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So I'm sat writing this update whilst having a coffee, with my legs crossed :-) these nsv's really are just as satisfying as the scale victories:-) Speaking of which, 12 weeks today and another 4lbs off! Wasn't expecting that this week as it was my best friend's mums funeral this week so we all had a few drinks, I stuck to low cal/carb and non fizzy but it was still alcohol, and I slackened the reins a bit on food that day too, but got straight back to it the next day and it seems that helped damage limitation :-) Incidentally, the alcohol went down fine, I took it easy and drank Water too. I'm not much of a drinker but it's nice to know if there's an occasion I do want a drink it won't be a big problem. hair loss is in full swing :-( trying not to freak out but it's not easy! I've been here before when I did a vlcd and I didn't go completely bald so I'm hoping this time I don't either! And hoping it passes quick but time will tell. Already thinking about cutting my hair off into a short bob. I wear my hair up all the time as it makes me hot if I leave it down, but as I lose weight that's less of a problem so I think by the end of the summer I'll cut it off. One thing that has happened this week is I've started catching sight of my reflection, and liking what I see :-) I've always been very aware of how big I am (was!!) but I tried to dress well and take care of my appearance, and in some ways I think that led to me have a vision of myself in my head that wasn't quite accurate, so if I saw my reflection I'd be bit shocked/disappointed/disgusted by how large I was! Now I think I've reached the point where my vision in my head matches reality, so yes I'm still big (I'm still bigger than where some people are before surgery!) but body and mind are in sync! What's going to be interesting is how that works as I lose more weight. I just can't imagine myself slim so I imagine as my reflection continues to shrink I'll get back to being surprised by what I see...but in a good way!! Loose skin is starting to show. I was resigned to that from the outset though, and plan to get surgery to fix it when the time is right. My only real concern is my calf's as the skin there is starting to appear a bit loose and that's not an area easy to fix or to his unless I live the rest of my life in trousers! @@chrisredjeep I got Biotin from Amazon, take 10,000mg a day and I do have lots of baby hairs so it's worth a try! Sounds like you are doing really well, well done! I bet your surgeon was pleased. You are doing a lot of steps! I am getting a Garmin vivofit today actually to try and encourage me to up my steps. I've signed up for my personal training to start 1 sept, I'm looking forward to it!

