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Tonight I went to thd gym intending to do a routine workout (35 min elliptical & some resistance machines) when one of the girls who works there kept badgering me about Zumba class. So I was all 'I'll think about it while Im on the elliptical.' I didn't want to go because I was scared I wouldnt be able to finish the whole hour. After my 35 min on the elliptical were up I grudgingly went to look at the Zumba class. Not only did I look, I participated and FINISHED the class!!! Wouldnt have been able to do that 55 + pounds ago!!! Loving my sleeve!!!!

Hopefully November will be a good month for you so that you can gain some strength and start to feel better. The issue of dehydration is never going away because we can drink so little at one time. You just have to keep at it. Like mbrinmn says, leave drinks about the about the house. It works for me, too, and I alsways take a bottle in the car. Just last month I had a go-round with vomiting and diarrhea one night, and passed out in the bathroom twice.....hitting my head on the tub - twice, and ended up in the ER on IV fluids. keep your fluids up anyway you can, even if you have to resort to sugar free Gelatin or popsicles. Also, it took a few days to get the post-op weight loss going because I came home from the hospital 8 pounds heavier than when I went in. So, I had to lose that IV Fluid weight first. Hmmm, you could write yourself a letter about how you feel right now about your complications and your NSVs (non-surgical victories) both the good and the doubtful, and then put it away for a couple of years. Then look back and see what advice you would give to yourself now, and how you would cheer yourself up.

Well first of all, Brina, congrats on the NSV! I bet that felt awesome to not have to ask for that extender. I've been fortunate to have never needed one, but I can imagine how that must feel to ask. Good for you! As for the fill, I am glad that you got to where you needed. I know chicken is one food that can give me a little trouble, so maybe that had something to do with it, too. I'm glad it all worked out!

Hooray for you Brina!!! Hopefully the next time I fly I can share in your NSV!!! That is awesome!

all victories, ladies! way to go! (Leslie, I especially liked yours...what fun!) I tried to post this earlier, so if it doubles up on me, please forgive, but - I had a NSV today, too. I was forced to eat fast food for lunch - which I never do - and I was good and ordered the grilled chicken sandwich and a fruit parfait at McD's, only to have them give me FRIES in my bag in addition to my order! McDonald's fries are crack to me - I normally cannot resist them. Well, I didn't totally resist them today. I ate two, then drove around the block of my office twice trying to find a familiar face to give them to. There are usually tons of guys around, but none today! So, I had to drive around the block again to find the trash can, but I THREW THEM OUT! Then I went to my office and took the bread off the sandwich and ate the chicken and yogurt for lunch! Whoo Hoo, Me! not perfect, but I say it counts.

Hello Everyone: I have good news and bad new. Good news My job sent me t North Caroline for training this week. Normally, I drive everywhere, becasue I hate flying. The main reason i hate flying is because 1. running around the airport only to find out that your gate has been moved to Saigon and 2. I never fit comfortably in the seats 3. I have been too big to fasten the seatbelts. This weekend I had to fly to NC. I have jsut been on the road so much due to my new assignment that I had no desire to drive anywhere. I get on teh placen this time and I am actually able to fasten teh seatbelts around me. Now mind, I had to let the seatbelt as far out as i could, but It fit. It was a snug fit, but it fit. I was shocked. For once i did not have ask for a seatbelt extender. This will defitniely go down as a NSV. Kinda bad news but with a good news ending: I had to have more Fluid taken out of the band. Matter of fact, I went directly from the airport to the OTC. I was in NC for 4 days. In that time, it was horrible. I try to stay away from fast food, but when I travel I that is what I end up eating. Even though I try to eat helthier fast food (you know what i mean lol). i was definitley too tight. I remember buying a 10 piece chicken McNugget for lunch and I was only able to eat about 2.5 of them. Those 2.5 were forced down. People were inviting me to eat for dinner, but I still had lunch left. Truth be told, i should have had some fluid removed last week now that I think about it. But I had convinced myself that i was still adjusting to my new fill. After every fill, I have to learn how to chew even more and drink even slower. I thought that I was jsut not chewing enough or chewing too fast or something. It felt like no "real food" would go down. I serously was wondering if this was what I was supposed to be able to eat and my head was having ahard time accepting that. i remember reading somehwere that all I would be able to eat would be 2-3 bites of Protein, 2-3 bites of veggies and carbs and be done. Then I also read that our new stomachs would only be able to hold 1/4 cup of food. I kept telling myself that it was in my head. Well, after some PBing (twice I had to pull over on the side of the road after drinking) and feeling that my food was always stuck..i had to get my 0.5 cc taken out. Leslie stated that she is now going to fill me in 0.1 or 0.2 increments. So the bad news is that i was extremely retarded for not listening to myself and i ended up having my last fill of 0.5 cc removed. But the good news is that I feel so much better and I will now listen to myself. How is everyone else doing?

