From Rock Bottom to Rewrite: Confronting Food Addiction After Bariatric Surgery
Jun 17, 2025

When I think back to four years ago, food addiction after bariatric surgery wasn’t even on my radar—let alone becoming a topic I’d passionately speak about at the ASMBS Conference in front of thousands of bariatric professionals. Yet here we are.
I was once deep in addiction—alcohol, drugs, and an unhealthy relationship with food. Three years ago, I had bariatric surgery. Two years ago, I started posting on social media. Now, I lead a team at The Rewrite Lifestyle Center that’s transforming lives through real support beyond the scale.
This isn’t about willpower. It’s about rewriting your life—because surgery doesn’t change your coping mechanisms, your identity, or the environment that led to your struggle in the first place.
Why Surgery Alone Isn't Enough
Most post-op programs give you access to a nutritionist and your surgeon. And while those are valuable resources, they’re not the end of your journey—they're the beginning. Post-op recovery isn’t just about eating less; it’s about living differently. You didn’t struggle with weight because you ate too much kale. You struggled because food became a source of comfort, identity, and survival.
Rebuilding from the Inside Out
If you’ve been overweight your entire life, reaching your goal weight doesn’t magically turn you into a new person. That version of you—the one with confidence, boundaries, and joy—has to be written into existence. That’s the Rewrite. We don’t just work with macros and meal plans. We focus on what happens when you leave the appointment. The cravings. The social anxiety. The shifting dynamics in your relationships. The emotional regulation that no one prepared you for.
Our Bariatric Rewrite program offers daily support, not just check-ins. We provide a blueprint for life after surgery—real coaching, real connection, and a community of people rewriting their stories together.
This Is Healthcare Reimagined
Dr. Matthew Weiner from A Pound of Cure once asked me if I wanted to change healthcare. The answer is yes—especially for bariatric patients. Because the truth is: surface-level support isn’t enough. We need structure. We need tools to cope. And we need people who understand the deeper layers of what we’re dealing with.
Obesity is a disease. And recovery from it—especially when food has been your best friend and coping mechanism for decades—requires more than surgery. It requires unlearning, support, and rewriting.
This week, as we head to ASMBS’s Bariatric ReWrite initiative, we’re not bringing pamphlets. We’re bringing proof. Our clients’ transformations aren’t just numbers on a scale—they’re lives rebuilt.
If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, know this: You’re not broken. You don’t lack discipline. You just haven’t been given the full map.
Let us show you the way.
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Are You Struggling with Food Addiction? Take the First Step Today!
If cravings, binge eating, or emotional eating are holding you back, you’re not alone. Food addiction can impact long-term weight loss, especially after bariatric surgery (gastric sleeve, bypass surgery).
At The Rewrite Lifestyle Center, we help you break free from stress eating and build a sustainable, healthy relationship with food.
✅ Discover if you're facing food addiction and get expert guidance on bariatric nutrition, meal plans, and support from Shenelle Coplien and the Bariatric Rewrite team. Your journey to lasting weight loss starts here!
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