IncredibleShrinkingMan

All amazing points made, @@gowalking
The more insidious things have to be pointed out to you, and yes, this site focusing way more on sudden NSVs than gradual ones. For example, HR told me today that I needed new pants and that I was starting to look like a bum because they are too big and so is my belt. I was mortified, and wondered if I should even have categorized it as an NSV. However, the incident got me thinking about how people now actually stop and chat at my desk (not just about weight loss) now and ask to go grab lunch and ask me to be in pictures at work functions.
My relationship with food isn't different, in full disclosure. I can just feed it less. But while some things in our non-food lives still have to be address on their own, this aspect is truly different. Thank you for pointing it out.

Nothing edible, unless I also loved it before. Isopure shakes might be one exception, but that might be the healthy feeling you get from consuming them rather than the actual sensual pleasure derived.
I have learned to love airplane seatbelts, gym scales, measuring tapes, and half portion options (I don't think I had previously ever ordered one). I could go on and on and it would get even funnier. Anybody who wants to co-author a book entitled "1,001 NSV's" or a "365 NSV year-in-a-box" calendar PM me!

Anybody care to add Fitbit/Tomtom steps/goals to this challenge?

People often discover willpower and fortitude when embarking on pre-op, as opposed to diets in the past, as surgery is nigh and psychologically they are already in an entirely new place living a new life. I think you need to trust that you can do it. Nobody said the adjustment would be easy, but I believe you are discounting the fact that the more you do something, the less steep a climb it appears to be. Our heads are in our way, and our heads are what got us here, not our bodies. I got on the treadmill yesterday thinking I was going to collapse after running a mile and ended up running a 5K because it felt so good. And I am still obese. Temporary suspension of disbelief can very well become permanent, and should.

All amazing points made, @@gowalking
The more insidious things have to be pointed out to you, and yes, this site focusing way more on sudden NSVs than gradual ones. For example, HR told me today that I needed new pants and that I was starting to look like a bum because they are too big and so is my belt. I was mortified, and wondered if I should even have categorized it as an NSV. However, the incident got me thinking about how people now actually stop and chat at my desk (not just about weight loss) now and ask to go grab lunch and ask me to be in pictures at work functions.
My relationship with food isn't different, in full disclosure. I can just feed it less. But while some things in our non-food lives still have to be address on their own, this aspect is truly different. Thank you for pointing it out.

All amazing points made, @@gowalking
The more insidious things have to be pointed out to you, and yes, this site focusing way more on sudden NSVs than gradual ones. For example, HR told me today that I needed new pants and that I was starting to look like a bum because they are too big and so is my belt. I was mortified, and wondered if I should even have categorized it as an NSV. However, the incident got me thinking about how people now actually stop and chat at my desk (not just about weight loss) now and ask to go grab lunch and ask me to be in pictures at work functions.
My relationship with food isn't different, in full disclosure. I can just feed it less. But while some things in our non-food lives still have to be address on their own, this aspect is truly different. Thank you for pointing it out.

All amazing points made, @@gowalking
The more insidious things have to be pointed out to you, and yes, this site focusing way more on sudden NSVs than gradual ones. For example, HR told me today that I needed new pants and that I was starting to look like a bum because they are too big and so is my belt. I was mortified, and wondered if I should even have categorized it as an NSV. However, the incident got me thinking about how people now actually stop and chat at my desk (not just about weight loss) now and ask to go grab lunch and ask me to be in pictures at work functions.
My relationship with food isn't different, in full disclosure. I can just feed it less. But while some things in our non-food lives still have to be address on their own, this aspect is truly different. Thank you for pointing it out.

My role models include:
1) those in my profession (whether I've met them personally or not) who have undergone it and may be here today because of it
2) those friends and family who struggle but who have no intention/ability to get the surgery and therefore battle it old-school, as this determination is required regardless of whether you get it
3) individuals for whom surgery or any help whatsoever came too late and who now guide me from above (rest in peace R.M., M.G., A.M., M.H.)
4) those who are following me in this journey and have surgery upcoming, and have mentally progressed to a brand new life and new opportunities, reminding me that the scale is just the tip of the iceberg, and who remind me (occasionally through certain misconceptions) that neither the surgery nor the weight loss will fix the majority of life's problems...and that while it is about so much more than weight or looks, there are limits to what this miracle touches, and that beyond those limits we are still left to our own devices, and must not give up those fights any more than we gave up this one.

