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Every NSV is so important and keeps everything in perspective . It truly is the small victories that count some days!! Be proud of your successes!!

A few weeks ago I went on a little shopping spree at value village and bought a number of XL button shirts. It was not a large fortune, but more shopping than I have ever done at one time before. I honestly thought I would be able to wear these for a while. I tried one on yesterday and it was draping over me, like a tent. And another and another. They were all very large on me where they for nicely when I bought them less than a month ago. I know because I tried everyone on, one at a time in front of the dressing room mirror. Sigh- I am going to have to donate these and go buy some large size button shirts (thrift store until my weight stabilizes). It is sort of a bittersweet realization, well, perhaps more like shock. A few of you may remember when I donated all my 2x, 3x clothes not too long ago. I filled 10-12 garbage bags full of button shirts, some 250+ button shirts, t-shirts and jeans). I think I shrunk a bit in the last few weeks from running all the time. It may be time to take a new picture for VST profile soon as the current one is a couple months old. Also yesterday, my wife's cousin came to visit for the evening and told me i was very lean and looking really good. He was joking around and asked if i was eating any longer ( the answer of course is yes, 6 times a day, about 100-300 calories a meal). He is about the same age as I and is an ex marine, very muscular and lean (can you believe that comment coming from him?!?!). His wife did not recognize me at first and i just saw them 2 months ago. I have a twin brother who has always been the "skinny" one where i was the " fat one". In quotes because weights fluctuate, but those generalizations have held true for the last 20-25 years. Well, i now weigh 45-50 lbs less then him and work out almost every day. he lives with me while he is getting his life together (been with us for 3 years going to school, now finishing CNA training, looking for a job, and saving emergency money that he gets from government for his own place). I keep encouraging him to eat a little better and to join me in some exercise beyond walking the dog. he will when he is ready to and certainly understands he needs to as being overweight. She thought she was looking at my brother, but then got confused because i look a little different from him just due to different life experiences, hair styles, clothing choices etc. She also said i had fine bone structure because she was commenting on my new delicate cheek bones and jaw line that i now have. i was surprised as i always thought of myself as large boned being heavy most of my life. Others reading this probably also think they are large boned and can relate to this reaction. One of her daughter's said i had a body shape " similar to daddy's" ( the ex marine). It was both cute and did a lot to put a smile on my face. I guess losing weight near goal weight (e.g last 25-30 lbs or so) makes more of a difference in the way clothes fit then losing weight at obese size (150 overweight). I am only 5 lbs away from my first goal of 185; i may try for 165 if it does not turn me into a skeleton. I hope you all have similar stories like this (hopefully not as much pain in the wallet with regards to clothes though ). This time I am going to only buy a few shirts if for some reason I enter the medium size. I really doubt it though being 5'11 and building muscle with strength training.

LOL this is awesome. I now have another NSV - buy some corduroy pants!

It is important for me to share my journey with others. I will be honest about what I am feeling so that new people or people thinking about getting banded can have an honest view point. I believe most people are this way but there are also some trolls out there with weird agendas that want to scare people. There will be ups and downs as with anything, I am sure. It is my goal to honestly portray what it is like to be banded. I am 34 years old with a start weight of 305. I have a large blended family. Between my husband and I we have 6 children and a very busy life. I am 8 days post op today. My surgery included a hernia repair, lapband and plication. My band was not "primed" at time of surgery. My first fill is scheduled for 6 weeks post op. To be quite honest, I am one of those people who don't do well with any pain meds. They knock me out and generally make me groggy. That is what happened this week. Not only was I groggy but I experienced discomfort like never before in my life. This was me being unprepared as I have never had major surgery before. The gas pains alone threw me. They are not your standard gas pain. Until you have it you really won't know what people mean when they are talking about the gas. When you have your band do what everyone says and walk, walk, walk. The first three days after surgery, I was happiest when walking. Working out the gas pressure is a relief! My relationship with food this week has been an emotional roller coaster. In the beginning of the week, I felt like I had lost a dear friend. I am still on the clear liquid part of my post op diet. It seems like every commercial on TV is about food. Food I don't even normally like looks delicious. Now, at the beginning of my second week Post OP, those commercials no longer bother me. I have accepted the stage of the diet I am on and I know that eventually I will be able to eat "real food" as long as I keep it healthy I WILL succeed! My relationship with my husband has gotten stronger. I am 34 years old and needed help taking a shower, getting dressed and making broth for myself. He stepped up and did all of these things for me. He took the kids to school, cleaned house, and made their dinner all while holding down a job of his own. I could not have done as well this week without his loving support. When I was ready to start doing things on my own again he did not smother me. He is letting me take control back one step at a time, as I am ready. I am truly blessed to have him in my life. I hope everyone can find support in this journey as I have. I have had a lot of time to think this week. I took a long hard look at myself and have decided I will not fail my band. Notice I did not say the band will not fail me. I will not fail the band because I have made a decision to follow doctor's orders, to be honest with myself and to let my support system help me. I made the decision to take this step in my life for my health. Let's be honest here.. I also have dreams of feeling sexy again. I am 34 not 90. It is up to me to see that this tool helps me reach my goal. I believe with all my heart personal responsibility needs to be a big part of the healing process. So flash forward to post op day 8. I feel fantastic today! I have no more pain. I have not had to take my pain meds for two days. The gas is all gone. Food commercials no longer bother me. I am not weak or groggy anymore. So I promised in my title two NSV's (non scale victories) and one SV (scale victory). So already I am encouraged by progress. My first and a very important NSV is I was able to get my wedding rings back on. Not only are they on but they are comfortable and no longer cutting into my fingers! As I was heartbroken and sorely disappointed in myself when I had to take them off, I am overjoyed to wear them again. My husband is also very proud I am wearing his rings again. The second and also very important NSV.. I was able to sleep in my own bed last night! This was the first time in 10 years I have had to sleep apart from my husband when in the same house. We have never let a fight make one of us sleep on the couch. I spent the entire last week in my recliner because it was the only comfortable spot to sleep. I am so HAPPY to be back in my own bed. And drum roll please... My scale victory... As of this morning I am down to 289 from 305lbs. 16 lbs lost! I have not seen the scale move backwards in years and never has it moved 16lbs! I can do this. If you are a new person with doubts and questions.. YOU can do this if you want to. Do research. When you think you have done enough.. do some more. It is not easy. Oh boy is it not the easy way out.. It is a tool for you to use. If you want success, reach out and grab it. It is there for you. Remember success comes with bumps in the road. These are just things we all have to get through. It is part of life. I am sure I will have ups and downs. Lets be realistic. Of course there will be ups and downs. I will share as many of these as I can that I feel people considering this journey should hear. If something goes wrong (unlikely), I will be honest about it and what caused it. I will share the victories as well. Thank you for reading my first blog. I wish you all success in your own journeys no matter what road they take. I am happy to answer any questions I can if you have any. =)

