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Tuesday one year ago I met with my surgeon for the first time. What a wonderful year I have had for health and rediscovering me. For those of you just starting out, you may feel like I did that your surgery is too far in the future and waiting all those months will be unbearable. When I first started to research WLS in September, I thought I might be able to have surgery before Christmas. Ha ha ha. Not only was it not before Christmas, but it didn't actually happen until March. And you know what? I needed every single day of that time period between September and March to prepare myself for this enormous life change. First, I met with my clearing psychologist. And I didn't get cleared! Nope. I needed to change my habit of eating in front of the TV. Until I did that, the psychologist was not going to clear me for surgery. He told me that I needed to make lifestyle changes. When I first heard that, of course I said, sure! Everybody knows you need to make lifestyle changes! But when I went back to him the following month for clearance, and I told him I had not been exactly able to give up TV eating, he told me point blank that he didn't think I was ready for WLS. He told me that unless I actually made the lifestyle changes, I was not likely to succeed with the LapBand. Of course, he was right. I'm glad that my little wake up call was so minor, and not a bigger deal, like if I had been denied surgery at the last minute. His denial made me face facts. How was I going to live in a new way, if I wasn't even willing to change a little bit? After I gave up TV eating, the next hurdle was the holidays. I grieved my way through Thanksgiving. I was very sad that in my mind, it was going to be my last enjoyable holiday. I sat in the kitchen the night before Thanksgiving, after having roasted the turkey, and binged on the crispy turkey skin. It was the weirdest experience I'd had in a long time. I knew what I was doing, and simultaneously I knew it was the last time I was going to do it. I knew that Thanksgiving 2014 was going to be different. I was going to have lap band surgery and I was going to be eating like a normal person. I was working toward that goal with excitement. So why was I so sad? I was getting ready to pay somebody thousands of dollars to help me recover from binge eating. And I was grieving not being able to binge eat anymore. Fast forward to February 2014. My personal life took a terrible plunge. My marriage, which was in bad shape before my WLS process began, took a terrible blow. Constant stress became my normal everyday life. I had one anchor in my life. My upcoming surgery. I was banded mid March 2014. I complied with all of the doctor's orders. My surgery was a breeze, and my weight began to come off right away. You can see by my ticker that I have had a lot of success this year. I am almost 2/3 of the way to my goal weight. I have not been the weight I am right now since my second child was born 19 years ago. Through it all, I have received immeasurable help and support from this website. I do not have a supportive spouse. I do have two very supportive daughters. But when it comes right down to it, we must do this for ourselves. Nobody can do this for us. And more importantly, nobody, nobody, nobody can prevent us from doing this for ourselves once we are ready to reclaim our power. I'll save my long list of NSV's and great experiences for when I write my 100 pounds lost post soon. And it's almost here. This post is just a reflection back to that first week when I walked into a WLS orientation meeting, followed by a meeting with my surgeon. The fearful, beaten-down person that I was one year ago no longer exists. In her place is a strong, confident woman who knows that she is worth it. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This is about so much more than weight. Nothing changes until everything changes.

When was your surgery date? How long has it taken you? That is AWESOME!! What a VICTORY. Congrats on your NSV and on being an inspiration to others. :clap2:

I had two great nsvs today. First I went and bought my season pass for Elitch Gardens in Denver. I no longer have to worry if I can fit on the roller coaster. Second was feeling so good I decided to check out the gay bars on Capital Hill trying to find some old friends as the one I use to frequent back in the day is now a 7-11. Well didn't find anyone I knew but I am sure this cute young lesbian was checking me out. That is a first for me.

That's a great NSV! Congrats,,that must feel so awesome!!

This is my first time back to work and ordering with everyone. I felt really good being able to join in and not feel like I am so restricted. I just chose healthy and ate a small portion. We can get back to normal. This was a huge salad. I will be 7 weeks tomorrow. This is what I ordered Grilled Chick Salad w/ff feta This is what I ate from that. It took 35 min to eat.

So as of today I am almost 3 months out from VSG and I have lost 55lbs. Today is Christmas and things are very different this year, for the first time in my life I didn't overeat into misery at Christmas dinner, I have stayed well within my nutritional goals for the day, and (here's a big one for me) I came home and worked out when we got back from the family gathering I have never ever done that before. For me today was a few big NSVs that made the holiday all that much more enjoyable! ???? On the left was at my all time highest weigh, middle was at surgery, and right was a few weeks ago.

So, some of you already know, I will have been banded for a year on August 15. In that time, I've lost 100 pounds, and can hardly believe it. It is taking a long time for me to recognize certain victories, but I can say for certain that today was one of the best ones. I had to go to a wedding, and the dress I was planning on wearing ended up being way too big. I didn't know, until I attempted to get dressed, and started to freak out because I had nothing to wear. I called my mom, ran to her house, raided her closet and while holding my breath attempted to wear one of hers. Well, this formally size 24, was able to wear her mother's size 10! That's me, the blonde on the right, in my moms dress!!

Way to GEAUX!!! How amazing! And that definitely is a great NSV!!

That is my kinda weekend!!! Congrats on the clearance sales, but more importantly, those smaller sizes, woohoo!!! Awesome NSV!!!

Yes. A longer, healthier and happier life, more NSVs than you could shake a stick at, better self esteem, comorbidities that are lessened or gone, etc.. My only regret is not having WLS sooner.

Okay, what did we used to call those "non pounds loss" happy things that happened to us? Was it NSV(non sleeve victory)? can't remember, but I've had SEVERAL today! We had a focus group meeting in my office of several Financial Advisors from around the state that I have worked with over the past many years but whom many have not seen me in a couple/several years. I had not one, not two but at least three of them single me out over the course of the 4 hour meeting and tell me how "wonderful" I looked and how much had I lost and how long, etc? FIRST, it made me realize - You know what? I HAVE accomplished a lot and I AM almost three years out! When I told one who asked when did you lose it, "Three years!" And it HIT ME! It's been three years!!! THREE YEARS!!! That made me feel really good! Just to have the affirmation again of a "job well done" and a huge accomplishment meant a great deal to me today. Not bragging, simply stating that perhaps we need to "lighten up" on ourselves some and see what others see. A real change in who we are and what we have accomplished. It surely opened my eyes today. And then... I went and ate 3, YES THREE, donuts. Oh well, its back to low carb.. )) We've got this, Pals!!!!!!

What about your NSV (non scale victories). Are your clothes fitting better? Do you have more energy? Don't focus so much on the scale and don't compare your weight loss to others. Sleeved on April 25, 2018 HW: 258 SW: 238 CW: 218 GW: 165

sorry, little bit new. what does NSV stand for

NSV= Non Scale Victory, like when pants that didn't fit 2 weeks ago suddenly fit, or being able to climb stairs that you couldn't climb before, basically anything that is a success towards a healthy fit body, NOT just a # moving down on the scale. PB = Productive Burping, sometimes needed when food gets a little stuck, and a good burp clears it out. Hope this clears up the confusion, whats your best NSV so far, or what do you hope for one to be ? My 1st one was when I was 2 months banded, I ran into an old acquaintance who said "Have you lost weight ? You look thinner in the face !" ( I was down 17 lbs then ) Oh boy ! that made my day !!!! Good luck !

happygirl and Phranp have hit the nail on the head! There are no definitive answers, but there are guidelines and suggestions that will assist one in finding what works best for them. It will take time to learn how not to allow food to rule your life. Food life will go on without you and it will be around you. You will learn your trigger foods and what situations trigger your desire to eat food. You will have to learn how to deal with them and you will have to accept and forgive yourself if or when you fall off the wagon. I know what my trigger foods are and I know what tips me over to wanting to reach for that particular piece of food/snack and I have learned to avoid reaching for the food fix. It haunts me and I have to fight the urge to give in. However, my rewards, though may be small are enough for me, when I get on the scale and I have not gained, when I am ready to go down to a smaller size in clothing, or any other NSV...I give myself a mental tap on the back with a reminder that I probably would not have gotten to that point had I given in as evidenced by my past eating behavior vs my current behavior. I too keep a food and exercise journal and sometimes when I am fixated on eating, i plan my whole meal day or the remaining portion of the meals and then I get moving. If I have time to sit and think of meals, then I have time to walk or do something else. The band is work, it helps keep me on track while I'm working the issues of learning a new life that is free from hip and knee pain, I can now sit in a booth instead of having to ask for a table with chairs, I can fly without having to have an extender and I don't have to cross my arms and manuever my body into awkward postions so that I don't flow over into the next seat on the plane and my newest adventure in lapbandom...I am getting ready to go shopping in a store that is not a plus size speciality shop! If you are ready and you are prepared to commit to this process, chances are that you will never regret your decision, as others here have already said the band is not for everyone and you should do your research to be educated on the risks and the benefits. I wish you luck on your journey!

I believe you mean NSV which means Non Scale Victory. Example: Scale has not moved in weeks but my pants feel so much looser.

Hey Guys, I went car shopping last night w/ my BFF and her hubby... They're looking for a midsize sedan or small SUV.. anyway, we test drove the new Honda Accord, Chrysler 200 and some Lexus car... so, I was like.. oh Lord.. I don't think I can get in the backseat of this car... Not only did I fit in the backseat, so did my neice, nephew and salesperson!!! LOL... Then I was concerned about the seatbelt... NO ISSUES in either vehicle... the next test was whether or not I needed to move the front seat back so I could have space to get in and out of the front seat... HEHEHEHEHE.... I didn't!!!!! I'm so tickled, that finally, I don't have to drive an SUV or big, cute car... I can just buy a CUTE car, regardless of the size!!! Another reason I'm grateful for Sleevina!!!

@BocaRat ahhhhh, i remember it well wonderful, wonderful i posted a NSV a few years ago.......... said something like........ i sat down in the airplane seat and realized it was bigger! (referring to the fact i was 105 lbs smaller GOAL) a nice, serious response was that's great - i'll finally have some extra room to sit (something like that) kathy congrats

I feel like I've been seeing the changes all along, even in the first month post-op. But, I also am doing a weightloss scrapbook. I do a page for every month w/pics and the printouts from my doctor's scale. Sometimes I write NSVs in there too and printout entries from my blog. I know it probably seems a little self-centered, but its fun to go through and remind myself how far I have come.

WOOHOO im so excited......i just bought a pair of size 16 jeans!! Down from a size 32. I LOVE MY BAND

I've seen you guys post about NSV's and it took me a bit to figure out what this was, but I had my first one today. A little bitter sweet, but that's okay... I'm 14 days post op and had to go to the Dr. today. I have bronchitis and feel pretty rough, but while I was sitting in the Dr.'s office, very miserable and could not get comfortable, I crossed my legs without even thinking about it. This is the first time I have been able to do this in about 15 years. Woot, woot! :thumbup: Now, if I can just start feeling better and get back to walking.

That's a total NSV'S! Congrats to u!

Thank you! I will seek out those NSV's to get me through the week! :-)

I have a problem with getting boots past my ankle. I have a lympdema in my leg. I finally was able to get the zipper past my ankle. So that was a great NSV for me.

~hugs~ Lisa thanks for sharing that ...them NSV are the sweetest !!!