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You just don't know.......lol we call Tanner, Tornado Tanner. lol I just don't see how one person, especially a little person, can mess up so many clothes and dishes on one day. I'm kinda like you, Susan, I would much rather be outside playing in the flower beds. I just hate mowing. I didn't do much in my beds this year. I guess that's a good thing now. I don't have time to do anything anymore. Tanner keeps me pretty busy. I hope things will get back to the normal dirt when school starts. I have big plans. lol I ain't tellin either. lol Glo, I just bought some boitin in Paris this morning. You can use the tablets, just cut them up in pieces. I use the capsules. I hope I can get them down now. I don't have any idea how big my stoma is, but I haven't had any problem with the capsules in the past. OH... I have a NSV to tell. I just bought a SMALLER size jeans. AND on top of that they are Rockies. If anyone knows rockies, they run smaller than other jeans!!!!!! Goodie, goodie, gum drops!!!! I got tired of wearing those elastic waistband things that grow on ya. Yall know the kind I mean. I sure hope they boost my morale. Gotta git, my house is getting dirtier by the minute. lol later yall

I hit 50# this AM...time for a treat, maybe a new shirt or a SF NF Decaf Starbucks (pricey colored water) Last couple of days I decided to get a couple new pairs of pants. I have to put on 2-3 pairs each morning to find one that will fit, then 1/2 way through the day that pair is hanging. I had to go to the regular women's department!!! I actually had to stop myself from gravitating to the Plus department...those clothes don't fit!!! NSV...My DH (160# soaking wet) sat down on the edge of the bed last night and the side rail (oak) broke (I couldn't help it, I had to giggle). If it would have been me I would be sure it was my fat old butt, I would have felt soooo defeated...but it wasn't me!!! :whoo: LOL LOL LOL

See, Betty. There were changes and you didn't even know it. THAT IS CALLED A NON-SCALE VICTORY!!!! (NSV) Just remembet that next time you get stuck. Your body is just catching up with the loss. Go Betty! Did you measure before you started? I did. Haven't measured in a while, but I have lost at least 7.5 inches from my waist. It happens when you least expect it. lol lisa

My first NSV - wearing a pair of shorts I couldn't get on at the start of summer!

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...

DH took me to dinner, then (WARNING NSV AHEAD)...HE TOOK ME TO VICTORIA'S SECRET, AND I FIT INTO THE CLOTHES. He bought me this sexy lil number, and meeee-yow!! check me out from before we left the house, compared to before we left the house on surgery day!!! This is so much fun!!!!!! stay tuned for the front pic...see next post...

After my workout, in the men's locker room they have a real fancy scale, one with a digital display mounted on the wall with 8" tall digital number readout, a few feet above your head, for ALL to see. So, I get on the scale, Ok, not bad, not great, at least I'm moving in the right direction. Then, from a man waiting to get on after me, says..."Man, I'll take that!" WTH? I never would have expected that in my life. I turn and smile at him, and notice he's in pretty good shape! WTH is he talking about? I've had many people tell me that even though you are loosing weight, your mind is not programmed to think that way. And when people compliment you, they are seeing something your mind cannot comprehend. Oh, BTW, in the men's locker room we are all walk around with nothnig more than a towel!

Hey~ Today for food this is what I had: 1/2 c. low fat cottage cheese = 100c 1 Kashi gran. bar = 180c 3 oz tuna = 90c lettuce = ? oil/vinegar = 80 tangerine = ? 17 pretzles = 110c 1/3 cobb sal = ? 1 piece of garlic bread = ? 1 JAZZERCISE...kick yo ass class = priceless (LOL) OK...the last two entries were a bit naughty, especially the bread. My brother invited me to dinner (who could resist a free dinner w/ little bro @ fav resturaunt). I don't know what the total is. Before the invitation, I was planning on a Lean Cuisine (all for me these days, the dog is pretty upset I got an unfil...:frown: @ Michelle). Anyway, good, bad or indifferent I DONT KNOW. I am not gonna weigh for a week or two...just gonna keep doing good. I just dont want to see 250 again. I am sure you all are as tired of my 250 as I am. Anyway...that is my story. Oh yeah, about 60 oz of water! OK...have a great night. PS- Had a great NSV today. I wore a shirt that I bought tight, and wore once. The shirt was gapped at the buttons before (not sure what size). Anyway, I first put on a shirt and I was swimming in it. Looked horrible. So I see this "older" shirt, and thought, well I'll just try it and see. It looked great, plenty of room, I wore it today and got sooo many compliments. People today for the first time since April/May have said, "you're lookin good!" Woofreakinhoo ladies! Made me feel soooo good!

