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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!

Kim, Congratulations!! That is a wonderful NSV! You weren't lazy, just too tired (as Claraluz says). You'll be doing bigger and longer runs from now. So proud of you!

I need to update my nsv's: 1. My shoes no longer fit. They slip up and down when I walk and fall off completely if I lay down in the floor with my students. 2. I can get up and down off the floor in my classroom with my students and not moan and groan while doing so. 3. I sat in a student size desk today and didn't think twice about it.

These are great NSV's!! Way to go everyone! It's exciting to hear some that I hadn't thought about before and can add to the list of things I look forward to with my new body.

Ok, this might sound like a dumb question... What is a NSV? Lol

Wrong forum

First I want to say thank you to so many of the veteran posters on here. I hope you gals and guys know how much your experiences and feedback have helped me and I suspect many others. There's just such a fantastic mix of people and experiences - It's great knowing you aren't alone in this journey. The first few months after surgery were easy. The weight was simply falling off, there wasn't anything I couldn't eat or drink - And better yet, I couldn't overeat because of the restriction. I felt fantastic most of the time, had all sorts of NSV's and loved my new life. From August until January I lost almost 50lbs - I was so close to Wonderland I could taste it. THEN reality struck - Suddenly I was one of those "slow losers" - It took almost 2 months to lose 13lbs. UGH, I WAS going to be one of those slow losers. OK, fine, I'm 52 and it is what it is, right? From January until May, I "only" lost 33lbs. Again, every week/month I told myself that I would lose the weight, I was just in some sort of a stall and things would magically pick up. Well, they didn't, I would lose 2-3 lbs and then I would gain 2-3 lbs. Again, "it's normal" I told myself. Fast forward to a week ago - I jumped on here for some motivation (reading stories, etc.) and I took a hard look at what I was doing. Basically, I was being lazy - I was eating whatever I wanted and justifying it by saying "I only eat small portions" - Well, yeah, that was true...BUT I was grazing, I was drinking too much alcohol, and I wasn't tracking. I honetly have no idea how many calories I was consuming (especially on weekends with family and friends). I played mind games with myself and said "As long as I'm not gaining, I'm doing things right." - Well, that was a giant load of (@*$. This past Tuesday (after a weekend of Mimosa's, Crown Royal, and some really great BBQ), I woke up to a 5lb gain (BTW, yes I realize some of that was water retention). WAKE UP CALL. 5lbs? Seriously - Time to go back to basics before that's a 10lb gain. For the first time in MONTHS, I tracked every thing I tracked everything that went into my mouth (water, food, etc) - I did 3 days of liquid - In two days, those 5lbs were off. Rather than what I've done in the past, I didn't stop there - I continued tracking, I continued being cognizant of what and when I was eating. I said "no" to many things that I thought I wanted. I lost 6.8lbs from Tuesday to Sunday. What? I'm NOT a slow loser - I'm a LAZY loser. Folks, for many of us, it's EASY in the first few months, it's EASY to convince ourselves that we're doing OK, it's EASY to compare ourselves to others, it's EASY to ignore signs that you're falling into bad habits, and it's EASY to get lazy. In reality, it's HARD to stick to your plan when you're feeling fantastic and patting yourself on the back for losing so much weight. I'm choosing to be thankful that this happened now rather than 2-3 years into it. I'm glad that reality smacked me in the face and forced me to face the fact that i wasn't doing what I needed to do. Right now it was EASY to get back on track before I let it get out of control. For those of you experiencing the same - Buckle up buttercup, start tracking, weigh yourself often if you need to, and take a good look and when and why you're losing weight and when and why you aren't. Again, a very special thank you to you old timers for always keeping things real and giving out such fantastic advice.