OK So It is just a few days shy of 5 months since I had my surgery. I haven't posted on here in a while. After going back to work, I didn't have too much energy left to post and had got through the stage where I had a lot of questions. Today, I am at 210 pounds. I have actually been here for about 2 weeks, but that was to be expected. I had been doing mainly cardio when I worked out so I was losing weight pretty quickly. I did enough strength training to not lose muscle, but not really enough to build any. My gym has 2 parts. One for the everyday gym goer, who wants to use the treadmill and maybe take a class or 2 and another for the totally insane people that want to be in pain after an hour of working out. I have been using the first part for a little under a year and was doing quite well. I am one of the people that other people come to ask about the equipment. My friend, and spin instructor, has been encouraging me to go back to the other part of the gym (costs an extra $60/month) for a while now. It finally worked in my schedule that I could go do a trial session. I couldn't tell you the last time that I sweat that much. It was a 55 minute circuit class. I was biking, rowing, and using equipment that I have never touched, but been very afraid of for quite some time. I started on the spin bike. This was easy. A nice warm up. (I spin 3x/week). Then we moved on to the more scary stuff. I don't remember everything that we did, but there were stairs, kettle bells, the TRX, and lots of sweat. One station was the rower. The instructor came over to make sure I knew how to use it since i was new. (He actually did this for every station and still does now when there is something new to me.) I told him that I had used a rower before, but not successfully. You see, my stomach has always been in the way. I couldn't do it, because I couldn't reach around my stomach. (I am one of those people that carry most of my weight in my tummy.) So...I tried it. And guess what..I could do it. I could do it well. He wanted me to shoot for a pace of 700 and I was coming in over 800. I was stoked. The rest of the class was a blur, but I made it through without having to stop for more than a few seconds at a time. Then he called me out. He wanted me to stay after class. I bid farewell to my spin friends who had joined me, and waited for Matt (the instructor). He complemented me on my athleticism. I never saw that one coming. I joined that part of the gym a few minutes later. He stressed how important it is for me to get to class 3x/week. I work 50+ hours a week, so that is a challenge. I finished out the night with spin class. Then I went back the next day, and the day after that. With my work schedule and the hours for the gym, I can't make it on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, unless they are my days off for the week. I went 3 times last week. I have gone 3 more times this week already and will go tomorrow as well. I ran a 5k only a few days after joining. I have a 5k with the gym this Sunday, a 10k next Sunday, and then a freakin' half marathon the Sunday after that. Yesterday, I worked out for 2 hours before I took my class. Matt happened to see me. He told me I was a beast (totally meant in a good way). He told me that he could see a huge difference already. He did warn me that classes wouldn't get easier, but I would get better and be able to challenge myself in new ways. He told me he was proud of me. Even better though, is I am proud of myself. Due to some schedule issues, I hadn't seen my spin instructor but twice since I went back for that first class. We were in the same class today, and she couldn't believe the difference already. She said she could see that I was smaller in the tummy and more muscular in the arms. My biggest NSV this week though was being able to get out of the pool without using the steps/ladder. When I first started, I had to use the steps, because I didn't have the strength to hoist myself up with the ladder. Today, I could get out of the pool from the side and not use either. I also did 10 elevated pushups (not on my knees) in a row today. 2 weeks ago, I could barely do 5 on my knees. Last week, I couldn't hold a plank for 30 seconds. Today, I was able to hold it for 2 minutes. I feel better than I ever have and while I am desperately waiting to get under 200 pounds, I am thrilled with my new body and what I can do. I started by walking in the pool for 15 minutes and can now work out for 3 hours straight at a high intensity level. I also went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and got the results from my first full set of blood work. I am good on all of my Vitamins and my sugar and cholesterol are both in normal limits. My blood pressure and pulse were so low, they took them again to make sure they were right. They were all impressed with the weight that I had lost and the muscle that I retained. They even told me that I was probably the healthiest person they had at that point. I will update in 2 weeks when Matt takes my measurements again and lets me know how far I have come. (That is assuming I don't die during the half marathon.) I just want to end with probably the most important sentence in the whole post. ONCE YOU OVERCOME YOUR FEAR, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. I was afraid to put myself out there and try these classes. I was afraid to put away the chips and Pepsi. I was afraid to go to the doctor. I was essentially so afraid to live that I was dying and so afraid to die, that I couldn't live. Its ok to start small, but start. It is so worth it. You are worth it.

@@Nibbler - I am also a scale junkie. I don't know if my sanity could handle NOT weighing in. I think you have to remember that at times the scale will not move at all but your body is changing regardless. I was stopped numerous times yesterday at work about my weight loss and I have been at work today 3 hours and I have been asked twice today. Scale hasn't really moved but about a .5 pound in the last 3 days but all I have heard is "how much more have you lost?" If you can wait in between dr visits then I would go for it. I wouldn't go and buy a scale. The best NSV is trying on clothes you have worn in 5, 10 years and they fit!!! Of course my old clothes are not in fashion now but I remember wearing them and being able to ZIP pants is like sex!

Wow that's a great one! Congrats. I had an unexpected NSV this past weekend when my brother and sister-in-law told me my voice and the way I talk was even different since weight loss. I was surprised and asked what they meant and they said there was more pep in my voice and less breathiness when I spoke. Didn't expect that but I'll take it!

Just had a really good NSV. Walking to a store with my family, I noticed us all in the mirrored windows and had to do a double take. I didn't even recognize myself. ???? sleeved June 24th 2015

Where are you from? Texarkana Arkansas What surgery did you have? Sleeve When did you have surgery? August 3 (Only if you want to answer) How much weight loss? 40 including preop diet Favorite Protein food? Premier protein shakes, then eggs Hardest food to eat? Haven't found anything yet, still taking baby steps Biggest NSV (non-scale victory) so far? Off all blood pressure medicines One interesting fact about yourself? Not very interesting. Lol

I've been lurking here for a while. Could someone tell me what NSV stands for? Thanks

Some but not all. There are ones that I will share with family/friends like wanting to run a 5K, and I've even asked them to help me think up some NSVs. There are others that I feel are too embarrassing/personal that I would keep to myself, I mean at least until it happens maybe.

