Search the Community

LOVE those shoes! I'm so envious;crossing my legs is one of my NSV's I'm hoping to achieve after my sleeve...

I am not sure I have great advice but I don't want your question to go unanswered! I would say you took the first step by coming here and asking for help. My number one piece of advice is go see a therapist if you can at all. That will help. (Call your surgeon for a referral of someone who works with bariatric patients.) At the very least, seek out a local support group if you cannot go to a therapist. Secondly, maybe try a reset by just doing shakes for a few days and go through that "withdrawal" of the addictive foods again. That may help you get back to where you were in your mind the week before your surgery. Spend some time during those few days really thinking about why you did this and how far you have come. Every time during those few days of shakes that you want to reach for food or think you are hungry, go lock yourself in your room or in your car or somewhere away from food and really concentrate on your accomplishment this far. Why did you have the surgery? What was your first big NSV? What was your favorite NSV? Write it down. Start a journal and turn to that journal instead of eating. You have lost 105 pounds! That is amazing! You have the drive. You can totally do this!

NSV for sure!!! I cannot wait until I have that same view when my husband goes "downtown"

I just wish I was losing in my stomach instead of my butt. Guess I should stop feeling so frustrated about the scale because I am obviously getting smaller. I had to share with you guys because very few people in my life know about the surgery and my hubby said he wanted a picture to validate my claim.

Excellent NSV! I can't wait for the day when I'll have to get a new picture for my work ID badge. Still got a ways to go though. Congrats!

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the only thing worse than being stared at is not being stared at. Enjoy this latest NSV. Laurie

So this week I had a definite NSV. I dug out the courage to go have some boudoir photos taken of myself as a gift for my husband. I still struggle daily with confidence in relation to my body. I still struggle with comprehending what I see in the mirror against what I see as myself in my minds eye, even after maintaining my goal weight for over a year and a half. I still struggle with feeling like an imposter, like a very obese person hiding in a thin body. Every day is a battle ground in my mind it seems. I've been in therapy since 10 months post op, and I don't see that ending any time soon. But.....I am still making progress mentally, emotionally, and with my self confidence. Never in a million years would I imagine I would be someone with enough confidence to pose for boudoir photos! I can't even remember what it was that prompted me to take the first step and schedule the appointment. I just remember thinking what an awesome surprise gift it would be for my husband. He has been an absolutely AMAZING support over the past 2 years. He has encouraged me to keep going when I wanted to quit. He has stepped up to help deal with some issues in our marriage that were contributing to my emotional eating. He has put in extra time keeping the "home fires burning" while I put in literally hours and hours and hours training for races and marathons. He has traveled, gotten up at the crack of dawn, stood out in the cold for hours to cheer me on at my races. And perhaps most poignant in my mind is that he has done the not always glamorous tasks involved with caring for me and helping me recover after my 2 surgeries - especially the tummy tuck which was especially non-glamorous and painful. I thought a book of my boudoir photos for him would be an awesome way to say thank you for the support. But once I made the decision, I actually had to go through with it. I was dreading it and super excited about it all at the same time. By the end of the shoot I felt confident, strong, and sexy. I was having a complete blast. I cannot wait to go back next week and see the pics. Maybe if I love them I will share one or two of them here. It just blows my mind the ways in which I have changed physically, emotionally, and mentally over the past 2 years. What an awesome journey it has been!

What a joyful NSV!

Went for my year two follow up since the hip replacements this morning and NYU has a system that tracks all your appointments and test results, etc. in a single system. They use both a photo and a palm print to confirm you in the system and today, the woman at the desk looks long and hard at my photo (taken prior to WLS) and asks me if I'd like a new picture taken. I was pleased as punch and put a big smile on my face as an updated picture is now part of my data profile. Next on the list...my driver's licence and my passport. I always get that hard stare from the male TSA agents...and the comments from the female agents about how I look great now. Not that I mind the comments but I'd like to move past the stares and comments now that I'm nearly three years post banded. Have a great weekend everybody!

@Elode -- That photo? That is one hot shot. Tell me something. Did you pierce that ugly pumpkin with a heel as practice/prelude to something else? Beware, here comes a serious NSV report which, alas, I have since undone. Way back when I was making a killing with my band, I noticed that, when I crossed my legs, the knee-down portion of the top leg hung parallel to the knee-down part of the lower leg instead of sticking out at a noticeable angle. And the top leg made it farther up the lower leg so that more of the lower knee was visible. That's the best I can describe it at this hour. Anyway, I want that again. Laurie

@dhrguru. Nsv? Risqué? Either way I'm still blushing. And I'm grown, married, blah, blah, blah. ...

Great NSV! I sit with mine crossed too... I guess I didnt even realize that I could again until your post! Love those NSV's.

This probably goes down as one of the oddest post BUT sometimes you have NSV and never realize that's what it is. I have been crossing my legs for months now (comfortably ) but today we took a picture! Why? Just because I can and it serves as a reminder that not all victories are associated with a number. I showed you mine now show me yours!! (Legs people, legs!!) or just share a NSV if you have one.

