Search the Community

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevesters, It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on SleevePlicationTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter. Encouragement to welcome new SleevePlicationTalk.com members in the ”Tell Your Story” Forum. Tick and Track your way to success! ASMBS policy statement: what does the national organization say about Sleeve Plication? First Member Spotlight: Coming soon! Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try. Visit SleevePlicationTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the sleeve plication. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Contest Reminder: Will You be the One to Win a Free iPod Touch? Don’t forget about the contest to Celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first SleevePlicationtalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on LapBandTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, upload photos or refer a friend. Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Sleevers Even More? SleevePlicationTalk.com has more than 100,000 members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because SleevePlicationTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community. We know that many of you Sleevers go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use SleevePlicationTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow sleevers. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Tell Your Story” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks! Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful! What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course! Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value. Trackers are for recording your current body measurements. You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow bandsters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it. ASMBS: National Society’s Opinion on Plication You may already know that the sleeve plication, or laparoscopic greater curvature plication, is a pretty new procedure. That’s why you may have a little more trouble finding a surgeon in the U.S. or getting your insurance to cover it. That doesn’t make it a bad procedure, though. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, or ASMBS, states that more scientific data is needed before it can make recommendations about the procedure. The FDA is very cautious about approving any health claims. Before any drug or medical device goes on the market, the FDA conducts clinical trials to make sure that its claims are true. In the case of sleeve plication, the technique is so new that not much scientific evidence is available. So far, it looks like sleeve plication is comparable to the vertical sleeve, and your stomach tissue is not removed. In the article, ASMBS admits that it can’t make official patient recommendations because the technique is too new, but that gastric plication is worth investigating! What do you think? If you’re considering gastric plication, do you wish there were official national recommendations? Coming Soon: Member Spotlights! We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each SleevePlicationTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees. We’ll be Contacting You Soon! Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Sleeve Plication member! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the SleevePlicationTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member. Sleeve Plication Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try! Each Plication Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum. Roundup of the Previous Bandster Challenge: Try a New Food! In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Challenge Forum. How did you do? Let everyone know about your new food or recipe in the forum! Don’t forget that you can always go back to try the old member challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences! The New Challenge: Share Your NSV! Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your lap-band journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important. This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be: Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat. Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store. Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law. Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Sleeve Plication members learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them! So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at SleevePlicationTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.sleevepli...&tab=newsletter

Cindy C - thanks!!! HeavyDutyQ-tee, NSV = "Non scale Victory"

Very unexpected but i have lost so much padding around my butt that now i am getting presure points. it is hard to sit in a chair for any length of time, even with 75 pounds off . I guess that is a victory of sorts. I am feeling bony prominences that i never knew i had and when i lay down they also cause presure points ( shoulder, hip) I hope i adjust to this and dont have to keep shifting my position in chairs and beds constantly.

Spring cleaning & yard work!! Ordinarily I would not think of this as fun. But I had a great boost of motivation & energy (due to my weightloss I'm sure). I live alone & last week made 13 years since I bought my house. For years, I had been so unhappy with the looks of my kitchen. It was very cluttered with no organization & just not functional at all. Over the years, I just let it go. Like I did so much other things in my life like my weight and enjoying life. Since it is just me, my kitchen table was a work station w/ junk mail and you name it. Everytime I saw it, I just sighed, shook my head, left the area in frustration & wishing things were different in there. The job just seemed to be so much & I was overwhelmed & ashamed to ask anyone to help me. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't of the caliber of needing Dr. Phil or someone to come in, but it was nowhre near what I wanted it to be. Well guess what? Something got into me & I did it! Took me parts of three days but the first day I worked for 3 hours straight. The time just flew by. I was not tired or anything. I am so proud of myself. I went through all cabinets & threw out stuff. I think I lost at least 150 pounds in clutter & plastic shopping bags. My kitchen feels like a kitchen now & looks great. I vow to never let it get out of hand again. One of my goals is to experiment with low carb/fat band appropriate cooking. I dream of dinner parties & inviting my closest most supportive friends & family. Now I see that as a possibility. I bought new placemats, pots/pans, chair cushions and curtain. And if that wasn't enough, Saturday morning I got up early, went to Walmart, loaded up and spread 11 bags of mulch in my yard all by myself. That was another project I had on my wish list. It felt so good looking at my accomplishments after i was finished. Felt even better than when I got in my first pair of jeans out of the Misses Dept. I just had to toot my own horn because I am still in shock that I did it alone. Last year this time there would have been no way.

Makes sense, Can't wait to have a few of those! LoL Thanks nightingale2u for making me not feel so awkward! Gonrats Gretat!! One month and a "NSV" Way to go! Baileym _______________ 6/21/04 ((((PLEASE!!!!)))

