5 years post-op and I'm finally ready to admit something... The "after" photo isn't the end of the story. It's barely the middle.I remember thinking once my surgeon rearranged my insides, everything would magically fall into place. The weight would drop, confidence would skyrocket, and I'd immediately become that person who meal preps on Sundays and never hits snooze on 5am workouts. Reality? I still record this podcast from my basement. Still struggle with protein goals some days. Still have moments where I look in the mirror and don't recognize the person staring back.But here's what they don't tell you in the pre-op classes:The real transformation isn't about the scale. It's about showing up for yourself when nobody's watching. It's about building the kind of consistency that doesn't abandon you when life gets chaotic. Five years later, I'm proud of things that have nothing to do with pants size.I'm proud that I can lift weights that used to terrify me.I'm proud that food is just food now – not the enemy, not my comfort.I'm proud that my kids see what resilience looks like in real time.I'm proud that I trusted myself enough to keep going.The journey doesn't end when the "dramatic weight loss" slows down. That's actually when the real work begins. So if you're standing at the beginning, middle, or five years into your own journey, remember this: Progress isn't linear. Healing isn't perfect. And contrary to what social media suggests, you don't need to have it all figured out.You just need to keep showing up.What's one non-scale victory you're proud of today? Drop it below, I read every comment and could use some inspiration myself.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Bariatric Journey

02:48 The Importance of Pre-Surgery Preparation

05:55 Finding Sustainable Exercise and Nutrition

08:43 The Reality of Social Media and Self-Worth

11:23 Building Consistency and Overcoming Challenges

14:27 The Long Road to Success and Continuous Improvement