Search the Community

That's a pretty awesome nsv! Congrats you put a smile on my dial today keep up the great work, all your efforts are slowly coming into fruition . Thats a very cute outfit by the way!

I swore off shopping during my pre-op. I was losing weight pretty quickly (down almost 50 lbs in 3 months) and knew it would just be a waste of money to buy any new clothes. So when the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection launched, I didn't even wanna look at it because I knew I would shop. Well...that turned out not to even be an issue because before I even woke up that morning, the Target website had crashed and most stores looked like a tornado had come through and picked up all of the Lilly items. So I moved on with my life LOL I went to Target today for cleaning supplies, face wash, and a trash can. That was all. Of course, I had a Cartwheel for 15% off one of their brands of women's apparel, so I thought whats the harm in taking a look? Maybe I'll find a nice maxi dress to transition around in. I walk by the women's section and see a very familiar print of white and green. Could it be? No...there's no way...is that...that's a piece of Lilly Pulitzer for Target. I'd recognize that cheery print anywhere. It's a jumpsuit I had coveted when sneak peeks of the line started showing up online. I picked it up and found no flaws or marks or tears in it...how could this possibly be here?! I check the tag and it's a standard XL. Well, I usually need an XXL at Target, and that's not always a good fit. I usually have to go to their plus section and I almost never find anything. This item is not stretchy. And it has a zipper. At this moment, I am terrified. Me and zippers don't have a pleasant history. I take it to the fitting room, hang it up and examine it again. If it doesn't fit AND has a tear, then i'll feel better because I don't want a torn item anyway. There's not a single mark or tear. Suck it up Ashlee. Try it on. I put one leg in...I put the other leg in...I pull it up and it actually passes my hips. I take a deep breath (actually I sucked it in is what I did LOL) and pull it up the rest of the way. So far so good. But does it zip?? I reach behind me the best I can and pull up that tiny white zipper. And it stops. OMG. I KNEW IT. IT DOESN'T FIT. I turn around to see where i've stopped and lo and behold...i've zipped it all the way up. This thing fits. And not only does it fit, it fits damn good! It's a wee bit snug at my chest, which tells me I've got a little room to make so I can wear this thing out properly. Even though I've sworn off shopping, I absolutely cannot walk away without this item. According to the girl working the fitting room, a woman had returned the item last night and since they no longer have any of the collection in stock, there's no where to properly hang it. So it was mixed in with "similar" colored items. I wasn't even gonna go to this particular Target today, but I didn't feel like going to my usual Target closer to home. So if I had to analyze it, I'd say that the good lord above compelled that woman to return that jumpsuit and then led me to that store on purpose so that I could find it and realize that I have shrunk my way down to standard sizes! In the words of Ice Cube...today was a good day. PS if you read that whole story, you're my hero. Sometimes I feel like storytelling.

Just when I thought I was failing, I had my 1st nsv. Today was the first time I drove since surgery and when I got into the car I had to move my seat up. ☺

Lucky Brand Seven jeans. Curvy Fit. GREAT NSV!

There s a similar thread started in 2009, that now has 1,122 responses. It is a very encouraging thread. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/173306-nsv-shout-outs/page-113?hl=%2Bnsv#entry3818692

My newest NSV, I am wearing a dress and wedges to work/school today, and I am not wearing spanx under to prevent chub rub! So that right there is a twofer! I'm IN A DRESSSSSS (I haven't worn a dress casually in about 6 years)!!! AND NOT WEARING SPANX!!!! I'm so happy I might burst, guys.

I think jeans are one of the best NSV's. A great fitting pair look and feel great... Well done...

I was wearing size 18 women's jeans before surgery. I easily wore size 14 jeans today!! I decided to try them on cause my others were getting too loose to wear, fully expecting them not to button. Excited!! Haven't been able to wear them in several years.

I have been stalled for a couple weeks now. I had measured myself before surgery so just to check I measured again yesterday and, even though the pounds are the same, I'm down 2 1/2 inches! NSV!! Also, I've noticed I'm sleeping better and am down a size. It all made me feel a little better. Although I would really like at least a little love from my scale! Lol

@@CheleLynn45 your above statement says so much you "probably"/might have celebrated with food in the past a bicycle ride?? are you kidding me? look at you now 25 happy comments (NSV's) get a new sheet of paper to write the next 25+++ another NSV for you keeping great records of weight/measurements/accomplishments 91 lbs down!!! your glow is shining through my monitor (just put my sunglasses on!! ) past 6 months have been amazing, it can/will only get better keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life kathy congrats

