Ep 26: Client Spotlight | Jo Shares Her Bariatric Journey at 18 Months Post Surgery
This post is a companion to Episode 26 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode I sat down with Jo — a marketing manager living in the UAE — to talk about her bariatric journey at 18 months post-surgery. Jo's story is full of honesty, hard-won insight, and real wisdom.
Why Jo Had Surgery
Despite training five days a week with a personal trainer and eating very little, Jo was gaining weight every month due to medications affecting her metabolism. She was borderline pre-diabetic, had high cholesterol, and was getting sick constantly. Surgery was not her first choice — she spent months researching and even cancelled initially — but eventually she decided she wanted a future, not just an existence.
The Mental Journey
Even after losing significant weight, Jo wrestled with the feeling that she had somehow failed by needing surgery. She spoke about this with great honesty — the shame, the worry about judgment, and the relief when the people she eventually told were overwhelmingly supportive. This is something I hear so often, and Jo naming it openly is a real gift to others who feel the same.
What Made the Difference
For Jo, understanding the why behind every recommendation changed everything. Rather than just following instructions, she wanted to understand how food worked, what protein actually did, and how to make it fit her real life. She also spoke about the importance of cheerleaders — the people in your life who show up, celebrate your wins, and lift you up when things get tough.
Jo's Pearls of Wisdom
Celebrate your wins — even sitting on a plane without worrying about the seatbelt counts. Be kind to yourself in the early months. It is not a race. And commit — because the investment you make in learning how to eat and care for yourself is knowledge for life.
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