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I'm Ross and 2 weeks post op. My bariatric sleeve surgery was at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. I have dropped weight, as expected. However, my story is that I have not experienced any surgery side affects. Based on pre-op discussions, support groups and forums, I expected and prepared for the worse. Yet, I was walking immediately after surgery. Minimal pain. No gas. No acid reflux. I have had simply weight loss. My overall concern, in addition to attaining my healthy goal weight, is to maintain the the proper amount of protein, vitamin, calcium etc... in my meal plan and supplements. I'm big on NSVs because I expect to stall. I'm looking forward to attaining and maintaining my ultimate healthy weight.

These are the kind of posts I love.. so many successful bandsters. My NSV today is being able to have my Christmas shopping done and presents wrapped because I have so much more energy than I did before being banded. My other NSV is that I no longer run from cameras. We have had so many family functions where I refused to have my picture taken, it's a wonderful thing to not be ashamed of how you look. This surgery has enabled me to become more active and healthy. I am forever grateful to my surgeon and his staff for doing an excellent job for me.

So went in for a regular doctor's appt. to check on my diabetes . I was a little down because I believe I could be losing more weight . And he told me that my A1C has gone from 11.6 to 7(still high but 7 is better than 11). Knowing that made me happy . And that is my NSV ..Getting my diabetes under control is always a victory

I totally get it. I am 8 weeks out and down a total of 38 lbs and although others see a big difference, I just don't see it. I've had some pretty awesome NSV's (being able to cross my legs, fitting into clothing that I haven't worn in over a year) but a previous poster had mentioned looking in the mirror and seeing the weight that still needs to be lost. That describes my outlook perfectly. It's hard not to compare yourself to others, whether on this board or IRL. I just try to internalize what the more experienced sleevers post over and over.....be patient, make sure to get in my protein and water, follow my program, and move my body. I'm not allowed to have nuts yet but I had some veggie chip( 1 freaking oz) and it was like I fed the beast. So...no more veggie chips.

Hello All, Hope all is well with all of you. Having a hard time getting back to reality after an amazing 7 days in Florida. I estimate I walked about 27 miles in those 7 days according to my IPhone App which probably is not that reliable. Weather was OK considering what it was like in NH but I had high hopes of 80's. I got that my first day and it was down hill from there. Dropped into the 40's at night. Disney and Universal was fantastic. I cannot get over the detail of the Harry Potter stuff at Universal. You literally feel like you walked into the movie. I sent this Magic Kingdom picture to my Sister in MA on Saturday. It was in the 80's and sun shining. MA was getting an ice storm as Arlene mentioned. LOL My Sister informed me that "I suck and she was jealous" This pic of me on the Plane waiting to depart NH. NSV....no seat belt extender and plenty of room!! My Buddy Eric photo-bombing me in the background. Kelli and I standing in front of Hogwarts Express at Universal What remains of the JAWS ride at Universal. They tore it down to make way for Harry Potter. Huge fan of JAWS and the ride was cheesy but still I was sad to see it gone. Last but not least Kelli and I at Disney's Hollywood Studios Osbourne Festival of Lights show

I had my sleeve at Loyola University Medical Center almost a year ago 12/23/2013......went home on Christmas Day. My recovery has been textbook, my weight loss slow. So far I have gone from 235 to 170, which is more than I have ever or could have done on my own. My goal is 135, which was my healthiest adult weight, but I would feel good at 150. Since I am retired, I did not have to worry about getting back to work. From your picture, it looks like you have the advantage of youth. The hardest part about my journey was the pre-op waiting and waiting and waiting for the process to move along. If you have no complications, you may still feel kinda cruddy for the first couple of weeks. As the pounds fall off, you will feel better and better. You have many non-scale victories (NSVs) to look forward to. I wish you good luck and good health. PS, I am a little familiar with Mercy Hospital, such as it was in 1992. I supervised housekeepers for about a year until a foot injury caused me to find a sit down job. I remember there being a convent on the 14th floor, and I had been on the roof once at night to view the skyline. My territory was the basement levels with the offices and morgue, the lobby, the ER and clinics.

