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Update & NSV: Friday was my 4 month follow up. I weighed in at 47 pounds down from surgery and 97 pounds lost total. My clothes are getting pretty big on me but I’m trying to modify my clothes rather than buy new for as long as possible. I was helping at a school event and one of the other volunteers came up to me (who hasn’t seen me since last April) - gushing over how good I looked … saying “I almost didn’t recognize you”. I have had several people tell me that lately (many saying it’s was due to my shorter hair, I think they were embarrassed or unsure how to mention my weight-loss). Funny thing is because my loss has been gradual my family and I don’t really “see” it as much - so when people react to it, usually it’s sweet. I’m struggling getting enough calories and protein because I have some sinus drainage that make eating difficult but otherwise my dr and nutritionist think I’m on a really good track and are encouraging me to keep up the good work. I would have like to have lost more by now, but one advantage to slower loss is my skin is looking pretty good in general. I still have a lot to loose. I don’t have an ideal number set in my mind. I’ve already met all of my health related goals. In my perfect world getting down to the 100’s would be great, but as long as I’m healthy and avoid regaining… I’m happy. Having lots of plateaus which can be frustrating but with my calories being low that’s kinda expected.

Another NSV is finally getting my wedding ring replaced. It kept sliding off my finger. I went down from US size 12 to Size 9 and still it is a bit loose. I got a "temporary" tungsten ring and planning to get a new silver / platinum one for our 10 years anniversary next year 😀

It has been a bit traumatic, very angry with my original surgeon, but I am proud of the progress. The nsv's have been great! Was able to touch my toes today lol!

Today was a non-scale victory today! All of my pants are falling off of me and it feels great! I went to a consignment shop and I was able to comfortably wear size 18 pants! I think I could have squeezed into the 16 size, but I have worn tight clothes for waaaaay too long and not by choice. I was really pleased to learn I have dropped from a 24 to an 18 Another NSV I experienced was the bath tub water draining out around me. I no longer dam up the back of the tub without moving because of the inches I've lost from around my hips when I sit!

That's how I am. Sometimes we have to remember that slow and steady wins the race. I lost 30 pounds in the first 2 weeks after surgery. Now I am 7 months out, and I lose MAYBE 2 pounds a week. Sometimes 3. And my stalls went from 2 weeks to 3 to 4. Every 6 weeks or so, I hit another one. When It breaks, I drop like 5 or 6 pounds. Then it goes back to inching along until my next stall. It's really frustrating, but what you want to do is focus on your NSV (Non Scale Victories). Does your face look smaller? Are your clothes getting looser? Do your rinds feel bigger? Can you move around better? When the scale isn't doing what we want it to, we have to look to see what our bodies are doing. THAT's where you'll get a more complete picture of what's happening.

Hey everyone, here's my update: Surgery was 10/11. I was 259.8 (heaviest weight) right before I started my 1 week preop diet. Down to 248 right before surgery. Current weight is 219. I'm now on a regular diet since week 6 (currently week 7 since Tuesday). I can only tolerate about 3-5 bites before I'm too full. I eat 4-5 times a day to get my protein in and prevent myself from getting sick due to my stomach being "too empty". I'm averaging about 500-700 calories a day most days. I still struggle to slow down when eating, especially if I've waited too long to eat. Work in progress. I have started back the gym this week. I have made a goal of doing a 5k in the spring, and I have gotten a trainer to help me until I get situated and comfortable around the gym. I had the dreaded 3 week stall. It lasted 3 weeks. Broke this week. I think the gym helped. I still struggle to get my fluids in. However, I feel great. I have turned the corner and gained energy. My mood is better as well. I have decided to take a weekend trip somewhere (that part is not decided) as a reward for getting into Onderland when I get there. My reward for going to the gym 4x a week for the next 2 weeks is a new pair of shoes (I really need them because my shoes have gotten too big since the weightloss, its a bonus to use them as a reward though). My NSV: I can put on my shoes without wanting to be taken out by a sniper. My back pain and knee pain are gone (I hadn't had the pain long though, so it went away quickly versus someone who had longer chronic pain). I have energy and smile more!

