1 year out what ive learned

Now, you make an excellent point! So far I have been doing okay.  I don't enjoy in my trigger foods often, but I do engage in them from time to time. I have found that I always treat myself when it's that time of the month. I give in to the chocolate and salt demon. 

Knowing yourself is the hardest part.  I used to have trouble understanding what people meant when they talked about taking time to get to know themselves. I would think, how can you not know who you are? You are with yourself all day everyday, if you should know somebody it should be yourself.  I know see that I didn't know Nicole either.

I know what you mean.  Maybe we just get to know ourselves so differently this time (or we can, if we bother to do the work). 

On maintenance I have a sweet/peanutbutterychocolate thing once a day.  It keeps my sweet tooth (that I would swear I did not have before surgery) in place, and its good enough that if I am out at a party and there are amazing things to eat, but too many to polish off (some things, if I do not start, I am if I start, I am going to fini**** - like those damned pretzel/Rollo/pecan things! ) and I will say to me, "B, you just hang tight, make good/better/best choices and we can go home and have the peanutbutterycocoathing" and it works!  Yaaay! 

I had my first one of those Rollo/pretzel/pecan thingies the month before surgery.. I am so happy I never knew about them before. Very dangerous.

Damn those things to hell! 

My rule for me about those is, if there is a reasonable amount to consume left on the tray (like I dunno.. 10 say) then I can start, but a whole tray?  No trying to even kid myself!

congratulations!!  one year is not a very long time for such big changes, I think you will find that given enough time your body image will catch up with reality.

big hugs!
Jackie

Your story is inspiring and your friend's comment about being in control was excellent!  I'm going to start telling myself that very thing