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Just checking in! Sleeved June 19 down 60 pounds from day of surgery but down 87 since 1/1/13 which was when I started meeting with my surgeon. Today was a day of a couple nice NSVs. I went shopping with some Christmas money and bought a couple pairs of size 14 jeans from NY and Co, so that made me feel good. Then went shoe shopping and discovered my foot has shrank to a size 10 from a size 11 (still huge feet but I'm 5'10"). For tops I'm still in an XL because I'm still pretty busty but that's ok. I'm still 35-45 pounds from goal so we will see. It just felt so awesome to go into a regular store and buy regular sizes and have stuff look good. That certainly hasn't been my experience in the past.

You guys are all so inspiring. It makes me sorry I haven't visited our Junebie site more often. I do tend to wallow in my own stuff too much. I, too am looking for that sweet spot. I've had two fills, and I can still certainly eat too much and chew less than I should be and get away with it. Getting a fill is a little difficult. I had to wait 6 weeks for an appointment this time, which was last Thursday, however, we had a rare and unusual snow storm that made getting there almost impossible. I had to go to the mainland for it and even the ferry I should of been on was shut down for wind. The good thing is, they told me to just come over next Thurs. and they'll try and fit me in when I get there. Not another 6 week wait. I have been very discouraged because after my initial loss, I've been at somewhat of a standstill for a long time. If I'm able to eat more, I do. I feel like I need some drastic torturous behaviour modification to stop. Hook me up to electrodes or something. What's keeping me from total despair, however is that I'm still getting small nsv's like fitting into something I haven't worn for a long time, or my favourite, the steering wheel no longer rubbing on my belly. Thank you all for being here, you're great.

OK, so here is a NSV I had a few days ago. I am going to admit it is kind of immature and vain. None the less, it felt really good (evil grin). Warning: long post! My husband's sister - I will call her Shelby here- lives 4 states away and has pretty much hated me since we met. She was super close to my husband's ex-wife, the two of them are two peas in a pod. So for that reason, no matter how nice and cordial I have been to Shelby, she is outright cold and often blatantly rude to me. It goes so far as her telling my step kids off-color remarks and things she thinks about me, including one lovely piece of advice: "Just don't eat whatever Kelly eats. You don't want to end up like her, do you?" When I met her 5 years ago, I was understandably nervous and self conscious: I had 235 lbs on my 5'3" frame. In contrast, Shelby is taller and weighed maybe 140 lbs. She is also totally into appearances and looks. After we met, she called my husband and asked how he could have "down-graded" from his ex to me. I was so hurt. (But my husband promptly stood up for me and then hung up). I saw her three times over the past 5 years. Each time I felt so awkward and self conscious, knowing how judged I was in her eyes. It never should have mattered to me, but it did. Last Monday, Shelby came into town for my step-daughter's dance performance and to visit my husband's ex. I am three months post op. We did not tell Shelby or anyone on his side of the family about my surgery. I have gone from a size 20/22 to a comfortable 12 and have lost 60 lbs, down to 179 and my confidence has really began to flourish. At the dance, we spotted Shelby and her two kids. She was disheveled and looked uncomfortable. Her usually perfectly made up face was smeared and she looked like she was having a hot flash. Also, she is remarkably heavier than lat time I saw her. Now I will say I do not ever judge anyone on their weight and I never will. I have had all too much judgment and so I truly have all the empathy on those like me dealing with body image issues. But I bring it up because of the irony and scathing hell I had been on the receiving end of from her. We approached her to say hello and offer her a seat next to us. She refused, and, didn't even acknowledge me. Her face was flush and she was angry and visibly stressed. After the show my husband asked if she and the kids wanted to join us for dinner. She declined and said she was going out with my husband's ex. Again, not looking me in the eye, zero acknowledgement. I have to insert here that I was dressed nice, donned some heals, had a fresh haircut and did my makeup. (pretty fancy for a simple gal like me). I was wearing a flattering trench style long jacket that really made my waist look small. Right before we left the dance hall I was leaving the ladles room and my husband said he saw Shelby eyeing me from behind, surveying my new shape with her eyes. I went to dinner that night feeling a huge victory. A vain one- yes. But ooooh sometimes these things just feel so good. To come down to earth, I do have a muffin top from hell that if Shelby saw she would laugh in pure delight. I hide it well- but would LOVE to figure out how to lose! With rapid weight loss I am getting that skin, so I am trying to find ways to reduce it.

