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I just had a nice surprise. My husband and I are going to Italy and Greece for 2 weeks in June. I don't know what made us start talking about our passports but we did. So he goes and pulls mine out of our lockbox. We got it renewed in March of 2008. Here is where I digress a bit... so, my 'ah ha' moment was in november of 2006 while at my moms house. I didn't own a scale and she had one in her guest bathroom. I jumped on it and saw 267 pop up and realized I can't do this anymore (at 5'2", I was easily 140lbs overweight). It was right there that I decided to do whatever it took to take the weight off. If someone told me shooting horse pee into myself would work, I'd do it. Luckily for me my answer wasn't as gross. I scheduled a consult at the mayo clinic to get the lapband. Mayo has an extensive bariatric program and requires six months of appointments prior to surgery. I jumped in full force. By March of 2008 I was 25 lbs down, tracking my food religiously and exercising regularly. So when I had that picture it wasn't even my 'come to Jesus' moment but wow five years makes such a difference. As many of you know the band didn't work for me. I had it placed in June 2008 and did well the first 2 years. Then I started having terrible reflux and playing what I referred to as my food games ( waiting until 2 or 3 in the afternoon to eat, get stuck, throw up, look longingly as others ate around you knowing darn well you can't even swallow Water but you are starving). In December of 2012 I couldn't ignore it anymore. I made an appointment with mayo again to get an EGD and find out what was going on. I found oyt later that week that the two years of vomiting, reflux and heartburn had manifested itself into intestinal metaplasia. It was then I decided the band has to come out and I wanted converted. Having a friend die from Barrets several years ago, I knew I was done playing. June 2013 (almost five years to the day from my lapband) my band was taken out and I was converted to RNY. I was 220 on the day of surgery and am 160 this week. I am confident I will reach my goal if it takes me another 20 years. God willing horse pee won't factor in. So back to my NSV.. Seeing that picture was a great visual reminder of my journey to this point and reminded me how every step along the way helped me get here. My relationship with food is better than it has ever been, I feel healthy and while I have the all too damiliar freakouts from stalls I never take my eye off of the prize. Me and my worth to achieve anything I desire.

Week Four post op Challenge weight: 203.4 Last week's weight: 192.8 Today's weight: 191.0 (down 1.8 pounds) Goal weight: 180 After last Monday, went up 1.2 pounds then into a stall until yesterday. Looking forward to a bigger weight loss week. Lots of NSVs every time I wear something. I LOVE my sleeve!

There is no guarantee that you won't be one of the few people that can not eat spicy food or bread post surgery. That is a small risk to take vs being obese and all of the potential health issues that can come with it. Look at all of the positive aspects of your life that can happen: better health, living longer, more NSVs than you can shake a stick at, comorbidities that are significantly reduced or go away, etc.. Using straws or drinking carbonated diet beverages is a heated debate. The only time I use a straw is on infrequent occasions when I buy a diet fountain beverage from a convenience store. I do drink diet carbonated beverages without problems. Even my surgeon and his head nurse both think that carbonated diet drinks (when appropriate to drink, post WLS) stretching your sleeve is a myth. But out of fairness, they prefer Water as the beverage of choice. Also, diet sodas can be acidic and may contain caffeine. My hair did thin a little post WLS, but I never had any issues with significant hair loss and don't have a problem now. WLS is only a tool. We need to commit to a lifestyle change to make them very successful.

Oops -- forgot a big one -- Been having trouble with the CPAP machine keeping me awake at night (sleep apnea). I called the doctor and took the machine over to the clinic to have the pressure lowered from 11 to 8 (all attributed to weight loss). However, for the past 2 nights, it's still bugging me, so I have an appointment to see the doctor in about a month and I think I'll end up going off it for good. For now, I'm not using it because it interferes with more than helps me sleep. THAT's a big NSV.

Weird NSV ,the two rolls of fat on my back are gone! Good riddance!!

My favorite NSV ... I'm able to buckle my seat belt without lifting my butt/hip I can just click and go! I wear my watch and it slips up and down my wrist. .::SurgeryDate 7/25/12::.

These ALL sound so amazing and Im so happy for you all. I really can't wait to have my nsv experiences!! :^)

Hi there! My surgery went great! I’m down 26lbs my third week post op. I still do feel sick at times and am learning how to eat and drink slowly. I can’t keep too much down though. My NSV would be ; no more back pain, and I can’t leave out that my feet don’t hurt anymore! I had the worst throbbing foot pain in both my feet and now I can walk and run errands without being miserable. Congrats on your toe nail victory. I hadn’t tried! I just leaned over and saw that Wow I can! However it does hurt my tummy to do much since my incisions are still healing.

Congrats, Ginger Snaps - that's a great NSV. I was at a conference at our local university last weekend - it was spread out all over the campus and I could walk between the buildings with no problems. Also fit into those little chairs with the fold down desk in the lecture halls

*Gasp!* We lost over 300 pounds in May!! Awesome job everyone!! :clap2: Congrats on your NSV, Feel2Young2B40! That must be an awesome feeling, but I also understand the fishbowl thing. Hold your head up high and be happy! These people are noticing good things. What a change from people looking and thinking the opposite, right?! Ok, Lianna... you twisted my arm. There will be 5 pt bounses for each perfect WEEK in June's challenge. Cool.