Here's some pics. First, the NSV!!!! Legs crossed COMFORTABLY on the plane.. and I got lots of legs. And the seatbelt is no where near tight. HOORAH. This was me BEFORE I had to bundle up. And then these are taken in Central Park.. And I'm not sure where we were for this one.. The coat is an NSV too. Last time I bought from Burlington Coat Factory (about 6 years ago with parents), they had the patchwork suede coats, and I remember crying because the only thing in my size were ladies coats.. boring black trenches, etc. The day before the trip we went to BCF to find a warm coat. I was looking in plus size. I am 2x in coats I guess, I saw ONE cute coat in 3x.. and ONE cute coat in 1x. The 3x was just way too big. There was nothing in 2x that was trendy at all. I was really getting frustrated. So I decided to try the 1x coat. And Voila. there it is! I'm wearin a 1x coat!! :thumbup:

I'm giong to bed... just have to tell you all my NSV today, it is kind of funny. I was meeting my mom at the grocery store... I still don't know why but I did, so she is shopping away and i was walking up to her, made serious eye contact and she turned around and walked away WTF??? so I yelled JAN... she turns around - looked right at me and started to turn around again.. she said OMG you are so tiny, I didn't even know it was you... then she waked right by me at the register... are you kidding me... my own mom didn't know me!

What is an NSV? It sounds good so I wish I had one. But no. I have some bad news.... We went back to my home town for the 4th and I wanted to do all my favorite things, some of which included food stops. We have a great lakeside corn dog stand and I ordered one...and ate it all. Then we went to the old ice cream stop. I was able to eat an entire chocolate kids cone. And for my son's birthday, I had steak (filet mignon) for the first time. Zero dumping. I am happy I could eat a bit of steak and actually eat a small amount of ice cream, but I am upset that I still craved the breaded corn dog and ice cream and that I actually ORDERED them. I haven't weighed myself yet (I'll do so in the morning), but I'm seriously in danger of sliding into old eating habits. At almost 5 months out, are any of feeling the food cravings come back and eating things that would have made you ill (dump) a month or two ago? I HUGELY enjoyed the cheats, but they are haunting me! Not to mention snacking on potato chips on the 13-hour drive.....

Hey!! You got this! you´ve lost 80 lbs, that´s something big!!! You are doing great; remember we are here for the long run. The most important thing is that you are better than 1 year ago, and that 1 year from now, you´ll be even better. My surgeon told me yesterday in my follow up app that if I continue to be consistent and that I keep learning and "listening" to my tool (gastric sleeve) we are good. So, look on all the weight/inches off, the saggy clothes, all the NSV we´ve experience in only 5 months, YOU/WE are doing great!