So, i am still trying to wear my jeans that are a size 26 - I need to get a belt if I continue to do this. A friend gave me a box of her "fat clothes" from after her surgery so I would not have to purchse much. She was smaller that me to begin with, so most of the pants and jeans she sent were a size 16. However, there was one size 18. I thought I would give it a shot, and what do my wondering eyes should appear - they fit - they are tight, but I can breathe in them! Wow!!! so excited!!!

I only notice in my house because There are a lot of leftovers left that my husband has been working on now that I don't eat much...it's really shows me just how much I was actually eating in the house. To have sweets sitting around and throwing out half a peach pie that didn't get eaten Is just astonishing because that NEVER would have happened had I not had this surgery....I defiantly would have had them ate!! Thank Jesus I'm not that way anymore....maybe that's my first NSV?!!!

Every little victory is awesome but I really, honestly, (swear to God HONESTLY) get sick of the shock and awe. Just be happy for me, say I look nice and MOVE ON! It's more about how I feel than how I look (most days anyway). On a side note.... NSV of the day: wearing a pair of trouser pants to work that I knew were lose but having to use some stockingnet (I work in medical field - this is the sleeve that goes under a cast) to rig up a belt because my pants were literally falling down. About to say goodbye to size 16 I hope!

Today I am wearing a sweater I haven't been able to get into for 3 years! It is so exciting!

NSV in my 6th month.. Went to an appointment today. The receptionist has not seen me since I had surgery. (105 pounds ago) She was flat out shocked. She asked me if I stopped eating. I disclosed that I had sleeve surgery. She told me that I had better results than people she had seen on the biggest looser. Funny...she said I looked hot and grabbed my thigh..Humm how the hell do I take that. I have a hard time seeing what other people see when they look at me. I'm always taken back by responses that I get from people that knew me as morbidly obese. What a hilarious day

Congratulations! I had a similar NSV! We wear purple on Wednesdays at work as part of an internal networking group that promotes women in science and technology. I have this purple dress in a size 14 petite that I could not zip up. But I gave it a try yesterday and that puppy zipped right up with no problem and a little room to spare!! All day people were telling me that I look thinner. Felt great. We seem to be on the same track! Band sistahs! :-)

This week was my first work trip since having surgery. Before surgery, I would gain 2-4 pounds on average every time I traveled. Eating out every meal is tough like that. I did fantastic this time. Stuck to salads with grilled chicken, no snacking and last night at our fancy dinner, I had about a third of a lobster tail. And I worked out in the hotel. I have a good feeling about my weigh in tomorrow!

Woo Hooo! Wonderful NSV!

That's one heck of a NSV!

This is hands down the best NSV I've read so far!

That's and awesome NSV!! I am so glad to hear you are ok!!!

So the vet and I were out working cattle today. We had to vaccinate, trich test, deworm and tag 14 bulls. Basically, they are run into the chute one at a time, we do our thing and then release them out the front. At that point there is nothing between us and the bull, but they normally just wander off towards the open gate where they are released into another pen. Well the ranch hand responsible for this step was not running them out of our pen in a timely manner, so 4 bulls ended up together in the pen with us and two of them started to fight. At this point, all you can do is run for your life! They were slamming and crashing into everything and I managed to scramble to the top of a six foot fence. But before I could jump down on the other side, they came crashing right through the fence I was on. Fortunately, it was near the big barn door and I leaped up, grabbed the door frame and swung myself up off of the splintering fence as the bulls scrambled around under me. I had to hang there, basically by my fingertips until the bulls ran off into another pen. The ranch guys were quite impressed and I played it off as no big deal....Just all in a day's work. But there is no way I could have even made it to the top of the 6 foot fence, much less pull myself up out of the way 100 pounds ago! So catlike reflexes and superhuman agility are now my new favorite NSVs.

that's what NSV stands for!! Now I get it!

I had a similar NSV. I attended my 25 year reunion Thanksgiving weekend and I wore a size 18 jeans! I haven't worn jeans in about 10 years!! It felt great Today, I saw my Endocrinologist, I am no longer diabetic, my cholesterol has dropped 90 points and my thyroid medicine was decreased. The doctor was thrilled and so was I! I have had a great day today

Very excited today. I was able to buy jeans in Old Navy! Have never fit in their jeans. Bought a size 18 skinny jeans. Haven't worn an 18 in about 15 years! Also was able to buy size L tops. I'm 10 weeks post op and was in a 24 jeans and a 2x-3x top! It feels good!