It is hard to beleive that it has been 13 months since I have been banded. A lot of things have happen since being banded and I will do that in another post. In June of 2007 I went in for a sleep study and found out that I did indeed have sleep apena. I was put on a CPAP machine in August 07 and did ok with it. I was banded in September of 2007. After being banded I was having some issues with the CPAP machine, in regards to being bloated all the time and taking the mask off at night. I talked with my doctor about this and he had the machine set to the lowest settings. He also suggested that I look into getting a dental applaince. I went and meet with the dentist who deals in sleep apnea and she said it would not be a problem and so it took about 4 months to get it approved by insurance. I was fitted with the herbest retainer in February, 2008. I went back to my doctor who handles the sleep apnea in August and he was real pleased with the way I looked and the amount of weight lost. So the doctor order a new sleep study. I had the sleep study on year to the date of being banded. I will say that the band can help people get away from using the CPAP. Keep in mind that everyone is differant and what works for one might not work for the other person. Here is the results of the study: Per Band Original study (pre weight loss) Weight 250 BMI 40 Breathing event per hour: 68 Total breathing cessation per hour: 49 Lowest recorded oxygen level: 70% Banded New Study: post weight loss Weight 186 BMI 29.1 Breathing events per hour: 19.4 Total breathing cessation per hour: 19.4 Lowest recorded oxygen level: 91% With the Herbst Retainer Dental Device: Breathing events per hour: 4.6 (counting little bitty ones 6.2) Total breathing cessation per hour: 4 Lowest oxygen level: 92% It turns out that with the Herbst, you are worst when you lie on your left side. Then you have 8.3 events per hour. In dream sleep, you have 10.2 events per hour. I went to the sleep doctor this week to review this study and he said that I could stop using the CPAP Machine and continue with the Herbst Retainer. He also said that my numbers were low enough that even if I did not use the retainer that I could do away with the CPAP. He also felt the numbers would go down lower with more weight loss. My goal range is between 165-175. He also said that I did not need to come back and see him unless I feel that Iam having problems. He said that I can just go back to the dentist and get a new herbest retainer when this one wears out in a few years. Also I no longer have any snoring issues either. So as you can see here proof is in the pudding about the band and how it can help everyone out. It just takes a lot of time and effort to make it all happen. It does not happen overnight. Chris Pre Band 250 Now 184 " name="message" type="hidden"> <table class="wide" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="bottom"> It is hard to beleive that it has been 13 months since I have been banded. A lot of things have happen since being banded and I will do that in another post.In June of 2007 I went in for a sleep study and found out that I did indeed have sleep apena. I was put on a CPAP machine in August 07 and did ok with it. I was banded in September of 2007. After being banded I was having some issues with the CPAP machine, in regards to being bloated all the time and taking the mask off at night. I talked with my doctor about this and he had the machine set to the lowest settings. He also suggested that I look into getting a dental applaince. I went and meet with the dentist who deals in sleep apnea and she said it would not be a problem and so it took about 4 months to get it approved by insurance. I was fitted with the herbest retainer in February, 2008. I went back to my doctor who handles the sleep apnea in August and he was real pleased with the way I looked and the amount of weight lost. So the doctor order a new sleep study. I had the sleep study on year to the date of being banded. I will say that the band can help people get away from using the CPAP. Keep in mind that everyone is differant and what works for one might not work for the other person. Here is the results of the study:Per BandOriginal study (pre weight loss) Weight 250 BMI 40Breathing event per hour: 68Total breathing cessation per hour: 49Lowest recorded oxygen level: 70%BandedNew Study: post weight lossWeight 186 BMI 29.1 Breathing events per hour: 19.4Total breathing cessation per hour: 19.4Lowest recorded oxygen level: 91%With the Herbst Retainer Dental Device:Breathing events per hour: 4.6 (counting little bitty ones 6.2)Total breathing cessation per hour: 4Lowest oxygen level: 92%It turns out that with the Herbst, you are worst when you lie on your left side. Then you have 8.3 events per hour. In dream sleep, you have 10.2 events per hour.I went to the sleep doctor this week to review this study and he said that I could stop using the CPAP Machine and continue with the Herbst Retainer. He also said that my numbers were low enough that even if I did not use the retainer that I could do away with the CPAP. He also felt the numbers would go down lower with more weight loss. My goal range is between 165-175. He also said that I did not need to come back and see him unless I feel that Iam having problems. He said that I can just go back to the dentist and get a new herbest retainer when this one wears out in a few years. Also I no longer have any snoring issues either.So as you can see here proof is in the pudding about the band and how it can help everyone out. It just takes a lot of time and effort to make it all happen. It does not happen overnight.Chris

I'm really pleased for you. It's great when the numbers show success, as well as the NSVs. Good luck to you.

