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Last night I went out for a drink with my friend who is also banded and has also lost 150 pounds. We saw two 22 year old girls that we both knew so we sat and visited with them. There were 4 men sitting a couple tables away. One of them got up and walked over to our table and said, "I just wanted to tell you that we all agree, you are all absolutely gorgeous!" We thanked him and he went back to his table. The girls were unphased by it but us old broads just looked at each other and grinned!

That's definitely a NSV and by the way... CONGRATULATIONS - LOL! Seems like all of the "Bs" disappear with the weight loss... booty, boobs, bumps, and bulges. :biggrin2:

LOL.. I would say that's a NSV!!!! Girl, i don't have a whole lot to start with, but I'll sacrifice this gut for it!... I've gone down a FEW cup sizes pre-op.. I'm VERY scared about that!!!

You might recall my Labor Day goal that I posted in a blog entry awhile back. That goal was 235. As of this morning, I am 240.5. I think I can do it, kids!!! I originally thought it would be a stretch but it appears to be close at hand. Honestly anything in the 230s will make me pleased as punch. I am going back to Indiana that weekend to see my parents (It is also my Mom's birthday on the 30th) and I know they will be proud of my weight loss. They have not seen me since Memorial Day. That was only a few weeks post surgery, maybe 25 lb lost. Now I'm over 70 lbs lost. My Dad is utterly fascinated by the whole thing. He and I have always struggled with our weight. So he is really happy that I am losing so much and being so successful. He says he is too old to have such a surgery (he's 72, but I think he could do it just fine, we tend to be good healers), so I think he is living vicariously through me. Yesterday I had my belated 3 month visit. Dr. Hungness was so pleased with my progress. He actually seemed quite floored when I told him I am in the gym 5 days a week. I seem him again in three more months - so six months post op. He said they will be doing some labs. We'll find out if my vitamin D level has recovered. Although my nurse practitioner will probably be drawing for my HgA1C sooner than that since she manages my diabetes. She usually tests for Vitamin D and most of the tests he will be looking for. My daily sugar levels continue to be good. In the mornings I used to always be scary high. Now I am consistently between 85 and 110. I had an exercise related NSV while at the gym yesterday. I used to always get pins and needles when I used the elliptical after about 15 minutes. Basically it was like my feet were falling asleep. I used to struggle to do 20 minutes on it - not because I was exhausted, but because the pins and needles were so painful. Yesterday I was on the elliptical for 35 minutes. I realized about 30 minutes in that the pins and needles were not happening at all. So clearly that issue was due to me being over 300 lbs. And, I got this outfit from fabletics.com (my apologies if you cannot see it): http://www.fabletics.com/index.cfm?action=shop.viewproduct&featured_product_location_id=0&product_id=1439782&psrc=my_looks&master_product_id=1439782&original_master_product_id=1439782 I wore the tank to the gym yesterday. It was a little bit exposing. But no one looked at me strangely. No one said I was too fat for it. There was no side eye! I'm just so happy to have more choices in gym wear!

Congratulations on doing so well. I would call that an NSV! I often wonder if I would have done as well with my weight loss if I didn't live alone and had to live with tempting foods laying around? I don't have to exert much will power as it is, I don't buy stuff I know I will be tempted to eat, so it's never in the house.

I'm not really sure if this is the right place to put this, so I'll go on ahead and place it here for the time being. My surgery isn't until the 25th, but (aside from my little valentine's day carb fiasco) I'm finding that I'm not really enamored with food anymore. I'm not really sure how to describe what I'm talking about. I guess it's like......okay, I chart everything that I put into my mouth, and I'm just stunned by how little I can eat and still feel really good. I feel awesome on 1200 calories a day, and as long as I can end the occasional evening with my crystal light popsicle that my sweets craving is nonexistent and everything is right in the world. It's like I've stumbled upon this path, and food isn't a huge part of it. I just want to eat enough to not feel hungry so I can get on with my day and wake up tomorrow one day closer to surgery and to coming out of this on the other side of being sleeved so I can claim my spot on the losers bench. Does that even make sense? I know I can't do this on my own, and that's why I'm getting the sleeve...but it's almost like I don't even have my sleeve yet and it's already working for me. Has anybody else experienced this, or have I truly gone and lost my marbles? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I don't think about food anymore. I'm too busy worrying about my Water intake and making sure I get in 10,000 steps a day and increasing my lung capacity. It feels almost like I got out of an abusive relationship (which I think is a fair way to classify my love affair with food), and I have no desire to see my former significant other anymore. Idk...I'm not sleeved yet, but I'm choosing to call this a NSV. I haven't felt this good about myself and my choices in a long, long time.

NSV = Non scale Victory! Way to go! The best NSV's are the ones where our significant others are the ones to realize it. Well done!

