FOOD ADDICTION… What is food addiction, exactly?
How is food addiction different from emotional eating?
How do I know if I am a food addict?
What do I do if I am a food addict?

Tune in… take the quiz and learn what to do if you meet the criteria for emotional eating and/or food addiction! Keep in mind that bariatric surgery does not treat food addiction so if you struggle with both, you need treat both! Start today!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN: THE SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINING

This week I’ll be talking about what I meant to talk about last week! The critical importance of developing and maintaining a system for sustaining weight loss. It truly is creating and maintaining a system that results in sustaining the weight you lose after surgery. What do I mean by a “system?” Listen in as I’ll be sharing what some experts have to say about the reasons systems are critical and how to implement YOUR post-op system that helps you stay healthy, live longer and enjoy life more fully!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week I’ll be talking about the critical importance on focusing on what you do TODAY, following the PROCESS for healthy post-op living and not worrying about the “final outcome.” There is a lot of research about the importance of staying in the day and doing what is needed for today. Then, trust the process! If you are doing the “next wise thing,” and the “next wise thing” all day long, you don’t have to be concerned with six months from now. If a person practices the piano every single day as instructed by the piano teacher, they can trust that in time they will improve. If a kid plays catch every single day, throwing and catching ball after ball after ball, he or she will be a better ball player in time. It’s the whole “practice makes better (not always perfect)” thing. Listen in and keep an open mind!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Continued! This week: Addressing Resistance to Making Lifestyle Change.

This week I’ll be talking about some of the reasons people may resist making the changes necessary for maintaining the behavior changes necessary for weight loss and to prevent regain. One of the reasons people regain is they WANT to eat the foods they want to eat! And they also want to keep losing weight. You know how this ends…

Listen in to both talks this week to learn more about resistance, what that means and reasons why people resist making the lifestyle changes necessary for keeping weight off and avoiding regain.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Continued! This week: Debbie’s tips for refusing regain!

This week I’ll be talking with Debbie, a post-op of nearly ten years who has REFUSED REGAIN! She’ll share her tips for how she has maintained a weight lower than she had when she graduated from high school (she’s now a grandma – a very cute, active grandma, I might add)!

Later this week, you’ll be hearing from me again and there may be a bonus video for you this week!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Series. This week: The 4 ACES.

For the next several weeks, I’ll be talking about specific ways to avoid regain following bariatric surgery. This information also pertains to anyone who has experienced regain to help them get that weight back off!

This week I’ll talk about the 4 ACES (Awareness, Acceptance, Accountability, Attitude, Effert and SELF)! Be sure to listen to this critical series because regain is a reality. REFUSE it by setting yourself up for success!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Is it Body Dysmorphia or an unhealthy body image?

In the past few years, I’ve been hearing a lot of people talk about their “body dysmorphia.” I’m not sure people have an accurate idea of what body dysmorphia really is. Listen in this week as I explain exactly what body dysmorphia really is and then compare that to what experts say about having an unhealthy body image.

Body Dysmorphia is much less common that an unhealthy body image!

Learn tools for dealing with either body dysmorphic disorder or an unhealthy body image!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week: The Heavy Weight of Sleep! I have recently read some very fascinating information about sleep. We underestimate how this extremely important body function is for all of our biological systems. You’ll also be shocked by some of the statistics about sleep and weight.

Do you have an AM and PM routine? Creating one may help you accomplish more, feel more in control of your life, and help you maintain your weight loss. And who doesn’t want to get more sleep? Maybe after hearing the information about sleep and your weight you’ll actually make getting to bed a bit sooner a higher priority!

Have you heard the phrase “sleep hygiene?” I’ll be talking about that and giving you some suggestions about how you might think about developing your own sleep hygiene habits. Better (and enough) sleep not only helps with maintaining your weight, but is a great help in preventing a bunch of illnesses, perhaps most importantly, cancer! Tune in and get tips for maintaining your weight loss, preserving your health, and adding a few more zzzzzzzz’s to your night!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

It’s SPRING BREAK week here in my county! I am away trying to finish my next book called Mind Prep! Therefore, I won’t be live this week but will post videos that will be helpful to you in your journey.

Videos will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday so keep your eyes open!

In the meantime, keep in mind your daily PROCESS (processes are what get you the results you want)! Focus only on today! STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT and do the following: 1) eat on the time schedule your program advised (set a timer if you need to), 2) eat protein before you eat anything else at those scheduled eating times, 3) eat lots of veggies and lower-sugar fruits, and 4) do something for exercise today!

If you follow this process, you will be successful as a post-op! If you don’t follow the process that you was established by your bariatric program, then no complaining if you’re not losing weight or are regaining! (That’s fair and firm for ya!). (And it’s the truth.)

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Sources of Support for Post-Ops: Have you Considered Hiring a Health Coach?

We all need support in life! During the years following bariatric surgery, it is especially wise to have multiple forms of support. Health coaching is becoming more and more widely utilized - for a lot of good reasons. And yet – there is a lot of misinformation and some confusion among the public about what, exactly, health coaching is. This week’s first video will be a video with an Altanta-based health coach who works extensively with bariatric patients. She will help clarify exactly what health coaching is and how it can be extraordinarily helpful to bariatric post-op patients. If you have specific questions you’d like me to ask her during our interview, please let me know on Monday or early Tuesday!

This week’s second video will focus on various other forms of support for post-ops, some which you may not have thought of.

