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Admit this may be a long one so I apologize upfront for that! I was ridiculously out of control in my eating habits therefore I was also crazy worried about my ability to make the change. I did begin changing my habits before surgery. I began walking short distances as the 8 stairs up from my basement had me huffing and puffing. Initially I dreaded having to walk the 3 blocks to pick up my children from school. For almost 2 decades I never really dealt with hunger because I often ate so consistently I don't think I ever allowed myself to get hungry. I woke up and thought about what I would eat for Breakfast, after breakfast i focused on lunch but had Snacks, etc... I literally ate from wakeup, to my head hitting the pillow and often got up to eat more before I actually fell asleep. I remember eating 2 footlong subway subs in a sitting, and this wasn't a one time marathon thing; driving to 7-11 at midnight for junk food and then eating most of what I thought I would eat over 2-3 days. So I get it completely. Frankly I was scared sh**less that I would fail, or sabatoge myself along the way. Shortly before my first meeting with my center I had gestational diabetes but it went away immediately after my pregnancy. I admit when I am pregnant I am completely in control and anal about what I put in my mouth so lose weight throughout them. Of course post nursing forget about it! So after finding out I had no choice but to switch to formula I actually managed to become a full blown diabetic in about 5 months. It was a flurry of chocolate, fries and slurpees! My point being you and I are very much alike in being obsessed with food 24/7. So if I can do it anyone can do it! I found out I had become a diabetic at my first appointment at my bariatric center, March 12, 2013. That was the day the light went on for me, even if it was dim when it started. I walked 15 minutes that first day and I hated it lol. That night I completely lost all control of my sanity as every emotion under the sun came out over every little thing. For a second I thought OMG I am pregnant!! But no, apparently I am an emotional eater so now instead of eating, all of a sudden I was feeling everything and it was completely overwhelming. For this reason I strongly recommend trying to get at least 2-3 days of healthier eating out of the way prior to your liquid pre-op. The mental part of this is by far the hardest, so getting a small advantage before really does help. So expect to be very hormonal when you start out. Tricks of the trade pre-op.. I chewed a lot of stride gum especially during my liquid diet (3 weeks), lifesaver, that is my biggest thing to this day, although no I don't promote it post op as we all know it is a no no and I was 6 months out before I tried it. I drank a lot of low calorie fluids and I planned ahead for meals (before liquid pre-op). For the first little while I kept junk out of the house. I have kids so that's hard, so I chose to buy things they like but I don't, like all dressed chips, or cotton candy ice cream.. My fave thing being a large cup of lite hot chocolate with fat free hazelnut creamer in the evening as a treat and it kept me pretty full.. so I would do it at my peak struggle time. I started keeping fruit that I really liked around, cherries and raspberries and I would go to town. Not ideal but it was certainly better than the alternatives.. smart pop was another fave pre-op. No I was not perfect I had bad days, still do, but I started to convince myself that it didn't have to be a bad day.. instead it was a bad couple hours and then I let it go, guilt has no place on the road to success. It will not motivate you, it will only make you feel worse!! I made a list of all those things i wanted to be able to do post op... and a list of all those things I never wanted to feel or have happen to me again. That was emotional, then I put them up in a cpl places around the house where I thought they would most benefit me. I also included a list of the consequences of failing to follow my liquid diet. Number one of course being a cancelled surgery! So I actually made it through all 3 weeks or 22 days as my nutritionist miscalculated lol. A ton of gum, broth to break up the sweetness, I was allowed 2 cups of raw green veggies/day added garlic salt or seasoning salt.. no dressing allowed! It makes you an idiot about a week in, prepare to write things down as you won't remember them. Drink tons of fluids as the day 3 headache is a nightmare and will likely last a cpl days and nothing will touch it but hydration so stay on top of that. Post-op hunger concerns... I have hunger, boy do I experience real hunger. Now I am not trying to scare you, I didn't experience hunger like this until about 7 months out. So I have had a lot of time to work through better choices and options when I am hungry, the nice thing about being early out is that it won't take much to reel in said hunger if you are one who feels it. Have a cup of broth, some greek yogurt and boom it's gone for another couple hours. Also remember that your intake is soo limited that it is okay to feed it. Sometime just choose to feed it with fluids. That is the biggie, learning to decipher head hunger from actual hunger from thirst!! Once you get that straight your life will quickly become much easier. So pay attention to what each of them feel like, not as hard as it sounds I promise. Further out you can eat more, and I fall off the wagon the last time I was off for almost 4 weeks, stopped exercising too. I gained 5 pounds. The difference is that this time the weight gain actually scared me, having been a 'normal' size for a bit now I got comfortable and this was a well needed reality check. Now considering how much I was eating 5 pounds was kind, so the surgery really is just a tool. You still need to fight those demons for life but when I think about how much weight I could have gained in that same time period preop.. no comparison. I also dropped those 5 pounds during my 'taking back control' week. But what I didn't do is beat myself up for it, I went on a fabulous food vacation and when I landed back in reality I dealt with it. No guilt, just moved on and smartened up. So being kind to yourself is something that gets easier as you go through this process. It's also one of my favourite NSV's.. Sorry so long I admit I am horribly wordy... hope that helps alleviate some of your fears