Hi everyone, I have been on BP meds every since I got married in 2003. Kind of funny and sad all at the same time. I had my surgery in August but yesterday when I visited my PCP she took me off everything. I do need to return in 3 months for a check up to see how I am doing but otherwise--I am doing great. My only issue is Iron and that's because of the excessive bleeding from the fibroid tumors. I was taking Toprol 100mg, Lisinipril (2x per day) 20 mg, Triamertene/HCTZ 75/50 (fluid pill) One of other note, I got the titanium rod taken out of my leg from an accident in 2003 (which they "never" take out) and I am doing fine. I go back to work Monday. :-)

That would be a potential NSV if I flew often. Last time was about 5 years ago and we had to hop on a puddle hopper to get to the airport near Ft Drum NY. It was about a 45 minute flight and hubby had gotten two front row seats. I thought great, more leg room - WRONG! I sat against the window and to not only squeeze my behind into the seat but I also had to sit with my head cocked to an angle because of the curve of the plane itself. It was a miserable trip.

Great NSV Zoe! It's a great feeling when someone notices!

Right there with you girl! I have been stuck for almost 2 months. I've eeked out about 3 lost in that time but usually the same up and down. Although, I've been on vacation twice in the 2 months for a week at at time so there were some splurges. Not on really bad things like bread, Pasta, and processed carbs ( it's my promise to my self to not go there till the end of the year) but on some wine and skinny girl margaritas so I can get the stall from that respect. However, the inches are still coming off. my 12 shorts are getting looser and have tried on 10's but won't buy them. Although short season here in Texas lasts till Oct. but that's only another month and I do get a cheap thrill out of jacking up my britches from time to time. I'm easily amused that way. My closet is getting emptier by the day and I love it! I look forward to when I get to my goal and fill it back up with cute and stylish clothes. Black will no longer be the mainstay of my color pallet. I will have a little black dress though! I am making excellent choices most of the time and It is becoming a natural thing to do. That is the NSV for me. Ice cream? Not even tempted, the way I feel now feels WAY better than ice cream. Last week I'm on the plane on the way home, sitting there playing the the huge extra amount of seat belt material, who know it could be so entertaining? Later in the flight, I realize I am sitting with my legs crossed WITH the tray table down! How freaking cool is that? I didn't even know that was possible! I honestly have ZERO regrets and yes, we are still on the honeymoon and I fully realize the hard work really kicks in when we get to goal and have to maintain for the rest of our lives. I'm sure I will moan and complain from time to time, but I am 100% sure it will be worth the work! I'm SO happy for you and I know exactly how you feel!

Yesterday I went to an NFL game with hubby. When I walked through the turnstile...I didn't have to turn sideways! I just walked straight through and didn't bump into anything!!! So love my sleeve!!! Living the dream, Laura

Just wanted to share this- Pre surgery, I cooked up a STORM for my family of 5, which includes two teenaged boys who EAT. And eat. My kids will bypass fast food any day for a home cooked meal. They actually prefer it, along with fruits and veggies. So, being a typical mom, I didn't want them eating garbage while I was recovering. My lovely mom even contributed to my stockpiled freezer. My family had meals for 4 entire weeks. Last week I was moved to a general diet and finally blew through all the cooked frozen meals. Here's the kicker- I have been cooking all of those meals once again, and I'm ok with it. I really didn't think I would be able to, knowing there were things I could not eat at this point. But I did. And have enjoyed it. So, a different kind of NSV, but exciting nonetheless. Even made Desserts. Didn't want a single bite of any of it either.

I hit the 9 month mark last week and a friend sent me a picture she took of me after our morning run. It was so weird...I kept looking at the picture, thinking, "I almost look normal!!!" This journey has been so amazing!! It hasn't been easy but it's been totally worth it!!! For more than 10 years I pondered the idea of WLS. I told myself over and over again that I "should be able to take the weight off on my own". I was one of those people that thought having surgery would be a cop out. I could not have been more wrong!! The initial stages of post op were torturous for me. I remember feeling like I was going crazy at about the 3 week mark. I just wanted to chew something and I wanted to kill my family!! LOL!! I had to mourn my love affair with food...probably the hardest thing ever. Now that I'm past all that, I am here to say that my life is 1000 times improved and the NSV's are endless!! I can fit into a booth at any restaurant now!! I've stopped snoring and no longer have to wear a mouth guard in order for my partner to sleep!! I've completed a triathlon and am doing 2 more in the next 3 weeks!! My plantar faciitis is gone!! I can walk up a flight of stairs and I like it!! Shopping for clothes is fun again!! But the biggest NSV is that I finally feel like I have a "normal" relationship with food!! It no longer controls my life...I no longer live to eat, I eat to live. So, here are my pics. The first one is from a cruise I went on in Nov 2010...I was at my heaviest weight and I was so uncomfortable!! In November of this year I'll be going on another cruise and I'll be exactly 1 year post op. I'm looking forward to taking the same picture!!

