After my one year check up my surgeon said...

Congratulations, you have done so well but you should know that this next year is probably just as important, maybe more important then year one because this is the year you either really stick with the good habits, or start backsliding.

Then, a year later, for my two year check in he congratulated me on maintaining and said... you should know this next year is really imprtant, because sometimes people start regaining

They change their habits and lose that "feeling of restriction "

On my third year follow up they focused alot on checking if I had reflux or GERD , which I don't (that is about when it starts showing up for some). He again asked me about my feeling of restriction, habits I had kept etc. He asked me about the emotional impacts, if I felt I had grown accustomed to my new normal....then said, thus might be the most important year post op because statistics show people sometimes regain 3-5 years post op.

For my 4 year - I just had blood work done by my primary care doctor, so I had to give myself the speech about how this next year is even more important in terms of maintaining the habits that keep that feeling of restriction, and help maintain.

I was thinking today that he is more than a good surgeon, he is a smart man. Tell me something 3 times and I think I got it. It seems that year after year I must maintain good eating habits and activity level to maintain that feeling of restriction and to maintain a healthy weight.

I probably heard a million times about "lifestyle change " as a preop and although I am sure I nodded with enthusiasm I really didn't know. How can you really know until you experience it?