.

There's so many ways you have to show up for yourself throughout this process or you want to, and some days those are harder than others, but the one that never feels [00:10:30] hard and always feels like it fills my cup at the end of the day, is just signing into a group and connecting with that community. And it's really nice at the end of the day, if you feel, especially those days where you feel like, I just haven't done the movement, haven't done the meal prep of [00:10:45] this that, but I know I showed for myself in this.

Natalie Tierney: I know that for myself, uh, someone said, said something about this in a, in [00:11:15] a, in a group that I hosted, um, that they appreciated that I would host.

And, and to, to help guide you. Um. I know that for me, it's been really fun to attend. I love attending herb's, bariatric, beginner bariatric groups. Um, you say it often, herb, we're always, every [00:12:00] day we're a beginner. And I just love that you say that so much.

Herb Lentz: We're brand new every day. Every day is a brand new beginning.

Like you just have to keep going because it. This, this, having that room full, full of people online virtually, that you can just [00:12:45] drop in and listen. Remind yourself day. Day is invaluable, I think.

Christine Donovan: And harp. You can feel that in your group too. I, I usually say on there, I'm like, oh, this is my favorite way to kind of kick off the weekend and, and the week.

This, you're, you're supposed to be able to take up space. Like you owe that to yourself.

I may try to redirect you at some point so other people can inject, but [00:13:45] that's your, you deserve to take up the space that you deserve to take up. And the other thing about, you know, I say this all the time, I'm sure, I'm sure you would say it Chris, I'm sure you would say it, that within the community you could pick anyone out of that group and message them something or like find someone in the phase that [00:14:00] you're in and email them a question or a specific that you might be in and find someone troubleshoot something.

It's just a wonderful, supportive place to be.

You, you wanna know what's going on with them. You're, you're invested in their life and, and they in yours. So for sure.

Herb Lentz: Yeah. And you wanna see them succeed, right?

Not in a toxic, positivity way, but in a truly wants to see everybody succeed in whatever way that means to you. If that means all of a [00:15:00] sudden you, you're very into the movement pillar, great. We wanna see you succeed in that. If that's not your thing and you're into. The nutrition piece, great. We wanna see you succeed, so whatever that means to you, totally positive.

Herb Lentz: You hit the nail of the head. I hate the concept of toxic positivity, and that's not what we provide here. At least I don't personally. You know, sometimes you need to hear the hard things. Sometimes you need to hear the tough thing, but you can always talk about [00:15:30] things in a way that's supportive and comforting and empowering.

Not sunshine and rainbows, but you're getting is not all sunshine and rainbows as I think we can. All attest. Don't we wish though,

Herb Lentz: Oh, it's so easy. It's it's the easy way out, right?

Christine Donovan: Yeah. Oh, somebody has mentioned that one. There's why

We've been saying it a lot on the podcast. We just can be ourselves. Uh, I had a member who is going through a really hard time, uh, brought that forward in one of [00:16:15] my, my meetups and, and she goes, I just don't understand how everyone's just so positive all the time. And I said, oh. We not, you know, it is hard, but just as you said Herb, I think, um, being [00:16:30] able to, to talk about the hard things and, and kind of the, the tough love right?

Herb Lentz: Absolutely. Chris, can I put you on the spot for a second please? When you, when you first joined, did you ever hesitate to click that join button on one of the [00:17:00] groups

Christine Donovan: still?

Herb Lentz: And how, how do you get over that hurdle? Like what, what makes you brave to click join?

And especially since I've started, I've stayed mostly in the beginner bariatric groups because it feels like a safe [00:17:30] place to start, you know? Um, and I'll tell you what kind of got me over the hump to start was that feeling of isolation. And even though, you know, after I talked to people, I found out, oh, someone in my life has had this before, and.

So I joined a commitment, the commitment group with Melanie this week and, and it was great, but it's one of those situations where for me, it's not my nature to just jump in and talk to a [00:18:15] bunch of, you know, people that I may not know or may not know me. Um, but I know what I'll find on the other side is that connection and just that.

Herb Lentz: I love hearing that and you always have a place in my meet up For sure. You don't ever have to graduate, and I'm not gonna let you. I appreciate it.

So I'm glad you brought that up [00:19:15] too, that it really is just a warm, a warm space to, to grow and, and see each other grow, um, in the, in the space and in the community.

Ooh. I think I just need something a little bit different also. Mm-hmm. Out what I'm looking for. And so I know for me the indicator was, it was really cool, full soccer moment, but also a moment of like, oh, I think I [00:19:45] need to move on with when I'm in some of the beginner groups and someone comes with very new, like either pre-op or recently post-op with certain concerns.

And that's why I decided, oh, I think I need to start checking out some of [00:20:15] the like other groups and things like that. Mm-hmm.