Oh I am absolutely exhausted. BUT I will say that 35 lbs ago I would have never been able to walk that much. So it was definitely a big NSV.

Yay! I'm looking forward to that nsv too. Congrats and looking great! You should update your stats since it says you only lost 3 lbs and you have been doing awesome.

NSV y’all!!! I can’t see my stomach past my titts😂😂

Went to buy new clothes yesterday, and I needed a SMALL. My problem now is finding clothes that are small enough!

Congratulations! This is a NSV! Great job [emoji122] Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had a really odd NSV that ended up being a bit expensive lol. I’m only 4 weeks post op, but I was forced into a corporate meeting where I was going to have a wear a suit. I was PISSED. I have smaller and larger sized suits, but I was between the sizes I currently owned. Wasn’t about to invest in another suit. I managed to find something halfway decent at Kohls, and I was able to fit into a X-Large or Large off the rack. (the large size was generous and stretch, of course). Then I freaked out because all of the dress shoes I have are too narrow and small. I went to DSW and they were having a boot sale. Well, I went wild. I was so happy to be able to fit into tall REGULAR calf sized boots that I bought, ahem, SEVERAL pairs. 💰💵💸🤑. I couldn’t find pumps that fit, so I resurrected a pair of old pumps I had for the suit 🤣. My husband was confused because I went to buy dress shoes and walked out with two HUGE bags of boots. Lol. Good thing he loves me. Pic of me with a Christmas dress I’m planning to wear, and red knee high boots!

First off, AWESOME boots! Secondly, I had a similar NSV. Mine were riding boots, though. (I ride horses). ❤️

I finally had to go shopping for jeans. I have went up and down so much over the years I had a HUGE range of sizes so I have been just working through the clothes I had in my closet. Well 2 NSV's this weekend: 1, I have shrunk out of all the stocked sizes, which means I am officially the smallest I have been in my adult life! 2, Size 16 fits loose! 14 is uncomfortably tight but did (barely) button! (Started my journey at a size 26)

Congrats! I have been 2 pounds away for weeks now but I can't wait until I join you. I've only lost 30 pounds but I have a few fun nsv like my watch was on the last hole and tight enough to leave marks on my wrist but now it rotates freely around and around. I could tighten it but I love seeing the evidence of the weight loss lol. My wedding ring is getting dangerously loose too. I almost couldn't take it off for the surgery because it was so tight and I never take it off anyway but now I check it often because I'm afraid it'll come off on its own. Little things like that make all that we've done to get to this point worth it

Y’all I hit oneder land today! And my nsv for now is my ass is no longer so big a pup can sit on my hip between me and the car door while I drive and not fall through the hole. Side not pupper is ok and was only stuck in that hole for a second before I stopped and retrieved him and rearranged the seating for him lol!

I would just say make sure you increase your calories to around 1200, switch up your exercises once in a while, watch the sugars because they can definitely slow weight loss, keep protein between 70-90g per day, watch the fats (and try to have the majority you consume as healthy fats), reduce caffeine if possible, avoid carbonation, definitely keep fluids up. And after all that, just give it time, have patience, and really pay attention to your NSVs (Non Scale Victories). Those are keeping me sane right now during my VERY long and annoying stall.