I don't know if this is an NSV or an SV, but I'd like everyone to Celebrate with me, by knowing that I completed the Spokefest Half-Century (50 mile bike ride in Spokane County WA) on September 7th! That was a huge accomplishment for me. It started out as "friendly" competition with two co-workers (who haven't had bariatric surgery and are 13 and 17 years younger than me) and myself, riding bikes during our lunch hour, at the beginning of last summer. Since then we each individually rode the Hiawatha Trail (in the north Idaho panhandle and Montana Bitterroot Mountains), one of us has been downhill mountain biking at the ski resorts nearby, and I rode around Lake Washington, both ways, once south and once north, the weekend before Spokefest. Then all three of us did the Spokefest Half-Century together. We didn't do it for time or a public placing. We did it as a personal victory. Since then I've also been riding from my home in to my office on in Spokane WA, a distance of 17 miles. So far I'm up to about 15 - 17 miles an hour by bicycle! We still bike during our lunch hour, or run, or walk. I'm simply amazed at the health improvements, (FINALLY!), that this decision to have the gastric bypass has given me!

Today it was so funny, at lunch I went down to the canteen a bit earlier than my close friend who I have lunch with everryday for 7 years, I got my food but he had not yet arrived so I went to sit with my friend's boss who usually would join both of us if he didn't have company. I waited so long but my friend didn't show up, then the colleague I sat with told me that my friend was there already but he went sitting with other friends. Then after lunch I went to see my friend and he confessed that he saw that his boss was eating with "someone' but he didn't recognize that the person was ME!! that's why he went to sit at the other table!!! Oh la là, I laughed so hard!! This is huge!! my best friend couldn't recognize me from behind!!! He also mentioned that my dress today is already hanging off me! Well, I'm still mostly between sizes (dropped from 16-18 to 12-14) I don't want to buy new clothes just yet, luckily I still have some old clothes of size 14 kept from a few years ago and I am now trying to wear the clothes size 16 that hanging fully in my closet before I really have to give them up :-( I also shared this in the other topic (funny NSV) but I had a stressful day and this story is really funny, totaly made my day hehe.

I'm only four weeks post-op and down 40 lbs starting from 338. I air travel for work every week, so my favorite NSV has been the ability to sit in the middle seat of a plane without a belt extender or angry looks from my neighbors

I rarely weighed myself that early on, but I dug up some of my old posts and found these stats... 1 week...up 5 pounds 7 weeks....down 17 pounds 10 weeks......still stalled at 17 pounds After that I lost fairly steady and only had a few 2-3 week stalls along the way. But as you can see if you fast forward, my slow start does not reflect my overall success..... Down 78 pounds (surgeons goal) at 6 1/2 months Down 88 pounds (personal goal) at 7 1/2 months Currently down 97 pounds at 9 months Just keep on your plan and remember you are in this for the long haul and the numbers on the scale really aren't that important. As for my scale, I don't even own one. I weigh myself once a week on the dog scale at work so I have something to post on here. I weigh fully clothed, with shoes or boots, sometimes in the morning, sometimes after lunch. The accuracy really doesn't matter to me because I measure my success by how I feel, how my clothes fit and NSVs. Good luck!

