Meet April Williams

We recently connected with April Williams and have shared our conversation below.

April, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us today. We’re excited to dive into your story and your work, but first let’s start with a broader topic that might be stopping many of our readers from pursuing their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. How have you managed to persist despite haters and nay-sayers that inevitably follow folks who are doing something unique, special or off the beaten path?

Obesity is a disease that manifests its symptoms outwardly. Excess weight is a symptom of that disease, and everyone can see it. You cannot hide your size and shape despite all the energy and effort you put into being invisible. Society and people will look at your weight and judge, criticize, and shame you for something that is really out of your control. Obesity is a disease, not a decision. Instead of being greeted with compassion, empathy, and hope from the world, we are shown contempt.

Obesity is a metabolic disease that changes how the body processes energy. Hundreds of factors contribute to the disease, and like every other disease, it needs to be treated with multiple modalities. Simply eating less and moving more is not a recipe for treatment success. For most, surgical and medical interventions must be the primary treatment method.

As people who have lived with the disease most of our lives, we understand how paralyzing the stigma and shame of obesity is. People blame you for your excess weight and shame you into programs and systems that only offer false promises. Research has shown that only 1% of people with the disease of obesity can treat it with diet and exercise alone. The remaining 99% of us need surgical intervention, yet it remains one of the most underutilized treatment modalities. Why? Because patients, society, and the media believe this is not a disease and that the solution is to work harder to do things that will not help without medical intervention. We often feel we are only worthy of love and attention if we mentally and physically tax ourselves at unhealthy levels to appear to be doing the right thing.

So, how did we break out of this blame and shame cycle and finally onboard effective treatment for our disease? We got curious about the treatment options out there. We started talking to people who had publicly shared their bariatric surgery stories. We joined communities of like-minded peers and experts who taught us about the disease we are fighting against and offered us clear pathways to treatments that provide hope and healing. We tuned out the noise and focused on learning how to do the things we already knew how to do differently. The power of community support cannot be overstated. It is a lifeline, a source of understanding and empathy, and a key to overcoming the challenges of obesity.

We got curious, asked questions, and wondered what would happen if we just made that consultation appointment, if we deepened our connections in a caring community if we shifted our understanding of obesity from a personal failing to a disease model. We put more faith in the people working to treat their disease, including the medical professionals, and not those judging from the sidelines.

We did it. And you can, too. If you are tired of banging your head against the wall when it comes to your excess weight, if you are exhausted from carrying so much guilt and shame about never being about to lose weight and maintain it, if you are ready to make a real change, we are here to support you through it all. We created BariNation, a community of individuals who have struggled with obesity, and found effective treatments for this reason. It’s a safe place to connect, learn, and grow into the person they have always been. In this place, we can shed physical and emotional weight and rediscover the life we have always envisioned for ourselves.

Obesity is a lifelong and chronic disease, and most patients will never cure their disease; it will be a constant presence in their lives. But when you start to treat your disease in meaningful ways, something amazing happens. You get to tap into this well of strength and reliance that the disease has hidden. You get access to energy and determination that obesity was masking. We help you channel and utilize all this power in new areas of your life so you can maximize your newfound possibilities and truly live again. Effective treatment can be transformative, opening up a world of possibilities and a renewed sense of hope.

How do we persist through it all? We tap into the energy and power of the community. Treating this disease can be exhausting. But like any incredible journey, you have to recharge. You must stop along the way, rest, and ensure you are still going in the right direction. Our community is where that happens. It is where we recharge so we can continue to persist. We power our journey with BariNation. We become BariNation, and BariNation becomes us. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with, a community of strength and resilience, ready to face the challenges of obesity head-on.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is April Williams, and I am the Founder and CEO of BariNation. After battling my weight for almost my entire life without meaningful treatment, I decided to undergo bariatric surgery, and my life has never been the same. I have since lost 150 pounds and have maintained that for over 5 years. Without BariNation, I would not be able to say this. Obesity is a lifelong and chronic disease, and it has taken what we are creating in BariNation to power my bariatric journey and keep treating my disease.

