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Thanks everyone! Logically I know I need to chill, but I am so freakin' impatient!!! Arrggg!!! I do need to focus on the NSV, like when my husband tells me I'm wasting away I just really really want to make sure that I'm not done losing yet... that is my biggest fear and why I'm chained to the scale. Every time the number doesn't move or it goes up, I freak out a little. I will just keep on keeping on.

I had the surgery 2 days before you and get the stall every week since week 4 but the scale is still moving down of course slower than the first month. I got discouraged at first, but then when the stall started to be the regular lol I just started to appreciate the NSVs, I went to all clothes in the closet, some were totally tight pre-op and now it's loosing. Got a new haircut, try some new makeup and bought accessories. I don't want to but new clothes now, still enjoy the loosing gap between my body and the clothes size 14-16 and even some model in size 12 . I think I might be able to fit into size 12 now but I'm not ready to try the new clothes just yet, I'm still high on this NVS lol. Also please check if you have enough calories intake, the stall always visits when I do over exercises because I cannot really eat more for the portion and I'm too scared of carbs and high callories food. I started to tone up the body with basic yoga & light weight lifting when I cannot go for a walk. Seem like I didn't lose many inches neither at least in the passt 2 weeks but my clothes are more loosing. I guess it just shrinked down into shape. It's amazing how our body works!

Just did the Icebucket challenge - posted the video to facebook and sent my donation off too... now this is a massive NSV because even last year I wouldn't of done this sorta thing in public! Confidence is growing!

So much has happened to me since I had my VSG 3 years ago. I look back at the man I used to be with sadness in my heart. I used to hate myself. I was sick and tired of well .. being sick and tired. I had no energy so I slept all day. When I wasn't sleeping, I was thinking about what tasty treat I could devour to sooth the pain of my existence. I hated my job and hated socializing with people. I simply wanted to stay home in my protected bubble full of various electronic entertainment devices and a fridge full of goodies to dull the pain. At the time I was married for a total of 8 years. During those 8 years I continued in my lazy slothful and selfish ways. It is impossible to truly love someone if you do not love yourself. She has forgiven me, but sadly we have peacefully went our separate ways. There comes a point in relationships when too much damage has been done and no amount of effort can fix it. During those 8 years I had aspirations of becoming a Pharmacist. Year after year I talked about how I was going to go to college but never took action. As the years passed, the weight continued to pile on making my dream fade away. Deep in my heart I knew that if I could conquer my weight that the rest would follow. I was desperate and willing to try anything to get thin and healthy. After tons of research I came across the information regarding the VSG and knew without a doubt that this was the answers to my prayers. I began my fight. The first step was to figure out how to pay for it. After some investigation I found out that my insurance from work covered VSG after a 6 month required waiting period of seeing a Doctor and nutritionist. Of course I ended up gaining weight while waiting which luckily didn't affect my approval. Finally the day had come for my procedure. Everything went smoothly and I woke up in not too much pain. I remember it feeling like I did 1 million crunches and was super sore but not in agony. I did have very bad gas pain after the third day, but after lots of walking the gas was gone. I was now on my way to the promised land of the skinny. I followed all the doctors orders and dietary recommendations. I followed all the do's and the don't s to a tee. I was not going to risk screwing up this last chance at a new life. I picked my high school weight as my goal weight since I didn't really know which number to pick. After about 6 months I lost most of the weight. About 6 months ago I decided to really kick things up a notch and finally get to goal. I already exceeded my goal and weight 180 now. I did get an extended tummy tuck as the icing on the cake after all my hard work with my weight loss. I really wanted to be able to hit the beaches and not be ashamed to take my shirt off. Honestly the tummy tuck was MUCH more painful that the VSG. It was a pretty rough surgery indeed. I really recommend you not only reach your goal BEFORE getting any plastic surgery, but also be stable at your healthy weight for at least a year to make sure you can keep off the weight. Trust me - you do not want to have to endure a second tummy tuck - not fun. While my results look awesome I did lose most touch sensation around alot of my stomach especially near the bellybutton. I was a little dissapointed, but I have no regrets and was more than happy to accept the tradeoff. So now for the latest update. I have been attending college for more than a year now. I will be graduating from community college in August 2016 and will start Pharmacy school the following year. I have exceeded my goal weight and currently weigh 180 lbs and wear a size 32 waist and Medium to Large shirt depending on the style. I have experienced so many NSV's (non-scale victories) that I have lost count. I now have high self esteem and confidence in myself. I know that now that I have defeated Obesity in my life, I am an unstoppable force filled with drive and passion. There are no ladies in my life now, but I know one day I will attract the lady of my dreams. Matters of the heart cant be rushed. If you are debating whether or not VSG is worth it - for me it was a second chance a life. Embrace the VSG blessing and enjoy the incredible journey and absolutely life changing miracle that this surgery is. And now here is some before and after pics for you. - Be inspired - Shayne