Today was my 9 month bandiversary. I've had many NSV's along the way but none as good as the one I experienced today. You see, 1 year ago this weekend, I participated in my very first 5K race. My teenage son talked me into doing it. I reluctantly agreed. I walked the entire race and it took me almost an hour to finish it. And I was walking as fast as I could. The race is held annually so we decided after last year's race that we would return this year. So today, we did the same race that took me almost an hour to finish and I was able to finish it in about 31 minutes. Not only that, I placed 3rd in my age division! I've been doing 5K races about once a month since spring and I run 3-4 days a week but I've never been able to finish a 5k in 31 minutes and I've never placed in any of them. Needless to say, I got all teary-eyed when I was walking up to get my medal! I have an appt. with my surgeon on Wednesday and I intend to take my medal with me so I can show him what he's done for me and thank him for helping me to get my life back

I'm with @@TatorTot ... please keep the NSVs coming. I am also loving this thread. This is real life. Who care what the damn scale says.

My surgery is in 2 days, but I have already had a NSV moment-- my scrubs used to be tight (like the seam ripped in the shirts tight...) well yesterday I had a liter of Fiji Water and needed the hand I was holding it with, so I stuck it in my front pocket... it fit with room to spare! What!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

I'm about to go say goodbye to my little summer vegetable garden. Even though it was small, it represented a huge NSV for me. Normally in the summer I don't get outside except when absolutely necessary. This year, I was outside every day watering, weeding and picking in my garden. I made enough of my awesome pickles to be able to sell enough to pay for the tiller we bought, and I made several pints of great salsa. I discovered that I like baked okra just as much as fried, and I made a variety of flavored kale chips. It's been a great experience, and I can't wait to do it again on an even larger scale next year! Now I have to go out and pull up the remnants of the plants and cover the surface with cardboard so I won't have to fight the grass as much next year!

Love love love to hear it! congrats on your NSV's. My best NSV so far is the fact that I had this tremendous energy the other day. It was just ready to come out. I dressed all the childen together with the balls and jump ropes and we went outside. I ran, ran, and ran. I played ball with my two yr old and chased her. I played frisbee with my son. I chased my 10 yr old. It was so awesome. I can't outrun them just yet, but it was sure fun to be able to chase them. I still have a long journey but I am happier than before that's for sure.

It is surprising at almost 2 years out how you notice one of these once in a while! Just the other day I was leaving work and the elevator was full, but I hopped on and squeezed into a little spot on the side - and no one moved a bit to allow me to fit!! I would have never even attempted that before, and if I had, they would have subconsciously parted like the red sea to accommodate me. Another thing I notice - and not sure it's an actual victory - is the fact that I am weak now! I can't open heavy doors very well. It usually takes a couple of attempts because I have to really make an effort. I guess I'm still using the same technique I used to use, which would have been use my weight. Now I have to consciously use what's left of my muscle. Another thing like that - I recently went to an "80s Dance Explosion", lol. It was a total NSV that I went, because I wouldn't have even gone before, thinking no one wants to see 300 pounds of fat bouncing around, and besides, I would have been too tired. However, I was shocked that while out on that dance floor, the drunker the other people became the more dense the crowd, I kept getting bumped into, and felt like I was getting thrown all over the dance floor like a limp doll! I was actually afraid of getting knocked over!

cheers to those nsv's (with my Protein shake.... no more booze for me)

So, I had to share. More people are noticing my more recent weight loss and commenting to me that I'm looking good. Awesome. I've also had a guy friend (married, damn it) tell me I needed to eat a biscuit. I was like "I don't need to eat biscuits." You know it was a strange way to say 'you're looking skinny, but it felt good. Wow. I looked thin enough, that I looked like I needed to eat more? Ahmahzing! Anyhow, my loss is slow (a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing), but still headed in the right direction. And, I'm pretty much 29lbs from my official goal weight. Wahoo. I keep that in the back of my mind. I've not come this far, to give up. Go, me!

ok, now that I know an NSV is a non-scale victory, I have one to share. Fitting comfortably with room to spare in a booth at a restaurant when the last time you went you were (your belly was) hanging over the table, all squeezed in. Separately but the same, being able to swing up and out of the booth easily and smoothly, rather than huffing your way through a 3 step process to get out.

NSV's are the best and most unexpected part of weight loss. I am loving them too!!

