Welcome back to the Bariatric Banter Podcast! This week Steph and Hannah both tried that cottage cheese pizza recipe that's all over TikTok and Instagram. Spoilers: We both disliked it. Like, really did not like it.

But it got us talking about something bigger - all these bariatric substitute recipes that are supposed to replace the foods we love, and how most of them just... suck. And then you're stuck spending money on expensive ingredients for something that tastes terrible, and you still want pizza anyway.

We're getting into the holidays, and everyone's panicking about how to navigate all the food, and we're both kind of over the idea that we need to find a "bariatric-friendly" version of everything. Sometimes it's better to just have the actual donut instead of eating five different things that don't hit the spot.

Also we argue about when it's acceptable to put up Christmas decorations, because apparently that's controversial.

This week, Hannah and Steph are getting into the REAL shit – like why did our parents let us believe Pop-Tarts were an acceptable breakfast? And why is the North American breakfast basically just "sugar: the meal"?

We're diving into childhood food trauma (shoutout to those judgy grocery store vibes), the absolute mindfuck that is "breakfast food," and Hannah's new obsession with dates that taste like cookie dough (yes, you read that right).

Plus: Steph's on a tea kick, we're plotting some recipe testing for you guys, and we want to know what bariatric products YOU'RE loving right now. Seriously, slide into our DMs because we're trying everything.

This is bariatric life – messy, real, and way fewer rules than year one. Let's banter.

Ever tried eating a block of cheese in a hotel room with no cutlery? Been personally victimized by Starbucks’ “protein” coffee calories? Same. In this week’s episode, Hannah and Steph swap hilarious travel stories, unpack the truth behind Starbucks and Tim Hortons’ new protein drinks, and share their favourite fast-food and coffee hacks that actually work for bariatric life. From Happy Meals to DIY protein lattes, this one’s full of real talk, laughs, and game-changing tips for life on the go.

Grab your protein shake (or a cake pop — we won’t judge) and tune in!

What happens when the scale stops moving, the compliments fade, and real life creeps back in? 😳

In this episode, Hannah and Steph pull back the curtain on the mental rollercoaster of bariatric life — from the rush of early milestones to the gut-punch of comparison, the sting of shame, and the silence of support fatigue.

It’s messy. It’s hilarious. It’s brutally honest. And it’s exactly the conversation we all need but rarely have. Whether you’re fresh post-op, years out, or just curious, this episode will make you laugh, nod, and maybe even ugly cry (we won’t judge).

🎧 Buckle up, babes — we’re going there.

The conversation gets real in Part 2 of our GLP-1 series! Hannah and Steph are joined by the amazing @bypasskass, who shares her honest experience trying GLP-1s before bariatric surgery. From virtual doctors and missing support systems, to side effects, gallbladder scares, and the mental load of weight loss — nothing is off the table.

We laugh, we debate, and we bust some myths about what GLP-1s really do, how they compare to bariatric surgery, and why support systems matter more than quick fixes. Whether you’re GLP-curious, post-op, or just navigating food noise, this episode is packed with raw honesty and the encouragement you need to feel less alone.

This week on Bariatric Banter, Hannah and Steph dive into one of the most hotly debated questions in the bariatric community: Are personal trainers worth it?

They open up about their own experiences — from splurging on memberships and training sessions to realizing that sometimes the best (and cheapest) tool is simply a pair of walking shoes. Hannah shares how burnout and pneumonia reshaped her views, while Steph talks about how the right trainer gave her accountability and confidence.

Along the way, they remind us that there’s no one-size-fits-all journey: movement looks different for everyone, and that’s okay. Whether you’re team “walk it out” or “strength train it up,” this episode will leave you with practical takeaways, laughs, and the reassurance that your path is valid.

This week, Hannah and Steph are diving into a hot topic in the bariatric community — GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. 👀

We’ve been seeing more and more people talking about (and using) these meds, but there’s also a lot of confusion, a lot of comparisons to surgery, and honestly… a lot of questions. In part one of this two-part series, we’re sharing our own thoughts, concerns, and a few things that make us go “hmmm.”

We’ll cover everything from health risks to influencers not being upfront, and why support systems and nutrition are non-negotiable. And next week — we’ve got a special guest joining us who’s actually on GLP-1s to answer ALL the questions.

Pull up a chair, grab your water bottle (hydration counts, y’all 🥤), and let’s get into it.

Hair today, gone tomorrow… literally. In this week’s raw and unfiltered episode of Bariatric Banter, Hannah and Steph dive into the ugly truth about post-op hair loss — the tears in the shower, the clumps on your shirt, and the desperate Amazon searches for miracle shampoos that never work.

From grieving the hair you loved, to finding humor in “baby hairs that have a mind of their own,” we share our honest struggles, hacks that actually help, and the blunt reality: your hair will come back, but your confidence doesn’t have to wait.

Whether you’re pre-op, mid-shed, or finally rocking regrowth, this episode is your reminder: you’re not vain, you’re human. Grab your dry shampoo, put down the rosemary oil, and tune in for laughs, validation, and maybe a little tough love.

👉 Keywords: Bariatric hair loss, weight loss surgery recovery, post-op hair struggles, hair regrowth tips