Bariatric Surgery Helped Kari Braun Reclaim an Active Life with Her Family

It’s said that a picture is worth 1,000 words. For Trinity Health employee Kari Braun, seeing patients thrive after bariatric surgery provided the image that inspired her to take this step for herself and her family.

We sat down for a heartfelt talk with Kari, who shared her inspiration, her challenges and the transformational effect of bariatric surgery on her life as both a mother and a professional.

So what got you thinking about bariatric surgery? 

I have been working at Trinity Health since 2012. I’m a nurse and one of the things I do is follow up with patients in our primary care practice who have been hospitalized. In that role, I saw many patients after they had bariatric surgery. I also had a chance to observe one of the procedures and I was impressed by the doctor.

Those experiences got me thinking about surgery, because weight loss had been on my mind for quite a while. I felt like an imposter recommending that my patients focus on healthier eating habits and weight management when I myself was really overweight.

 

That in and of itself might not have driven me to make a change. But when my son was born in 2021, I realized my weight stood in the way of me being the mom I wanted to be. I couldn’t keep up with him on the playground. If he started climbing and got stuck, I couldn’t get up there to help. If he wanted to play baseball or ride bikes, he had to ask daddy, because mommy couldn’t do it. I found myself on the parenting sidelines and that’s not where I wanted to be.

In 2024, I gave birth to our daughter and our family was complete. That’s when I decided it was time to take action. I talked to my husband and he was completely on board with the idea. Six months later, I had bariatric surgery.

How have things worked out for you? 

It’s fair to say that I’m a shadow of my former self! I have lost as much as I now weigh. But the number on the scale is not what matters. What’s important to me is that I am doing all the mom things I dreamed of doing. I can jump on the trampoline and practice baseball with my son. I clamber up the play structures without losing my breath or worrying about getting stuck. I’m no longer relegated to the sidelines. I’m an active part of my kids’ daily life and I love it.

As a nurse, I’m also amazed that I’ve weaned off all my blood pressure medications. I started taking BP meds in my 20s because my readings were high and I had a family history of blood pressure issues. My blood pressure really caused problems after my son was born. But after the surgery, we discovered that my blood pressure was too low! I’ve gone from being on three blood pressure medications to being medication-free for the last year.

What was the hardest part of the journey? 

Being overweight doesn’t just happen. And although surgery gives you a jump start on achieving healthy weight, it doesn’t fix your past or your future. You have to break old patterns, such as eating for comfort or eating out of habit.

I think the mental part of this journey is the hardest. You need to face the traumas and dramas that got you here in the first place. I started working with a therapist after my son was born and she has helped me do the hard emotional work of learning why I eat. My therapist has also been a pivotal source of encouragement. When you’ve had weight problems, it’s easy to think you’re going to fail. That little voice in your head says, “See? You blew it today. You’re never going to succeed.” She has helped me learn to quiet those voices.

How are you using your experience to help your kids have a different relationship with food? 

I’ve learned to stock healthy snacks instead of the stuff we shouldn’t be eating. I focus on meal planning so that we are intentional about our food. When we do occasionally enjoy a “fun food,” as we call it, we share it together as something special.

Food is challenging because kids don’t live in a bubble. The older they get, the more places they encounter choices. What’s great is my son, who is a bit older, has learned how to make good choices for himself. We started young and I’m seeing that work pay off. That will benefit him for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, our culture reinforces choices that can lead to unhealthy relationships with food. We tend to use sweet treats or fast food as rewards for achievement, or consolation for something painful. All this does is teach kids to gain comfort by eating, which starts a debilitating cycle of chemical changes in the brain and emotional dependence on food. So instead of saying to my kids, “You had a bad day? Let’s have a cookie to feel better,” I try to say, “You had a bad day? Tell me about it.” I’m also honest with my kids. When I’m struggling and want to revert to unhealthy behaviors, I talk to them about it. I want them to see that I’m taking care of myself and that it’s important for them to do the same. 

What is your advice for people who are considering bariatric surgery? 

Most of us know people who have done well after surgery and those who have not achieved their goals. I think the difference in outcomes is due in large part to the mental health aspect.

Before you start this journey, you need to be in tune with your mental health. You’ll need to confront things that may be emotionally challenging. It’s so important to have a close circle of people who will be there for you and support you. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. My therapist was an essential part of my recovery and still offers the encouragement I need to keep reinforcing new behaviors and a healthy self-image.

If you know someone who has gone through bariatric surgery, reach out and ask questions! Most people are very willing to share their experiences to help others. Find out what is working for them and where they struggle. I know that for me, this experience has helped me become comfortable telling my story. I’m proud of being a nurse and I want to be a good example to my patients as well as my family.

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