Looking forward to a week that promises to bring gorgeous weather to the Atlanta area this week! Hope this is true for you, as well, no matter where you live!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Predictors for Sustained Weight Loss: Overall Psychological Strength and Stability.

In the article titled Who Succeeds in Maintaining Weight Loss? A Conceptual Review of Factors Associated with Weight Loss Maintenance and Weight Regain, the authors suggest that people who are able to maintain weight loss have “overall psychological strength and stability.” What do they mean by this? What is psychological strength and stability?

More importantly, DO YOU have “overall psychological strength and stability,” and if not, how can you develop it?

This week’s talks will focus on what it looks like in real life to be a psychologically strong and stable person. We’ll review the traits mentioned by these researchers and provide suggestions for improving your chances of maintaining weight loss by focusing on how to develop more of the characteristics that people who maintain weight loss have.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week I’ll be talking about the last two of the list I’ve been sharing on predictors for sustained weight loss. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal following bariatric surgery is to maintain your weight loss and live a healthier, fuller life.

We’ll talk about the importance of autonomy and taking full responsibility for your own choices related to food, exercise and lifestyle. It’s nice to have people with you on the journey and to support you. The ultimate truth is, however, that no one but you can make the healthy food and behavior choices that need to be made to get the weight off and keep the weight off!

Autonomy means making your own decisions and acting in a way that you choose to behave. As an adult, you have the right to make your own decisions and as a healthy adult, you will (hopefully) make responsible choices that support your health. We’ll talk about all that “adulting” on this week’s videos!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Hey, friends! I hope that wherever you live, Spring is hinting at its arrival in the next weeks! I saw buds on the trees in Atlanta this week! New life is always heartwarming and inspires hope! Speaking of hope… I sincerely hope the information you are obtaining through BariAftercare is assisting you as you go through this life-affirming (and life-altering) process of bariatric surgery and developing a life-long healthy way of living. One. Day. At. A. Time.

I’m going to be away this week and so you’ll be getting all-new, inspiring, educational information from Taylor, our BariAftercare bariatric dietician, along with Dana Mitchell Rosser, who has been doing quite a tour with her husband, a bariatric surgeon AND bariatric patient himself. Dana and Dr. Butch Rosser having been appearing on television across the nation, educating people about the disease of obesity and how it affects entire families, even if only one person in the family has the disease!

Taylor brings information this week about ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.

Dana gives additional information about loving and living with your loved one who suffers from the disease of obesity.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

SELF EFFICACY… a CRITICAL aspect of Maintaining Your Weight Loss.

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on Self Efficacy… what exactly is self-efficacy and the reasons it is so important in order to maintain weight loss.

• Self Efficacy is something that many bariatric patients lack due to histories of weight loss followed by regain… time and time again.

• Learn how to develop self-efficacy and improve your long-term outcome!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The THIRD and FOURTH Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Ems For Sustained Weight Loss: Coping Strategies and Ability to Handle Life Stress.

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on the CRITICAL importance of avoiding turning to food when upset, stressed, anxious, bored, etc. etc. etc. What do you do INSTEAD of eating when life “happens,” when you’re struggling with the difficult realities of life, or experiencing stress or overwhelmed by intense emotions?

• Listen and and learn how to develop healthy coping skills and the ability to handle life stress so that you can maintain your weight loss for life!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The SECOND Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Em For Sustained Weight Loss: Social Support

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• This week the focus will be on Social Support… what to look for when seeking HEALTHY Social Support and what to stay away from!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

The FIRST Psychological/Emotional Gotta Do ‘Em For Sustained Weight Loss: Internal Motivation

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• You all know the behavioral Gotta Do ‘Ems (if you don’t, then download your free copy at

  https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf.

• For the next several weeks, we will be talking about INTERNAL motivation, what it is, and whether or not your weight loss journey is built on internal motivation, external motivation, or a combination of both!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Book Review: ReGain Be Gone: 12 Strategies on Reclaiming the Body You Earned After Bariatric Surgery by Sameera Khan, RD, PA-C (Parts 1 and 2)

2. Taylor, the BariAftercare dietician: All Things Carbohydrate

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• In keeping with the prior weeks discussion about regain, Dr. Stapleton will review a book specifically written for bariatric patients about the topic of regain.

• Taylor will provide education about CARBS! They get a bad rap, but there are some important contributions carbohydrates make to a healthy diet. Listen in as Taylor informs us about the many important facts about carbohydrates that will help keep you on track in your overall nutrition plan.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Emotional/Psychological “Gotta Do Ems”

2. Behavioral “Gotta Do Ems”

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• To lose regain and maintain a healthy weight for your body, there are some behavior things you GOTTA DO!

• Print a copy (or several) of the GOTTA DO EMS at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/568c7af0a12f449ad800ac61/t/56cfc6b620c647897cc56272/1456457399492/GottaDoEms.pdf

• There are also some emotional/psychological GOTTA DO EMS necessary to lose regain and maintain a healthy behavior.

• Print a copy of Dr. Stapleton’s Daily Reflections form at http://www.conniestapletonphd.com/s/Daily_Reflections.pdf.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Connie’s BariAftercare talks this week:

1. Taylor talks about SMART GOALS

2. Connie discusses one very specific and VERY smart goal to help you many times throughout each day!

What to expect on BariAftercare this week:

• Learn about the reasons using SMART Goals helps you accomplish your goals.

• Use the handout on SMART goals to set your own healthy goals.

• Learn one specific tool that will help you in a variety of situations throughout the day, assisting you to be better able to say “no” to unhealthy foods and stay on track with your health goals.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).