I attended a memorial for a friend this past Wednesday. It was a sad occasion, but really good to see old friends. Everyone I talked to told me how good I looked. It felt good to hear. None of those that I saw this week knew I had the surgery and I left it that way. Although I told one of my oldest friends as she just kept complimenting me. She said I looked like I did back in high school, what a compliment. I really felt good knowing that all my hard work is paying off. Yay for all the nsv's to come.

Great NSV! The sizing going down is an amazing feeling. I know just how you feel! Congrats!

ROFL! Fantastic NSV! Buy new pants!

Congratulations, what a great NSV!!

OMG! What a hysterical nsv! Time to get some new pants!

Huge nsv!

Congratulations on your awesome NSV!

Enjoy the pants as long as you can. Pretty soon you will be in a smaller size! This is such a wonderful NSV...... CONGRATS!

this week's NSV? making my bed so easily, I just had to pull the blanket up a little bit.....why? because I went to sleep and didn't move an inch. I used to toss and turn all night because of back pain, now I don't!!

Thanks all! I love discovering NSV's!! Can't wait till I can cross my legs! I've never been able to do it (been a fatty forever lol) so that'll be fun!

Wow, can't believe the "dirt" comment. I mean, really? My dermatologist told me that if it bothered me so much, that I should lose weight and poof, it'll go away. Can't wait for that NSV when my inner thighs match my legs! Lol

So pre op I could never sit with my lap top on my lap- my thighs slanted downwards too much and my belly was in the way. Just didn't work. So tonight I grab the lap top and not thinking set it on my lap open it up, get on the internet...and then it dawns on me. I'm sitting here with my laptop....on my lap. What? LOL. It's silly little things like this that people take for granted that are big thing for us. I'm down 68lbs from my heighest, 48 of that post op. Still have a ways to go but I'm getting there. Just thought I would share!

That is alot of progress, I can't wait til I have my 1st NSV, waiting now for approval. You are added to my list of inspirational people on here :} keep sharing your victories.

4 months out, and as i sit and wonder why the weight is coming off so slow, i have to be thankful for the NSV. 1.i have shoes that fit now, feet are smaller 2.my fingers are smaller 3.need a new bra 4.i can do my own pedicure 5. cross my legs 6. was a 24-26 now a 16W 7.my face is so defined and so pretty 8. i can see my neck sleeved9/12/12 277 day of surgery current 229 not really big but look at what i achieved so far

It was really hard for you to take credit for all the hard work you've down. I'm happy that you recognize it and have decided to make a change up and just say thank you. If they ask further, just tell them that you've reduced your portions and am exercising.....Because that's he truth. At least that's what I've decided to do for myself, especially in the beginning. In fact we were in the mountains and a lady was telling my DH and myself a great place to eat and that they give you a lot of food. I caught myself telling her that I have decided to eat smaller portions and smiled. Boy was I surprised. Now that's an awesome NSV for me......

I finally took my rings in to be resized. After 65 pounds, they were a tad loose. I was surprised when they took them down a full size. I just got them back and of course they are so pretty when they are all polished up, but I was amazed at the size. They are little! Who knew I had small fingers. Put a smile on my face today.

Aug 30...day of surgery...busting out of size 20 because I was too prideful to go to the size 22 I needed to be in Today, Jan 15... Size 14 SKINNY JEANS!!! not as great as others, but for less than 5 months...I'll take it.... this is the weight & size I was 13 years ago POST-Parturm with kid #4 really breaks my heart to see how I let myself go....but Im on the upswing now babyyyyyyyy!! SV =Down 71 pounds!!!

I lost the cushion in my butt... now I have a bony butt. Hurts to sit on the floor & play Barbie's with my grand daughter, so I sit on a pillow! But at least I can get on the floor & back up now! Yay for NSV's!!!!

Yeah, I hit my 40 lb weight loss and was elated, finally under 300. I don't see it in my clothes either, and I am also a bit let down (40 sounded like SO many pounds!) but I trudge on and keep looking forward to a "nsv" or a wls aHa moment! I trust Missy that the day will come.

My first reported NSV.... I put on new tights this morning... and I got them all the way up! I don't have droopy tights crotch because I couldn't get the legs all the way up over my thighs. Epic! (Shocking revelation: Having tights that fit practically eliminates chub rub!)