Yea I got card #1 today Judy---I loved it, I now look forward to #2! You sound like you assemble things like we do. Rick does the old look at the box and begin. Me I find the instructions and begin with step one....only after getting plastic bowl for all the nuts & bolts, and assembling the tools it says we need. I am a bit of an organization freak when it comes to things that way!!! On the good side though, we got our elliptical as well as many, many other things through the years---and we haven't killed one another yet! Weather here today was cold, but clear. I had to go to Lowes, and then picked up some things in Walmart for my brother, he never knows what to get my kids, so I helped! I tell him nothing, but forget that! TracyK that is a good thing, it will make moving soooo much easier, not having to secure things, and cover them for a long trip. And everything will be familiar. I have so many NSV's that I would have serious problems figuring out which was #1....think it depends on the mood or the day or something! I loved running into my old boyfriend, and he told me I had not changed a bit! He was just gone for many years, and did not see the 100 pound climb, or the 100 pound loss!! I felt so awesome that he thought I had not changed---which I know we had both aged, but I was not ashamed to be facing him! I mean he had a bit of a belly beginning on him too!! But 100 pounds ago, I would have been very self concious of how much I had changed from when he knew me....which is about 130 pounds ago. It is the feeling--the one where I no longer worry about standing out in a crowd simply due to my weight. Whether it is with the old bf, or walking into a restaurant, or across a parking lot---I am not a young thing garnering lots of attention for looking good, nor am I worried about them seeing me as HUGE---I just feel normal. In all reality, I almost always felt within a reasonably normal range. I never worried that people were going to go home and discuss the huge, fat woman they saw in the store today....but when being looked at----I felt ashamed of myself, and I don't feel that way anymore. Painting my toenails myself, fitting in the shower with DH, buying in the Misses, and even the Juniors dept., chasing my grandkids--really running and chasing them, and giving them horsey back rides, knowing seat belts will fit, and I will fit in seats, and that almost all weight limits are now below me, knowing one size fits most---I'm a most now! The list goes on and on and on!!! Laura--was everyone with this organization (church did you say?) rude like this or was it limited to the one woman who gave you such grief all along---this is the same one you spoke of before with the meeting etc? I think if it were just her, I would speak to someone else about the situation...surely you and your company are not the only ones she is making the church look bad with! ---Now on the other hand with the $$$ side of it, I would imagine they are like most business--and would only pay the invoice when it was sent and likely once a month, she may have taken the continued emails as harrassing. I see why you were doing it, but...having heard her history, I imagine that set her off again! I do not mean to be playing Devils Advocate here, but I know from running my own small business, I never paid a bill without a written invoice of some sort, leaving me a paper trail. And when you are dealing with a church, they answer up several levels, while only certain ones have actual money access. She must be one of them though to be making the original agreement. Kill her with kindness, send her a card again! Don't let her drag you down, you did right by her---don't let her pull you to her level! Yep Suzanne--I have to agree with the article too!! I did low fat for over a year. I bought into the whole thing that I could eat like 14 baked potatoes and have less fat than one single slice of cheese! I worked hard at it, exercise and all, and in that year, I dropped my cholesterol 7 points, and lost 24 pounds. It was hard! Then I did Atkins, which is low carb. Holy smoke! I lost weight almost as fast as with the band! Now the second I added carbs back into the diet, the weight soared!!!!!!!!! I was starving all the time--where as when I was doing the no carb thing, I was not craving them, but give me one and I want them all! My cholesterol did not go back up---it remained steady, until I lost this time, and it dropped some more. But low carbing it, will drop weight on me FAST!! Even with the band, if I want to jump start losing again, the first thing I get rid of is anything white! Potatoes, bread, rice....Get plenty of protein, and I feel good, and the weight drops. The thing with me is I hate feeling deprived! I hate not being able to have something! It nags at my brain non stop! So I always thought I could just have a little bit, and that was always my down fall. With the band, I truly can have just a little bit and I am fine! Give it a try--I bet you are shocked! Well speaking of food! Kinsey wanted fish and corn on the cob for lunch, so we went to Captain D's--like Long John Silvers---I managed almost a full fish fillet. Got over full, thought I was going to lose it all right then there--but it passed!!! Gotta go-- Kat

Someone on here asked about life insurance. I have seen a couple of post here and on other sites about this question. I have heard that some people have been able to get a price break because they have lost so much weight and their blood levels and other things were back to normal. So we all have something to look forward to. Also keep your current insurance and doo not drop it until you have the documents in hand. I have heard people dropping one and then not getting approved. Just something to keep in mind. I guess you can say for some people that this is a NSV. Chris

Right now my current goals are: 1.) Have a weight loss of 70lbs by April 25th. I am at 61lbs down now. 2.) I also begin training to run a 5K on July 4th. My training starts April 2nd. It's so weird to think that I actually want to run :ohmy: 3.) I bought an XL tee-shirt that I want to wear by July. 4.) I want to have a "1" in front of my clothes size by this Fall. It's hard to think of any long term goals right now but I would love to be at goal this time next year. DH has promised me a clothes shopping spree for when that happens. So the motivation is there. I had a NSV last weekend when I was able to sit comfortably in a movie theatre seat with my jacket on I still had room to move around.

Yahoo! For your scale-NSV!!!!

