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I was at a thrift store and my husband today and he found a pair of size 18 pants and he said he couldnt believe I used to wear those. I actually wore a 20 and told him so. He asked me to hold up the 18's and he took a picture. I was astounded when I saw the pic so I wanted to share it.. Its hard to believe that I was even bigger than this. So happy I got the sleeve! btw.. today is my 5 month surgiversary and I am down 59 pounds!

Definitely! There are so many ways to track your progress! Use them all! Scale, body fat %, measurements, photos, NSV

I love these NSV's they're the best! CONGRATS!

Good luck! You'll get there! I agree with looking at NSV's. All that walking is probably doing wonders!

DH-could be "Darling Husband" but probably means "D-Head" - that's funny! NSV is a non-scale victory. Something cool that doesn't have to do with numbers on the scale, like walking up stairs without having a heart attack or finally seeing your toes. Patient facilitators-to trust or not to trust? Depends on what you mean. Most Mexico doctors have a US Liason on their staff that will help you coordinate your trip to Mexico. They'll pick you up from the airport and look after you. But then there are patient coordinators that act like referral services. If you go through a referral service you will pay more. Best to call Kuri's office directly and avoid the middleman. Good luck to you. My husband was afraid I would wake up in Mexico with no kidneys. He figured they'd put me to sleep and sell my kidneys on the black market. But I've been back to Tijuana for 3 surgeries and still have all my organs!

hi everyone! This site is so helpful! I want to thank everyone for talking here. It really helps me to research the band and all related questions. My name is Kathy and I live in NC, just outside of Charlotte. I am considering banding in Mexico (insurance doesn't pay for bands, only gastric bypass, which I don't want to do). So off I will go, hopefully in March 2005, to see Dr. Kuri. I have 2 young children, ages 5 and (almost) 2. My husband is supportive but very nervous about 1) me be-bopping off to TJ for major surgery and 2)incurring a bit of temporary debt until I can go back to work and pay this off. But he feels like this is a good solution for my struggle with weight loss. As he says, "just quit eating so much" but he knows it's more than that. I have been exercising faithfully for a full year and have lost and kept off 20 lbs, but I haven't lost anything since October. My goal is another 80-95 lbs. I currently weigh 220, but would like to see 145-160. BMI is 36.6 and I am 5'5". My percentage of body fat, according to the gym machine, is 43.6%. Yuck! I will be 40 this year (May 2005) which is what made me look into all this. I am weary of struggling and depriving myself and I don't want my 40's to be a decade of discouragement. Seems too much to hope for, but maybe with the band I can succeed. Here are some things I have learned by lurking... lurking-reading everything but not writing or contributing in any other way PBing-yuck but I have a perfect understanding of that DH-could be "Darling Husband" but probably means "D*&%" Husband avatar-whatever, I can't figure out how to do that but I think I have a smiley face, no pic tickers-no clue but I'll keep clicking NSV-what? it's something good though. patient facilitators-to trust or not to trust? Oh, there is so much to learn! Again, thank you everyone for all of your posts. They are really helpful and I hope to be able to contribute when the time comes. And...all you who have posted before and after pics...thank you-you have given me hope!

Congratulations ! Great NSV's thank you for sharing !!

I just donated over half of my clothes which no longer fit me. At the top of my closet were a few straggler pants etc. I took them out today and found a brand new pair of Lands End shorts. I have not worn shorts in about 7 years. I put them on and not only did they fit and a little loose but I didn't look totally horrid in them. I am so happy to be back in shorts even if I don't look like JLo.

Absolutely - your journey is going to be full of NSV's. I seriously suggest you make a NSV storybook - rather than a journal...take picks or write about when you had your NSV's about how that felt, how it compared to before...mention things it made you think of or emotions that it brought to the surface. This can be a very good reference and motivational tool later on.

What's an NSV?