Hello everyone - I've been MIA for a while - out of town, busy with work, family stuff...life sure gets in the way, doesn't it? I'm proud to say things have been going very well for me. Since my last fill I've had good restriction. I am down 75 lbs now and people at work seem to comment on how I look on a daily basis. It feels so good to get the compliments and to know that the weight will stay off with the help of the band is an even bigger reward. I've hit another plateau - staying the same for about the last week and a half - but I'm sure it will kick back into gear soon. I've been fighting a cold for the past week and even stayed home from work last Wednesday and slept the entire day. I went on a scrapbooking retreat with friends last weekend and sneezed and blew my nose the entire weekend. Then I woke up this morning doing the same thing - UUggghh!! Next weekend I'm going on another retreat. So I'll spend the week planning what I want to work on and packing my supplies. Last weekend we were in a house, so I was able to bring my Magic Bullett and have my shakes when I wanted them. This next weekend we'll be at a resort and everything is buffet-style. I'm going to just focus on eating my protein first and drinking my water during the day and then I should be fine. I just need to stay away from snacks. I had cheddar chex mix last weekend and it was SO good, but it was the first time I'd really just let myself snack and the guilt was terrible! Anyway, I see from your posts since I was on last that you are all doing well. Congrats on all the NSV's and take care of yourselves to the ones who were having issues. I'm going to try and check in more often. I miss chatting with you all!

Congrats on a successful shopping spree! What a great NSV!!

Great NSV Socalgal. You are an inspiration. Good luck Barbara on fill today. Let us know how you're doing. Have a great week everybody.

It's good to know that the weather change could be causing problems. I don't like being tighter, but it will pass and I love the cooler weather we're getting in the Houston area. Genn and Beachee Girl, Perhaps there needs to be a special recognition for bandsters who continue to follow the rules although losing slowly or not at all. If you continue to plateau, perhaps you should check with an endocrinologist. A journal would be invaluable to you and your health professioal. Cathy, Good move on the fill decision and good luck with the first fill. No more fills for me unless I am 100% positive it will be helpful. A new NSV for me. I just realized that I'm learning how to handle my emotional stresses in a much more positive way. Food was a bandaid for my depression that never promoted healing. I'm facing demons I ran from before. No where to hide now--unless it's LBT.com!

Bella - best of luck for today, thoughts are with you Maybe we need to do a thread here with everyone surgery dates as will all our members now I can't keep up with surgery dates for you all I had a great NSV yesterday - was looking for something to wear to my brothers for lunch and a swim and seen a netted top of my 12 yr old daughters (size M/L) to wear over my togs. I couldn't believe it when it fit perfectly...I was over the moon that I could fit into her clothes and showed hubby and he was blown away at it also . She said 'mum don't tell anyone you can now wear my clothes haha' Then had lunch with family and they were saying I'm now the smallest one of them all - THAT WAS GOLD So I hope everyone is well and ready for the next week ahead xx

Hi all. I've been quiet too of late. I work in the food and beverage dept of a leagues club and you can imagine how busy I've been leading up to last night. Plus school holidays etc. did you know it's only 85 more sleeps until Christmas? Neither did I until at 6 am I was woken up and informed. *groan* Weight has been steady, not stalled, just coming off very slowly. Joined the gym and realised that you have to actually GO to get the benefits of it. I'm sitting at about 73ish kg ATM, surgery weight was 86 6weeks ago. I know I had less to lose and I'm happy with what I've lost, but I still can't see a difference in the mirror, and I'm hearing all these big numbers, which I'm jealous of. 10kgs until I'm in the healthy weight range, although I'd like to lose 15 more. I traded in my old size 16 work shirts for size 12 which is a good thing, another NSV I guess. Still have 2 more weeks of soft foods before I'm on full solids. I can eat 1 chicken tenderloin with a bit of low fat dressing and that's about it. I'm stuffed. Still struggle to finish an Optifast shake or bar. Drink at least 1L of Water a day and have had the swisse hair skin and nails Vitamins since before surgery, but they are HUGE so haven't started taking them yet. I take a nexium everyday, and can really tell the days I've forgotten it. Acid feels exactly like hunger. Will keep taking it. That's about it for me. Hope every1 is well and I'm still thinking of Lila.