I am so happy right now! I was down another 1.5 pounds today and when I plugged it into my spreadsheet I saw some things that just made me stop and take a moment to process. Total loss: 42.6 Total percent lost: 15% Total remaining: 30% I have lost 1/3 of the weight I want to lose in 5 1/2 months! That potentially means that in a year from now I could be at goal if I keep losing at the same rate!!!! The best one of all... my BMI is now at 36.8 (down from 43.3) Some NSVs for today as well... I'm wearing my size 20 jeans again (even though they are completely out of style) I'm wearing a size XL sweatshirt that is not a MANS XL! I'm just taking a moment to savor the unexpected side effects of this journey. What a day!

I was at the Fruit Market, when I said Hello to a Neighbor. She told me I looked Great, and even her Grand Kids were checking me out.. I said thanks, but it is a lot of work.. She said she bets it is.. Then she said are you smaller then you were, last time that you lost weight ? I said NO ! I have 2 sizes to go down to reach where I was before things got goofed up. So I am looking forward to this summer. She said my God you are going to look Great. So I said say hy ! to your husband and was on my way. I felt as light as a Butterfly. A couple streets down is the Auto Parts Store, so he needed to stop there. We took care of Business and he got a head start, so I looked like I was walking alone ,when I was WHISTLED ! at.... He said HAY BABY, WANNA GO OUT ON A DATE SOMETIME ? I was floored, when all of a sudden I heard "W H A T T T T T !" The young Guy says "I'm Sorry sir, I didn't know she was Married. ! ! ! ! In the car He said your starting to look to Dam Good ! I said Nope ! not in a size 20 I'm not... I still got a long way to go.. I'm still flying High on this, and Hope to enjoy it all day. Its been a long time since I was asked out on a date. I should write it on the Calendar.

Whooo Hoooo! Great NSV!

I went shopping during lunch today...and I slipped into a size 10 petite Lee Rider jeans. YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'm So So So So happy!!! Doing a happy happy dance!!!

Congratulations @@triplethreat !!! I know that had to feel great! The first of many shopping NSV's I'm sure. I'm hoping by October, my birthday month-- I will look forward to Shopping NSV's. For now I'm just enjoying the fact that my clothes currently fit me well. I tend to wear my clothing pretty snug, lots of material with stretch.. so I've been able to get away with wearing sizes that I have no business in. I don't imagine I'll be doing any shopping for a hot minute but I have a feeling that even when I do, unless its something insane... I won't be satisfied. I feel like I've been there before recently so it doesn't count (even though it does). Like for example-- I bought some fitted button up shirts for work when I first started this job 2 years ago. I gained some lbs and had to retire it or wear as a layered look with a cami underneath, and a crop sweater over it. I'm back in the shirt today, comfortably just like when I bought it and although I'm glad I to be back into it, I'm still like whatever I should be in it anyways. When it gets too big for me to wear, then I'll be satisfied. Keep up the great work!!!

I'm down 62 lbs since surgery, 93 lbs total! I weigh 204 today : ) I've gone from a 24/26 jeans to a 15/16! My shirts from 3xl to L or XL. I am feeling great and having new NSV's daily. 5lbs to onderland, 7 lbs to century club! Hoping for both by Christmas. Yay me!!

Exercise creates more energy, but it takes a long time to get to that point. I worry about how I will fit it in when I go back to work too, I know that I've just gotten up at 5.30 to run before going out on teaching rounds. If you can involve your kids then that's good for both of you, you DO have 2 days at the weekend where you've got more time, and personally, I'd buy equipment for home if I could, a treadmill or something and just get on there and DO it. Yes, its hard, yes you're exhausted but what is your ultimate goal? I found I just had to push through that kind of stuff and now that I'm really fit, its something I really WANT to do, really WANT to prioritise and I virtually never have that feeling any more. At least if you're exercising at home, you're with your kids. As you lose and get fitter you wont be so exhausted. Really, most of us should be able to work and get up to get kids to school without finding it too challenging, you just dont realise how utterly crappy and exhaused you feel when you're very overweight. I promise that horrid inertia will disappear as you get closer to your goal - in fact its probably my biggest NSV. I care more about how much more energetic, efficient and in control I am than I do about what size I'm wearing. Truly, you'll get there. In the meantime, its horrid but you just have to force yourself. There's no need to do more than four times a week, more is good, but four is more than adequate.