Christine Donovan: I.[00:21:00]

Right. [00:21:30] And so when I. And unfortunately, bariatric surgery does not fix this. It fixes down here, but it doesn't fix up here. But if I just take the moment to pause and think about [00:21:45] what is it that I really need this second, it's nine times outta 10 or 19 times outta 20. Not food. Like it's not. It's not that food item, right?

A coloring book, knitting needles, uh, a piece of sheet music to play, a podcast to listen to what is also gonna satiate that, um, [00:22:30] whatever you have, instead of opening up the refrigerator or the cupboard or finding that thing. So those have been really powerful tools that, um, are things that I've gotten directly from nation groups that are, that are everyday tools that I've implemented in my life [00:22:45] that have made me successful.

Natalie Tierney: Mm-hmm.

And it just. To start letting go of some of that and, um, understanding that I [00:23:45] obviously do play a role, but that there's, it's not just weakness and willpower. There's. So many other things, hormones and metabolism and environment, and it just helped me begin to rewrite that narrative that I carried for so long.

So I enjoy understanding the science behind it and taking some of the emotion.

I'm leading the witness here a little bit, but. [00:24:45]

Calls and things with Dr. Griffins. He's pretty unshakeable, right? I mean, he is known for being a chill dude. I walked into my six month appointment being ahead of where I was supposed to be, all the things. And the thing that I wanted to [00:25:15] talk about was I, I think I need to do a revision like this is just, you know what I mean?

Natalie Tierney: Really. Every day I catch, and I'm coming on five years and it's my third bariatric [00:25:45] surgery, and I still, every single day I go, whoa, that was a, that was an old Natalie thought, or that was an old habit that just played out.

Um, and Natalie,

Natalie Tierney: There, there was a lot of time in between, uh, almost 10 years. So this kind of in some ways feels [00:26:15] like my first time, um, just because of the, the nature of it all.

Um, and how can I do my best? Uh, how can I be kind to myself, right? Like it's, it's everything is. For me and to [00:27:00] take care of me first, and then everything else can follow. But that's been years of, of work and practice and attending groups myself and listening to, uh, other members and hosts like [00:27:15] yourselves.

I'm gonna, I'm gonna try out this recipe instead, [00:27:45] um, and see how I do. So I think it's, again, getting curious, that's our word for the year in Bury Nation, and I think that's just how we should live every single day. Is curious. I.

Natalie Tierney: Mm-hmm.

Christine Donovan: I

Natalie Tierney: love

Christine Donovan: that. Guys, I'm gonna take that away tonight.

Natalie Tierney: Yeah, write it down.

Natalie Tierney: Yeah. It can feel like Groundhog Day. I just talked about that this week too. It can feel monotonous and. Boring because you are doing a lot of the same [00:28:30] things every day.

I don't think it'll ever be perfect, [00:29:00] but at least I can be a beginner every single day and try it again and again and again. Well my friends, this has been a wonderful conversation. I'm gonna ask you both a final question. It's a [00:29:15] little bit silly, but it's kind of a running joke here, uh, on very the Bari Nation Podcast.

Christine Donovan: I don't, I don't drink coffee.

Christine Donovan: I do appreciate it in fall because it, I just, it feels like we're getting into something and, you know, brings fall in.

Herb Lentz: I have strong feelings. You do you. If you want pumpkin spice in February, that is your right, don't I? Someone else's ish. You can have pumpkin spice [00:30:30] whenever you want. Is that fine? Get in the witch though.

Natalie Tierney: Yeah. Say, is that your true feelings though? Because I feel like you spoke to me and I sway you.

Natalie Tierney: Awesome guys. Well, thank you both for spending time with me today to just talk about Bari Nation and all of the good stuff that we, that we get into [00:31:00] there. Um. Is there anything, any final words that you would love to, to leave our listeners with?

Christine Donovan: I think, you know, basic, same thing I started with. It feels like a lot, but just showing up is the most important thing you can do day after day.

Herb Lentz: I would tell folks, imagine what you could do if you knew you weren't gonna fail. [00:32:00] That goes for bariatric surgery or anything really. Mm-hmm. And live in that mindset. Right. Just think about all the possibilities that exist. And I think being a member of Variation helps you see that. You can see, [00:32:15] um, I don't like the term role models, but you can see other people who have lived this path.

I literally, anytime of the day I could log on and, and talk with someone if something's on my mind, so,

Natalie Tierney: mm-hmm. That's

Natalie Tierney: Awesome. Well, thank you both for joining and if you are listening, thinking about joining Bari Nation thinking about having surgery, you're on the fence. Herb and I both lead, uh, beginner bariatrics meetups.

Herb Lentz: Just click the button. Don't be afraid.

April Williams: That wraps up another empowering episode of the BariNation Podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, keep the conversation going by joining the BariNation membership community where you can attend live support events, access. On-demand resources and find a [00:34:15] caring community.

Natalie Tierney: Join us Barination.mn.co.

If you found this podcast valuable, help us produce it by becoming a $5 monthly supporter at Barinationpodcast.com.