So when I started my weight loss journey almost 2 1/2 yrs. ago my bmi was @52.5 now today it is 39.9 :D

I bought a pair of XXL compression capris this morning, I got them home and tried them on. They are loose. Put a smile on my face.

NSV! Well, my dermatologist wouldn't agree! Got my very first sunburn on my white belly after wearing my first bikini to the pool today!

Congrats! Not only on your weightloss success, but also on your acceptance that WE may never reach "that" number on a scale. And just look at all those NSV's!!!!! Kuddo's to you for enjoying your healthy life.

I took a friend to the hospital today for tests. After they told me I could go get my car and pick her up outside the front entrance. So I was walking a long and there was a mom and a little girl behind me.... The little girl was chattering away about everything and nothing. Then she stops and says, 'mommy why is that lady's leg so little?' I knew she was talking about me because we were the only ones around. Her mother did not miss a beat! She said,' honey I think she was born with them like that.' I looked around and the mother smiled faintly at me hoping I did not hear. I smiled back. I thought, " you should have seen me two years ago, they would have been hidden from view." Is that a NSV or just an observation by a little girl with big blue eyes!

Two NSV posts for me back to back! Yesterday I went and got a mani, and I hadn't seen this manicurist in a while. It genuinely took her a minute to recognize me. Then of course came the questions. She asked what I weighed, I told her, and then she said "I wish I weighed that". Someone wished they were my weight.... What?!! She said she weighs 163, which is a very normal weight to me, and a skinny weight to former me. A non-heavy person wished they were my weight... Mind blown.

You might recall my Labor Day goal that I posted in a blog entry awhile back. That goal was 235. As of this morning, I am 240.5. I think I can do it, kids!!! I originally thought it would be a stretch but it appears to be close at hand. Honestly anything in the 230s will make me pleased as punch. I am going back to Indiana that weekend to see my parents (It is also my Mom's birthday on the 30th) and I know they will be proud of my weight loss. They have not seen me since Memorial Day. That was only a few weeks post surgery, maybe 25 lb lost. Now I'm over 70 lbs lost. My Dad is utterly fascinated by the whole thing. He and I have always struggled with our weight. So he is really happy that I am losing so much and being so successful. He says he is too old to have such a surgery (he's 72, but I think he could do it just fine, we tend to be good healers), so I think he is living vicariously through me. Yesterday I had my belated 3 month visit. Dr. Hungness was so pleased with my progress. He actually seemed quite floored when I told him I am in the gym 5 days a week. I seem him again in three more months - so six months post op. He said they will be doing some labs. We'll find out if my vitamin D level has recovered. Although my nurse practitioner will probably be drawing for my HgA1C sooner than that since she manages my diabetes. She usually tests for Vitamin D and most of the tests he will be looking for. My daily sugar levels continue to be good. In the mornings I used to always be scary high. Now I am consistently between 85 and 110. I had an exercise related NSV while at the gym yesterday. I used to always get pins and needles when I used the elliptical after about 15 minutes. Basically it was like my feet were falling asleep. I used to struggle to do 20 minutes on it - not because I was exhausted, but because the pins and needles were so painful. Yesterday I was on the elliptical for 35 minutes. I realized about 30 minutes in that the pins and needles were not happening at all. So clearly that issue was due to me being over 300 lbs. And, I got this outfit from fabletics.com (my apologies if you cannot see it): http://www.fabletics.com/index.cfm?action=shop.viewproduct&featured_product_location_id=0&product_id=1439782&psrc=my_looks&master_product_id=1439782&original_master_product_id=1439782 I wore the tank to the gym yesterday. It was a little bit exposing. But no one looked at me strangely. No one said I was too fat for it. There was no side eye! I'm just so happy to have more choices in gym wear!

