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It turns out that I look forward to giving myself the blood-thinner shot each day. I feel like such a bad-a$$ when I face my fear of sticking myself with the needle each day and am able to overcome it and plunge it in It's such a confidence booster knowing I can do it!

I LOVE READING EVERYONE'S NSVs!!! They are so very inspiring! :thumbup: I had several NSVs this past Friday. I was able to wear an XL women's t-shirt comfortably. I used to wear an XXXL t-shirt. My favorite pair of Old Navy jeans (size 26) are now falling off of me. And last, but not least, I was walking out of my classroom when a colleague was coming around the corner w/ her class. She stopped dead in her tracks and said to me, "WOW! YOU LOOK HOT!" It has been sooooo long since anyone (excluding my hubby) has told me how good I look. I AM ABSOLUTELY LOVING MY BAND AND MY NEW LIFESTYLE!! :thumbup: PS~ My 3 month bandiversary is this Tuesday, Sept. 8.

I am not sure how much this is a weight loss NSV but still an NSV for me. Yesterday I finally got up enough courage to enroll back in college to get my bachelors degree. I have talked about doing it for years much the same as losing weight. Finally I have taken the plug and am moving forward and it's no longer just talk. So starting as soon as a few weeks from now I will be taking classes to further myself educationally and professionally. Now for a weight loss NSV that I have recently experienced is that I do want to get out and power walk in the mornings. I like working up a sweat and burning off those calories. I can't jog yet but I will get there. I am still just to over weight and to much of my body moves when I try to jog but I will get there. For now I am happy that it feels great to get out for the power walk and that I actually do enjoy working up that sweat. Congrat to Stephanie and Ann on your recent NSV's! I think these are the ones that really count deep inside us. They show to us that we are losing weight not just by the number but by how these make us feel. Good going girls and keep up the great work! Our goals ARE obtainable!!!

Congratulations Florida Pete on your decision to go back to school. You'll love it. I completed my bachelors degree a couple years ago and am looking at going back for a Masters. On the NSV side, I recently wore a skirt to work. I'd purchase the skirt to wear at Easter and thought I'd better get another wearing or two of the skirt before it got too big. I haven't worn a skirt in sooooo many years. Anyway, I received a number of compliments from both men and women. This was a great motivator for me. Best wishes to everyone on our journeys to healthier selves.

Today's my 4 mos anniversary of being banded... Total weight loss 81 3/4 lb. - since surgery 48 3/4 lbs. I am still convinced this has been the best thing I ever did for myself, my life, and my family. Since 1/22/09 my health has taken a nose dive... whooping cough, inflammed brochial tubes, (6 weeks), just feeling better and kidney stones hit with lots of complications including two stays in the hospital 3 day and a 8 day. Infection in my blood, surgery on stones, and pnemonia. A very sick cookie. I know you are wondering where I'm heading with this...NSV - Not being able to exercise but craving, yearning, wanting (in the shape I was I won't use dying) to EXERCISE what a change in my thought process. My LBS has been awesome...visited me in the hospital both times admitted. Dietician has also visited me in hospital. They have given me such support ... I know I am and will continue to be successful in my new lifestyle change. Through all the illnesses my primary concern was my band...it has come through like a trooper. I'm still very protective ... which is good because it helps me make good choices and follow the LB rules! I'm really beginning to realize what all the talk about it being a TOOL is about. I have to make my food decisions and can make good choices. Still measuring all my foods. DH has bought me the Wii/Wii fit and a sport's watch to monitor my heart rate. I did fudge a little (dr. has not released me to do any exercises yet except minor 5 to 10 min. walks.) and tried some of the balancing games and I did try the Basic Step Aerobics(laughed with DH more than anything because I have no rhythm - can't figure out right, left, front,back - out of 85 steps I got 13 and this was on the beginner! Another NSV - realizing my DH is there to be supportive and that I can handle his help. I am nothing but grateful for having my best friend travel by my side on this journey. Have you begun to see a common thread through my rambling.... My most important NSV is my MIND SET. I am beginning to BELIEVE I am changing my LIFESTYLE. In the beginning of my journal I wrote, "I am dedicating this journal to a lifestyle change: From Living to Eat to Eating to Live!" I believe I am on my way to doing that! PS - I could actually buy a top today at the local Walmart store and only pay $8.00 instead of the only store for plus size women I've had to shop at for the past 10 years! What an anniversay present! Keep the faith! Deb

Yes, I did it.....I was with all my relatives at a burger joint last Thursday and I did not want to deal with eating a hamburger without the bun, greasy fries or fried chicken sandwiches....so, I thought, "screw it" I am having a turtle sundae! My sister decided to have one too, so I went inside to order....now mind you, this place has the BEST cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings on the face of the planet (I am hoping when I get to heaven this burger joint is there, if you know what I mean!!)...so, anyway, I am smelling this food and watching people stuffing their mouths and all of a sudden I order only ONE turtle sundae for my sister. So instead of eating a whole turtle sundae (and they are huge....$5.00 huge!!) I just had a couple bites of my sister's sundae and was happy (and proud of myself). Just another wonderful NSV.....

