Welcome to the very first episode of Life in the Bari Lane! In this powerful opener, host Sacha Holder takes us all the way back to the start of her lifelong struggle with weight and what it means to grow up in a body that never quite fit the world around it.
From childhood obesity and early teasing, to emotional eating, diet culture, diabetes, and eventually deciding to pursue bariatric surgery, Sacha gets real about the lived experience behind the before-and-after pictures.
This is Part 1 of her deeply personal bariatric story — full of vulnerability, insight, and the kind of honesty we don’t get enough of in conversations around weight, health, and healing.
🔑 What You'll Hear in This Episode:
- Growing up fat in the 70s and 80s: teasing, exclusion, and early shame
- When emotional eating really began — and how it didn’t feel like “comfort” at all
- Failed diets, Weight Watchers, and that infamous 1980s liver meal plan
- The moment diabetes changed everything
- Why surgery was never “the easy way out” — and what finally changed her mind
- The truth about weight gain that isn’t about food
- How finding the right bariatric doctor made all the difference
🧠 Keywords:
bariatric surgery, childhood obesity, emotional eating, weight stigma, body image, diabetes and weight loss, Weight Watchers, obesity in kids, lived experience, women’s health, bariatric journey, choosing weight loss surgery
📌 Mentioned in the Episode:
- 1980s Weight Watchers (RIP liver)
- A1C of 13.7 😳
- The moment bacon became trauma food
- Why “just move more” is a terrible oversimplification
💬 Quote Worth Sharing:
“I was praying as a kid to just wake up and not be fat. I didn’t know what else to do — I was playing hard all day, eating the same food as everyone else. It didn’t make sense, but the shame still stuck.”
🙌 Connect With Sacha:
Disclaimer:
The content shared on Life in the Bari Lane is for informational and storytelling purposes only. I am not a doctor, dietitian, or licensed medical professional — just a real person sharing my lived experience with bariatric surgery and life before, during, and after. Nothing in this podcast should be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, medication, exercise, or health routines. Your journey is your own, and your care decisions should be made with professionals who know your specific situation.
