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We are finally getting the cold fall weather here in Missouri. I've waited years to wear boots that would zip around my larger calves and now that I can I've been sporting them proudly. I've been shopping for all fall clothes and it's just amazing how different the experience has been from last fall. Last fall I was wearing a size 18 (snug) and this year I'm shopping for size 8 which opens up a lot of new options I never had before. My goal is to do as may fun fall inspired activities outside with the kids that I can. Thing I never did with them like apple picking, hay rides, corn mazes, visiting the pumpkin patch, fall festivals ect... I feel alive now. I'm excited to get out and live this fall as apposed to sitting in the house being unhealthy and sluggish. I love fall! Unlike summer I can dress to cover up the parts of my body I'm not thrilled with yet and not look like a crazy loon wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer This is going to be the best fall in all of EVER! Ha! So what are you looking forward to?

This was one of my happiest NSVs two months post banding. Congratulations!

First off, congratulations on your weight loss ! Nice NSV from your Dr. too ! And 2nd off, I dont think your friends are just being "nice " , I honestly think its the shock of all of a sudden seeing you so slim !! Those people didn't get to see the weight come off gradualy, they were probably blindsided by you leaving at one weight, and coming back at another! Shocker !! This summer I saw a relative I had'nt seen in several months, her first comment to me was ( in a very caring way ) " you need to eat a cheeseburger !!" She was shocked when told her I weighed 144 lbs ! Still considered "overweight at 5'3 ! So honestly, I'm thinking its the sudden shock of seeing you so slim ! Either way, you look great ! Congratulations !!!

Ha. Not just fat guy issues. Fat girl issues, too! I used to hang dry my clothes because that darn "dryer" used to shrink them all the time! It was such a huge NSV the day I realized I was drying EVERYTHING all of the sudden. And sometimes in hopes that they would shrink because the were too big! Ah, the little things that make us happy through this journey. So true. The little things make us stop and think.......and smile. I had a monthly lunch meeting in a conference room at work last week. I usually try to remember to leave my wallet in my desk drawer prior to this meeting due to the chairs in n this particular conference room. These chairs are tight between the arms. I literally have to wedge my arse in them. I was pleasantly surprised last week when I didn't have to force it. The thought crossed my mind that it would be two months until I next attend this monthly meeting due to my surgery date. I'm really looking forward to that next meeting. It'll be one of those secret victories if I can stand up naturally and I'm not wearing the chair.

Oh the Dryer! OMG, I can dry my jeans now!! Now that is an exciting NSV!!!

Ha. Not just fat guy issues. Fat girl issues, too! I used to hang dry my clothes because that darn "dryer" used to shrink them all the time! It was such a huge NSV the day I realized I was drying EVERYTHING all of the sudden. And sometimes in hopes that they would shrink because the were too big! Ah, the little things that make us happy through this journey.

Well as you know I have a long way to go to get where you are, but I guarantee you those folks aren't just being nice about how great you look. That loss is amazing! The too skinny part, I don't think they are either. You just probably look so different to them. My therapist asks me everytime I go (just yesterday in fact) if I can see my body for what it is now. And I can honestly say that I do; however, what I constantly struggle with is imagining how I can be the size that I am still and that is 80 pounds less than I was. The thing is I never really realized how heavy I was. Kind of dumb I know but I think I now know had a total disconnect between my head and my body - both in realizing my size and realizing that what I was taking in to my body was making me that way. Anyway, I would say these feelings are all totally normal, but you might want to get out your big jeans and hold them next to your new jeans and just study them for a while and think about the difference. Also look at some pics (maybe even pics of your jeans side by side) and at your measurements. Maybe some of that will help the realization kick in. Re wondering what is too thin, I have thought about this a lot (and remember I am the same height as you). The BMI chart seems off to me (which I had discussed with my sister before I read the post about it earlier this week) and in fact, before I saw your post, I actually changed my goal weight to 175 instead of 170. I am not hung up on a number and technically 175 will still classify me as "overweight" by 1 pound, but I am hoping, like you that my body will figure out where it wants to be and I won't get too hung up about the number on the scale or the BMI chart (again, I realize that may change when I get where you are). The only thing I have to compare it to is that when I was a senior in high school, I lost about 50 pounds from 200 to 150 (though I didn't stay 150 for long). I managed to get into a size 8 for a couple of things but mostly a size 10. But what I remember about that time is that I was REALLY skinny. I mean I looked too skinny. And then I started college.... Of course, I am no longer 18 and sizes have changed in 30 years, so I don't know what my end game will look like. Right now, I am so thrilled to have gotten in to a size 20 jean and 14/16 tops. I can't imagine yet what it will be like to be smaller. I stare in the mirror sometimes and think "where the heck did my butt go?!" Seriously not what I was expecting to lose so much of so quickly but I will take it! ​ ​ Oh and by the way, I don't know why but hearing from a dr "good job" is such a boost to me too! Especially a surgeon who typically has their thoughts elsewhere and running busy. That is a HUGE NSV and I totally get it! Congrats on a great trip and I hope all the compliments will stick with you to boost you! PS - what did the dr say about your neck? Hope it is healing well!