With liquids, a common result is that air bubbles will form, and if you have GERD (I do), those symptoms get exacerbated. With food, the analogous complication is stacking, which will be the same reflux symptoms plus a horrible choking sensation. While not inherently dangerous, these should be indications that you are consuming an amount that is not beneficial to your sensitive and still-healing sleeve. I am three months out, and these have largely disappeared, and the only symptom of eating too much is fullness...what we are going for anyway!

Congratulations, and welcome to the other side! Best wishes!

Nothing edible, unless I also loved it before. Isopure shakes might be one exception, but that might be the healthy feeling you get from consuming them rather than the actual sensual pleasure derived.
I have learned to love airplane seatbelts, gym scales, measuring tapes, and half portion options (I don't think I had previously ever ordered one). I could go on and on and it would get even funnier. Anybody who wants to co-author a book entitled "1,001 NSV's" or a "365 NSV year-in-a-box" calendar PM me!

My role models include:
1) those in my profession (whether I've met them personally or not) who have undergone it and may be here today because of it
2) those friends and family who struggle but who have no intention/ability to get the surgery and therefore battle it old-school, as this determination is required regardless of whether you get it
3) individuals for whom surgery or any help whatsoever came too late and who now guide me from above (rest in peace R.M., M.G., A.M., M.H.)
4) those who are following me in this journey and have surgery upcoming, and have mentally progressed to a brand new life and new opportunities, reminding me that the scale is just the tip of the iceberg, and who remind me (occasionally through certain misconceptions) that neither the surgery nor the weight loss will fix the majority of life's problems...and that while it is about so much more than weight or looks, there are limits to what this miracle touches, and that beyond those limits we are still left to our own devices, and must not give up those fights any more than we gave up this one.

This is extremely true. This is what got our problem started in the first place, I would think. We weren't innately hungry, but cues from the environment played with our heads just enough so that we would feed an irrational desire unrelated, but now deleterious to our health. This may or may not be able to be changed, and more power to the people that are actually able to change their brains (I have not, as of yet, been able to, and don't expect to ultimately).

Nothing edible, unless I also loved it before. Isopure shakes might be one exception, but that might be the healthy feeling you get from consuming them rather than the actual sensual pleasure derived.
I have learned to love airplane seatbelts, gym scales, measuring tapes, and half portion options (I don't think I had previously ever ordered one). I could go on and on and it would get even funnier. Anybody who wants to co-author a book entitled "1,001 NSV's" or a "365 NSV year-in-a-box" calendar PM me!

With liquids, a common result is that air bubbles will form, and if you have GERD (I do), those symptoms get exacerbated. With food, the analogous complication is stacking, which will be the same reflux symptoms plus a horrible choking sensation. While not inherently dangerous, these should be indications that you are consuming an amount that is not beneficial to your sensitive and still-healing sleeve. I am three months out, and these have largely disappeared, and the only symptom of eating too much is fullness...what we are going for anyway!

My obsessions are there and stronger than ever. My mind has not failed to catch up, per se, but I just don't think it ever realized that I got big...there were so many other problems in my life that there appears to have been no room for that one.
I am sorry about the lack of family support. There are two unfortunate extremes in this business...those that think the surgery can solve everything and that it's a panacea, and those that think it is entirely inappropriate and horrible (even if they admit it might help you). Neither is correct. Each surgery does what it does to your anatomy. Nobody operates on your brain. I think it is a good idea to admit that that is a much slower process and that it may not ever come around. Nothing will ever be perfect, especially not in the estimation of a perfectionist, but it gives you a chance at a great life and takes the heavy premium off of completely rewiring your brain. A new mentality, I have found, is good enough.

