Thanks for the compliment.
To answer your questions....

What has been the best and worse of the year? 

The first few months are CRAZY!  Just be prepared for it - expect the worst and deal with it as it comes - I had a rough first 4 months - but, I had my gallbladder out at the same time, and things didn't go perfectly as planned.  At the beginning, you are still healing and you can be miserable at times, wondering WTF did I do... people would ask me - do you wish you never did the surgery?  My answer - I can't give you an answer to that question until I am at least 6 months out - you can ask me then.  My answer today - I would have the surgery again tomorrow even knowing all the things I would have to go through.  It is absolutely the best thing I have ever done for myself.  I am healthy, happy and have never felt better!

Stalls - they happen - sometimes they last 1 week, sometimes 3 months!  :o) 

Hormones go nuts - just be prepared for that and if you are married or have a significant other... warn them... LOL!!   :o)

There are so many little things that I can do now - crossing legs, fitting in booths, no extenders, walking miles and miles without causing blisters, fire crotch or anything else!  LOL!  I'm wearing a size 6 with the occasional size 4.  It's amazing!

My asthma, gerd, acid reflux, hiatal hernia, joint pain, headaches, blood pressure - all gone!  LOVE THAT!

What is your #1 tip?

Follow your doctors protocol, take all your vitamins, drink lots of water, keep a food record and exercise - it is really important to develop good habits early on so you don't go back to where you began.

What has been your biggest surprise?

That I actually lost 115 lbs!  I NEVER thought I'd lose that much - ever!  That and just the feeling of feeling healthy - sounds weird, but I had been unhealthy for so long, I can't get over what it's like to just feel good!  

Good luck!