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How much fun...a great NSV. Little things make weight loss with VSG makes me smile...a lot. Great job Caliblond!

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?

Tomorrow afternoon I will be interviewing for a chance at a GIGANTIC promotion. Although I am totally qualified for the position, I wouldn't have dreamed of throwing my name in the hat 3 months ago. The weight-loss and ability to control my eating has given me that much confidence. Part of me is terrified but another part is so grateful that I've found the confidence to pursue these opportunities I've let pass for too long. Getting the call that I made it to the interview stage is one NSV, actually facing the THIRTEEN member interview panel will be another. Actually getting the job? Beyond my wildest expectations! To those contemplating this surgery, I would say that the greatest benefit to this surgery beyond the weight loss is the confidence and self assurance you find on the other side.

NSVs = Non scale Victories

The NSV's are the best. I am 7 weeks out and have lost 31 pounds, post op. But, I went from a 2-3x shirt to a loose(not falling off) x large. My pants (that have remained after disposing too big's) are still bigger than I'd like. Pants went from a 24 to a 20 (maybe 18, if I have an elastic waist).

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!

congrats on your NSV's. girl i feel you on the scrub tops! i cant wait for mine to start falling off, although my pants are already getting baggy. LOL! but i refuse to buy another stitch of clothing unless its the next size down! LOL! Well i get banded today. i lost 13 pounds on the 11 days i was on my pre-op liquid diet. congrats on your success thus far!!

It's officially been one month since I had surgery, and aside from the very light, barely existent scars I have on my abdomen, I can hardly tell I've had surgery. I've lost about a total of 34 pounds so far, from my highest known weight of 305lbs, I'm currently at 271lbs, I think. I don't eat nearly as much as I did prior to surgery. I don't have a fill as of yet. I get that at the beginning of June. If I eat a real heavy meal, I'm mostly good for the rest of the day; sipping on water throughout of course. I know I should be eating small meals, which I've tried, but being hungry still hurts, and my mouth waters to the point where it feels like I'll vomit if I don't eat something!!! So I tend to eat a good healthy meal and then snack on low calorie things throughout the rest of the day. Again, this is not ideal. I know! And I know I won't be able to eat as much (thought I feel I'm not eating alot) once I start getting fills. I've had some NSVs! There are two scrub tops that I have for work that I normally NEVER wear unless its laundry day because they fit so tight. Well, I've worn both this week, and they fit PERFECTLY! Not too big, not to tight! PERFECT. I am having issues with my pants being too loose though. It's like my stomach has gone down and now there's nothing to hold my pants up!! I do notice that by looking in the mirror my belly rolls aren't as "rolly polly"... if that's a good way to describe it. I know I've lost weight and can visibly see this because of how my scars have "moved". Granted I was probably swollen after surgery, but one scar was tucked under a belly roll, and now I can fully see that scar! It actually looks like it's sitting "ontop" of that roll now instead of under it... Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me I dunno, but I am happy at they way the scars are healing. I think I'll have more of an issue with loose skin and stretch marks than the actual scarring from surgery. I joined the YMCA ... as far as exercising goes. I go when I can, and I'm trying to make it a daily thing, as of right now, I've been going sporadically and I'd like to make it a permanent part of my daily life. Like brushing my teeth! I know this will help me get to goal so much faster. Though I'm not "moving" as I should, the weight is still coming off. Even starting solid foods, I thought there would be a stall in my weight loss or that I would gain since going from a liquid diet to a solid foods diet can do that, but I didn't stall, it's just not coming off in 5 pound chunks anymore... just a pound or two here and there, which is expected. Another NSV is that I got my period. This may not be an NSV for most, but since I suffer from PCOS and irregular/non-existent periods, this happens to be one for me. I had a period in March before surgery, and before then I don't remember, but I was on Metformin and Agyestin to help my periods come on monthly. I'm no longer taking either. I didn't menstruate in April, but I got a lovely gift from Mother Nature this month, and I actually HOPE that I see her again in June because though I hate my period this would mean, I'm almost normal, and that's my main goal! So, all in all, Michaelangelo and I are doing well, and hopefully when we go to the Dr on the 6th of June, we'll be doing even BETTER and on our way to the 260s!!!!

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.

