Dr.PulmRoch said:

Positive side effects of mental health that surprised me: Clearer skin — inflammation reduction improved my rosacea Better sleep — weight loss…

Same experience, arrived at from the opposite direction. I had assumed I was the exception until I read this.

PharmacoVig_BOS said:

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 81 lbs but when I look in the mirror, I still see my old self sometimes.

That reframing is the part I needed. Taking it to my next appointment.

Clinical perspective, offered as context rather than as advice.

One year anniversary on mental health — reflections:

What I wish I'd known: the side effects are temporary, the benefits compound over time, protein is more important than I thought, and the mental health aspect needs as much attention as the physical.

What surprised me: how much my relationship with food changed, the cascade of health improvements beyond weight, and how supportive this community is.

What I'd do differently: start therapy earlier, prioritize resistance training from day 1, and stop comparing my progress to others. Everyone's journey is unique.

pat_auckland said:

One year anniversary on mental health — reflections: What I wish I'd known: the side effects are temporary, the benefits compound over time, protein…

Can confirm. Same sequence, different timescale.

Moderator note: leaving this open. It is being argued well and the disagreement is the useful part. No action needed from anybody.