What surgery did you have? VSG When did you have surgery? Aug 11 How much weight loss? 30lbs on pre-op diet. Favorite Protein food? Still on Clear liquids ???????? Hardest food to eat? Takes a long time to get my liquids down . Biggest NSV (non-scale victory) so far? My knees already feel better. One interesting fact about yourself? I have a full time job.. Work two part time jobs, and volunteer with FUMC youth on Wednesday nights.

Thank you ladies...my brother is doing alright I guess. He's still really lost, so I've been searching for recipes for him. I went to my nut again the other day, I lost the 5 lbs of the 7 I gained! She said she thinks my body was in starvation mode because I wasn't eating enough. So I upped my calories a little bit and have been making more healthier choices. And an NSV...I went to Six Flags today, and got to ride all the rides I got on! When I was there 2 yrs ago, I had to get off because I couldn't buckle or fit in the seats. Woo-hoo!

The weight loss surgery journey is all about chasing and achieving goals for weight loss, healthy eating, new activities, and tons of other NSVs at every stage of the journey. When you set new goals, do you share them with other people? With whom? And do you update them on your progress so you can get support? Or do you prefer to keep your goals personal until you hit them so you can focus on the goal?

So today i took the kids school shopping. We were in old navy, when they were done I decided to venture over to the ladies section to check sizes out, to see If I would fit anything. I've NEVER been able to buy from the store, only online. I tried on a top in the biggest size I saw, XXL. It was too big! I bought an XL top, and a pencil skirt to go with it. I'm still elated over this experience!!

That is a great example of an NSV! Congratulations! Now can you come weed my garden? LOL!

well, this is related to the scale, but still a nsv lol i hadn't logged on here in a while and decided to update my ticker. it moved me to tears to have a visual representation of my journey. when you're a noob and you see everyone's success, you think, wow they've come so far and i'm just beginning! but, oh, when *your* ticker finally moves and even gets to the halfway mark, it feels soooooo great! i'm 71lbs from my highest weight, 48 from surgery. woohoo!!

JamieLogical- love the second picture on your link where the person is standing on the scale and pressing a button! ROFL! (If I could get off the floor by myself, that is!). I think one of my NSV's would be doing what that picture shows!! ????????

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one. This morning, one of our vendors brought in donuts from this fabulous bakery. Just looking at them, the freshness of dumping over rode the desire to have a bite. This is a victory for me. My first NSV! I don't ever remember turning down a donut. Never. Ever. I'm the one who usually has seconds and thirds. GO ME! DJMOR - sorry that you are in the 20%. I know it must be hard. I had told myself that if I was in the 20%, it would just mean that I have to fight harder. I am going to stay away! I am committed to this lifestyle change.

Just got back from an all inclusive vacation to Punta Cana, DR. And, it started off with lots of bad habits - example - alcohol and then the need for nachos. After 2 days, the Bariatric Gods intervened and I got sick.... Let's just say I met a guy named "John".... I spent two days in the bathroom.... After that, no more alcohol. I did have more bread than normal just to settle stomach. (I'm not really a bread person so you know it was necessary). Anyway, I ended up loosing 6 pounds on vacation!!!! Lol. Now that I'm home, I'm back on track! A few NSV - no extender for the airplane seatbelt, size 16-18 clothing including " sexy" dresses. And, a rather attractive Dominican telling me I had gorgeous legs!

@@bikrchk - NSV! vacation and didn't gain an ounce! Congrats!!!!!

I'm just looking forward to not struggling to get out of the bath!! Nice NSV

LOL! That is a cool NSV if you ask me!

Made you look. I believe these are called NSV. In the car: I can pop the truck w/o having to open the door to reach the latch on the floor I can reach down to pick something up off the floor w/o unbuckling my seatbelt I can climb into the truck w/o my husband pushing me in (but that doesn't stop him for helping me - he likes the view) LOL At home: I can bend down to cut my own toenails w/o gasping for air after each toe I can get up and down from the floor with more ease I can dry my own back I can touch the bottom of the washing machine drum when unloading At work: I can cross my legs under the desk Everyday I can see progress. I'm so happy. Have a GREAT day everyone!

Nsv... For me, I am back sleeping in our bed together with my husband and we are very much enjoying each other and can sleep the whole night together because I don't snore anymore. Soo happy!!