Okay, as part of the "Slow Loser's Club" we have been ordered to each have an NSV list (ordered in a good way of course).

Here goes (in no particular order):

My class ring fits. I quit wearing it when it started eating my finger and was more comfy on my ring finger. That was some 4 or 5 years ago. I found it a couple of months ago and it's been on ever since (because it fits, not because it's stuck, LOL).

I am in a size 16/18. I graduated in a pretty solid 18. I can't find my darn Prom dress and I'm pretty confident it would be too big. I gotta search some more for that!

I am LESS than what it says on my drivers license, and I KNOW I was lying, because you can tell by the picture and what I look like now.

This pretty new: my engagement ring is only 3/4 of a size larger than my sister's class ring. It's 7 and 3/4 and I was sure it would be an 8. 1/4 of a size isn't much, but it means something to me.

My mom is telling people I'm looking good, and it's getting back to me. This is an NSV because she would NOT tell other people that if it weren't true. Even if she told it to me to my face (which I'm pretty sure she wouldn't, she's 'brutally honest') she wouldn't tell other people if she didn't believe it.

I can SEE the change in the mirror. It took MONTHS for this to happen, but I'm finally seeing it. Albeit part of the change is that my panni and boobs are hanging lower, but I know that's because there is less fat in them, LOL.

I HAVE A NECK!! I noticed this when I posted my before and after pictures on that thread. I can still make a double chin, but it's not ALWAYS there, I know you guys know what I mean.

I took a link out of my medic alert bracelet the other day. I'd taken it out before but had to put it back because it just wasn't comfortable... fit, but wasn't comfy enough for something that is always on.

I'm keeping my toenails painted; this goes along with my "Woo! I'm sexy!" thread and picking something about my that I like (to start with). I also wore make up today and have been wearing mascara occasionally just because I feel like it. I'm wearing it often enough that I actually bought eye makeup remover the other day.

My fiancee told me that he noticed a difference. This was a while back, but he says it's hard for him to see because he sees me every day all the time (he doesn't notice things like going from red to burgundy hair either, so this was kind of big for me).

I'm smaller than when I met my fiancee. I met him on the internet and found the pictures I'd scanned and sent him before we first met in person. There is a pretty decent difference there.

I needed less than 20 lbs of weight when I went scuba diving this summer. Last time I think I needed 25 lbs. It's horrible to lug around that weight on the surface, but you need it to sink under Water, so the bigger you are, the more weight you need (how sick is that, huh?).

That's it for now.

10/04/05 - Today I joined a gym (an NSV on it's own) and the guy signing us up asked when the last time was that I felt "great". I said I'd always been a bit overweight and he interrupted me and said "You aren't overweight." I laughed and he said "Really, you have a little toning to do, but you really aren't overweight to me." I thanked him for the compliment but of course was thinking in my head "yeah, 80 lbs of toning up, lol".

Update for 11/1/05. I compiled this list for the Slow Loser's NSV Challenge and thought I'd update it here.

I had a session with a personal trainer at the gym I joined, and when he asked what I'd been doing and I told him 35 minutes on the Elliptical, he told me I was ahead of the game because alot of folks go in there and can't do 10 minutes of cardio. There was a time when I was one of those people, so I think that's an NSV.

I bought a shirt at Hot Topic the other day. Granted it's a 2X in girls which is kind of funny, because I have Large shirts that are bigger, but hey. It's a "girl's" shirt, so it's more form fitting and look pretty good.

Oh! I went to Lane Bryant to get a shirt, and the smallest shirt size they had was too big. I could still buy pants there, but not shirts!

I've been moving back toward my funkiness from my fun days. I used to dress exactly how I wanted at it was "me". Then I entered the corporate world and gave it all up, so now I'm getting it back! This goes along with caring what I look like when I go out. First I just wanted to look 'nice' or 'decent' and now I want to look like "me". If that makes any sense.

More NSV's (compiled from the rabbits/turtles challenge)

I bought a NON STRETCH pair of Jeans from the Jr's department in a size 16 and they fit perfectly. No "w" either!

I wear the smallest size shirt that Torrid sells. I bought a really cute shirt from there the other day in a "0" (probably a 16/18?). It 'fits' instead of being baggy, which is also kind of an NSV because I usually don't wear things that 'fit' because some how if your shirt doesn't hug your fat rolls, other people don't know they are there or something, LOL.

I went to a bridal expo a few weeks ago and realized that the entire time I was there I wasn't self conscious of my weight. I think that's pretty cool.

In the regular economy section of an airplane last weekend, the tray table didn't touch me when I took it down. I used to have to lean my seat back so that I could bring it down all the way and it still hit my belly.

I suppose it's kind of an NSV that I am having my teeth fixed. My weight is still my top priority, but I'm to the point where I can focus on other things that need work.

Last week on my lunch break I had no idea what I wanted to eat, so I started walking. I ended up walking 2 miles, just because it felt good.

Girl, you made me smile.

As I read through the list - it made me realize how good it feels to be somewhat "normal". I hope we never take it for granted.

I suppose it's kind of an NSV that I am having my teeth fixed. My weight is still my top priority, but I'm to the point where I can focus on other things that need work.

How true this is. I never looked at it that way.

You are so right!

Bravo to you!!!:clap2: :clap2:

Holy crap. I just realized that I did not eat ONE SINGLE Valentine's day chocolate! I didn't even pick up a box at the store to even think about buying it!

