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The other day at work a woman who I hadn't seen in months walked right past me and then came back and said hi and that she didn't even recognize me at first! Then today at a family BBQ everyone made it a point to tell me how great I looked! Down 110 pounds in 4.5 months The weight loss is slowing down... And I've encountered a few stalls... I think three. But I've gotten through them Silly me at today's BBQ I had like 8 ritz crackers and a spoonful of relish and three chunks of pineapple. I thought I was fine... But I ended up in the bathroom for a little... Note to self... Don't mess with crackers or pineapple again! But all in all a good day

Great NSVs! Congratulations on losing 110 pounds, that's incredible! Sorry about your cracker/pineapple experience. I hate when that happens.

Went to the eye doctor and you know that thing you have to hold onto so they can look in your eyes? You know, where you have to put your chin in the rest, and keep your forehead on the bar? I remember having to hold on for dear life because my big fat self couldn't get my head where it needed to be. Well, no problem this time. I got my chin in the rest easily and there was plenty of room in the chest area because the big massive boobs are no longer in the way. Loving the normalcy that comes without being obese anymore. In fact, I went out to dinner with my family last week and my sister, who is very heavy, did not sit next to me as I expected she would. I realized she wouldn't be able to sit in that spot because it was too close to the wall and there wouldn't have been room for her so I slid over to that chair so mom and dad would be able to sit together on the other side of me. I fit in that space next to sis just fine and said a silent prayer that I didn't have to worry about table space anymore, or fitting into a booth, or fitting into a chair with arms. It's truly a wondrous thing!

Yes. A longer, healthier and happier life, more NSVs than you could shake a stick at, better self esteem, comorbidities that are lessened or gone, etc.. My only regret is not having WLS sooner.

awesome NSV! I took one of my nieces to see a movie sunday afternoon and realized I am going to have to start bringing a sweater to the movies - even in a long sleeve tshirt I was freezing! and i never used to get cold...ever.

Just ran out on my lunch hour to d**k's Sporting Goods to get goggles for my swimming lessons.... they were having a clearance sale ( additonal 50% lowest ticket price). I purchased 3 Dri-Fit workout shirts in size MEDIUM... MED-DEE-UMMMMMMM!!!! for $6 each... I was tempted to buy more but since I still have weight to lose these will due for now.... They had a LOT of XL and XXL stuff on the clearance rack..not much in medium... So I was reminded 1 of the downsides of losing weight...the middle sizes are the first to go... the extremely tiny and the humungous clothes seem to hang around the racks a little longer, especially in stores like this...

Congratulations on you NSV!

Something that's been nagging at me since surgery.... I miss being able to chug water. Badly. I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery, and still can barely hit 40oz of fluid intake a day. That being said - that amount is double my intake from the week before, when I discovered how wonderful straws truly are. I thought all liquids gave me the burps; instead, I can drink pretty much everything now burp-free, provided it's through a straw. I had pre-employment paperwork today for a new job, and while I was filling out the mountain of legal stuff, the woman casually asks for me to give a urine sample for drug tox testing....and I secretly panicked! I had been sip sip sipping along on my water all morning, but I was no where near prepared to give 50ml of urine on the spot! Heck, I'm lucky to pass 200ml total on any given day! Yes, I'm chronically dehydrated since surgery, and it sucks. In the past, this would not have been an issue. I was notorious for being able to chug a full liter of water in under 30 seconds as a pre-op. Now it takes me the better part of 6 hours to get down one of those 16.9oz bottles. WTF. After 3 hours of drinking as much as I possibly could, I was only able to produce 20ml of urine...they sent the test bottle off anyways, but I have that sneaking suspicion that I'll be required to retest. See, little things like this nag at me as a post-op. I was prepared to possibly not be able to eat red meat/steak again, so I spent quality pre-op time eating a TON of beef, and I was ok with that going away. I had no idea I'd end up lactose intollerant...to the point where I wake up at night, covered in sweat and dreaming of cheese, to the point where I can taste it in my mouth!! The social aspects of food are hitting me hardest. I suppose that this is normal for everyone. I've been lucky in that I have been somewhat isolated from other people for the last month, but food advertising is everywhere, and it makes me want to strangle people. If I have to see one of those Pizza Hut ads for that damn CHEESY BITE PIZZA one more time, I swear I'll go postal!!!! Bread and cheese! I'd rather have it than sex! ....at least, I think I would. Truth be told, I'm not even sure if I would really enjoy it anymore. And that's what it comes down to....food hold absolutely no enjoyment for me any more. I can't think of anything in my food choices that tastes GOOD right now. Some things are more tolerable than others, but there is nothing that I truly savor, and it makes me sad. I'm sure the fact that I'm "stalled" does not help matters. I chose to consume a small amount of something I shouldn't, and gained 4 lbs of fluid overnight...which has stubbornly clung on for the last 3 days. And now I am terrified to eat pretty much anything. Worried that I went in debt and nearly died from complications...all for 42lbs of weight loss, which may or may not stay off. Ugh, frustrated. I'm at that point where I'm not far enough to see positives (no, I haven't lost any clothing sizes or had any NSVs yet), but buried in negatives, and it's hard to see when things will improve.