"I'm only frustrated with myself for giving into the frequent weighing. Oh, sure, I'd love to be losing as quickly as some. As helpful as this board is, the down side can be reading about others gushing about how the weight is falling off when it isn't happening to me. And I know I'm not losing because I don't have restriction yet, because I had a low BMI to begin with, and because I'm perimenopausal and having periods that last two weeks and come every two weeks. " Longhorn, you are doing great! If this were someone else, wouldn't you say the same thing to them? I think we all are a lot harder on ourselves than if the same thing were happening to others. If weighing you every day is depressing, then stop! You don't need that aggravation. I like weighing every day. If I don't then I gain for sure. And my weight fluctuates all the time. I tend to lose, then gain it back, then lose it once and for all, then plateau there for a while, and the cycle begins again. But if you're frustrated by it, then how about just at your doc's office like you first started? How about you throw out that scale and just rely on your doc's? Then it's not even there to tempt you, and you can focus on NSV's and the way your clothes fit. ALSO, big important thing here, you always weigh more at the doc's office than at home. Usually at home it's in the morning, no clothes, no food in your belly. At the doc's office you're wearing clothes, retaining Water weight from the day, etc, etc. I also hate the gushers. It makes me want to stab myself in the eye. It's hard not to compare to others though. I feel like I'm losing at a great rate FOR ME - it's probably slow compared to others. It looks like I've lost a lot but most of that was on my liquid phase in the beginning. I've slowed right down, but for ME it's absolutely incredible, and I have to keep reminding myself of that. I'm thankful when I don't GAIN, so to lose is an absolute miracle. I also have a hard time with challenges. It kind of sets me up to fail. But they can be very motivational for the right people. So, end of story, you're doing great! Don't beat yourself up! And do what works FOR YOU!! Love ya! Linda XOXO

YAAAAY!!! What an awesome NSV!!

I had an NSV today, I started at 474+ lbs, I'm down 220 lbs, a friend threw me off balance today, she is a good 20 lbs heavier then I am now days... I've always been able to stand my ground... I wear an XL tshirt and not only do I not have to stretch them before putting them on, but the are lose!! I'm excited to see the number 254 even though it is the starting weight oh so many of my support group members! I actually have to turn down hand me downs because they would be too big for me.

Congrats to all of you for you NSV's. They are as wonderful as the weight loss. I love being 30lbs less than my husband for the first time in 35 years!

You know how people who were one thing, and then reformed themselves all of a sudden become fanatical about that thing they used to be? Ex smokers are one of the best examples, policing the ranks of those who continue to smoke, evangelizing them to save them from that particular sin. They are especially known for their zeal. I sort of felt that way today. After my post op check up (which went very well), I drove up to visit my parents and help my Dad with a few chores around the house. While we were working, my Mom declared that we needed to go to the store to get some things she had been wanting for a while. Now "we" translates and "Dad and I". As for the store, she did not care, as long as it had everything she wanted on her list. It was that discussion that led to the circumstances where I found myself a short while later. We wound up in the mecca for fat people. There were more fat people there than at the Golden Corral on 10% off day. Yes. I am talking about Walmart. I hate going to Walmart. I don't like having to walk for what seems like miles just to discover they really don't have what I want. What's even worse sometimes IS finding what I want. Then I have to stand in line to check out - a line that stretches into the hazy distance like people lined up waiting for Judgment Day. And today was even worse. We were at a Walmart in a popular vacation spot for people from a very large city whose initials are N.Y.C. So it was fat people with an attitude. I also made the mistake of texting Mrs. LittleBill to tell her I was at Walmart, thinking she would at least sympathize. I received an LOL and a list of stuff to look for. So now I had two missions. We had to park so far away from the building that all we could see was the top, peeking over the horizon. I am pretty sure we were in a different zip code. The parking lot was solid with vehicles. In the distance I could see people dodging back and forth between the city drivers zooming around looking for the best spot. I said to Dad, "Maybe today isn't such a good day to try and go in there." He turned to me and said, "It's not worth my life to come home empty handed! We're going in!" We eventually made it to the door. I grabbed a cart, and waded into the mêlée, calling out to Dad that we could split up and cover more territory more quickly. It was like a cross between bumper cars and the demolition derby. People were smacking into one another left and right, coming out of the ends of the aisles like they had been fired out of a cannon. Baleful glares and insincere apologies were exchanged with abandon. And in all of this, there was a huge number of human juggernauts, cruising through slowly, yet unstoppable. They drew my attention with fascination. Like the ex smoker described above, I looked from person to person, thinking: "You need bariatric surgery. You need bariatric surgery. You REALLY need bariatric surgery! I can't believe I used to look like that! Did I really look like that!?! This place is a GOLD MINE for my surgeon!" It was actually kind of weird. On one hand, I felt something of a kinship with these people while on the other hand I was repulsed. I think a lot of the latter had to do with attitude though. I really get impatient with rude people. In one sense it was something of an NSV for me. I am still fat, but I am not the land yacht I used to be, and to a degree, I felt a whole lot slimmer as I negotiated the killing fields of the retail environment. It was also something of a wake up call, to learn that I do not perceive myself in the same way that I used to. I am going to have to work on that one for a while. It kind of snuck up on me and grabbed me by the throat. But at least I made it out of there alive.