DJmohr, Congratulations on your NSV. Honestly, I treasure these more than the number on the scales! Way to go- looking forward to hearing more of these from you and others on this journey. I am 12 weeks out from my VSG surgery and a slow loser ( but at 61 I didn't expect it to be an overnight thing anyway). Today since its in the 100 degree range in Dallas, I was scrounging through a box of old, pre-weight gain clothes for some shorts in a size 14 or 16. While looking I saw a dress I wore about 4 years ago, a size 12. Just on a lark I decided to try it on and to my amazement it fit , not even tight at all! I did a happy dance right then and there. Like you, I did this for health, but the improvement of self image is an important part of the recovery process and keeping the motivation in high gear. Although I wasn't seeing the weight loss everyone congratulated me on, today it finally registered. I'll second the Woot !

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!

I am down 2lbs this week I have walked 7 miles this week and have done my wii fit every day for 30min. I really need to measure because I feel like I have lost inches. WTG on everyones losses and NSV!

Well hello kitty! and thanks for the smile. I hope I get an encouraging NSV that soon. I am such an impatient person. Thanks for posting this.

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!

You are doing excellent. You are supposed to be loosing 1-2 lbs per week... that is what we signed up for, slow and steady so that it can be maintained and not gained back. And as far as the inches... some people wish they could hit a NSV (Non-Scale Victory) like that. Look at it all girl... you are doing wonderfully.

Before, I never gave much thought to the NSV's that everyone talks about. But before, I was enjoying consistent genuine scale victories, so I wasn't in tuned with the importance of a NSV! Well, I have kinda hit a wall at losing the pounds,but my recent NSV has giving me positive reinforcement to my whole Lapband experience! My job requires a yearly check up that includes: eyesight, hearing and blood pressure. Last year my blood presure was 164/94. The nurse made me lay down to see if my BP would drop a little before she would allow me to get back to work. It only dropped very little, but I had to agree to get it checked by my PCP. Well today I had my annual physical and my BP was 122/ 76. How cool is that! The weight loss and the exercising that I am doing are really paying dividends! One side note..............during the hearing test, we are placed into a soundproof hearing chamber. During the test, I could hear my stomach making some really weird gurgly noises! Noises that up until now, I wasn't aware that were happening! I mean some funny sounding noises! Anyone else ever heard their tummy "sing" like this? I was cracking myself up just listening!

Oh I'm ALL ABOUT the gurgly tummy. Especially when I've just recently eaten. Glug, glug. I just sort of put a hand on my tum near where my band would be to try to muffle the sounds. lol. Good on ya for the NSV too!!

I on the other hand am kicking myslef for getting rid ofold clothes that I never hoped to wear again.... But I have a couple of NSV's!!! 1. I used to hang dry a lot of my clothes, because I could not allow ANY shrinkage. I now dry EVERYTHING I own!!! And some of it I dry actually trying to shrink it!!! 2. I am going to have to buy new boots...mine from the last 2 years, are just plain old too big. I used to have to be very careful not to zip my calf in the zipper. This year I can slide my hand down inside the boot with my leg, and even the foot part is just sloppy on me. Yea new boots!!! Merry Christmas to me!!! Look forward to hearing everyone elses NSV's!!! Kat

Way to goralheit and kat! Losingjusme, you'll be surprised how quickly time will fly and you'll be asking for booths in no time. My new NSV's are that I can sit on the inside seat on the bus without being uncomfortable or inconveniencing the person who sits on the outside. Also, yesterday marked the 6th flight in a row that I haven't needed a seatbelt extender, so I think I'll turn mine in soon! Lastly, for the first time in YEARS, I don't hate the pictures of myself that were taken on my mini vacation this weekend. My face is starting to look like the old me!

So I bought a cute pair of jeans on clearance a few weeks ago in hopes of being able to wear them a few weeks post-op. Wellll, I tried 'em on this morning on a whim and THEY FIT!!! wOoooot! Surgery is Monday. Can.Not.Wait.

That is wonderful!! Just reading all of your NSV's brought a sense of happiness to my heart, as I know what it feels like to not be able to do all of those things! I couldn't hardly fit in the high school desks when I was in high school! I haven't had the sleeve yet but I love reading all of these wonderful NSV's! Congrats girl!!!

So, with getting married and changing my last name, I got a new drivers license. My old drivers license had the original picture on it from when I was 17 (which is years before my highest weight). Holy. Crap. http://www.joygraffix.com/holycrap.jpg I'm honestly as disgusted by this as I am excited by it.