Congratulations!!!! That is awesome!!!! So happy for you, doesn't it feel wonderful? :-D Your weight loss and NSV is so incredible!!! Keep up the great work whoot!!!

Holy crap, 21 pounds in 3 weeks. o.O I'm so envious! I'm almost 9 weeks out and I'm stuck at 43 pounds lost since surgery. XD Congrats on your NSV! It's a wonderful feeling to be getting our bodies back, isn't it. Just keep listening to it and taking good care of yourself, and good things will keep happening. Thanks for sharing!

So I am three weeks post op. And so far I've lost 43 pounds. 22 before surgery. 21 after surgery. Well today was my first day back at the gym. Before surgery I use to work out all the time but when I started my wls program I kinda cut back A LOT. I didn't go at all for about a month before surgery. Today I ran my fastest mile EVER. On my FIRST day back at the gym in about 2 months when I use to go EVERY OTHER DAY! I couldn't even come close to a 15 min mile but today I did it in 14! I just can't believe I did it. I had no expectations going back to the gym. I told myself I would take it slow but instead I let my body tell me what it could do and it paid off! It's like the healthy me who's been trapped inside all this fat for years was screaming at me "LOOK WHAT YOU CAN DO KACY"! I seriously wanted to cry. I've worked so damn hard for years to manage my weight. And it blew my mind how big of a difference 40 pounds makes when it comes to exercise. I loved working out before. But now I love it more because I know it's actually helping me this time. In the past I worked out for months and never lost a single pound. Now I want to keep pushing myself and KNOWING it's going to pay off now because of the surgery just makes me so excited to go back to the gym. On cloud 9 right now

Thank you for defining NSV...lol. You should see the combination of words I have strung together in an attempt to decipher what those acronyms meant. Haha

Hi All, I was sleeved May 19. Minor complications the week of surgery with dehydration and black stool, but resolved with another trip to hospital and haven't been back since. I'm down 66 lbs from surgery date and 86 lbs from program start date (feb 15). Dropped 5 pant sizes, 3 shirt sizes and no longer diabetic or hypertensive. I completed the Couch to 5k training app on my 48th birthday (oct 4) and ran my first full 5k that day. I haven't run that far/that long since 1988 when I was in the marines. It wasn't fast mind you.. but it was all running. I still have ~85 lbs to goal (but I just hit the halfway point, so major victory there!!). I'm signed up for two 5k races (biggest loser 5k this weekend) and rock N Roll 5k in vegas in novemeber. I don't like to run, but these are small goals that keep me working out. Yes, food and going out do not hold that same appeal to me either. Its more chore than you would think because I just don't enjoy food like I used to. But I'm ok with that because my kids are becoming more active because I am more active. we look for active activities to do instead of movies, etc. We took our first hikes up here in the northwest, bike rides, etc. I actually eat 5 - 6 meals a day, targeting 1500 calories, and 90+ grams of Protein. I've stopped the muscle loss and added 7 lbs of muscle my third and fourth month post op (I lost 21 lbs of muscle first two months Post op). Monitoring the muscle loss and growth has become very important and delivers many NSV's. If your not watching those numbers, you should be. I miss my Vitamins sometimes, I don't get all my protein in sometimes, I have the occasional carb splurge (usually feel like crap after it), etc. But I don't beat myself up about it either. Working out is still a chore, so nothings gotten easier, I think I am mentally just less resistant to it any more because I have seen the changes to my body and my attitude, and thats worth a lot. No seatbelt extensions needed when flying, can fit into a booth at a restaurant without a struggle. I wish I had done this 5 - 10 years ago, but we all have to come to this decision point when we can. I'm going to great wolf lodge with my kids this halloween weekend and while I'll still be self conscious about taking my shirt off in the Water park, I know I won't tip over the raft my kids are in, I know I won't have to worry about the chair in the pool areas breaking beneath me and I know I am doing something about my weight, which many around me can't say. Whenever I see other really obese people around me, its like I wish I hard a card or something to hand them to try and get them to see what could be possible for them. I know thats a crazy thought, but having been on that other side, I wish everyone who had our struggles.. Best to everyone and good luck in hitting your goals...

@dhrguru.. BEST NSV Ever... you only said what many were thinking and I can't wait until I have that view :-) congrats!!!!

Ok what is nsv ?? Great thread just curious to the meaning of NSV

Welcome, I do think you will get a host of information about our Protein fetishes, answers to your worst fears on hair loss and loose skin, you will learn about NSV (non-scale victories). I suggest you look into getting this book: http://www.amazon.com/Emotional-First-Aid-Kit-Practical/dp/0976852659/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1436729032&sr=8-13&keywords=bariatric+book And start here: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ I always look there to get encouraged and refocused on what I am trying to do. Welcome again.

Totally NSV!!!

Totally qualifies as an NSV, and a great one. I'm very fascinated by all the changes that have occured in the intimate relations department due to the changes in my body and my weight. Fascinated and appreciative LOL

Congratulations! Your life will be kind of like that of the Phoenix. You will rise after that date to live a longer, happier and healthier life and be able to do the things you couldn't do and enjoy more NSVs than you can shake a stick at.