I have become addicted to the gym...well not so much the gym but to the calories I am burning. I workout for about an 1 1/2 per day. I started going to the gym because the scale wasn't moving, but guess what? The scale still isn't moving! I cut out all re-fined carbs, such as bread, and Pasta, because I thought that would also help but so far no luck...so I thought I would come to you guys for a bit of advice... Here is my diet: Breakfast: Starbucks mocha half sweet-non fat- no whip 175 calories ( I cant give it up...I tried but when I don't have it I eat and eat and eat, because I am looking for my fix!) Fruit salad-berries, pineapple, melon, grapes- 250 grams Lunch Chili 1.5 cups Sour cream-fat free 2 to 3 table spoons Dinner Chicken breast no skin 4- 5 oz. Salad- cabbage-veggies-lettuce- 1.5 cup Tomato -just a few chopped up for taste Green peppers small hand full Sour cream-fat free 2 to 3 table spoons Frank's Red hot sauce ( I use the sour cream and the hot sauce as dressing- it is only 45 calories and 0 grams of fat. I figure it helps make up for the mocha in the morning!) Snack Protein drink with 23 grams of Protein (right before bed)I drink 10 - 12 glasses of Water per day. Totals for the day: Calories: 1450 Fat: 34 grams Carbs: 179 (they are from fruit, milk, and bean products) Protein: 101 grams I am burning 900 to 1000 calories per day- 6 times a week. I do cardio every other day, and strengh training on the other days- which consist of Tai chi, yoga, an hour of curves, and an hour walk. Sunday I rest. My scale has refused to budge. I want to know if anyone has suggestions for me. I don't want to lose my spirit and put the breaks on and turn into a couch potato, but it is hard to be motivated when your scale is not backing you up.:thumbup: My pants are still tight too...I could accept all of this if I could fit into to smaller clothes and have a NSV, but I am still in my FAT pants! Has this happened to anyone else?:smile: ANY advice is appreciated! I have never worked this hard to stay in the same spot.

OK!! I guess I'm just "dumb as they come", but what does NSV stand for??? I have had to ask for seat belt extenders many times and the steward's have always been fast and discrete about bring them to me, but it's still embarrassing. The first time I flew without one was a joy that most just can not understand. CONGRATULATIONS!! I'm looking forward to attending the support group meeting on the 9th. Is anyone who lives (or will be driving thru) the Perry area want to carpool? I'd be happy to drive and would love the company!!!! RosieJo

Yay!!! That's a great NSV!

I am a forensic scientist and I have to testify in trials alot. They called me for court this afternoon. I have two outfits hanging in my office. One has a suit jacket and a little shell that goes under it with black pants and the other is just a big blouse that goes with the same black pants. I havent been able to wear the shell and jacket for about a year and half because its too tight in the arms and across my back and the shell cuts me under the arms. Its a size 18 and I was a 20. WAS is the operative word here.... I tried on the jacket and it fits great! Plenty of room! I guess loosing 27 pounds did make a difference! WOOOHOOO! No more wearing big loose blouses to court! Yay me!!! Ps.. I am also wearing my size 18 jeans today too!!!! woop! (not to court of course)

Wow, thank you for the inspiration! I cannot wait to go places and not have the first thing I think about is "Can I fit in the chairs?". That is the best NSV!!! Wish you continued success!!!!!!!!!

My favorite pair of sliver jeans are too big. I got a 31 about two months ago and now even with a belt they are falling down. It doesn't help that I have no hips or butt. But I love these jeans... Guess I'll have to wait a while before I get new ones. :-(

I love NSV's My list: 1. Pants 10 inches smaller in the waist, 54 to 44 Levi 501 button fly!! 2. No seat belt extender on airplanes 3. Not the biggest person in the room 4. Fit comfortably in the seat at an arena Hockey game 5. XL shirts vs 3 XL shirts 6. Briefs feel good, instead of baggy boxers. 7. Watch is real loose 8. Sit a long way back from the steering wheel and can now drive holding the bottom of the wheel. 9. Able to climb a ladder without worrying it will collapse. 10. Punching holes in my belt to keep it fitting. Added 5 holes to my favorit belt. Tons more but those are my favorites... TJ

CONGRATS ON YOUR NSV!!! :thumbup: I love NSVs! I think they mean more to me than the number on the scale. My latest NSV happened last week when my 11 y/o niece came for a visit. I haven't seen her since Christmas Eve. When she first saw me, she stopped dead in her tracks and said, "Whoa! You got skinny!" :thumbup: Here are a few of my other NSVs that have happened along my journey so far: 1) no more diabetes or cholesterol meds 2) blood pressure meds cut in half 3) went from a tight size 28 to a comfortable size 20W 4) went from a 44D to a 40DD :thumbdown: 5) can't wear any of my rings b/c they are too loose 6) walking and bicycling regularly 7) food budget cut waaaaay down 8) no need for a nap everyday after work 9) don't have to use the stand up tanning bed b/c I am too heavy for the regular beds 10) feeling comfortable w/ my body after a VERY long time of not even being able to stand to look at myself in the mirror I wish you all the success in the world with your new BANDED LIFE!

