BFC Member Chats Episode 3: Bariatric Surgery, Diabetes Success, and the Power of Humor

If you get the chance to spend any time in our Bariatric Food Coach community, you will see Lin Turek’s weekly meme posts. They’re the kind that make you laugh out loud even if you’re sitting alone at the kitchen table. And honestly? They’ve become one of my favorite reminders that humor has a real place in this journey. You’ll love hearing the backstory of Lin’s Bariatric surgery and diabetes success story and how she stayed consistent when it felt slower than others.

That’s why I loved sitting down with Lin for BFC Member Chats Podcast Episode 3. She opens up about her life before surgery, the obstacles she faced, and how patience, persistence, and humor helped her move from struggling with uncontrolled diabetes to celebrating freedom from insulin today.

Watch on YouTube click here

Listen on Spotify click here

The BFC Member Chats Podcast is new around here! You’ll also want to check out:

Episode 1: Nancy’s Before and After Gastric Sleeve Mindset Story

Episode 2: LaChez’s Journey – Revision, Resilience and Real Life on the Road

Lin’s Story: From A1c of 13 to 5, the journey to diabetes control

Five years ago, Lin’s health was at a breaking point. Her A1c had climbed to 13. She was diagnosed with kidney problems, fatty liver, and told point-blank she needed bariatric surgery.

She was exhausted all the time, sick all the time, and even with the seriousness of her health, she still faced pushback from family members about choosing surgery. But together with her husband, she made the decision to move forward. In April 2022, she had bariatric surgery.

Lin is the first to admit her journey hasn’t been “fast.” It took three years of steady work—logging her food, marching in place in the kitchen when she couldn’t get out for exercise, tracking water with an app, and weighing only once a week. She stayed the course.

And the result? She’s lost 117 pounds, her diabetes is under control, she’s been off insulin for a full year, and her A1c is now 5. Her story is living proof that patience pays off. Now she’s a bariatric surgery and diabetes success story!

Humor as Her Secret Weapon

Through it all, Lin never lost her sense of humor. She’ll be the first to tell you that you can’t take yourself too seriously in this process. That’s why she shares funny memes and jokes in the Bariatric Food Coach community each week—because laughter is part of healing, too.

Humor doesn’t erase the hard days, but it makes them lighter. It turns shame into connection and gives us a chance to breathe when things feel heavy.

Lin’s Tips for the Journey

Lin doesn’t just share her story—she shares practical tips that any bariatric patient (or really, anyone with diabetes) can lean on:

Weigh only once a week — stay consistent, but don’t let the scale control your mood every day.

Keep moving — even if it’s just marching in place in the kitchen. Every step adds up.

Prioritize water — she uses an app with reminders to stay on track.

Log your food — awareness is key, and Lin still tracks every day.

Simple habits, done over time, have completely changed her life.

Why Her Story Matters

Lin’s story is about so much more than numbers on a chart. It’s about resilience when progress feels slow, courage to move forward despite pushback, and the willingness to keep showing up day after day.

And maybe most importantly, it’s about joy. About not forgetting to laugh. Making choices with her supportive husband and quieting the other voices. About remembering that healing isn’t only about food and labs—it’s about the spirit, too.

Final Bite

So, yes—laughter is good medicine. But Lin shows us it’s even better when paired with patience, persistence, and a supportive community.

If you’re walking the path of bariatric surgery and diabetes, take Lin’s words to heart: keep going. One week at a time, one glass of water at a time, one laugh at a time.

Because you can do hard things—and you don’t have to do them without a laugh along the way.

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