What have you done right (and wrong) in your WLS journey?

In looking back over the past 3+ years in my "Tour de Fat" WLS journey, there are a number of things I did well and a few not so well. The good:

1. Learned a lot about nutritional eating and developed good eating habits
2. Avoided nearly all the food temptations the first year post-WLS
3. Lost 52 pounds prior to WLS which made the post-WLS transition much easier
4. Exercised like crazy
5. Vitamins each and every day
6. Tracked all my eating in FitDay.com

The not so good:

1. Waited too long to decide to have WLS
2. Went back to my bad habit of woofing down food
3. Stretched my pouch by stuffing myself so now I don't get the full feeling as easily
4. Don't drink as much water as I should
5. Didn't get in enough protein early on.
6. Didn't get my teeth examined more frequently so am in the process of having several extracted. 

How bout' you guys?

Boner

1. Tried to educate myself before the surgery
2. Started exercising before the surgery
3.  Have continued to exercise and it is now part of my daily life.
4.  Take my daily vitamins
5.  Track my food and exercise
6.  Be open and willing to discuss the surgery with others
7.  Have tried new foods that provide a better alternative to hamburgers and onion rings



Bad
1.  Deffinitely waited about 20 years too long for WLS.  I now sit back and look at the missed opportunites that were lost because of my weight.
2.  pushed the limits of foods that I can eat.  Have found several that make me dump, not by accident, but because I was eating poorly.
3.  Don't like water, never have, never will.  Have to drink it flavored.
4.  I eat too fast, especially if I am hungry.
5.  I obsess about food.  I think about it all day long.  What can I eat next, when can I eat etc.
6.  I have eaten things that were on my Dr's no list.
7.  I didn't prepare enough for the emotional issues that I dismissed as cry baby stuff prior to the surgery.  Now I'm certainly feeling the effects of those emotions that I so easily dismissed previously.

Good question Boner,

Thanks

Scott

The Good:
1. researched surgury, and knew what I was getting into.
2. was a SAINT the first year in choices and actions
3. Got actively involved on this page, and my local support group
4. learned to feel ok spending money on what I NEEDED...like good supplements, and expensive meats etc.
5. changed the course of my entire family
6. I tell MOST people about my surgery.

The Bad:
1. I wish I didn't know some of the things that don't make me dump.
2. I go too long without exercising enough. I usually do enough to "get by". sporatic greatness
3. I sometimes fail to plan my meals, so when nothing looks good, I snack on "appropriate items" the whole day.
4. I leaned on protein bars and shakes too long.
5. sometimes I don't care if it will make me sick, I still take that last bite.

Good:

1) Researched and talked with post-op patients
2) Got myself mentally prepared for the surgery and post-op life.
3) Started walking every day before surgery.
4) "Officially" lost 33 pounds before surgery (actually lost 53 total, but Feb. 9, 2008 was my "official" weigh-in at my first Vandy consult.)
5) Started a pre-op daily food and exercise journal.
6) Maintain a daily post-op food and exercise journal.
7) Continue to exercise daily in some form.
8) Follow daily vitamin and supplement plan from Vandy
9) Hold myself accountable for my own success or failure
10) Try to "Pay it Forward" by offering encouragement, my experiences, and suggestions to those who follow, as well as by "shooting straight" with them.
11) Have lost over 140 pounds total!

BAD:

1) Sometimes don't eat enough "real" food
2) Sometimes eat too fast
3) Sometimes am somewhat of a "hard ass"- not very tolerant of those who whine about life after surgery (only because I want to see them succeed and be accountable to themselves)

Good
Researched WLS.
Do exactly what my WLS Team instructs.
Got involved in this and the TN. forum.
Journal, Journal, Journal.
Take my supplements and vitamins
Eat right
Exercise because I have to and now because I enjoy it.

Bad
Still eat to fast (way better the pre-op)
Work to long of hours.
Have no patients for people *****ing about the small things they do because of WLS such as Don't like my vitamins, can't live without a straw, Blah, Blah, Blah (you see I'm really working on it!).
Obsess about not being long term successful.
Maybe thin skinned about peoples comments about WLS.
Drink too much coffee not enough water.

Good:

1. Got a lot of protein in. Which was easy cause that's what I like eating anyway.
2. Got a lot of water in. Which was fairly easy cause I like drinking water anyway.
3. Stayed pretty true to my walking routine. Which hasn't always been easy.

Bad:

1 - 4 from your list
5. Need to get my ass in the weight room and lift consistantly.
6. Quit being satisfied that I look better than I have in 20 years and go ahead and get to  goal.