So I went in for a fill today. Was not even sure that she would give me a fill, but she ended up giving me .20 since I had .50 taken out the last time. So my first NSV was when the nurse was taking my vitals. She was looking up my BMI and I asked her how close I was to not being "OBESE". She looked at me and said that I was NOT obese. Hehe. liked that one... I have about 4lbs to go until I am officially declared "overweight" So then I saw the surgeon outside the room and thanked him again for doing my surgery!!! He just looked at me and said WOW what are you a 27. Im like huh!!! No im a 14. He just laughed and said he thought my BMI was a 27. The nurse laughed and said no she is a 30 and he said that I looked way smaller than that. He wanted me to go and talk to people at the next seminar that he is having in Septemember. He thinks I will be at my goal within 6-7 months of my surgery. I told him that was my goal too!!!

I am hoping that one day I will be able to eat normal food again just in smaller portions. I don't mean fast food but if I go out with my family to a restaurant I can order pasta but only have a small amount? And what does NSV mean? I've seen in on a lot of threads.

Thanks again to all those with encouraging replies. I have cried everyday since I had the surgery. However, today was a better day. I did not cry. I returned to work today and was able to see many of my friends who had smiling faces and words of encouragement. A couple of them even told me that they could tell I was already losing weight because my cheeks were not as puffy. (NSV!) I had a NSV before work today too. I put on a shirt that did not fit me prior to the surgery and it fits perfectly now. Cant wait for a couple of weeks to pass and see that it's too big. I'm still having probs getting the Protein and nutrients, but I am hanging on to y'all's words of get the fluids in. Today at work was hard physically, because I became exhausted early in the day, and later in the day I had some pain from my incision sites. My boss is the bomb though, and recognized I was not feeling well and sent me home early, no doc in pay. YAY! Over all, I still feel a little down, but I will say things are getting better slowly. I still have not weighed myself. My doctor's appointment is next Tuesday, and I will weigh then. I'll probably invest in a scale for home, just because I'm so bloody curious. lol! I'll start a ticker next week.

Isn't it a great feeling , it sure is a good day for us I love the change in our minds , body and our nsv's fro where to now and where we are going and the things we can do , that we could not even do before whether it be small or big , yes I say big lol , I a loving being able to just have energy and not say no when some one says let's go here or there , fro being tired all the time or not being able to just breath, yes I know most of us were out of breath , just trying to move sometimes now we do all that we can do and just try to do a bit more than before , so we will keep on going, and won't worry when o last breath might be, cause we chose to better our selves, by being healthy and making choices on eating and drinking healthy.

Looking good! NSV are greatest! Love shopping NSV's!

I'm 6 weeks post surgery, down 29 pounds and had my first fill of 3 cc in my 10 cc band yesterday. Had to go shopping for a dress for my stepson's wedding and I walked out of the store with a dress 2 sizes smaller!! I first took my "old" size in the dressing room, then asked hubby for a size smaller, and finally another size smaller. I couldn't believe all the dresses I was trying on were 2 sizes smaller! I also bought a new pair of jeans, a top, and undies (all 1 size smaller). Talk about feeling on top of the world! My doc says not to buy too many clothes because they won't fit for long. From his mouth, to God's ear.

I hadnt felt like doing anything... i beleive becasue my body is in weird shapes that I dont like, I was used to how it was before.. Now its all distorted and I feel uncomfortable.. BUt I went out this weekend and I had my first ever non assisted orgasm.. So, I guess that could be called a NSV..

I teach high school and thankfully this happened before students were in the hallway. I left my room and started to walk down to the workroom. A coworker was walking several steps in front of me when my skirt fell down. Thankfully he did not turn around when I gasped and ran into the closest classroom. I also had a slip on so I was covered. I'd love to see our security coverage of that one though! Love that this is the first year in the 13 I've been there that I've worn a skirt or dress and LOVED it!

So I have been losing weight, have good restriction, and doing good overall. But I kept wondering where was all this energy that's supposed to come with losing weight. Well I hadn't realized that I have been doing more things. This weekend was a prime example. I went to a pet event with my Yorkie so there was a lot of walking, went to the mall, and started cleanings the house. Today I met up with a friend I hadn't seen in months bc I never felt like doing anything, took my dog to training, then went shopping at Costco. I just realized that my energy level is better bc I have been doing things on the weekends when usually I would stay home or if I went out and did one thing I would come right away exhausted. I have gone to several events around San Antonio that have involved physical activity like walking. It's only gonna get better from all here on end.

These NSV are awesome, I have them regularly too. A girlfriend stayed at my house for 2 nights, in the day time we went to the gym, shopped, just goofed off around town. I had no problem keeping up her. We were in and out of the car a million times, I noticed just the way I bend and slide into the car seat is different. It's my core holding me better. My body use to hurt all the time. Now it just keeps going. Yea Susie 1226......here's to us KEEPING the good life going.

Last night was one of the highlights of my weight loss journey...this is a pic of my 18 year old daughter and I sharing my pre surgery pants...that didn't need to be tied to stay up before my sleeve! 20 pounds away from goal [ATTACH]5624[/ATTACH]