Well I cannot believe it has been 6 months since my surgery. So much has changed. First I just want to say I was hoping to reach a 100lbs lost by this date but I did not. I am oh so close and still I find myself happy with what I have accomplished. I want to share all that has changed for me in the past 6 months. - I am down 91lbs, and have lost a total of 60 inches from my arms, legs, bust waist, buttocks, thighs and calfs!! I have gone from a 30/32 top to a 18/20 or XL sometimes, bottoms were a very tight 28 to a an 18. Those are just my stats here are some NSV's that I am so proud of....... 1.) I am an ACTIVE participant in my life once again, this was the main reason I had this surgery!! 2.) I have more energy than ever, and just can't seem to sleep forever anymore 3.) I can run for short periods on the treadmill, still working on this one 4.) I fit in any and all booths that I have sat in anywhere I go now.....no more fear that I won't fit 5.) I have choices in clothing, choices, choices and more choices!!! 6.) I can wear my necklaces 7.) I can ride my bike 8.) My daughter can get her arms all the way around me for a hug 9.) I feel even more confident than I did before 10.) I can bend, cross my legs, get up off the floor, etc. 11.) When going thru a crowded store or venue and I am following my 16yr old daughter I know can pretty much fit thru spaces she can without trouble, where before I would always have to go around another way. lol 12.) I can buy shoes, all different kinds of shoes and wear them without my feet hurting. I love my converse but they have no support, but I can wear them now, Love it! 13.) I can fit in the airplane seats 14.) I logged between 18,000-22,000 steps daily on vacation to Disneyland in March..... CRAZY!!!! 15.) I have inspired my mom and she is doing great with her weight loss 16.) I have gone from a 30/32 top to a 18/20 or XL sometimes, bottoms were a very tight 28 to a an 18 17.) I can shave and lotion so much easier now 18.) Someone wanted to know if my daughter was my sister or my daughter, I will take that as I look younger now 19.) I love seeing muscles where before I couldn't 20.) I still don't love the gym, but it is part of my life now and I do feel better after I go 21.) I don't find out till tomorrow at my check up but I am pretty sure all my numbers will be better 22.) I can feel and SEE my clavicles, not sure why but I love this 23.) I do not hide or shy away from pictures 24.) I love that my skin has improved too 25.) I CANNOT wait to see what the next 6 months bring me!! I know that I am at a weight where people will begin their journey, but coming from my highest recorded weight of 324 and my starting weight of 314, I am amazed at the changes and what this body can do. It's hard to imagine what it will be able to do once I get to 175 or maybe even lower. I'm sorry this is so long, but I wanted to put down everything so I can print it out and add it to my book, so I can look back at it in another 6 months. I also know from my past experience that posts like this really helped me in the beginning and before my surgery. Me and my hubby are going to Celebrate today with a bike ride. It's a beautiful day here in Tucson and we are going to enjoy it! I have a pair of beautiful Clark wedges just sitting here waiting for me to hit my 100lb loss and then I can wear them!! My daughter is holding them hostage till I do. LOL Tomorrow I have my 6 month check in with my surgeon and I cannot wait to see how all my blood work came back. We will also be discussing getting my ventral hernia (it's on my lower right side of abdomen) removed. Herman has to go. He is protruding now and causing me some pain. Thanks to all who made it this far in reading this long a@@ post, Thanks to all of you who have helped me out along the way wether you realize it or not. This website has been so helpful I can't explain it. You never know when your words might inspire or help so everyone keep posting, keep asking questions, and keep keeping on!!! Here's to the next 6 months of this beautiful life of mine, it's not always easy, it's not always fun, but it's MINE and I am loving every minute of it. I have attached a pic my docs office took me before surgery, the one in the mirror was taken just the other day (I was showing my daughter I was wearing the new shirt I bought) and then a side by side of my face from the day of surgery to a pic from our March vacation. I am sorry if they are sideways, I don't know why they do that.

@@gowalking - Thank you! I was beginning to wonder if somehow they slipped something inside us that makes us suddenly impatient when they operate. So many of us seem to what super fast results even though we've been fat most of our lives. I sometimes catch myself doing this as well. Speaking for myself, I can honestly say it took 51 years of life to gain this weight. I don't need it to come off overnight and I shouldn't expect it. Each day I feel healthier and each day I need to remember to work my program. I'm now trying to notice the small things. I went on a Winery tour Saturday. There were 2 separate sets of stairs that a year ago I would have had to pause in the middle of climbing up/down that I was able to climb. I did it almost without thinking. That's a NSV that won't show on the scale.

I'm having my surgery tomorrow too! Good luck to everyone! I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my life and reclaiming me! As I did laundry today, all I could think of was I don't need these clothes anymore and how weird it will be not to shop in the Women's dept anymore! How single digit clothes will be my new norm. I was also thinking of what NSV goals I want to set for myself...having a hard time with that one. I haven't let my weight or joint pain stop me (last year I climbed both a waterfall and an inactive volcano). My new motto is "be fearless and fear less!" We've got this!!