Had my 6 month post op appt on Wednesday. Went FANTASTIC, but still in this stupid stall. Officially 3 weeks on Wednesday. So so annoying. Really ready to have it break so I can get on with it. Have to get bloodwork done, but all vitals and stats look excellent. Happy with my progress and my NSVs and my improved health. My dietician told me to keep my calories between 1100 - 1200 per day and add 2 days of weight training to my workout routine. I was doing light weights and cardio 5 days per week and she said to add the weight training to the 2 days I'm not working out. She said my diet and drinks and Snacks are all good, the amount and frequency I'm eating are good. So hopefully this will help. Today was my first day doing it. This stall is just driving me nuts. She also said if I get to 5 weeks, it's considered a plateau at that point and not a stall anymore. And then there's different things I would need to do if I'm in a plateau. Hope it doesn't get to that. I know stalls are normal, but I haven't even lost 100 pounds yet, and I'm nowhere near my goal, so slowing down this much at this point is really frustrating. Just gonna keep on keepin on until the stall breaks and the scale makes me happy again.

Had my 6 month post op appt today. Went FANTASTIC, but still in this stupid stall. Officially 3 weeks today. So so annoying. Really ready to have it break so i can get on with it. Oh well. Have to get bloodwork done, but all vitals and stats look excellent. Happy with my progress and my NSVs and my improved health. Just gonna keep on keepin on until the stall breaks and the scale makes me happy again.

Yes, vane or not this is one of my favorite NSV's!

Sorry I'm going to rant LOL I need to vent. I'm so glad I found this topic - the post weight loss treatment is REAL and it honestly is rough. I personally grapple with the idea that to society often makes me feel that I deserve less kindness when I inhabit a bigger body. I've lost a good amount of weight but in no means am I "small" and I'll never be "small", like "petit" because at the end of the day I am broad and a 6 foot tall female who often looks taller given my shoe choices. I find though that the more I slim out, the more "acceptable" society makes me feel for being a tall woman. I started this journey at 340 lbs, 6 feet, female, you best believe I come from feeling like an absolute monster but that's internalized self hatred from bullying. The only thing that should be is unhealthy, not undeserving. I'm at a place now where I look pretty average. I still have a deflated apron belly and loose cellulite on my thighs - I could stand to lose a couple more pounds and I plan to, however I now look pretty "normal". My clavicle, sternum and ribs are visible. I have a jaw line again. My upper arms are flabby but I usually cover them. My forearms and wrists are pretty slimmed out. You can feel my hip bones and see them ever so slightly from my deflated belly. The unique thing about me now is just that I am a tall girl. I was called a lot of names up until recent. I'm sure some people would still have some choice words for me lol but overall people are treating me much differently. I am in a place where I am seeing a lot of the same people I spent a lot of time with in a professional setting while I was 340 lbs. The same guys that used to talk to me about weight loss are asking me to hang out and trying to always catch a chat, but not about weight, just about me as a person and I absolutely hate it. Where was that decency a year ago? I find that as a 20 something year old female, the treatment from males has made a complete 180 turn. I'm not asking for their respect, but they're more likely and willing to give it to me with this new body. I have nightmares about men in my life (from family to flings) that I care about telling me they only like the parts of me that look thin but can't accept me because of my loose skin apron belly. This body bullshit is so engrained in my psyche, it gets deafening at times. I cannot have a healthy long term relationship because I'm constantly afraid of being rejected for being too big. I am working on it with a therapist but it still sucks. But yeah, people are just nicer and if they're not chatting me up or offering me free things or trying to invite me somewhere they're not gawking at me (which is a good baseline). I like that I feel I have more freedom with dating. I ditched the BBW apps and that was honestly an NSV for me because of all the fetishists on there, but I am still hurt by the folks who see me as a person now, and never did before all of this. Look, I know I made myself morbidly obese and I chose to get the surgery to fix my mistakes and learn a better way... but I struggle immensely with feeling like I deserve kindness given that most my life I was morbidly obese and bullied by everyone for it, friends, family, relationships etc. I know in reality it's a good thing to be treated better, but it does get to me that the shitty treatment exists in the first place. You can call me a snowflake or a p***y or whatever (scuse my French) but this is a real thing. Sorry rant oveerrr mic drop