AussieLady, I embeded the video in the following topic http://www.verticals...52-nsv-changes/..hopefully you can view it there Shell - WAY to go *insert happy dance*...you look awesome. Thank you all for your feedback and comments, especially about the video and the negative people. I know I have to walk away from this person, but he was my biggest supporter over the last year, being there encouraging me for almost every challenge I set myself. But he lies to me, about things that are not worth it, so how can I believe what he says about me...his actions and words dont aline and it just does my head in. Talking to him about it only leads to more lies..anyway I will find a way to put some distance be healthy mind and spirit. New Year...finally New ME!! BTW I am open to be set up if anyone know and nice elligible single men hahaha:)

Shell you look amazing!!!! What a difference!!! And congrats on the promotion. I can so relate to the massive boost in confidence. NSV TODAY!!!! My size 16 work pants were swimming on me. They were target brand, but I had a pair of Kmart ones that fitted better, they were 16 too. I went to target today to get the same style of pants in a 14 as they were pretty comfy and a good style. I work with my sister and she came with me into the change room. She grabbed a size 12 and a 10. I tried on the 14 and it fitter ok. It was a little loose around the waist, but didn't fall off my hips like the 16 did. My sister looked amazing in the 10 and gave me the 12 saying just try it. And guess what!!!! IM WEARING SIZE 12 WORK PANTS!!!!!

I am proud of you "fasters"I think I have only had one fast day all month. Had a fairly awesome NSV. might post on a public forum and just link back here.

Denise, I woke up this morning all excited to read about your date...sorry it sucked. Why did he lie about his height??? Ummm, hello, it's not as if you weren't going to find out once you met him. I just don't get that. Anyway, on to the next one. Florinda, your pics look great. I went and looked at your before and after...wow! You look amazing! Exciting about the scale. I'm sure it's a loss, not a messed up scale. You must have found something that worked for your body. Brown, thanks for checking in. I love your words of wisdom on this board! Always makes me smile. Kim, you are in the big leagues now!!! What a great NSV! Love it. Also love the bird pics. Sheryl, I agree the emotions hurt more now than they did when I was obese. I there are a couple reasons for it. When I was heavy I would eat and eat to cover them and kept it up so I wouldn't really feel them. Now, I try not to do that. Also, for me, I am trying to better myself now so I need to actually feel these things and learn to get past them. I don't know if that makes sense or not. I'm fine with Queen coming in. She's probably going to be laughing to herself when she reads all of our comments about her before she was even here. lol Denise, I agree, with deleting the ones who have not posted here and are no longer doing 5:2. Saturday, big birthday day over here for my 14 year old! I love this boy so much. He is my strong willed child. When I first had him, I didn't know what to expect with a boy. Never had brothers and his sister was born first so I didn't know what to do with a boy. A strong willed boy on top of it. I remember the days when he was little and I would go to bed in tears sometimes because it seemed like a constant struggle with him. He was on the go from the time he got up till the time he went to bed. Always something with him. Now, he has learned to use a lot of that strong will for good. I knew that would happen one day, and over the years it has. He still thinks he's right about every single thing and he still drives me crazy. But, oh, how I love this boy! He is growing into such a fine young man before my eyes. He is so very smart, always has been. He is kind, caring, and loving. It's been interesting this last year, a lot of changes since he has become a teenager. I am proud of him! Let me just share one story with you and I will stop. In the beginning of December when the hubs and I went to Arizona, my mom watched the boys for us. One night I got a phone call from my mom. She said, "Guess what Tyler did tonight?". She told me that she dropped him off for a band concert that night. She came back a little while later to watch the concert and when she got there all of the seating was taken. It was standing room only, it was packed. She found a place to stand where she could see him. A few minutes later Tyler's band teacher came up to her with a chair. She said, "Your grandson asked me to give you this chair. He said he was concerned about you having to stand through the whole concert.". My mom was so proud, she had to call and let us know. That story right there pretty much sums up Tyler! I hear him walking around now so I am going to go give my birthday boy a hug! Happy Saturday Ladies!