@@gowalking you are exactly right! The NSVs are so important. I haven't weighed myself since my last appointment with the surgeon because the changing scale numbers can make me crazy. And it is enough to ask myself to put forth the effort to stick with this new eating style without the emotional roller coaster of the scale. There's already enough in life beating us up! Interestingly I was speaking to an out of town friend tonight and she asked how the weight loss was going. I told her I was doing well, but, she was really disappointed that I could not tell her how many pounds I've lost. I noticed that her fixation on the amount of weight kind of irritated me. She's thin though, so, my guess is that my explanation of how pleased I am with the NSVs was kind of lost on her. At this point I don't even want to tell her once I find out because I already feel I've succeeded a lot without "the number."

I'm starting to see more posts from folks with stalls, or gaining some weight back, or I'm 'X' pounds away from goal and I want to kindly remind everyone that weight is a number. It's the way the medical community determines success/failure with weight loss surgery. It should not be our way of determining success or failure. Stop getting on the scale. Focus on the non scale victories. We have them daily. You just have to be aware of them. Even with myself being in the maintenance stage, I still have NSVs. I just am not always aware of them and then when I am, it's as good as the first NSV. I've been on this forum for more than two years. I provide my stats just so other morbidly obese folks can see that WLS works. No other reason. I don't weigh myself anymore. I know by what I've eaten, how I'm doing. I know by the fit of my clothes, how I'm doing. I know I'm successful because I can walk again when I was almost wheelchair bound. I know I'm successful because I am healthier than I've been in almost 20 years. I know I'm successful because I look people in the eye again. I know I'm successful because I care about how I look again. I know I'm successful because I am actually out there dating again. I know I'm successful because I can take trips with my family and not be a burden. I know I'm successful because I can put my leg up on the bench in the shower and shave my legs again. I know I'm successful because I can sit in a chair with arms. Shall I go on? Do you get it now? As the weight drops...quickly or slowly or in a non-linear fashion, we experience all types of NSVs. Focus on those. Enjoy your lives, you are making choices to be better. Even if you falter, you can get back on track. You have the tools so know that every day is a new beginning and today is the day to pay attention to how much healthier/happier you are now than before. Have a good day today and be kind to yourselves. I'm heading out in a couple of hours to see my new grandson born this past Thursday. I can get on the train with no problems, climb the stairs at the train station without worrying if I'll make it or not, not worry about how big the hospital is because I can walk without pain, and hold the baby in my arms and know that I will be the most active grandma this kid will ever know. Come look for me....I'll be the little lady in the park climbing the monkey bars with her grandson in a few years. That my friends, is success.

I haven't told many people about my surgery, maybe less than 5. I always get comments about my weight but does anyone ever get annoyed by some of the things people say? Someone literally asked if I was ok, like sick.. ill... Other people straight out ask me how much weight I've lost or say wow you look like a complete different person did your doctor put you on a diet? Wtf! I know my NSV's and the way I feel outweigh it all but those little comments really irk me! I'm an introvert there is no way I'm going to tell someone an exact number as to what I've lost. Sorry guys for the long rant! I do feel so good though!!

That's awesome @@miller1109! Congratulations on your NSV!

I thought I was at goal 25 pounds ago so I bought myself two Miss Me pair of jeans from the buckle. Size 30 which is a 9/10 Well those are now too big. So I went into The Buckle to see what size I am now. I grabbed some 28 waist which is a 5/6. The salesman said what size do you have there? I told him 28 and he said oh I think those are going to be too big. I had held them up and thought there is no way I am fitting into these. I laughed at the salesman and said, do they train you to say things like that to flatter women so they will buy this stuff? He snickered and said no, but the 28's are going to be too big. I said yeah, right! I out them on and THEY WERE TOO BIG! I now wear a 27 XTRA LONG. I didn't buy any that day as I couldn't find any I liked. But believe me I came home and ordered three pair!

I'm sorry about your mom. I will keep you in my thoughts. Congrats on the NSV, although I wish it had come at a less sad time.

I would say that is a NSV to be proud of! Great work! And, I agree, that Macy's is overwhelming! But, boy does it have options

NSV-is that non scale victory?

@@CTJohn that's a lot of shirts....and closet space! I have next pants to fit into waiting in my closet -- a pair of purple linen and a pair of red linen. Want to get into them by summer. To remind myself of my new body and how far I've come, I like to fondle my collarbones. It is amazing to me how good that feels to have them there again. On the scale I always note now that I'm able to look right down -- my big fat belly is not obscuring the view. Whatever the number might be, that NSV is a beautiful thing. Oh, and I can look in the mirror and see that I have a waist. A waist! Thanks for the encouragement -- love this thread. Now to go do my walk at the lake!

Awesome! And @@joatsaint, love that little NSV award graphic. I might have to steal that for some other posts in the future!

Ha! I do the same thing! It seems to always make me feel better, lol. And makes me go out and buy pants that actually fit JamieThe pants falling off without undoing them is a sure reminder to either get them taken in or go on to new ones! Seems like this has happened to many What a lovely NSV for us!