*First is my MAJOR scale victory, I am 100lbs down as of Sunday. Hw 290, Sw 282, Cw 190 from a size 20/22 to a size 8/10. Shoe from size 9W to an 8 regular. *I no longer snore at all, which is big for me since it recently started and was so loud and disruptive to both my family and I. Now, nothing at all, they say im so silent they wonder if im breathing. I sleep so much better and more comfortably. *Also, the late night cravings have gone away and I never wake up at night anymore so no more late night snacking. *I no longer have pain from my Fibromyalgia and have stopped my medications completely!!!! I hate meds!! ******Sad to say that I have had serious negative responses to "MY LIFE" decision, here are some of the daggers in my heart... -I've had family tell me, I didn't need the surgery, I was pretty enough even though I was "BIG"! As if I am so vein that I would do something so serious to my body just to look good...smh -I was told, "I don't like this on u, it's not YOU, you're not meant to be this small"...SMH Then, "I could never make myself sick every day just to look good". WAH? Who's that, I'm not sick at all...uneducated speakers make me wanna vomit if that's what u mean...UGH. -another family member, "don't lose no more, we have enough crackheads out here, wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea". WTF??? THEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST OF ALL..... -My husband threw me a big party when I hit my first goal of 200lbs. I invited all my favorite girls to a Glam Session to do makeovers and a photo shoot (my first pics public photos other than on BP) as a girls night but also as a celebration of my successes since at that time, I had also gotten a raise at work (Which is also suspect), a new luxury apt and a new car. I struggled over 2 years to gain these things from a 1 bedroom box apartment and no car to the new life that my hard work paid for. Do you know one friend was heard saying, "Why she gotta show off, now she think she something special because she lost weight, who's gonna shrink her head?" This hurt me the most because my husband offered me anything I wanted to Celebrate and all I asked is that he treat me and my girls, 17 of us to catered food from Carrabbas (My Fav), dj for the room, make up sessions with Mary Kay, we had a pure romance presentation, a man that was selling jewelry to enhance our look and a photographer to document the whole evening and take personal photo shoots as well, all this at no cost to them and this man made that happen just to celebrate me and my accomplishments and I was extremely thankful beyond belief but also so hurt by not only the person making the comment but the 4 that entertained her, 2 by saying, "that's alright, when she fall, she gonna fall hard" "she got a new 2014 car but just asked me for $60 bucks just last week, she's a phony" -this was when I lost my bank card and had to wait for another and she was with me so I asked her instead of calling my husband. Lesson learned! Basically I learned that people are not always who you think they are. Thank God I did what I did for me and not to impress anyone or seeking anyone's approval. I am happy with my decision and since I've noticed that ppl seem to be down for you as long as you stay down in life...on their level perhaps but the minute you move up, now your not good enough for them. I have since been uninvited to 4 events and the excuse was, " Oh I thought You'd be busy or traveling" REALLY? I was suppose to be celebrating but I literally cried for 3 days. Beyond the gains (materials) and the losses(weight), I thought I had support. I learned an ugly lesson that day and here's some I wish to pass on... Make your moves for YOU!, Seek only approval from YOU! Make sure you have a true support system. Then my daughter sent me a comment picture that reads,"Don't dim your light simply because it's shining in their eyes" That's for you too. Be positive and don't let the haters tear you down. I don't have a positive relationship with my family, been on my own since 16, so these women have always been around but now that I can't even share my life losses or gains with them...my husband is taking me away from it all, no more pain, no more tears, no more haters, we are moving to California, his home town and I will make new friends and hope and pray to share a good life together. He even says we will renew our vows so I can get a new dress vs the size 26 I had to wear in Jamaica. After 18 years, we will renew our vows in Santa Monica!!! Haven't told any of them yet but I bet they act like they care... but they probably don't and who cares, I'm over it!! It will be a last minute goodbye and an AWESOME 2015!!!! I am happy and I will continue to be, I could have uplifted others but I will reach out to the real ones and help bring them up and we can pray together for those too busy hating on others to ever come up in life!! Good riddance to em'... Love you guys, needed to get that out!! Thanks, whew!

Awesome nsv shout out jenn1.