Indoor soccer rocks...my winter 4 on 4 league starts tonight
Two different therapists will never see another dime from me (or a minute of conversation either) because they claimed that counseling would work better than surgery. One of them also claimed that counseling would be better than taking my meds (for anxiety and depression). While I did not give either one a second look, the one who criticized the surgery currently bears the brunt of my anger. I don't think it's entirely coincidental that I now see an overweight therapist who has thought about the surgery himself.
I have been lucky to have had a pretty supportive general response pre-op. My best friend cannot be counted in that group, but since I went ahead with it she has been invaluable to me and incredibly loyal, as well as positive towards the surgery.
Slight NSV today...albeit humiliating...I was told by HR I need new pants because I've lost too much weight...and a new belt. The reprimand was followed by a suggestion that WLS was not a good idea. I went from scared to just plain weirded out.

My obsessions are there and stronger than ever. My mind has not failed to catch up, per se, but I just don't think it ever realized that I got big...there were so many other problems in my life that there appears to have been no room for that one.
I am sorry about the lack of family support. There are two unfortunate extremes in this business...those that think the surgery can solve everything and that it's a panacea, and those that think it is entirely inappropriate and horrible (even if they admit it might help you). Neither is correct. Each surgery does what it does to your anatomy. Nobody operates on your brain. I think it is a good idea to admit that that is a much slower process and that it may not ever come around. Nothing will ever be perfect, especially not in the estimation of a perfectionist, but it gives you a chance at a great life and takes the heavy premium off of completely rewiring your brain. A new mentality, I have found, is good enough.

Indoor soccer rocks...my winter 4 on 4 league starts tonight
Two different therapists will never see another dime from me (or a minute of conversation either) because they claimed that counseling would work better than surgery. One of them also claimed that counseling would be better than taking my meds (for anxiety and depression). While I did not give either one a second look, the one who criticized the surgery currently bears the brunt of my anger. I don't think it's entirely coincidental that I now see an overweight therapist who has thought about the surgery himself.
I have been lucky to have had a pretty supportive general response pre-op. My best friend cannot be counted in that group, but since I went ahead with it she has been invaluable to me and incredibly loyal, as well as positive towards the surgery.
Slight NSV today...albeit humiliating...I was told by HR I need new pants because I've lost too much weight...and a new belt. The reprimand was followed by a suggestion that WLS was not a good idea. I went from scared to just plain weirded out.

Put your foot down and be proactive! There are enough irritating hoops to jump through once you actually have PCP support, from insurance, surgeon, psych, etc...this should not even be a major opening act. Say you want it and that you've made a decision. I hope this advice is not belated or moot by now!

Great thread, I've been away for a while so this was a good read. I sure wish I still believed all those pre-op fairy tales; the sleeve will do all the work, once you lose the weight it's gone forever and being thin will make me happy. Go ahead and laugh but I actually believed all that. But I am "lucky" because I had a good doctor that set up great support and this site that educated me otherwise.
I am sad for those that have the surgery and don't lose weight, even when it's their own undoing. We all have our unhealthy relationships with food or we wouldn't be in a place of needing surgery to lose weight. I think some people don't become aware of their food issues and continue with the same bad habits. I'm so happy that I'm no longer in denial about my unhealthy relationship with food and I'm working to improve it (slowly but surely). I believe anyone that tears down other people does so because they are unhappy with themselves. @@Elode, every time your family members minimize your success or send you food pictures, the underlying message is that they are sad they haven't had the same success as you.

@: P.S...heart still going nuts from double overtime and Lions win at Lambeau.
Boooo!!!'????????

This is a very impressive pace. Don't get upset if in a couple pounds (in Onederland), the numbers get a little sticky. It's normal, and it's for the better, and will make your weight loss better quality in the long run. My current stall is about two weeks old and I am learning to love and embrace it for what it means.

Nothing edible, unless I also loved it before. Isopure shakes might be one exception, but that might be the healthy feeling you get from consuming them rather than the actual sensual pleasure derived.
I have learned to love airplane seatbelts, gym scales, measuring tapes, and half portion options (I don't think I had previously ever ordered one). I could go on and on and it would get even funnier. Anybody who wants to co-author a book entitled "1,001 NSV's" or a "365 NSV year-in-a-box" calendar PM me!

I am sorry you have to see these and internalize them, but as you suggest, I think they are wielding a predominantly positive influence on you. I think you know at this point when to act in an opposite manner from what you observe, and you seem to be very savvy at that. Let's pray that, in turn, you become an inspiration to them, rather than just a broken pixel on their screen of excuses.