It's hard to believe but it has now been 2 years since my GBS and life will never be the same!  It is amazing to see the differences between year 1 and year 2. 

Year 0-1:
"Wow, you've lost so much weight!"
the rapidly changing body
the constantly changing wardrobe
everything focuses around your new way of eating
Self-control 101: walking away from foods that you can't eat yet
the boldness to share your experiences with others
reaching for the big goals (target weight, target BMI)

Year 1-2
"I'm sorry, do I know you?"
learning to appreciate and 'work' your new body ;)
trying to get the focus off of food (new and old habits) and feeling that it is now an automatic part of you 
Self control 401: walking away from foods you can now tolerate again but know you shouldn't eat
Fighting the old demons
the appreciation for conversations that don't focus around your weight loss
learning to appreciate the less dynamic but even more challenging goal of maintaining your target weight

Now is the time to make it real and truly start living your new life.  One of the toughest challenges for me is to live my life beyond the huge goals.  Before there was always a big goal... losing that first 5%, acutally having the surgery, losing the first 50, reaching the century mark, getting into that target size pair of pants, reaching the goal set by my doctor, etc.  Now that those goals are met my current goal is.... maintain?.  That doesn't sound very exciting and dynamic now does it?!  And, as boring as it sounds, maintaining is 10X more of a personal challenge than all the other goals combined.  Because now it's all about me... they say that in the beginning your success is 80% due to your new pouch and 20% your own doing, but once you get past 9 months or so it shifts and your success is 20% due to your pouch and 80% due to your own strength. 

It's tough!!! I've been bouncing 10 pounds back and forth for the last several months.  I understand it's normal as your body figures out it's perfect new balance.  But I don't like it.  I'm not freaking out at the nubmers, but I do get frustrated when I just can't seem to keep the number down there as easily as I did before. 

But, I know it wouldn't be easy and I know I will never go back again.  So now is the time to dig in and show myself that it truly is due to God's strength through me that I will keep healthy, keep the weight off and continue to make the perfect use of this amazing tool!!!