I hit this particular NSV about a month ago, and I agree it was fabulous! My most exciting NSV yet!

I hope it's good. I am used to being on camera alone. This will be a new NSV for me. :-)

Awesome news. I only absolutely needed it on certain occasions (freaking Delta and American), but for a period of time at 300+ it would always be offered, and I would proudly reject it even if it meant an arduous struggle to squeeze it until click (sounds like a weight loss tool onto itself). I've been on about five R/T flights since surgery (8 weeks out) and it looks like I have gotten the point where the flight attendant doesn't bother to ask. #NSV

UPDATE! I started at a size 28, squeezing into at, at that, and I just bought jeans in a size....wait for it..... EIGHTEEN! Okay, technically I bought jeggings in size 18, can squeeze into a size 20, and am wearing a size 22 that is loose, BUT a size 18!? That's insane, even if they are jeggings. I spent $13 on the jeans and $24 on the jeggings at Forever 21....the 24 is more than I wanted to spend per pair BUT since they're a size 18 and stretchy, I'm hoping they'll last a while. I also bought the size 22 pair at Kohl's (only after a huge discount). I had to go into stores to figure out what size I was, and when I did, the prices were pretty comparable to online sites, so I just did it in-person. Huge NSV to not have to buy my jeans online and to be able to try them on in a dressing room, shop with my best friend, and get excited about that PERFECT fit. Plus, now that I can fit into Forever 21's plus size jeans, I'm just going to keep buying those $13 pairs until I don't have to anymore....you can't really beat $13 for jeans.

Congratulations! This was one of my favorite NSVs! Everytime I get in an airplane seat I am reminded of what it was like to ask for that damned extender. Now, I strap that belt on and I have nearly a foot of extra! Speaking of which, I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning. Going home from Minneapolis after having my 12 month check up post surgery!

That is a NSV to shout from the rooftops! Congrats!

Well I think you can add passing the psych eval as an NSV! :-) My eval lasted about 3 hours. 2 1/2 of which I spent filling out the questionnaire. I don't know if it was part of the eval or not, but they didn't provide any desks or tables to write on. So me and the other 2 guys were sitting there, trying to hold the clipboard/pencil in one hand and hold the 40 page questionaire in the other! Talk about a pain. I was pissed they did that to us! == Get my Free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt! == get it here ---> http://frankensleeve.com

High BP was the reason my cardiologist suggested WLS surgery. I went off medication last month at my surgeon's suggestion and I've not had a problem. Last week at my regular physical it was 110/88. Talk about a NSV!!

I'm not at the "tucking in" stage, but I can only imagine how great it must have been doing that for the first time after surgery. And now, having it commented on... Major NSV. Congrats!

Had my port revision yesterday. Glad it's over is all I can say. But here's my takeaway story for the day. So I'm wearing the horrible hospital gown with the sock thingies on as well and waiting with the BF for my surgeon to come in to see me. Already got alot of comments from the nursing staff about the weight loss and was OK with it knowing it would stop once I went home. So as you likely know, the surgical floor is kept fairly cold and while waiting for the surgeon, I tucked my legs up under myself to keep warm. The surgeon walks in and first thing she says after good morning is 'well...look who's all curled up in the chair there.' Figures she would spot that right away knowing that was an impossible position for me at one time. A NSV is a NSV no matter where it happens...

It's my first week back to work this week and I ran into and old coworker (hot one I might add... too bad I'm married) anyway he looks at me and says, "Damn Girl! You look so skinny, what are you doing?". I got the goosebumps, it was the first time someone mentioned my weight loss. It felt SO GOOD! I did a little happy dance inside I just told him I was doing high Protein, low carbs and smaller portion sizes. I didn't lie exactly

OKC, you have a very handsome son! Congrat's on your NSV!

@@Elode - dang if that didn't happen to me today. My son was here, our laundry was mixed up because he doesn't take stuff out of the dryer and when I put on my underwear they felt better, checked the tag to see what brand I wanted to pick up to replace the rapidly uncomfortable lose stuff, and realized "dang it's my stud college student, state champion swimmer's underwear." I'm feeling pretty NSV right now.

I'm so happy for you, OP! I had a similar embarrassing experience at Universal studios and have never been back since (I live in Orlando, and it breaks my heart to not be able to go anywhere but plus size-friendly Disney). I'm still too big for the coasters, but not for much longer, so I hope to experience the same NSV soon!

That's funny, but truthfully, it's commentary.....and inspiration. Hell, if I could, I'd post it as a NSV... I know this is probably TMI, but the look of wonder on my face he saw wasn't based on how good it felt when I was in a certain position...but more my amazement that I could even get my legs and waist bent that way...

It was either let you keep them or her burning them. Congratulations on this funny NSV and your hard work.

What a shock to you both! Gotta love those NSV's!

@@Elode - that is an excellent NSV!