Today I am 2 weeks post-op and I am wearing a pair of jeans that haven't fit me since this time last year! :thumbup: I have another NSV but it's kind of TMI :thumbdown:

Congratulations! I think the NSV are the best and most encouraging. Keep up the great work!

I took my kids (ages 4 and 6) on a float trip yesterday! 50 pounds ago you could not have convinced me to get in a canoe! We had soooo much fun. Just thinking about the memories that I am making with my kids now brings me to tears! No more hiding in the house and wasting life. I look forward to each new day!

yay congrats on your NSV!!! I love Vegas, we are going 13 days!! I can't wait- I'm down 14lbs so I'm hoping to be down at least another 6 by then to make it 20 even!!

Welcome back, and congrats on the NSV! Now, dish the dirt!

I was at a spa the last couple of days that I've been to in years past but not recently. I suspected the robe would fit better and it did. I didn't need the extra large and the regular robe closed just fine. However...what I didn't expect and didn't even think about was that I could put my arms at my side and they would stay on the massage table. LOL! In years past I always had to stick my hands under my butt to keep them in place. Wasn't even really aware of that until I didn't have to do it anymore. It just reminds me how we adapt over the years to our size and how that impacts our lives in a negative way. I am so grateful that normalcy is slowly coming back to my life.

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.

Today I put my underwear backwards and have been walking around all day and not even realized it till my third time peeing this afternoon I looked down and saw the writing inside the underwear was on the wrong side of my body. When I was 270 lbs and wore a size 11 underwear there was no way I was pulling up my pants and walking around all day like that because my legs would have been cut off..my butt would never have been covered...and the back would have been so much larger then the front...Not today! Just thought I'd share!

I was noticing the NSV of seeing my stomach go down for the past four weeks. However, as of Saturday, my stomach has dramatically inflated. What could be happening?

And ladies, I have a slightly different slant yet. You see I've. not had the Fat Brain, almost the reverse. In my mind superficially at,least I am 175-185 pounds, maybe not Smokin Hot but glowing along pretty nicely. Then I go by a mirror, with my bad luck usually 3-way, I look and say Who is that fat ungainly ugly elephant in my mirror?. I reach out and touch the mirror andvrwalize it's ME. And I start to cry, usually I back up and sit in the nearest chair. but often I then put both hands on there and still cry. I am a good person, a kind person, even a wonderful person but someone or something has put me in this fat ugly knobby suit and I can't pull myself free, it is glued with industrial grade Super Glue to me. So I stop eating as much as my Ghrelin Monster would like , as often. as GM would like, sometimes I don't given him anything after Breakfast, some days I let him hurt and don't even listen at breakfast, he's hurting me, why should I be kind to him? And when I do eat, I don't get a sense of satisfaction, I eat my little portion, and I stop because I feel sick. My son starts to worry, I'm natually eating a half to third what he does, but then 2 hours later it's Hello up there in the thinking center......I've tried to just drink,unflavored water or a protein shake at this point. Weight should be dropping off like dandruff scales? Nope, my forarmsand wrists are getting thinner, thighs, hips, belly, not that I can notice. I'd revert to a bad diet, but nothing appeals over there, and if this is a stall do I want to imperil another NSV as well as a real scale one? I'm supposed to be a "wise woman" someone younger people consult because of life experience, I don't resent being the Wise Woman of the Mountain as much as the Wide Woman the size of a Mountain. Please help me joy in All This. I keep on keeping on, but fear something is going to snap and then I'll need a keeper. Instead of chasing the bright elusive Butterfly of Love I'm chasing the invisible butterfly of a Commited Surgery Date. What if I see it after all in the distance, when I get close enough,to trap it, my butterfly net has big holes in it, the Butterfly flies on through and escapes? Do on stand there with egg all over,my face, start crying, or throw myself down on the ground and have a full- blown tantrum? There may be sunlight still ahead for,me, but I am growing old and weary, how strong do my glasses have to be for me to see it? Your friendly neighborhood Queen of Frstr8tion,ME😵😪

I had to take my mom to the dr. today and while sitting in the waiting room I crossed my legs (as if I had been doing it all along LOL). I sat there a good 15 minutes reading a magazine and it was like BAM I looked down and I was actually swinging my leg and it had been crossed the whole time. I almost jumped up and shouted right there in the waiting room. I can't tell you how many many years it's been since I've been able to cross my legs. Something as simple as that can bring such joy. Thanks for letting me share.