Ok, so BIG NSV yesterday. Since before I had surgery 2 years ago, I dreamed of riding rides with my boys and knew it may never happen. We moved to Florida last year, and finally had a chance to visit Legoland yesterday. Not only was I able to keep up with them and their friends, I was leading the pack! AAAND riding roller coasters and other rides with them, and I didn't have to worry about fitting. There was ONE ride with a teeny car and the girl had to really push down on the bar to lock it, but that's ok! I've got a ways to go, but I've come SO far! I'm back on track with a trainer and we're going to get this job D O N E!!! KEEP WORKIN' IT PEOPLE!!!

that's hysterical just the imagery of it along it is the BEST NSV I've heard of Now go shopping!! (some place cool too )

. Congrats on your NSV....i think they are the best ones ! I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs...because my knees hurt pressed together....dang my legs have been so far apart for so long.....~laughs

Woohoo!great NSV!

Hey Blackberry... I am totally with you on this... the day I weighed less than my hubby was defo a NSV and a massive one at that 'cos for the last 12 years I have always been heavier! Doesn't it feel good... he said to me the other day, that it is nice that he can wrap his arms around me and touch hands...!! The little things are so important! x

OK hold on, i know that you may find the topic title weird/odd, but i promise you am not a *****/freak. but it is true, i kissed myself today, and i find this to be a NSV that is worth sharing. First, before i go into the subject, let me tell you a little about myself. I HATE MYSELF! I HATE MYSELF! I HATE MYSELF! I HAVE ALWAYS HATED MYSELF! DID I SAY, I HATE MYSELF? IN CASE I FORGOT, I HATE MYSELF. This has all changed today as i was washing the dishes. This past valentine, my husband has gave me a mirror as a gift, this mirror is heart shaped and my husband decided to glue it on the wall that i face when i am at the sink, when he glued it, he said and i quote: " this is for you to always remember how beautiful you have became and have always been". well, it was a sweet thing from him to gift and say BUT i have always ignored mirrors, because i have always seen a reflection of someone who i never thought i was, i acted different than what i see in the mirror, i act as if i am small but the mirror has always showed a big reflection which i hated! Well to make this long story short. Today, as i was washing the dishes, i take take a look at the mirror and look back down BUT i looked back at myself right away because what i saw has pleased me!! I saw a beautiful 20 year old woman who is the exact reflection of my soul, i thought i looked beautiful, and i questioned myself: is this really me? I teared up and all of the sudden without paying attention to what i am doing, I kissed the mirror and stood up and smiled (but whats wrong with complimenting myself) UGH, i confess it felt weird but for the first time i love myself. This made my day, and i sure could not leave it at that. I walked swiftly to my husband in the living room and told him that he is a very lucky man to have me. HAHAHAHA he was weak. BUT i was very happy, and in a very good mood all of the sudden. I am sure this has happened to someone else, kissing the mirror/liking what you see... it happens right? I find it okay to compliment myself, because what i went through was not easy, what i gave away to be at this state of body was not easy, it is okay to like what i see even for a moment right? Sorry for this long post, i thought i had to share, please give yourself credit, you deserve it.

I've done so myself many times, however, don't fret over a scale reading. It's a poor measurement of success anyway. As previously mentioned, strive for a better body composition by improving your body fat percentage. If after several weeks you have no progress on the scale or with NSV's, then it's time to make an assessment because you've likely reached your energy balance equilibrium and are stalled out. Don't get too hung up on the “muscle weighs more than fat” rationality though either. Yes, gram for gram that's true, however, most bandsters trying lose weight have a prolonged calorie deficit – and the odds of adding muscle while in a prolonged deficit is nil. I too have a bowflex that I use as one tool in my exercise routine! Brad

Awesome NSV! You are doing great.

Thank you. Here's another NSV of sorts. I went solo and opted to do so. I don't feel funny if I'm not with a guy because I know that no one is thinking I can't find someone to go with. Unbelievable how different everything is now.

Scratching your right or left upper back / shoulder blade with opposite arm by reaching up from bottom. Yay! Getting pretty flexible...

Well it's COLD up here in Northern, Michigan. So,, I thought I would try on a pair of Corduroy pants to stay warm. I tried them on about a month ago, and they were to small. Well I wanted to see how it was coming along ? They were so lose, that you needed a belt to hold them up. So on goes the Belt.... It's to BIG for my waist, YES ! So a few holes put into it and I am wearing the pants, and walking to a Mirror, But I hear silence as I walk.... My Thighs are NO LONGER ! slapping against each other,,,, AMEN ! I thought that day would never come. So that's a few Good ones I think ! If anyone asks me "DO YOU THINK THIS BAND REALLY WORKS ?" I would say HE!! YEAH ! :woot::::woot:::woot::::woot: