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Hey SEXY you!!!! You are doing great with your NSVs isnt it wonderful to see a pair of pants and they look so dang small.. and you actually fit into them WOW that is awesome! and I give 100 Kudos for even trying to belly dance.. but to know more of the moves then the "skinny" girls well thats just wonderful. Your such an inspriation to me Thanks!!! and keep it up!!!

I think it is definitly an NSV. I mean, Geez... Here you had practically started doubting yourself on the whole diet trail. You worked and you worked and you worked - and got not very far (at least scale-wise) and NOW you know WHY. Like all NSV's it points out that 1) something is working - (even if it's only your doctors FINALLY!!) 2) you have hope for more good news in the future. The scale WILL move downward again, someday. Go Vines, Go!!! (and you look about 30 in your new avatar - so I can understand why folks think you are talking about a baby when you talk about DS!!) Sparkle Pretty!

Thanks, Vines, for bumping this thread, and I hope you do it regularly! I hae forgotten to write about NSVs and I need to. Once again, I really appreciate your posts! Cindy

Okay, I'm bumping this because that's just what I'm going to do. I have 5 additional NSVs in the last 2 weeks.

Crystal, You are doing awesome. I'm soooo proud of you. You are truely an inspiration. Who cares what number appears on the scale when you are experiencing such great NSV's! Keep it up. Eventually the scale will catch up with your amazing progress. But for now, throw that darn scale in a dark closet, lock the door, and throw the key on the roof! While you're at it, will you put mine up there too. I'd follow my own advice, but I'm likely to climb up on the roof and retreive the key. (I really have a scale obsession).

That is a great NSV! I do the same thing with Junior dresses, especially the sweater types - I wear them as tunics over legging or skinny pants. I get so many compliments on that "look".

Congrats! I would count that as an NSV! Frankensleeve didn't like any vegetables till around the 6 month mark. Lettuce was just too tough for him. :-)

That was a big NSV for me too! I find that I still reach for the beachtowel first when grabbing a towel, now it almost goes around me twice! woo-hoo Great job!!! I love the pic, you look as happy as you sound in your post! Keep it up!

Thank Best me.....I am in awwww of you. You NC pic are wonderful, keep up the great work:wave: MARGO-YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YOU GO GIRL I can't wait for my boobs to get flatter:confused: ....so that they can see the stuff other then fat in my mammo. Yet Another NSV!!!!

Sliming is when you throw up mucus type stuff. Pb stands for productive burp. It's when a bit of food that was stuck comes up. NSV stands for non-scale victory.

Mary - Look at those NSV's!! What a fabulous thing - no reflux, work-outs without gasping and flopping like a fish and your body is starting to function normally - on it's own. Not to mention 40 lbs lost. What's not to like? *Why are you keeping the RNY rules? Just curious. It is my opinion that the best thing to do once you have a band is to forget that you ever even HEARD of the RNY - since comparing your progress to a By-Pass patient only leads to the kind of disappointment that you are experiencing right now. I recommend that you follow the bandster rules - and forget about those RNY folks altogether. YOU ARE DOING GREAT!!! Go buy yourself something sexy to wear that fits - and relax for a day or two. The best thing about the band is that it will wait, if you need a break.

After loosing 68 pounds I am sure you will be much much more comfortable. No need to an extender. What a great NSV. Have a great trip!

Calling all April Bandits of 2006: Let's come together and share our successes! What is your "Bandiversary" goal? I never really set a goal for "Bandiversary" just small goals along the way. What have you learned this past year? I have learned that I can pass up former favorite foods and that the world will not come to an end if I don't eat everything in site. :hungry: Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? My best NSV for now is buying a pair of designer jeans to wear to the Trace Adkins concert. What is your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge is consistent exercise. I really have to make myself do it and it's still hit or miss most days. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Hang in there! Good things come to those who wait. Oh, and liquids can be your friend. What is your greatest fear? That I will lose my band and regain all the weight plus more. :paranoid What goals do you have for the future? My next goal is to get to 199. When I do, I get a pair of diamond studs. How has your life changed? Life is so much better. I can get up and down off the floor with my students. I don't tire as quickly. I can ride roller coasters again. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? Living with the band has been great. I really can not believe that it has been a year. And due to all of the research I did before hand, there really haven't been that many surprises along the way. :bounce: If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? Keep at it. Life is only going to get better. I really can't believe that today has been one year. Someone asked me at work yesterday was I going to take myself out to eat to Celebrate. I told her no, that I look for other ways to celebrate now rather than with food. Of course there are still surprises along the way, but that's ok. I'm learning to roll with the punches. I look at how much more some of our group has lost than me, but I also know that they have taken a different road than I did. I started this journey at 300 lbs. and this morning I weighed 255 lbs. When I first started working on weight loss before banding I weighed 348 lbs and had lost down to 280 before it started creeping back up again. After diet, exercise, life style change, and work with a personal trainer for 8 months, I realized that I needed help on this journey. A co-worker was looking into the band for herself and suggested that I go to a seminar and check it out. I did that two days before Thanksgiving and then less than five months later I was banded. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I tell anybody who asks me what I've done to lose weight. Because I've been so open at work, some of the others are looking into it as well. No one thinks twice about what I do at work as I think most have even forgotten that I had it done. I'm losing slowly in weight, but the inches are coming off. I bought new tops for work and they are 1X, the last size before I shop in the regular sizes. I found a velvet dress for Christmas for $14.00. It's a Large. I will be wearing it! For now, I'm just working for my diamond earings. :biggrin1: Pic

What is your "Bandiversary" goal? I would love to be at my goal weight of 135. It is looming so close. What have you learned this past year? That I can succeed at weight loss...all I needed was some help. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? There are so many. I have found the self confidence that I thought I lost, no more cholesterol medication, the restless leg syndrome is gone, bye bye sleep apnea, hugs from my son because he can get his arms around me, shopping in normal sized stores, enjoying shopping because I can find things that fit, mowing the yard without getting winded in the first five minutes.....the list goes on and on and on. What is your biggest challenge? Trying to keep eating the "bandster" way. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Make good food choices, but don't deprive yourself of a small treat once in while (this is for your sanity). Drink lots of Water (dehydration is a bad thing.....kidney stones are not your friend). Don't be afraid to ask questions. The best people to get banded information from is from another bandster. What is your greatest fear? Slipping up, eating too much, and falling into the same bad habits that got me to where I was in the first place. What goals do you have for the future? My biggest short term goal is to participate in the Danskin triathlon in Seattle in August of this year. How has your life changed? I am definately more active and outgoing. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? I didn't really have major expectations to begin with. I read so much about only losing a portion of the weight will be lost. But I truly believe the weight you lose will depend on you. I am so happy I did this and I would do it again in a second. If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? To not be so afraid about doing something for myself. Be a hero to yourself as this will be a life changing experience.

What is your "Bandiversary" goal? To consistently weigh in below 200 What have you learned this past year? That I CAN do this!!! That my life does not have to center around food. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? I take no more prescription meds for high blood pressure, or diabetes. My back doesn't hurt. I FEEL healthy! What is your biggest challenge? To eat enough veggies, and some fruit. I havre a tendency to eat meat...and other high Protein foods, forgetting my body has other needs too! What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? To enjoy the year---yes we all want to be at goal NOW!!!! But getting to know yourself and your body along the way, is wonderful. Seeing how far you can push your new abilities---is eye opening! What is your greatest fear? Losing my band! I try really hard to make the way I do things into a habit, so if something should happen, I would KNOW what to do, to keep from going back where I was. What goals do you have for the future? Taking my grandbabies to amusement parks, and Water parks, and not embarrassing either of us! To be the best support I can for others following me on this weight loss experience. How has your life changed? I breath easier, I feel healthy, I don't feel people staring at me, I buy clothes in Misses sizes. I wear jeans again, I can wear flip flops without my feet hurting. There are so many of these little things---there are also big ones. I upped my life insurance, and did not require a Dr. exam to do it! It has been full of changes---wonderful, dream filled changes! Has living with the band met up to your expectations? Yes, I didn't go in with a lot of expectations...this was not as involved (the board) then. I expected not to be able to eat some things, that I have been able to eat. I read about all the PB's---only to find out they are not a daily occurance! I expected the surgery to be more painful---all in all it has been much better!!! If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! I had failed at so many diets, I really doubted myself going into this too. I would explain the why's and the hows that I have learned along the way. Knowing why you are on a liquid diet, makes it so much easier to stay on! Knowing why you are sliming, makes it less scary. I researched, but I learned so much by experience!! I would share my own experience!! Banding is without a doubt one of the best things i ever did just for me---i would do it again in a heartbeat, and recommend it to anyone and everyone who asks me!!! Kat

Hello! My name is Jennifer. I am 39 years old and I'm a happily married mom to 5 children. I am 5 ft tall and weight 270. My BMI is 53. I have tried to lose weight for years but I keep gaining. I have thought about wls for years but have always been afraid. My sister in law got a sleeve about a year ago and has lost over 100 lbs. she looks awesome and says its the best thing she ever did. So, I've been researching and have decided to do it. I have an appointment with her surgeon on September 11. I have the same insurance as she has b/c our husbands work at the same place. So I know they cover the surgery but there are requirements I have to meet. I have BCBS of WV. I guess I probably won't be able to have surgery for 6 months or so because of the required diet. So I'm kind of bummed. At the same time, I'm scared! I've been reading a LOT of posts on here and have been brought to tears at some of your progress and NSVs. I'm so happy for you and sad for the person I have become. I cannot wait until I am less than 200 lbs... And to think I might wear a size 8 again is almost unbelievable! I'm scared of surgery still but I think NOT having the surgery is probably scarier! I know myself though and I'm worried I will freak out at the last minute and chicken out. I know I have a few months to prepare but just wanted to introduce myself and become a part of the community. :-)

hey melanie, so great re your nsv. i haven't flown much since surgery, but last week i had to fly, and was so pleased to find that not only didthe lap tray let down all the way...but that there were about 2 inches between my body and the tray!! used to be that i couldn't get the tray to come down as it would hang on my tummy. oh and i still love flying without needing an extender seat belt. amanda