@@Yasman non sleeve victory???? ie being able to buy regular sized clothes as opposed to Plus sizes not having to wear a seat belt extender on an airplane wearing your first bathing suit easier to run around/chase after kids enjoy all your NSV's to follow 35 lb weight loss!! party dance party dance kathy congrats

I love these NSV! They are so important and I needed a chortle for the day! My new word of the day is chortle. It's that kind of word that just puts a smile on your face! I enjoy being able to share all these things with each other, makes my day!

Congratulations on all your NSV's ! It s the little things that count, right ? And since you asked .................. I have to tell this story because I think its hilarious, but my deepest apologies to any one that might be offended !! A few weeks ago my hubby and I were vacationing in upstate NY. As we were leaving the hotel one AM, I saw 2 ladies sitting together outside near their room ..( it was hot, I had a long red maxi dress on, looked nice ) As I walked near them to get to our car, I nodded and said a quiet " Good morning ." They both looked back at me, and one said in a kind of low, sexy voice, "Well,........... good morning !".. My hubby teased me all week long about my " girlfriends !" Im sure you get the picture, but we couldn't stop laughing about it !! You had to be there !!

LipstickLady... That is so awesome!!! I can't wait for NSV's!!!

So yesterday I was at the grocery and I grabbed a hand basket thinking I was only getting a few things. A few turned into a bunch and my basket was quite heavy about halfway through the market. I hefted my basket up onto my hip (which used to be quite ample) and it slid right down my leg. Hmmm.... I tried again. And again. I seriously couldn't figure out WHY my basket didn't rest comfortably on my side like it always has. It took about 3 minutes of pondering this phenomenon before I realized I no longer have big wide cushiony hips on which to rest whatever it is I might need to carry. I seriously chortled with glee startling the produce man. HA! Last week I had a girls' weekend away with my besties. We loaded up the luggage cart with all our stuff and I took my usual place behind the cart as the one who is designated to push it through the lobby. (I'm the only one who can be trusted not to mow innocent people down.) I couldn't budge it. I pushed and I heaved and I shoved that cart and it wouldn't move. I pulled it with all my might. Nope. One hundred plus pounds less of me wasn't going to move it no matter how hard I tried. So bizarre. The ocean was another weird experience for me. I was a lifeguard growing up, both ocean and pool. I am a swimmer and I was even at my fattest. This summer was my first summer in 20+ years "thin". I was tossed around like a rag doll, totally off balance, barely able to gain footing because there is so much less of me. Oh, and I no longer float like I used to. In fact, I sink like a stone unless I give it a whole lotta effort. SO SO not what I'm used to. I love the NSVs like fitting in a theater seat with my purse next to me, shopping in any store, passing by people in narrow aisles without rubbing them with my butt, etc. but some of these off the wall things really throw me off guard and it takes me a while to figure out what the heck is going on. You?

congratulations, excellent flexibility you go girl! And... what does NSV stand for?

Not weighing was the best advice I received from the site and the best decision I made. I only weigh when I have a doctor's appointment and don't own a scale so there will be 3 months between weighs this time. Today was my first NSV I tried on a pair of size 15 (from a size 22) jeans in the juniors dept and they fit like a glove. I don't get excited from my weight because it seems to be moving slow but moving none the less but those little jeans made me come home and wake my husband up to brag lol... whatever decision you make will be the best for you Good Luck!

The best way to avoid stalls is to continue to follow your meal plan and STAY OFF THE SCALE!!!! Seriously, if you don't weigh, you won't be subjected to depression from the stupid numbers that don't really mean anything. Measure your success by how you feel and NSVs because those are the things that matter. If you follow the plan you will be successful. Or, you can just keep stepping on the scale everyday and keep making yourself miserable.

Yes MsJay!!! I can NOT wait to be able to say the same thing! Awesome NSV!

You have a thumbs up from me. I only weighed a few times for the first 3-4 months. Never suffered through a stall because I never knew if I had one (except when I was sick 2-3 months out and ended up going to the doctor a lot. I didn't lose a thing for a month but didn't care because I was so sick). I did start weighing weekly after awhile, just so I had something to post on my ticker If you've spent any time on these boards you've probably read a lot of posts whining about stalls and slow weight loss. Drives me nuts. You will be so much happier just judging your success by NSV's and how great you feel. Oh yeah, I did take pictures, too. My sister went to TJ with me for surgery and she wanted updates (we live in different states). So glad she made me do that because a picture is worth more than any number on the scale.