Establish Healthy Foundations 

This course provides clear, structured instruction on the essential nutritional, behavioral, and medical principles required after bariatric surgery. Patients gain a precise understanding of protein goals, hydration requirements, vitamin supplementation, and medication safety to support optimal healing and reduce postoperative risk.

Improve Long-Term Outcomes 

Each module translates complex clinical recommendations into practical, applicable behaviors. Participants learn how to structure meals, regulate eating pace, identify early satiety, prevent grazing, and recognize emotional triggers, skills consistently associated with improved tolerance, enhanced safety, and more stable long-term weight trajectories.

Support Lifelong Success 

Learn about long-term laboratory monitoring, deficiency prevention, physical activity progression, and red-flag recognition. Patients develop the knowledge required to maintain nutritional stability, preserve metabolic health, and identify complications early, key elements in sustaining bariatric success across the lifespan.

About this Program

The Bariatric Essentials: Pre-Op Program gives patients the clear, trusted guidance they need to stay safe, confident, and successful throughout their journey.  This practical, easy-to-follow course breaks down the most important aspects of bariatric surgery (nutrition, hydration, medications, movement, red-flag symptoms, and long-term habits) into simple, actionable steps.  Whether you are preparing for surgery or navigating life afterward, this course helps you understand exactly what to do, what to avoid, and how to protect your health every day.  Designed to eliminate confusion and overwhelm, it provides the essential foundation every bariatric patient needs to thrive.

The Benefits of Bariatric Essentials: Pre-Op Program

Learn & Understand

Learn the exact nutrition, hydration, and lifestyle guidelines every bariatric patient must know. Understand food stages, portioning, fullness cues, and long-term eating habits

Avoid & Recognize

Avoid dangerous medications and learn safe alternatives specific to bariatric patients. Recognize red-flag symptoms early—and know exactly when to seek care

Build & Plan

Build sustainable routines for movement, protein intake, hydration, vitamins, and long-term behavioral success. Reduce overwhelm with simple, step-by-step guidance

Meet Dr. Donald Fridley

Dr. Donald Fridley, D.O., FACOS, FASMBS is a board-certified robotic, general, and bariatric surgeon and the founder of Surgical Associates of Bayonet Point in Florida. He specializes in minimally invasive surgical and non-surgical weight loss options, along with a full range of general surgery services. Dr. Fridley completed his medical training at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a general surgery residency at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and a bariatric and robotic surgery fellowship at Reading Hospital. He also trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In addition to caring for patients, he teaches surgical residents at the University of South Florida and physician assistant students at Gannon University. A Fellow of both the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons, Dr. Fridley serves as Bariatric Director for two regional hospitals and remains actively involved in advancing surgical quality and education.

Course Curriculum

8 Chapters · 35 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction to the Bariatric Essentials Pre-Op Program

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to the Bariatric Essentials: Pre-Op Program.

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Disclaimer

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Pre-Op Self-Reflection Worksheet

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Bariatric Surgical Procedures: Reference Overview

  2. 2

    Module 1: Core Foundations for Bariatric Patients

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M1-1: Protein First

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Bariatric Plate Method

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M1-2: Hydration & Fluids

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M1-3: Vitamins, Supplements, and Laboratory Monitoring

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1 Quiz

  3. 3

    Module 2: Eating Behaviors, Portion Control, & Fullness Awareness

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M2-1: Portions, Eating Pace, and Fullness

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      How Digestion Works

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M2-2: Mindful Eating & Reducing Distractions

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M2-3: Emotional Eating & Behavioral Awareness

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2 Quiz

  4. 4

    Module 3: Food Stages, Tolerance Patterns, & Long-Term Meal Progression

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M3-1: Food Stages & Texture Progression

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M3-2: Food Intolerances & Troubleshooting Eating Problems

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M3-3: Safe Food Introduction, Meal Planning, and Long-Term Strategies

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3 Quiz

  5. 5

    Module 4: Physical Activity & Strength Preservation After Bariatric Surgery

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M4-1: Physical Activity Foundations

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M4-2: Strength Preservation & Preventing Muscle Loss

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M4-3: Building a Sustainable Fitness Routine

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4 Quiz

  6. 6

    Module 5: Medication Safety, Supplement Interactions, & Postoperative Management

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M5-1 Medication Safety, Contraindicated Drugs, and Postoperative Absorption Changes

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M5-2 Preventing Deficiencies, Understanding Supplement Interactions, and Long-Term Monitoring

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Advanced Vitamin & Mineral Science After Bariatric Surgery

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M5-3: Safe Medication Practices, Managing Side Effects, and Communication With Providers

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5 Quiz

  7. 7

    Module 6: Postoperative Safety, Complication Awareness, & Long-Term Success Strategies

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M6-1: Recognizing Red Flags, Complication Warning Signs, and When to Seek Medical Attention

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M6-2: Long-Term Follow-Up, Lab Requirements, and Ongoing Bariatric Monitoring

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M6-3: Long-Term Healthy Behaviors, Success Strategies, and Maintaining Weight Stability

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      7-Day Foundations Tracker

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6 Quiz

  8. 8

    Congratulations!

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Congratulations

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Q&A

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Resources

Ready to Start Your Journey With Confidence?

Take the first step today and unlock the essential skills that support a healthier, more empowered you.

$95.00

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