Welcome to BariNation

Hello, we are BariNation, a community of like-minded bariatric patients seeking the support, education, and experiences we need to find and maintain our happy, healthy weight before and after bariatric surgery. As patients, we were frustrated with the support we were offered, so we created exactly what we needed to succeed. By creating BariNation, we have found a new, loving family, our "BariFam"! 

We create intentional, safe spaces for members to do the work of weight loss surgery, guided by experts in the bariatric field. 

We are excited to welcome you into the BariNation Membership Community and support you every step. No matter your age or your stage, you belong in BariNation!

April, Jason, and Natalie

BariNation Co-Founders

Each month in BariNation, you will find

• A safe, secure, and private space built by and for bariatric patients. No shame, guilt, or trolls here. 
• Virtual support groups led by licensed therapists who specialize in bariatric support.
• Virtual classes taught by Registered Dietitians, Wellness Coaches, and other experts in bariatric medicine.
• Live and on-demand movement classes taught by certified movement specialists.
• A robust and ever-growing on-demand video library we call BariUniversity.
• Targeted support by bariatric stage.
• Live virtual meetups led by patient experts and moderators.
• Printable support guides and workbooks created by patients and experts to help guide you along your journey.
• Safe places to connect in real-time with other patients in the same bariatric stage as you.
• Dedicated chat spaces to ask your questions, seek feedback, and celebrate your big and small victories.

BariNation is built for *anyone* who is fighting the chronic disease of obesity. Our community serves patients of every age and stage of their bariatric journey, from surgical contemplation to patients 20 years post-op.

Our community is diverse and inclusive. We offer targeted support for our BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and 50 years and older communities, and our Inclusivity Committee works hard to ensure that everyone feels and knows that they belong in BariNation. 

BariNation is built for:

• Anyone who is thinking about having bariatric surgery.
• Patients in the pre-op stages of their journey want to connect with fellow patients.
• Newly post-op patients are looking for resources and meaningful support along the way.
• Patients who are in the Maintenance stage and looking for targeted support.
• Veteran patients looking to connect or reconnect with a vibrant, bright, and positive community.

We partner with some of the most respected and well-known experts in the bariatric fields to deliver meaningful and targeted support and education to our members. Our patient creators and moderators are passionate about supporting fellow patients and helping them navigate their bariatric lives. Meet some of our creators, experts, and moderators!

Behind everything we do at BariNation, you will find a real human. April, Jason, Natalie, and Jody are real patients who love connecting with fellow patients in service of our community!

Find all three on Instagram @bari.nation

If you have questions about our membership community, are an expert who would like to join our community, or have general BariNation business inquiries, please reach out to April Williams, our President and CEO, or Jody Bonansinga, our Chief Administration Officer

• April Email: [email protected]
• April Instagram: @actively_april
• Jody Email: [email protected]
• Jody Instagram: @jodybonansinga

If you have questions about our podcast or social media, Natalie Tierney will be happy to answer your questions!

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @breakingbari_ers