Ep 38: Bariatric Life at 6 Years Post Surgery | Shannon and Alita from Bari Banter
This post is a companion to Episode 38 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
In this episode I sat down with Shannon and Alita — a couple who both had bariatric surgery in 2018 (separately, before they met!) and who now host the wonderfully honest Bari Banter podcast together. Six years out from surgery, their perspective is something most bariatric content does not capture.
Why They Had Surgery
Shannon had tried everything and reached a point of existing rather than living at 175 kilos. Alita was active — training twice a day — but felt deeply uncomfortable in her own skin and was turning down being a bridesmaid at a best friend's wedding to avoid being in photos. Very different starting points, same conclusion: it was time.
What Six Years Looks Like
Both described life at six years as "boring" — and that is not a bad thing. The excitement of rapid weight loss and constant comments fades. You are just living now. Shannon now runs ultramarathons. Alita is navigating postpartum life and the challenge of losing pregnancy weight without falling back into dieting culture. Both are working on sustainable balance — not restriction, not obsession.
The Wisdom They Would Share
Use the early days. The first year after surgery, when the tool is doing so much of the heavy lifting, is a precious window to build habits that will carry you through the years when the restriction fades. Shannon and Alita both wished they had put more emphasis on nutrition and behaviour change in that early window. And remember your why — especially when the weight loss slows and the external validation disappears.
Find Bari Banter on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Instagram at @baribanter.
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