Holy Cow ! Ok, so I havent bought any new clothes in years, and I mean that literally .... I just dont like to shop for clothes, unless Its for something i specifically need. So, since surgery, my things are practically falling off of me, so i broke down yesterday, and went to CJ Banks. I was a 28 for the past 15+ years, so I figured i must NOW be down to a 24, or maybe even a 22 .... nope - an 18 !!!!!!!!! Holy crap!! I was just stunned! I actually cried in the dressing room, and called 5 people I knew who would appreciate it ! LOL Wow, this is all SOOOOOO worth it :-) I just had to share ....

Tiny NSV today I had to keep cinching my seat belt in my van to get it tight enough.

I have had multiple NSV's during this process. Some of favorites have been: 1. Crossing my legs again 2. Shopping in the "normal" section 3. Able to fit comfortably in a restaurant booth 4. Wearing heels/wedges 5. Having lots of energy 6. Working out without feeling out of breath or out of place 7. Walking all day at Disney and having tons of extra room on all the rides- going back next week and can't wait I am looking forward to many more and I love reading everyone's victories!! It is inspiring

I've met nearly all my NSVs so I'll not bother to post them. I just wanted to comment here that whatever you are looking forward to, know that you can have it all. I've been lucky enough that it's happened to me so I know that it can happen to you all as well. Good luck!

I just read through every post in this thread over the past few days and it's made me laugh and tear up. Congratulations to all on their NSV, and for noticing and appreciating them! Your posts have reinforced to me what a good decision this procedure and lifestyle change is. I've started a list of NSV goals inspired by all of yours!

Yes, to echo what Vinesqueen has suggested, if getting through one day seems to big then try one hour. Anything to help keep you focused. And dont forget the NSV (God I love them!!) Best thing you have done is to share your delima here. The support this forum has to offer is worth all of the M&M's ever made!!! I find a little something in every post I read. Just keep on truckin Kel, you'll get there! Cheers!!

Phew! I feel better now, I thought it was me but now that I know that it's everybody I fell much better. I know this post will go unnoticed but I am actually having fun, for the first time in my life I feel invisible. I think I am going to log this in my NSV chart. Weight Loss to date all of me

I'm wondering if I'm the only one in a "funk" at this point. Haven't dropped a pound in 4+ weeks. (Well...I have lost...up 2 down 2 a dozen times LOL) There are moments I have tinges of regret when I realize I got this far in WW in the past. Is this it? I should also point out that if this happened to me any other time I'd say screw it and open a bag of chips. That's not happening ! My "logical" brain kicks in and says to keep with the program. This stall will break. I've had more nsv's than I can recount. I try to focus on them, not the scale. I'm also dealing with a bone spur in my hip. Going to PT. But wouldn't be surprised if I'll need surgery on it. I really don't want another surgery. Grr. It's holding me back. I'm so happy for everyone's success. Hoping I can start posting more news about weight loss soon! Later losers! :-)

Morning all! Just thought I would drop in and let you know about my NSV last night! (Admittedly, it started out with a bit of a nightmare!) I was happily sitting at home, in my pjs (no judging) after dinner last night when I logged into my work emails. I was waiting for a client to send something back that I needed for today, and being the paranoid soul I am, wanted to check it was in my inbox. I logged in, and to my horror, it was not. (Wild panic ensued). I then checked my outbox and to even more horror, my last email was stuck there! Long story short, dashed out of my PJs into the first clothes out of the closet and raced to work to send the email properly. It wasn't until I got home that I realised the jeans I had slung on were the ones I had bought before surgery, that wouldn't even go over my thighs. Admittedly, they were still a bit tight on the tummy, but I am taking that as my first NSV thank you very much! Hope everyone is well! MB Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had to do a "wash" of 1/2 Water 1/2 peroxide, then neosporin, just on the two stitches where the two tubes were. I didn't have to do anything to the dissolving stitches, but as soon as they started to heal I started using Mederma. Next time I see my ps I'm going to ask for a RX of some type of bleach. I had a great NSV yesterday, I tried on 12's and they were too big, I had to get 10's!!!!!!!!!

NSV....my pajama pants are a little looser (no, not because I went 3 days in a row wearing them, lol). These came right out of the dryer and pretty soon I will have to tighten the drawstring :eek:

WHOO HOO! Mini NSV! I am not longer morbidly obese! BMI 39.9! LOL

don't be nervous. Those are awesome nsv's! Keep us posted.

What a great NSV!! I'm very happy for you. I hope you have a great time I bet your friend will not even recognize you now at 198 lbs.

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to me. I plan to maintain my workouts. More so to make sure that I am consistent. I think that is one of the main reasons I am on this see-saw. I am trying to work on being consistent with logging my food on my fitness pal. And I will do better to focus on my NSV. Thanks so much.