I survived my first dinner in a restaurant. Only ate the grilled chicken out of the taco. Did not eat the flour tortilla or the cilantro & cabbage that were also inside. I cut it up into the tiniest pieces ever. ( I think the waitress thought I was nuts). The only thing that bothered me was that I never got to even take a sip of my water ( damn half hour rule!) The "old me" would have been bothered by the massive amounts of wings & beer that surrounded me. Or the plate of "loaded tater tots" that the couple next to us had. But instead, this Sleevie Wonder was bothered by not being able to drink water when she wanted to. Should we chalk it up to a first NSV???

I saw you back there! Congratulations, great NSV!

Wonderful NSV.

While I've had several NSVs, nothing was more meaningful than this one. I started at a dance studio last year 2 months before I had surgery, and returned a few months post surgery. Last month I participated in the filming of a promo video for the studio. It can be found on YouTube by searching ShakeItLatinStyle PreRoll. The studio is in Mill Creek WA. I've attached the link, I'm not shown much but I'm wearing a purple tank top - short hair in the back corner. The very idea that I am actually LIVING life instead of watching from the sidelines is great accomplishment!

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

Thanks guys and I try to never lose appreciation for the beauty around me. There's a plaque in my kitchen that reads "If you are lucky enough to live in the mountains then you are lucky enough". And it's right next to the plaque that reads "Thou Shall Not Whine" BTW, I'm in eastern Idaho on the "good" side of the Teton range. And by good I mean about 2 million less tourists/year than Grand Teton National Park on the other side. The trail I took the pictures on is one of the more popular ones over here, but we still only saw 7 people on the 6 hour ride. Most times we never see anyone. Cody's mom...it won't be long before you are back in the saddle and it will be fabulous! And save up for a new saddle....I actually had to get a new one with a 3" smaller seat....my most expensive NSV. As for mounting, I still look for a log or rock or stand her downhill to get on in order to minimize the pull and twist of the saddle and girth. It's better for them anyways.

The scale this morning had a new middle number, but since this is the NSV thread... Was putting on jeans for a date Saturday night... The pair I pulled on looked saggy in the butt and they were the only pair I've been wearing lately that fit at all any more. I saw a pair laying folded on the closet floor (yeah, my closet is like that), grabbed them, pulled them on and they fit (without cutting me in half even). Two months ago I was in a 16. I looked at the pair I had tried on and they were a 14. Went in the bathroom (where there was light) and checked the tag and the pair I had on were a 12!!!! I'm in a FREAKIN' SIZE 12 JEAN!!! So, I promptly went to the mall, into Express and tried on this really cute lacy top that maxed out in a size large (no XL's in that store) and the size LARGE fit!!! Tell me I wasn't feeling like a rock star on that date (only the second with this guy).

That's a great NSV!

Haha Leaky burrito! I totally relate to this!! Congratulations on your NSV, so cute!!

I laughed....I had this notion he was going to grab you and hug you tightly..... So glad about your NSV...Write them down so that you can remember them Keep them coming!

I had the best thing happen to me this morning! When I got out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and it closed all the way around, even my hips!!!! I cannot even remember the last time that happened. I usually look like a leaky burrito when I get out out the shower. I was so excited that I ran in to show my husband, and he was all "That's... great! What?" He had no idea why I was so excited about it, but he did helpfully point out that I was dripping on the floor.

Thanks everyone for the great responses! It occurred to me that I pedaled my bike standing up! I never was able to do that when I was heavy. Now it's become so much easier for me that I did without even thinking. I guess that comes under the heading of NSVs.