As we all go for our one-year followups, what things did we learn? Here's a summary of mine:

My appointment went well. Dr. is very happy with things. I’m at 221 on his scale (218 on mine), which is up a few from the 218 I was at on his scale in July. No surprise, as I've been gradually creeping up since November 1, when I stopped jogging outdoors and switched to elliptical. Plus, the holidays.

We talked a lot about the mental issues, the need to not be fixated on the number, the physical changes, etc. He says I’m a model patient, for what that’s worth. He says that it’s largely a head game from here, which I know.

He asked about how much I’m eating, which we went over, and he cautioned me about eating to the point of being full. He said that while my sleeve will never stretch out to the old stomach, if I repeatedly eat to full, I will condition it to stretch more. Good lesson.

He also cautioned me that I am now in a lifelong fight with my body, which wants to get back up to 362 lbs. He told me that I should not be surprised that in 5 years, I will have gained 40 lbs., although he also said that I’m doing so well, and seem to have the right attitude, plus my age and gender, that I may not. He said that should I gain the weight, we can then talk about bypass but, interestingly enough, he also said, “By then, they will have figured out that much of this is hormone-related, and maybe they’ll treat that way then.”

Go to support groups, keep exercising, blah, blah, blah.

How about everyone else?

Most important thing I learned in my one year follow up is that years 2 & 3 are just as important as the first year.... the shift to maintenance and lifelong changes is what is in front of me. Having that message pounded into my head was very helpful and formed alot of my attitudes about year two. It drove my fundamental approach to year two.

I am just now starting year 3 - maintaining successfully so far and in fact weigh less than i did at my 1 year surgiversary.

I have regained weight so many damn times in my life - that has been my biggest fear about wls

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME AFTER ALL THIS?????????????????? My BODY is still wanting to weigh 338 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF???????????????? I am more than dismayed, disappointed and disgusted. For Gods Sake. I knew this was going to be a mental thing long term BUT DAMN. I just had my surgery on 12/11/13. I'm getting to the point where the same taste of the same Vitamins, supplements and same types of food is REALLY getting on my nerves.

I'm tired today because I didn't get 8 hours sleep last night and I know that wreeks havoc with my abilit to deal with this but you telling me this makes me cry.

I have regained weight so many damn times in my life - that has been my biggest fear about wls

Mine as well!!!

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME AFTER ALL THIS?????????????????? My BODY is still wanting to weigh 338 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTF???????????????? I am more than dismayed, disappointed and disgusted. For Gods Sake. I knew this was going to be a mental thing long term BUT DAMN. I just had my surgery on 12/11/13. I'm getting to the point where the same taste of the same Vitamins, supplements and same types of food is REALLY getting on my nerves.

I'm tired today because I didn't get 8 hours sleep last night and I know that wreeks havoc with my abilit to deal with this but you telling me this makes me cry.

The only easy day was yesterday. Look at it this way... If you stick with your plan, you'll lose the weight. You were going to have a lifelong struggle anyway... Better to fight it from a low weight!