Sleep Apena NSV I found out last June that I had sleep apena and started using the CPAP machine about a month before being banded. I had a pressure setting of 12 and now down to a 7. I have lost close to 50lbs since being banded 6 months ago. I have been having problems with to much air etc. along with not wearing the mask the whole night. I talked to the doctor about it and he suggested that we try using a dental device instead. Insurance approved me for the device and I have started to use it and it is great. Here are pictures of the device. The dentist who deals only with sleep apnea feels that this device will work for me and that she wants to do a sleep study in about 4-6 months to ensure that it is working. If it is working then I will not need to use the CPAP. Scan and Save to Computer Herbst_anterior_close_up.jpg (651k) [View] Scan and Save to Computer HErbst_elastic_holder_buried.jpg (525k) [View] Scan and Save to Computer Herbst_heavy_hardware_side.jpg (548k) [View] Scan and Save to Computer HErbst_heavy_Herner.jpg (618k) [View] Photos: Scan and Save to Computer HErbst_Chris_Walters_2008_front.jpg (701k) [View] Scan and Save to Computer HErbst_Chris_Walters_2008_front_1.jpg (689k) [View] Scan and Save to Computer So far the dental device seems to be working. Chris

Thanks for the advice Barbara. I have my six month appointment coming up in about 2.5 weeks. I will definitely address it with my doc. Til then I'm gonna eat early, stay away from the offenders and see what happens! Congrats on getting rid of the pants. I haven't done that yet. I'm waiting for the day I'm walking down the hall at work and my pants just fall off. Now THAT's a wacky NSV!

Trip to therapist today. P.S. Had an NSV this week at doctor's. The nurse used the regular blood pressure cuff on me without giving it a second thought AND it worked!!😊

Laura - Glad to hear you got some relief. Melissa Are you at 3.0 or above? I was shocked when they put in .4 to make it 3.0 and then wanted to go another .4 because barium went so fast. I declined and it's a good thing. Water went down ok at center, but my one sip of liquid protein since being home seems to be taking it's time. All I can say is--yeah! I want restriction and I can handle liquids and mushies for as long as necessary I'm off to lah lah land until I begin teaching this afternoon. One more NSV. I stayed in Onderland even at the Surgi Center with all my clothes on. I was 198.6. My scale showed 199.5 fully clothed right before I walked out the door.

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!

It's been over 9 months and I'm just now getting up the guts to post before and afters. Right now my scale is broken but I know I'm over 60 lost. I still have 100 to go but today I had a HUGE NSV. I went to buy some new carpi's for work and before surgery I wore 28's (tight) 30/32's. Today I grabbed a 26 and too big. 24...too BIG! I bought 22's!!!! I can't remember the last time that happened. It's been over 10 years since I fit 22's!!! My shirts are still bigger because I carry my weight around my mid section, but I can now shop for shirts at lane bryant again. Anyways, I figured it's time to post some pic's. I finally see a difference! Thanks to everyone for being so inspiring! Love you all! First pic was taken a few days prior to surgery and the second was taken tonight!

My recent NSV is when I went shopping for clothes before surgery I was in a 26R and now I fit a size 18(ultra stretch)

I had a funny NSV over the holiday. I was with my brother and nephew when my nephew's mom (my brother's ex) came to pick my nephew up. She was totally skunk eyeing me something wicked. She wouldn't even respond to my attempts at small talk. I was thinking "wow, she hates me!". Still, I just tried to ignore her and loved on my nephew. When it was time for them to leave, my brother walked them out. When he came back, he was laughing. Apparently, she had no idea who I was and assumed I was my brother's new girlfriend! LMAO! She asked him who I was (curse words included) and he laughed "ummm, you mean my sister?" He said her jaw literally dropped and she goes "no way! but she's so little now! It doesn't look like her at all!" My brother told her I'd lost over 200 pounds so it's no wonder she didn't recognize me. I guess she then felt bad for being such a b#tch to me. I laughed so hard!!

NSV I went to Starbucks this morning because I wanted a skinny hot chocolate. So I paid with my debit card (which has my old picture on it) and the lady looked at me and said you have lost a lot of weight Congratulations! I smiled and told her thank you! I love my band!