NOW, I just have to make sure I don't buy it on sale tomorrow when I go to the store, LOL.

It's been a long time, I had an NSV today, so I figured I'd try and thing of any that I'd had since the last time I updated.

The one from today, is that on the 8th of April, my sister gave me an anklet as a bridesmaids gift, but it didn't fit right. It had extra chain, so I was able to mess with it and get it to work so I could wear it, but it wasn't the way it was intended to be buckled. This morning when I went to put it on, I was able to get the clasp together without a problem at all. :confused:

I suppose it's an NSV that I finally got a new hairstyle. My hair has been the same for like 10 years or something like that, and I finally did something with it for my sisters wedding. It's all layered and highlighted now. It looks much better, lol.

I guess I can't really think of anything else. I'll try and come up with more..

OH!! I want to see a picture of your new Hairdo! You're doing great Sarah!! Congrats on all the NSVs! I like NSVs best. You can really tell you've made progress when the NSVs start & just keep coming.

GO SARAH!

Rock On!! Keep up the Great Work!!!

Class ring.

I can't even wear my WEDDING RING!

And trust me it is something to be worn proud!!!!! Not bragging just saying.

But I am on my way.

One day I will post that it fits.

Awesome NSVs! I love these posts!

Pictures please!!! Oh yeah, we want to see the new 'do! Oh, and a pic of that cute little ankle with the ankle bracelet would be nice, too! LOL

New NSV

I have this blue silk suit, its really nice Ive always wanted to wear it but couldnt. I Wore it today and buttoned it all the way up without the Gapping ( between buttons) YEA

it looks great, Now Im Really sad because soon it will be to big!

Well, it's not that I didn't suspect my slow weight loss was attributed to the double grande iced mochas (with half and half). It was that I hadn't realized how they had actually set me on the doorstep of obesity, and now kept me from leaving.

I never had a weight loss problem as a child or an adolescent. My mothers family tends to get chunky between 30-55, then get small. My fathers family are all beanpoles.

After all three of my children were born, I was a decent size - about 150-160. I had successfully managed to get smaller, and had a few gains and losses, bumping me between 140-170.

THEN, my coffee habit began. It was slow initially, no appreciable weight gain, a mochoa now and then. Then mochas became daily, but that wasn't overnight either. I've tried and tried to pinpoint what it was that caused me to gain. There were many other things that could have allowed me to gain, and that stopped me from maintaining that range that I had always stayed in, and then of course the decreased activity.

But, after the lap band, I realized the one factor that was causing my weight loss to stagnate, appeared to be coffee, which might be the factor that caused me to gain so much weight slowly over so much time (my family could never understand why I kept gaining weight - I really didn't eat oversize portions, tons of junk food or lots of candy).

After the Band was eating practically NOTHING, and yet NOT losing weight. Because I had paid such close attention to my weight, because I was so certain that the food I was actually ingesting could NOT be doing this - I realized what was - my RESTARTED coffee habit (the stagnation happened right around the time I started having my mocha once or twice a day (again).

It caused me to realize how eating normally, and having that extra coffee or two a day had affected my body. It was a slow and steady gain - a lb or two a month but 12 months a year, over almost a decade has taken it's toll.

I will never be able to have that mocha again every day - and I've realized that. I just can't do it. So every morning I drink drip coffee with coffeemate creamer, and the lbs are starting to come off. Every once in a while I treat myself - but not like before. I've learned to deny myself when I feel a craving. I can't allow it to hurt me any more.

And, when I consider the cost - (I paid for my surgery) as well as the actual cost of the coffee - I realize - I just can't afford it.

I usually depeleted the cash in my purse every other day (I was always trying to find a dollar or two for my daily coffee) - now, I can go all week and never spend that 10 bucks that's in my wallet.

I indulge myself with sugar free candies (I am always carefell never to over-indulge as it has such negative gastric side effects -diahhrea).

I hope this helps someone.

My_o_My,

Those coffee drinks can get really high up there calorie wise. I don't know where you are on the globe, but a medium mocha frap from Starbucks is something like 600 Calories!! Two of those a day, plus whatever you might be eating with a band will DEFINATLY slow you down. I'm glad that you found your culprit and that you are losing weight now.

Whenever I get anything from a coffee shop like that it, it's nonfat, and sugar free, if they have it. That'll knock off a few hundred calories.

There are alot of good sugar free/calorie free flavored syrups out there that are very goodin coffee. Coffee + Sugar free chocolate flavored creamer + sugar free peppermint syrup tastes practically the same as a starbucks Peppermint Mocha.

I'll post pics of my hairdo tonight. :bananadoggywow:

I suppose it's an NSV that I finally got a new hairstyle. My hair has been the same for like 10 years or something like that, and I finally did something with it for my sisters wedding. It's all layered and highlighted now. It looks much better

Sorry, but I dont believe you.

I need a picture.

Post a picture - and you'll convience us.

(LOL - j/k, you know we love you!!!! - but we'll love you MORE if you show us a picture! :biggrin1: )

Big Congrat's on the bracelet!

Hehe, sorry for the delay, here's some pictures. My face looks thinner today, but my hair doesn't look as good, so it's the good hair picture, not the good face picture, lol. :/

The anklet on the side has my name written in the wiring. It was a very unique and awesome gift .

Sarah,

whats wrong with your face? You look gorgeous to me. And I love the new 'do'. :clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Thank you - Thank you for showing us a pic!