Woot Woot! I've lost 55 pounds but only 1 pant size. It's my favorite NSV.

Just think of it like this, if you're following your dr's plan, there's no way you can't lose. With the calories alone it makes it impossible. Add exercise to it, it the recipe for success. You guys got this. And weight is just a number, it's the NSVs (non scale victories) that mean the most. Smaller pants, shirt, and someone noticing that hasn't seen you in a while that says how great you look.

NSV= Non Scale Victory, like when pants that didn't fit 2 weeks ago suddenly fit, or being able to climb stairs that you couldn't climb before, basically anything that is a success towards a healthy fit body, NOT just a # moving down on the scale. PB = Productive Burping, sometimes needed when food gets a little stuck, and a good burp clears it out. Hope this clears up the confusion, whats your best NSV so far, or what do you hope for one to be ? My 1st one was when I was 2 months banded, I ran into an old acquaintance who said "Have you lost weight ? You look thinner in the face !" ( I was down 17 lbs then ) Oh boy ! that made my day !!!! Good luck !

DH-could be "Darling Husband" but probably means "D-Head" - that's funny! NSV is a non-scale victory. Something cool that doesn't have to do with numbers on the scale, like walking up stairs without having a heart attack or finally seeing your toes. Patient facilitators-to trust or not to trust? Depends on what you mean. Most Mexico doctors have a US Liason on their staff that will help you coordinate your trip to Mexico. They'll pick you up from the airport and look after you. But then there are patient coordinators that act like referral services. If you go through a referral service you will pay more. Best to call Kuri's office directly and avoid the middleman. Good luck to you. My husband was afraid I would wake up in Mexico with no kidneys. He figured they'd put me to sleep and sell my kidneys on the black market. But I've been back to Tijuana for 3 surgeries and still have all my organs!

hi everyone! This site is so helpful! I want to thank everyone for talking here. It really helps me to research the band and all related questions. My name is Kathy and I live in NC, just outside of Charlotte. I am considering banding in Mexico (insurance doesn't pay for bands, only gastric bypass, which I don't want to do). So off I will go, hopefully in March 2005, to see Dr. Kuri. I have 2 young children, ages 5 and (almost) 2. My husband is supportive but very nervous about 1) me be-bopping off to TJ for major surgery and 2)incurring a bit of temporary debt until I can go back to work and pay this off. But he feels like this is a good solution for my struggle with weight loss. As he says, "just quit eating so much" but he knows it's more than that. I have been exercising faithfully for a full year and have lost and kept off 20 lbs, but I haven't lost anything since October. My goal is another 80-95 lbs. I currently weigh 220, but would like to see 145-160. BMI is 36.6 and I am 5'5". My percentage of body fat, according to the gym machine, is 43.6%. Yuck! I will be 40 this year (May 2005) which is what made me look into all this. I am weary of struggling and depriving myself and I don't want my 40's to be a decade of discouragement. Seems too much to hope for, but maybe with the band I can succeed. Here are some things I have learned by lurking... lurking-reading everything but not writing or contributing in any other way PBing-yuck but I have a perfect understanding of that DH-could be "Darling Husband" but probably means "D*&%" Husband avatar-whatever, I can't figure out how to do that but I think I have a smiley face, no pic tickers-no clue but I'll keep clicking NSV-what? it's something good though. patient facilitators-to trust or not to trust? Oh, there is so much to learn! Again, thank you everyone for all of your posts. They are really helpful and I hope to be able to contribute when the time comes. And...all you who have posted before and after pics...thank you-you have given me hope!