sorry to hear about the obstacles Mitzie. You have been a great surgery buddy. It won't be long until we are posting in the NSV thread!

Great NSV! I love it when we have to get a new pair of pants/shirt because the old ones are too big!

Blame it on a new man, a better one, one that makes you feel so good about yourself you are losing weight! Name your Band...Brad, or some other sexy name, and talk about it like it's a he...you wouldn't be completely lying, right? hehe...just a thought. Great NSV! Knock 'im dead! And tell us how it goes...

There was a tiny spot on a bench seat on the train today. I was able to easily fit my little butt in there. It was easily half the size of any gap I would attempt to sit in pre surgery. Why are my NSVs always about using public transport???

Congrats!!!! Great NSV

Ahhh today is day 21 of my stall and I know using NSV I’m seeing changes but I feel last 2 weeks weeks from the 3 weeks haven’t been of any change (and even started gym too!!!) just sooooooo annoying grrrrrrrr haha but we can do this 🥊🥊🥊 Knock it out of the park

I had a out patient procedure last week.... and had to put on a hospital gown. The nurse handed it to me... I realized I didnt have the mental anguish of wondering if it was going to fit. Which it did of course.... and even tied in the back. I just stood there grinning. I let my husband in on my thoughts and he just laughed.... Then as we were leaving a few hours later as per hospital protocol I had to be escorted out in a wheelchair.... and it wasnt the big girl wheel chair... it was just a regular one. Both of those NSV just helped me sail through my minor procedure....

Wow,,, that's amazing ! It just goes to show. That once we are Banded, There's NO ! stopping at what we will, or can do. Keep up the Great Work, and take 1 step for me, because I am unable to do anything like that with artificial knees.. But,,,, I did walk 2 miles home today after completing part of my Gym class.. I am glad I am in training, or I would not have made it. But I am, and I did ! So there is another NSV for today.....

I can't think of any new NSVs for me lately. Many of the same old ones keep happening and I don't think I'll ever get tired of them. I do love reading everyone else's NSVs though. It helps me stay motivated and makes me happy for everyone.

I am just over 6 weeks out. My main protein source is still a protein drink. I personally am scared of food so good for u for trying food. But I always read if a stall increase protein and go back to basics. Try liquid only for a few days and see if that helps. I was also told that even at 6 weeks out I should be at about 600-700 calories a day. And start to measure ur self!!!! Weeks that I only loose a few pounds I see my inches change and that helps. I personally haven't dropped many pant sizes, although I'm at a total loss of 67lbs. By belly is still to big. Look for NSV too. Like can you tie your shoes better or are you walking better. Little things that don't always show on the scale. Good luck to you!!!

Today's NSV... I crashed my bike and didn't get injured/killed. When I was 360 I was petrified of crashing because with all the force from my weight, I could get really injured from just a minor crash.. Today, I had a minor crash and was more worried about the bike than me... and we're BOTH fine!

what is NSV stand for? I know it's the stuff you can do now that your smaller.