Gowalking I swear not only has our journey mirrored one another along with our views but now our NSVs on the same day are almost identical. Are you my sister from another mister:-) I went shopping today and they had a sale on all their collegiate apparel. My husband and I are BIG Ohio State fans and I've been wanting a shirt for forever but they didn't make them in my size (or atleast not the cute ones). I went up to the man and asked, do you have any Ohio State things for ladies and he said yeah I have a couple is it for you and I said yes, so he goes over to the rack and pulls out a dress, shirt and a jacket and says here these are cute and should be the right size, I smile and say thanks and as he walks away I'm looking at the items and all of the tags say size SMALL, I said to myself WTH is this man crazy I can't wear this stuff and then I looked at the items again and said well maybe I can and sure enough I tried them on and what do you know......they fit, (they must run a little on the larger side of small) but DAMN....I just bought a small and like you said someone else picked these out based on the size they saw me to be!!! Woe, what a great feeling this is. LOVE IT!!!! Oh what an eye opening NSV just now. I'm here in my office today and the place is like a freezer. Cold as all get out. I have a long sleeve blouse on but I'm just frozen to the bone. My very slender colleague comes into my office to chat and I tell him how cold I am and he offers me his fleece jacket that the company gave out a couple of years ago. I got one of these fleeces also but quickly gave it to my son because even the extra large didn't fit. So when Claude offers me his fleece, I take him up on it hoping it isn't too small because I still think I'm fat damn it! Well...I'm sitting here typing and warm as can be....and zipped up to the neck. Not only does the thing fit but it's got extra room as well. This is what normal must feel like. To be offered an item of clothing and not realizing the person offering isn't wondering if it will fit....they know it will fit. I need to remember this NSV to help me to see what everyone else does....

So I have lost 91 pounds since I started this journey many months ago. I was wearing at my largest size 5x tops at times, mostly 4x. All of my 3x top and pants are starting to get too big and people keep telling me I need to buy new clothes. I just hate to spend any money. I ordered some stuff, cause I still won't shop in stores, online from the clothing place I would buy all my plus size clothes from and everything I bought I picked as 2x figuring even if I didn't fit into it I could save it. Everything I bought fit me!!!! 2 of the tops and 1 of the pants were a bit too snug but they were on me.....I'll probably hold off wearing those for a bit but everything else, 2 other tops and 4 pair of pants all fit comfortably, I was pleasantly surprised.

OMG!! I can't wait for that!!!!! That's an awsome nsv!!

That is amazing!!!!! I have had 3 c-sections and I know just what you mean about the overhang. GREAT NSV!!!!!!!!

Super NSV!!

I've met nearly all my NSVs so I'll not bother to post them. I just wanted to comment here that whatever you are looking forward to, know that you can have it all. I've been lucky enough that it's happened to me so I know that it can happen to you all as well. Good luck!

goal 1: 20 lbs goal met goal 2: 219-- lowest weight since 2005 goal 3: 199-- onederland goal 4: 170-- last time I remember feeling comfortable in my skin goal 5: 150-- size 10, felt great NSV: 1: not having my arms rub on the sides of my belly when I walk 2: not being out of breathe walking up stairs 3: being able to see ALL of my body 4: looking cute in clothes 5: shopping in regular stores 6: not always eating more than everyone else 7: feeling pretty again

Great NSV!! Best wishes for your hubby too! How's he doing?

soooo im almost 2 months out and ive lost 21 lbs so far butttttttttt im not really seeing a major difference in the way my clothes fit...I started at 245 size 14....im 224 still size 14 lol...what the heckkkk I wanna see those one digit numbers I love to shop & theres just not a variety of stuff in plus sizes....hoping to see a change soon!