I am an educator by trade, holding a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and spending the last decade of my teaching career in online, public education. After my surgery, it became almost immediately clear that I was going to need more support, education, and guidance than what my surgical center could provide. I started hosting Virtual Bariatric Meetups online during the pandemic. I invited experts I followed on Instagram to join me and hundreds of fellow bariatric friends for moments of togetherness and learning. I met my friend and co-founder Jason Smith at one of these events and launched the East2WestWLS Podcast. As it grew in popularity, we knew more people needed more support. After teaming up with Natalie Tierney, we created BariNation to help close the support gap we experience as patients.

Our organization supports thousands of patients in the United States and beyond through our podcast, membership community, and social media advocacy. Obesity is an isolating disease, but we have found that remarkable things happen when we connect, learn, and grow in a community.

You are not alone if you have battled excess weight for years or decades. You are attempting to treat a disease without the right tools, but we are here to help. Learn more at www.barination.com and barination.mn.co.

Obesity is a disease, not a decision. But we have to make the decision every day to treat our disease with all of the tools we have at our disposal. BariNation can become a part of your toolbox, and we are excited to support you through it all.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Get curious. For far too long, I was paralyzed by fear and worry. The fear of trying and failing kept me stuck, and my all-or-nothing thinking left me walking circles around inaction. It was not until I made a simple switch to what I was telling myself that things really changed. Instead of telling myself, “Bariatric surgery is dangerous (not true) and only for people who weigh 600 pounds (also not true)”, I started to say, “I wonder if surgery is as dangerous as everyone says it is? I wonder what happens at a surgery consultation. I wonder if I could talk with someone who has had surgery and has found success?” That simple shift from worry to wonder changed everything. And it can change things for you, too.

Be mindful of what you are telling yourself. What we say to ourselves becomes our reality. I was constantly telling myself that I couldn’t do things, that I would never figure things out, and that I would be overweight and unhealthy my entire life. Guess what? I lived -up to- those expectations for 20 years. In my lowest emotional state, I realized that if things were going to change, I would have to do things differently, which meant changing what I told myself. I am imperfect; those negative and unhelpful thoughts still exist. But I do a much better job of catching, checking, and changing them, thanks to what I have learned from the experts and fellow patients in BariNation.

Magic happens in darkness. When you struggle with the disease of obesity, everyone knows it. They can see the impacts of the disease on your frame because it manifests as excess weight. So you try so hard to become invisible, not to be seen, to live in darkness because no one can see you. But in that darkness, you still hear and notice things, and eventually, you start to see things. That bright light that is burning inside you starts pushing its way out and demanding that it gets its time to shine. That light can serve as your guide; it can help you create magical things in your life. You have to lean into faith and trust that there is something more out there for you. You have to believe that the darkness is not there to scare you but to show you what is really out there for you.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Hands down- BariNation.

BariNation is a safe and private online virtual community I can tap into anytime. I am surrounded and supported by hundreds of people like me and over 20 skilled professionals and practitioners who can teach me how to move through every stage of my bariatric life.

Some community members are 15 years post-op and are sharing their knowledge and insights, reaching back to help us all move forward and lighting our path. There are people in the community who are just thinking about having surgery, asking meaningful questions, and keeping us all connected to the many reasons we decided to have surgery in the first place.

If I have a question, there is an expert there with an answer. If I am unsure about my next step, someone is there with fresh ideas and inspiration. When I have a fear or worry, there is a safe place for me to express it. When I feel off course, the community is there to ground me and show me exactly where I am. And when I just feel like giving up, I am greeted with empathy, understanding, and hope. BariNation is where I recharge my bariatric batteries so I can keep treating my disease of obesity in meaningful ways.

It is the one place I can go and be welcomed; however, I can show up that day.

Without BariNation, I would not be who I am today. And I have to say, I love who I am today, who I was, and where I am going, I have found this love because of what I learn in BariNation.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

April Williams, Lany Bliss, BariNation

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