Another NSV!! dropped 2 sizes in jeans, since February.:laugh: have nothing to wear ( seem to skip sizes and what i saved is too big or too little) i also notice my workout has increased with out breathing problems! :crying:

I was banded in dec and the weight is coming off slowly but my nsv was that at the end of the first month I had 400.00 extra dollars in my account for not spending it on fast foods and taking my family out to eat where I paid for it---- I am happy--- my family --- not so much -- ha ha ha

Hey all - Well you asked for more NSV's from me. I have to say my latest was on Sunday I went for a 3 mile walk. I can't tell you when the last time was that I could actually do that. Even better still I was pushing my 18 month old son in his stroller the whole way too. Other NSV's for me has been fitting into smaller clothes and even some of those are now starting to be a bit on the loose side. I got my 2nd fill this week and am getting used to that. I am up to 4 cc's now.

Yep - brought back bad WW meeting flashbacks for me! LOL. I like the idea of an addiction therapist and a group session where convening is rotated. Nice - I'll start doing some looking around here. And I'm going because I've read those same studies! I want to find a group i'm likely to at least be willing to go back to, even if not always anxious to. It was good hearing people both talk about NSVs, losses, anniversaries AND frustrations and stalls and regains - even complications. All the same as is on this site pretty much, but in person. I can see though that you all are definitely where I'm more apt to turn! Thanks for letting me rant and rave!

I love these NSV's! Keep Rockin!

I have not exercised since being banded, and today I walked almost 2 miles. (pushing a double stroller). I have used the babies as an excuse, but no more. My DH and I loaded up and went to the track. He and my 9 year old road bikes while I pushed the babies in the stroller. It felt SO good to be outside and active. We plan to do this together as a family each evening when he gets home from work. We all had a great time!! :clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

I am scheduled for fill #2 today. It was originally scheduled for the 21st, but my surgeon added another surgery so the office had to change my appointment. I'm not complaining; I would want someone to change their fill date so that I could get the band. I'm just glad that it was moved up instead of further away. I seem to be stuck. I am hungry. When I'm hungry I eat. I try not to eat too much, but I'm not one of those people that can walk around hungry. My stomach has a notorious growl - its so embarrassing.... I received 3cc during my first fill. I'm hoping for at least another 3cc this time. That would put me at 6 cc in a 14 cc band. I hope this offers a lot more restriction that I have now. I'm getting a little desperate - I am 2 months (on the 24th) post op and I am only down 1 lbs - heck I lost those 18 lb within the first two - three weeks post op. Since then I've been struggling to maintain. I'm glad that I am not gaining - boy am I happy about that - I just want to lose more. My goal was/is to be 280 by June 13th. That may not be possible at this point. If I lose 2lb a week from now to then that would put me at 288 lb. I guess that will have to do. I'm going to have to buckle down - really monitor what goes into my mouth so that I can drop those 8 lbs by June 13th. Then I'll start working towards my July 4th goal - originally I wanted to be 270 lb by then. I'll settle for 278 lb. I'm putting this in writing here because I need some accountability to someone other than myself. No one (except my immediate family knows about my band) so there's no one to push me to try harder (and no one to monitor every morsel of food I eat or whisper about me doing this the easy way - which is why I have chosen to keep this to myself). There are a few people here who have had the band - the conversation that some people have about them is ridiculous. I just don't choose to open myself up to that kind on intense scrutiny and ridicule - I feel like a gay woman whose afraid to come out of the closet - but then again I guess not - I have no idea what that kind of pain feels like and I don't want to compare my petty problems to that. Anyway.... If you guys don't see my ticker going down soon - BLAST ME!! Since that's the last thing I want to see here I will be doing my best to make that dag gone scale move! NSV - I have officially left size 4x behind. I had a peasant blouse that I waited all winter to wear. I put that gorgeous thing on and I was swimming in it!!!! My coworker - who is losing weight, gave me a brand new linen peasant shirt that she is now too small to wear (size 3x) it fit perfectly :thumbs_up:. WHOOO HOOO!!!! That’s right - I'm celebrating being a size 3x. Do the happy dance, do happy dance - spin it around and shake your body down - doing the happy dance ! __________________

What a great NSV. Keep up the good job.

I am one month post-op today! Feeling absolutely fabulous, loving all the compliments about how great I am looking. Best of all is how I feel. DH told me he thought I wasn't breathing one night last week because he couldn't hear me. NSV! First fill Wednesday, thought maybe I didn't need it since I have been losing steadily. However, I can eat all my protein, 10oz. of veggies and 4oz. of fruit. I am eating healthy but worry about stretching my pouch trying to stay satisfied. This forum has been soooo much help. Thank You All!

