BariatricTV.com uses funny weekly webisodes to educate bariatric patients about nutrition and offer hope on how to stay on track.
BariatricTV.com treats the weight loss surgery life with goofy fun and a light heart. The weekly show is a haven for “surgically altered freaks” and to Toni and Michael Towe, this isn’t a bad thing.
BariatricTV.com offers videos about diet and nutrition information, plus forums about coping with the special weight loss process that bariatric patients can expect. Many of the programs feature Toni and friend Lynnda Shepherd, spreading their word through absurd comedy and costumes, with episodes such as “Food Porn” and “Don’t Be a Scale Ho!”
“There are so many people out there having surgery that we’re giving them more options on what to watch,” Toni said. “Some people, they get a little irritated by the ‘freak’ part of our show. …We think, the more information out there, the better. So whatever the information, and wherever it’s coming from, we’re just thumbs-up on that.”
The show is a perfect fit for Michael’s extensive technical background and the fact that wife Toni is a successful post-op patient with 130 pounds shed since 2004. Shepherd shares bragging rights, with 120 pounds gone since 2003.
“She is the Lucy to my Ethel,” Toni said about Shepherd. “She’s funny, she’s engaging and she makes it so much fun. I mean, we laugh the whole time we’re doing this show.”
So far, they’ve exceeded 40 episodes and the site is a hit. Instead of being competition to venues like The Weight Loss Surgery Channel, it’s a light-hearted companion with the same mission.