Little update: it’s been a long couple of months, but I am seeing some progress. Most of my challenges have nothing to do with the surgery… I have non-weight related health issues that have been flaring up. About 10.5 weeks out I’m about 34 pounds down since surgery and about 91 pounds down from the beginning of my journey. It feels awesome being in the 200’s after 20+ yrs!! But I still have a long way to go. I’’m looking forward to seeing 100 pounds gone! Which is my second “mini” goal (my first was being under 300). I’m 9 pounds away so I’m hoping soon. I’ve been sick for the last several weeks (sinus issues turned into a full blown sinus infection) - so that’s added a few challenges, I’m sure slowing my progress. I’m having trouble staying hydrated, between being sick and trying to time my eating and drinking (I’m still only able to eat small amounts so I need to eat frequently) The weight on the scales is coming off slowly, but clothes are getting bigger and NSV are definitely apparent. It’s helpful to have the NSV as reminders of what’s going right. My knees are feeling better since weight loss, I’m hoping more weight loss will equal more improvement. My energy has not rebounded like I’ve hoped, but I’ve also been sick for the last couple of weeks - so I’m hoping as I recover from that, I will see some improvement in my energy as well. I had hoped I’d be further along than I am, but I’m trying to be content with my progress so far. The one advantage I’ve seen to the slow progress is the skin on my abdomen seems to be responding nicely with the weight loss… my arms are very flabby but I don’t really mind, I will work on building some muscle when I’m feeling better. My lower legs look pretty good, but from my knees up to my hips… well that area is just refusing to keep up with proportioned loss! That area still looks very heavy and I think is why I’m not noticing as big of a body change (personally). If my thighs, butt and hips ever decide to join in on this progress, then I’ll probably notice more! Now obviously I am loosing in those areas, because I can fit into chairs I previously couldn’t or struggled to sit on, I’m just loosing from there last and that’s where I hold most of my weight. I know we can’t target where we loose with from, but when I’m back on my feet, I’m hoping to be able to do some exercises to tone and strengthen those “problem” areas. In my ideal world I’d like to get into the 150-170 pound range. I’m not sure how “realistic” that is … given my starting weight, surgery & other health issues … but take the process one day at a time knowing that any loss is progress.

Doing well. Down 40 lbs already. From highest weight. 30 from day of surgery. Almost 2 months out. Feeling better every day! NSV yesterday, went to a football game and very comfortably fit in the seat. I was nervous the whole ride there!

Great here! Today has really been the first day in a while I've been back on the forum. That first month in a half I felt like I was struggling in all the ways just trying to adjust to all the new changes. I was feeling discouraged because I was comparing my lack of loss so much to everyone else that I think I had to step away and kinda find myself. I think everything changed for me when I went on vacation a few weeks back... Some huge non-scale victories for me. The first major one was on the airplane... A year ago I could hardly get a seatbelt on... There was actually slack which felt really good. On a daily with my desk job, I'm pushing about 10k steps a day. On vacation, I was walking about 25k steps a day with no issues. No back problems. Not winded at all. Or trying to mentally find ways of shortening the walking distance. I was able to ride rollercoasters and rides with my kid without the worry of being turned away for not fitting. The Avatar ride at animal kingdom I was most worried about. I even went as far as looking at youtube videos to see what to expect and when my Sister in Law begged for us to go... we waited over an hour and I held my breath walking into the room where it basically restrains from your back and legs. No issues at all... I actually felt a little silly I had worried so much. I was able to actually enjoy my vacation with no worries at all, it was a massive relief. I'm still far from where I want to be at. However, looking back at a year ago it brings tears to my eyes at how much my life has changed. I look forward to what this next year brings. How are you doing? Any NSV for yourself? Positive changes? Any concerns you're having?

You got this! One recommendation, make a list of why you want or need to do this. From the big serious stuff to the silly small stuff (everything from being able to get up a flight of stairs without wanting to die, get off blood pressure/dm meds to being able to tie your shoes). Keep it to look back on during the difficult parts post op, and keep it to be able to track your progress on NSV as well. Best of luck!