Congratulations! These are all great SV's And NSV's. You are doing great!

Oh, Neva, Everyone hits that three week stall. Yours may have come early since you have a lower BMI than a lot of us. Just keep looking for those NSVs and the SVs will follow right along! You're doing great!!!

Heh, I'm still working on that one but it IS getting better! That's a great NSV to look forward to! Give us the scoop on the "psycho" eval.

I have my psycho eval today. I will let everyone know how it went and what they did since so many people (including myself) are always asking what the do. I'm exited to be one step closer to my band! NSV most looking forward too today - getting out of the shower and being able to wrap a NORMAL size towel around my body without one boob and 1/2 my tummy hanging out!

You'll get it, and sooner than you think! Mine fell about 3 weeks post-op. That was my first real NSV, I lost my panties. My pants themselves followed two weeks later!

Just wanted to share some of my NSV's I've discovered within my 5 weeks post op 1. I am not out of breath when I walk from parking garage to my office. I used to have to do that "fake" cough to try to get my breathing normal so everyone didn't think "Damn, she's out of shape!" 2. I had sleep apnea but now my hubby says I'm not snoring any longer! And my sleep is real sleep now! I feel like a full 6 hrs is more than I ever got sleeping longer before! this is a big deal to me! My sleep apnea doctor is on my FB page and is thrilled as well. 3. I actually park at the end of the parking lot when shopping or going to grocery store. NEVER before did I ever think to do this. In 2010-2012 I had a handicap parking pass because of my back surgeries. I'm very proud of this one! 4. My grown children said this weekend "Mom! You have a waist" I almost cried!!!!!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE and want to thank Dr. Illan and his wonderful team for helping me with these victories!!!!!! God Bless you all on this journey! {{hugs}} Sherry HW 326, SW301, CW 273 woot-woot!

I can't believe I haven't updated my journal since one week post-op. I enjoy reading all the other journals, but have been lax in updating mine. Went back and got my list of things I wanted to do, so am updating it here: I hope to be able to do all these things when I lose some weight: 1) Ride my horse without worrying that I am breaking his back!! Too hot, haven't even tried. He's having fun in the pasture. 2) Have the energy to clean my house and shovel out all the stuff I gathered thru the years. I have more energy, and have started cleaning out some (namely clothes that are getting too big) but sad to say not real enthused about this yet!! 3) Stick my arm in that blood pressure thing at Walmart and not have it get stuck there!! And use a normal blood pressure cuff! Haven't tried it yet! 4) Walk somewhere without huffing and puffing and stopping to rest 20 times. Can walk 45 minutes on the treadmill and am finding daily walking a lot easier! 5) Get off all these pills I am taking - or at least most of them!! My blood pressure is pretty much normal now (with the pills), but it will probably be a while longer before I decrease them. My blood sugar has decreased but still a ways to go. Went off Metformin when I got the surgery. Going to the doctor tomorrow and will get blood tests for sugar, cholesterol, etc. 6) Quit getting my butt stuck in chairs/theatre seats, etc with arms. This has decreased dramatically, with just a 24 lb weight loss. 7) Have enough energy to play with grandkids, do some gardening, ride my bike. Stayed off the bike for the 6 weeks after surgery, still not gotten back on it yet. Maybe today if it's cool enough! 8) Not be the biggest person in the room. (Already accomplished this when I went to the bariatric clinic-how sad. Finally sat in a chair too big for me!! But I don't consider this a NSV) What a sick mentality I have that I rejoice that someone in the room is bigger than me - this isn't usually the case tho. 9) Do something besides read, crochet and watch soaps on tv all day long because I don't feel like doing much else. Still need to work on this. 10) I'm sure there are many more but I have gone brain-dead for now.

I was given a gift card to Dress Barn for my birthday. I went in thinking I'd grab a pair of slacks and a blouse for work. My currant pants were on the loose side so I grabbed the next size down. To my disbelief they were also too big. I grabbed the next size down and Walla they fit perfectly. Are you ready for this? They are a size 12 a freaking size 12!!!!! I cried right there in the dressing room. [ATTACH]44876[/ATTACH]

I have to have MRI scans every now and again and hadn't had one since being banded. For those that don't know, you lay on a table, are strapped down and then the table slides you into a round tight capsule where it takes very noisy (think jackhammer) scans of your body......it must be horrible for people who are claustrophobic. Today I noticed that when I was being slid into the capsule that I didn't need to almost dislocate my shoulders to fit my arms through the gap and also that I didn't need to take a huge breath in to stop myself from getting jammed in the gap due to the size of my tummy!!!!!! :thumbup:

Crystal, I love the fact that you pointed out so many things that are NSV's that I never realized until you said them. Thanks for making my day a bit brighter by making me take a look at all the good things that have happened because of my band thus far.