So this past weekend all of our kids had plans so my hubby and I decided at the last minute to go away for the long weekend. We hopped on a plane Friday morning and went to Belize.

We went snorkeling twice for a couple of hours at a time. We took the resort's sailboat out one morning. We had massages at the spa.

But the big NSV comes from our cave tubing trip. We had to take a boat back to the mainlands and then an hour van ride to the tubing place. Once there we had to HIKE for 45 minutes through the jungle to get there while carrying our tubes. Six months ago I never would have been able to make that hike. My back would have been killing me, I would have been completely out of breath and downright miserable. The anxiety of just THINKING about having to make that trek would have stressed me out.

Guess what? It was EASY! It was FUN! I never got winded and while I could certainly feel it in my back it wasn't intolerable...my back issues aren't going to disappear with weight loss but the loss sure relieves alot of the pressure!

My husband even said how proud of me he was when we finished the hike...and he commented on how I wasn't even breathing hard. I think he was amazed!

Also with snorkeling...in the past I was usually the first one to peter out and head back to the boat. Not this time...I had energy to spare!

It was so very nice to take a spontaneous trip like that and not have to deal with all the usual anxieties...the seats in the plane...whether I would be physically able to participate in whatever activities were planned.

I LOVE my sleeve!

That is an awesome NSV! Thanks for sharing.

You should be impressed, that is wonderful. It's great you impressed hubby too. WTG girl, it only gets better!

Congrats! I hate to sound stupid, but what does NSV stand for? Thanks for bringing me up to speed! Whatever it is, it sounds like I want one. . .LOL!

SO proud of you!!! Of us!! There simply are no words at how fricking great it is to have our lives back, our mobility, our flexibility, our speed, our health!!! Rock on baby!!!

C

Pamela...lol

NSV stands for Non Scale Victory.

And hell yes you want some!

So proud of you. I can relate. I had my surgery in Feb 10 and in Oct 09 I took a trip to Playa del Carmen and we did the hiking, biking, caving, zip gliding thing. OMG it was a nightmare the pictures are so awful. Flash forward to this weekend we went out to the lake and I tubed with a friend and had a blast and then easily lifted my butt out of the lake with the little boat ladder. A year ago my ass would have been hot in the boat all day rather than in and out. B/c I surely could not have done that. I even tubed with my 3 yo. YEAH NSVs!

Sweet little impromtu get away. I am surely jealous! Most of all congrats on your improving stamina and health. That is what we are in this for, right?!

Thank you for the definition Goodlife! Yep, definitely am going to want some of those. . .:-)

That's such a great story, thanks for sharing. I love hearing everyone's success stories. This is such a great gift we have given ourselves. Keep up the good work you are doing great, jeani

Way to go!! These are the reasons we choose to have the surgery, to start LIVING again, and enjoying everything life has to offer!

I'm so proud of you!!