Thought about this. I think one of the most surprising NSV is I do not sweat anymore. I used to be such a profuse sweater and it was embarrassing when it left sweat circles in my shirt. Now I have to be really working out hard to sweat. Cardio machines do not cause sweat. Running doesn't even cause sweating unless it is sprinting.

Ok, so BIG NSV yesterday. Since before I had surgery 2 years ago, I dreamed of riding rides with my boys and knew it may never happen. We moved to Florida last year, and finally had a chance to visit Legoland yesterday. Not only was I able to keep up with them and their friends, I was leading the pack! AAAND riding roller coasters and other rides with them, and I didn't have to worry about fitting. There was ONE ride with a teeny car and the girl had to really push down on the bar to lock it, but that's ok! I've got a ways to go, but I've come SO far! I'm back on track with a trainer and we're going to get this job D O N E!!! KEEP WORKIN' IT PEOPLE!!!

Ok....so my scale seems to love the number it is on...won't let go of it....So I decided to post 2 non scale victories I have had this week....(work with me people!:thumbup: 1. I got on size 14 pants this week....this was my goal for fall...they are too tight to wear in public but I got them up and buttoned them! 2. I ran for 30 minutes straight on the treadmill yesterday....this seemed impossible to do even a month ago... Now please, mr. scale....start moving! WTH?

NSV- non scale victory

Friends took me out to a market that was actually a food market! NSV is that i didn't spend any money!!! i was able to pick off their plates haha and had some of their gnocchi and arancini which kept down so easily! Didn't want to try too much etc so made sure my fluids were kept up So maybe rice will be ok after all but still bread bread bread so many burger and bread options tonight!! specially only as tomorrow is 4 weeks so fingers crossed

yay congrats on your NSV!!! I love Vegas, we are going 13 days!! I can't wait- I'm down 14lbs so I'm hoping to be down at least another 6 by then to make it 20 even!!

Welcome back, and congrats on the NSV! Now, dish the dirt!

I do two of the things mentioned above @GreenTealael mentioned, I try to stave off hunger by drinking fluids. Similar to @FluffyChix mentioned, I focus on my commitment to weight loss, and making one good choice at a time (choosing jerky over a brownie for instance) I also focus on my NSV, and how great those make me feel, crossing my legs without even thinking about it, wearing size 10 jeans, wearing size M shirts, easily fitting in an airplane seat, feeling sexy af, lol. This is vain, but I also think about the compliments I have received. It's one thing to think I look great, but it is affirming to hear others say it.

I believe you mean NSV which means Non Scale Victory. Example: Scale has not moved in weeks but my pants feel so much looser.

I ran/walked my first 5k today. It took me 46:11, but I did it!

Very good advice here. Measurements, NSVs, and PICTURES. I never saw how overweight I was until I looked at pictures someone took of me. Then I was really surprised and sad. Now pictures tell a different story. PROGRESS!!!

Had a wedding this past Saturday, love being able to buy a regular sized dress, 3x to XL which was a little big, plus only having one chin in pics , being able to sit cross legged and on small chairs with ease and having everyone remark about how I look since I hadn't seem them since Christmas and having my love not being able to keep his hands off me ❤love my sleeve Sent from my iPhone using VST