Oh how I miss you all... Haven't managed to read all posts ... Hope you are all well! In turkey at the moment and boy, it's hot hot hot! Mid 40s! The hotel is lovely, as is the copious amounts of foods on offer, but the sleeve is working well! No idea how many cals I'm getting in though. Not fasted yet, have skipped meals in an effort to stay in control but it is really hard. I am choosing as wisely as possible - trying to find the line between 'treats' and being piggish! Sticking to the diet coke and water rule... But also enjoying coffee and hot choc! However, the cups are tiny - prob a 1/3 of the mugs I use at home! On the up side, I've been to the gym, swam and taken some lovely long walks. Oh! And I treated myself to a massage! NSV right there! Weird not having my scales here... Clothes feel the same though so fingers crossed... Early days of the hols though...lol! You all take care and I'll pop back when I can! Hugs x

Okay, THIS is a first! Huge NSV. I LIKE my Drivers license picture. First time EVER! lol

Hi ladies, Sarsar, sorry things are rough right now... I'm sure things will look up soon for you. I took my little doggie out today for a bird watching trip... a lot of it was car bird watching... which is really good, it doesn't scare the birds off as much a walking around. (we did walk around too, but not so much for birdwatching) I got lots of pics. Ill post a couple. It just makes me feel so good and relaxed when I go out birdwatching... its so beautiful in nature, and there are so many birds out there right now.. I saw flocks and flocks of swans today... really cool. I also think I might have had a break in my "art block" I have had a really hard time feeling up to making art lately... really for around 6 months or so... just not me... but a couple of things just set a spark in me today... I hope I can get the mojo back! Great NSV today too, I went to dance class and there are two tiny, sporty girls there that have been coming to class for maybe 3-4 months now, really nice and committed to the class....much younger than me... anyway today they were saying how the class is kicking their butts, and it is so hard, even their hands hurt! And they are trying to get one of the trainers to come and try the class and how it will kick his butt too.... I told them I had lost 91 pounds while taking the class, and they about fell on the floor. The class really works you, but it does not kick my a$$ any more... I just do it....(with a little grace I might add) and to think that these two sporty, hiking, rock climbing, bike riding girls are getting beat up by the same workout I do.... it just blows my mind! I know the stuff they do would kill me too... different set of muscles... but It makes me really proud, because I have never thought of myself as "sporty" and here I am... in the big leagues! I always liked QOC, she seems like a great adventuresome lady... I say yes if the rest of you agree. Laura!!!!! Come look at my bird photos! Then post a <3 because I know you'll love them!

Wearing belts is one of my NSV! I NEVER wore them when i was obese. I don't always wear them, but since I have no butt, it keeps my pants in place - ha! I feel like my words often don't come across as supportive, so I was hesitant to respond to the very sobering wakeup call of the scale and clothing sizes - I have been there countless times and really do know the pain. My intention is to be supportive, but my own views of things are perhaps not commonly shared - I don't know. If what i have to say does not reasonant, then just leave it be - we all need to find our own way of the emotional/mental part of this weight management thing. What I can share is my personal experience - I come from a LIFETIME of obesity and overweight. Seriously, starting about age 5-6 until my sleeve I was overweight, obese or SMO except for maybe about 2 years total during my teens and early 20s - I got slim a couple of times but freaked out and quickly regained, so I am probably exagerating to say I was normal weight for a total of 2 years - maybe 2 weeks - ha! So, lets say I have about 40 years experience beating myself to a pulp over what the scale says and how awful I felt like I looked. It didn't work and just made me feel bad. I look back and remember weighing say 160-170 and feeling like a huge cow - ridiculous! How much better my life would have been had I been able to accept that weighing more than other "girls" was okay and natural for me? Heck, this morning I was at 145.8 and you know what crossed my mind? A close friend that is my age, is 2" taller and weighs 117. She weighs 30 pounds less and is a real hottie - damn, why can't I be that? Totally ridiculous line of thinking and I shut that down right away! That shame cycle is part of why I gained and got to such a high BMI. Shame and self loathing never really helped me and I have alot of practice at it. I no longer feel humiliation over being up a few pounds. I don't want to regain, but I know statistically it is very likely to happen to me - at least a partial regain. I am diligent but I also recognize I am worth more than the scale or a clothing size and you are all too. I think we all need to remind ourselves that we are worthy people, we are not the only ones who struggle with maintaining a healthy weight and our value as a human being has nothing to do with how we look or what some chart says we should weigh or what society says we should look like. (or what a close friend weighs or looks like!) Yeah, easier said than done, but for me personally, I need to be in that head space or I risk freaking out and needing to use food or SOMETHING to feed the internal demons that rear their heads. I am making alot of progress on slaying those demons and not feeding them to keep them quiet... it is an ongoing process but it feels like a good direction for me.