I'll start with the update. I'm currently 389, which is 70lbs GONE FOREVER from my highest weight at the end of 2012. It's so exciting... it somehow seems less daunting to lose the weight since I got out of the 400s. I'm so happy and grateful for my progress so far! My weight loss isn't really showing IMO, and by that, I mean I don't think others are noticing it. I certainly am, but all my usual clothes still fit, there are some that are bigger than others, but some that were snug before and now just fit like they are supposed to. I can see that the clothes are looser, though - just not quite enough that it's time to start looking for smaller clothes. That will come soon enough, and I'm not looking forward to it! I don't have many clothes in smaller sizes, so that means I'm gonna have to start shopping! My NSV is: I HAVE BONES, Y'ALL. Bones in my hands! Collarbones! Bones in my feet! I saw my reflection when I was walking to the parking garage at work today, and I happened to see my bones in my feet as I was walking. I was shocked! It's been so long since I saw those bones!! Soon enough I'LL HAVE ANKLES! *gasp* As I write this, I have a ring on my finger that I used to wear as a left hand pinky ring and it's now fitting on my right hand ring finger. Whaaaat??? I can't remember what size this ring is, but I think it's a size 7 - I used to wear a 9 on my right hand ring finger (well 8 1/2 would probably fit, but 9 just felt better). I can see the change in my body and I know that with all this fat sliding off in those places that it's just a matter of time before it starts coming off my belly/hip/thighs. I'm starting to feel like a lady again, and it's wonderful!

WOW congrats!! that is really good weightloss and NSV. I can't wait to get to 1derland again. What is your day like food wise?

Adding to the chorus: STAY OFF THE SCALE. During the first 6 mths most of us see the doctor often enough that we will be able to monitor our weight. Focus on the program. Make sure you are getting in 60+gms of Protein and 64+ounce of Water every single day. If you are hitting those benchmarks aim for higher. Not only will it help with the weight loss, it will also help with the energy level. If you need to measure something take your measurements (boobs, neck, waist & hips). Lastly learn to savor NSV (non-scale victories). Things like jeans getting loose, seatbealts not as tight, feet no longer swollen, etc.... Take joy in how your body is changing and you won't get discouraged.

So I went to Mexico last week for 7 days. Exactly 10 months prior to that, I sat on the same beach in the same chair and emailed with my surgeon's office to make sure my paperwork was getting submitted before they closed that day at noon. It did get submitted and I was approved the following Monday. It was a couple more months before I had the surgery but returning to the same spot at around 115 pounds lighter was very significant. Here are the things I found different: - Easier to get up off those dang low beach chairs - Allowed myself to be photographed (which I never allowed before) & even bought one that one of the photographers took - Able to fit more than comfortably in the airplane seats - Able to walk down the plane aisle without my hips bumping in to the seats and people - Didn't panic when I got on the van and realized there was only 1 small seat left - Didn't sweat constantly (in fact I was annoyingly cold -- not so much an NSV) - Able to get in 10,000 steps several days and happy to walk on the beach - Customs officer looked at my passport pic and said "Congrats!" - Came back same weight as day I left I know there are more, but those are the ones that stand out. I returned from my trip and started my new job the next day. (Happy to be gainfully employed again after 2 months without work.) It was strange realizing that these folks had no idea what I looked like before (except the girl who took copy of my drivers license for my personnel file). This office is OLD and actually has stairs inside the office and I did not fear going up and down those stairs all week. (I would have been terrified before that I would be out of breath when I got to the top.) Still not 100% sure about the job but everyone was really nice and hopefully it will all work out. Now back to reality after 10 days away from home (I will be working from home and first few days of new job training where in a different city). I managed to maintain my weight in Mexico but not so much over the last few days at the new job - too much eating out and while I did limit the amount, I wasn't able to make the best choices. Looking forward to getting back to my normal life.... Had some struggles over these days but overall, I have not one regret about this surgery and am excited to see what else it brings and what life will be like on that same beach after I am able to have plastics!

Yesterday my girlfriend Angie gave me some before and after pictures. I believe the first picture was when I was at 308 prior to my preop diet . I was banded at 282. Anyway, long story short. What amazed me most is what a 90 lbs difference makes. I was huge in the pictures . A size 24 I believe. I am now a size 18 at 5'8" tall. I can't believe the difference!

OMG! That is the BEST NSV. I can't even imagine fitting in a size 8. You go girl! Strut your stuff on the runway!!!

That is a great NSV! Good job and have fun!

That's a wonderful NSV.. feel free to toot your own horn!! Great Work!