And I’m down to 256lbs… I’ve lost a total of 10 pounds since my last doctor’s appointment back in August and he was very happy with my progress thus far. I went in today (9/12/11) and weighed in, chatted with him about what exactly I was doing to progress my weight loss. I told him I cut out carbs and still am cutting out carbs as best I can. Most meals only contain meat (protein) and vegetables. Everything that is processed/packaged I look at the contents and if there’s carbs I put it down. I am so proud of me, I should make this an NSV! People, or I should say non-dieters, don’t realize how hard it is to nix carbs all together. Especially since it’s been a part of your daily food intake for years! But I’m doing it. I can say I don’t eat something carby here and there, but not nearly enough to cause me any issues. I was off work for fiver days recently and I did so well not eating carbs. I did enjoy a bowl of cereal over the weekend, but that was it! No bread, no pasta, no rice, no sweets! I’m committed to sticking to this no carb diet because if I drop lbs like I’ve done these past two weeks CONTINUOUSLY then I could possibly make my mini goal come November 6th. I’m 36lbs away and I have 58 days to do so, which is roughly 8 weeks plus a few extra days… but that’s like 4.5lbs a week. I know I didn’t get RNY, and that’s asking a lot to lose that much weekly, but this is what I’m aiming for; 220lbs by November 6th! I Can Do It! J Other than dieting, I’ve been taking two hour Zumba classes (when offered), I’ve been walking, doing jogging/power walking intervals for 30 minutes at a time while on my breaks at work; I’ve also been doing the sedentary bike for 30 minutes at a time while at home… I plan to do a little more toning… my arms are slimming down, but I don’t want the flab… I hate to say this but I definitely see a TT, Brachioplasty, and Breast Lift in my future (hopefully covered by insurance)! It’s not all bad, I mean I love lifting and pulling my rolls aside and seeing my TRUE body frame and shape that’s being hidden underneath. It’s like shaking a wrapped gift before opening it. I’ve been trying to guess what’s inside for the longest! J Overall I’m SOOOOO HAPPY with my progress. Today I re-read my journal entries that I started writing when I started my PreOp diet, and I’m happy that I’ve progressed so much since then… I’m 256! In one of my entries I was saying how happy I was to be 278 because that meant I weighed less than my Dad… but now I’ve progressed so much it just blows my mind! I’m almost -50lbs down… just 1 more pound to go! I’m sure I’ll drop that in a day or two! WooHoo!!! I’ve gone from 305lbs (my highest) to 256lbs!... I’m so proud…

1. I had to buy new shirts for work already. I went to a consignment shop for cheaper ones as this will not be the last time. Amazingly, I am smaller around sooner after the sleeve than when I worked out and dieted before. My clothig didn't change for about 25-30 more pounds. 2. I fit into a McDonald's booth! Now before anyone judges me on being in a McD's, I ate a grilled chicken club with NO BUN and extra bacon (this is 50g of protein). I needed the protein intake and neither of us wanted to cook. I also spread about a teaspoon of habanero sauce instead of mayo. 3. I did a WHOLE Insanity cardio workout. Of course I modified some things because I am too big still to jump and do deep lunges (poor knees of mine) but I still did it!!! Now some unexpected hurdles from losing weight: 1. I can't eat away stress and frustration so I fight more. My bf calls me the big B at least once a day. I just cannot hold my anger in and It comes out. 2. I have realized how much I hate my job and the people I work with. I must have smothered my unhappiness in food for awhile because After 6 weeks off and not eatig that much I despise them. They do nt support my dietary needs nor do they care much about anything but themselves. I have begun the interview process to GET OUT!!! 3. I hate cooking now. I make something awesome and I barely get a 1/2 cup to a cup of food? So not worth my effort. It is easier to eat when y bf cooks.

Wonderful NSV. Pre-gain I used to wear seven rings and lots of bracelets. I look forward to that again at some point. Thanks for the inspiration this morning!

Haven't been on for a while... But had to share a victory. Tried on some new jeans..... My skinniest ones have baggy butt!! Size 14 was too big. 12 a little snug but can button n zip!! Not bad since 2 months ago I was in an 18!! Down almost 30#. Yippee.

There will be NSV's you never even knew would be an NSV someday. Clothes fitting is only one of the probably hundreds in a list! Try also side by side photos at least monthly but I used to do weekly. Also, use a measuring tape and measure everything. I used to even measure my neck and wrists which sounds strange but as they went down even a quarter inch it gave me a reason to be happy and feel good about my efforts. Not only that but is there anything you notice physically you can do now that you once couldn't when you first started? Stay strong and above all stay positive!

Let me preface by saying that I dont even have a surgery date yet. I finally caught the workout bug and am actually looking forward to spending time OUTSIDE with my daughter rather than taking her out just because I know it's good for her. I don't look any different, but feel like a million bucks after a hearty workout this morning. And for the scale victory, I'm down 3 pounds this week. WOOT! I just started tracking my food last week and it really makes a difference.