I think my last straw was after I saw a nutritionist and I weighed in at 357 lbs at age 41. From that day forward, I have been on plan and I have never looked back. I am almost 16 months out and I feel like a million bucks! I got on a plane without needing an extension or buying an extra seat (EMBARASSING) and the tray table went all the way down AND I was in the middle of a 3 person section. I felt like I didn't make them feel uncomfortable. I felt NORMAL!! I avoided going to concerts because I and those people sitting next to me were miserable. I can't wait to see another concert!! I can fit in restaraunt booths comfortably and I have lots of room between me and the steering wheel in my car!!! I have so many more NSVs. Thank you sleeve!

Okay, I'm in for this challenge. Sadly, I had to go revise my ticker UP since the end of the Fall challenge. I've put off doing this as it SOOOO discourages me, but time to get clean and BACK to work... or working out as it were. My exercise was minimal over the holidays and omigosh WHAT a difference it makes. It's not like I don't already KNOW that. Since I always feel so much better when I'm working out regularly why the heck to I take breaks from it? Oh well, I'll try to stop beating myself up now. If I can go a week without feeling dissapointed in myself it would be a BIG NSV. An even 180 to start. By the end of this challend I want to in the 160's.

1/2/06 Weight - 244 NSV - Tagging my 24's for a future yard sale!! 1/9/06 Weight - 244 (also last week and week before) I go for my 1st fill on Friday, so maybe my weight will actually change for the week after next!!! NSV - my daughter (8 years old) walks with me everyday. Yesterday, she was tired before I was!!!!!

Looking great! I am 31 lbs loss so far and two days away from my 1 month bandiversary and having a lot of NSV as well! I am training for a 5k as well as light weights to increase my muscle tone and hopefully keep as much of the sagging skin away as possible! Lots of water and lotion! Keep up the good work!!

NSV 16 minutes continuous running on the teadmill avg speed 4.3 MPH. Completed 30 minutes total, Run Time 24 minutes, walk 6 minutes, AVG speed for total time 4.1. I am well ahead of plan. Funny NSV, I would love to tell but if my DW found out I told She'd shoot me

OK I heard the overall consensus so far. 1 (if you want to track more - go for it) NSV Timing - let's wait and here from more people and see what a consensus is. I love the challenges tooo! STICKY PLEASE.

1/03/06 214 lbs 1/31/06 212 lbs 2/02/06 210 lbs 2/18/06 207.5 lbs Well, my goal was to lose 10 lbs and hit 204 by March 1st. I might make it. I am glad I am tracking this here because I feel like I am not losing anything when in reality I am just losing it very slowly. I am weighing EVERY day, big mistake. I will see 209,209,208.5,208.5 etc.. and by the time it actually sticks on 208 I dont even realize I have lost an actual pound. NSV My waist has gone from 43 inches to 37 inches. I cant believe I am admitting how fat my belly was, but I am so darn proud to have lost 6 inches around my waist!!! Cleaned out my closet and threw out tons of pants and skirts. Now for the butt and thighs to start shrinking.......

1/2/06 Weight - 244 NSV - Tagging my 24's for a future yard sale!! 1/9/06 Weight - 244 (also last week and week before) I go for my 1st fill on Friday, so maybe my weight will actually change for the week after next!!! NSV - my daughter (8 years old) walks with me everyday. Yesterday, she was tired before I was!!!!! 1/16/06 Weight - 242 yee haw! NSV - dancing the night away at hubby's company party (wowee the sweat, but no heart attack)!!!!!