It’s hard to believe a full year has passed since we had surgery. In some ways it feels much longer — so much has changed that life before the sleeve feels like a different chapter entirely. In other ways it feels recent, because the learning and adjusting never really stops.
We wanted to take a moment to reflect honestly on what the year has actually been like.
What Changed That We Expected
The weight loss was real and significant. The way we eat has fundamentally changed — smaller portions, slower eating, more focus on protein, less grazing. We feel physically better: more energy, better sleep, less strain on our joints. These were the things we hoped for going in, and they happened.
What Changed That We Didn’t Expect
The emotional and psychological changes were bigger and stranger than we anticipated. The loss of food as a comfort mechanism. The identity shift that comes with looking dramatically different. The way other people treat you differently. The unexpected surfacing of things — like the traits James has been assessed for — that food had quietly been managing for years without us realising it.
These weren’t bad things, necessarily. But they were things we weren’t fully prepared for, and we think they deserve more space in conversations about bariatric surgery than they typically get.
What We’d Do Differently
We’d have invested more in the psychological side of preparation — not because we did badly, but because we now understand how much of this journey happens in the mind rather than the stomach. More therapy, more intentional work on the emotional relationship with food, earlier rather than later.
We’d also have worried less about the scale in the middle months and trusted the process more.
Where We Are Now
In a genuinely good place. Not a perfect place — there are still challenges, still adjustments, still days that are harder than others. But healthier, more confident, and more ourselves than we’ve been in a long time.
That feels like enough to be proud of.
Disclaimer: This post is based on our personal experience and is intended for general information only. It should not be taken as medical advice. Every journey is different, and it’s important to speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before making any medical decisions.