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I thought of that, but I was over a year out when I got the idea and I didn't have many NSVs left, so I went with the fitness charms to motivate me to keep moving. I have a bucket list of races I want to do after I heal including another Ragnar, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I want to do a marathon and a triathlon some day.

My favorite NSV is probably that I can go shopping in 'normal' stores and not have to worry about the clothes not fitting, or be exhausted to try clothes on in the fitting room, I also love when I try something on and it's too big. I like having the problem taht all of the little sizes are sold out in a atyle and all they have are sizes that are too big left instead of the opposite problem. I've always been a clothes whore...now it's twice as bad, but my budget is 4 times as big, because I'm not spending the money on food and high end clothes, and smaller clothes are about half the price. P.S. I also LOVE that my thighs no longer rub!!!

Hair sheds when dry and there is a handful when wet. Ugh. I just had a big loss but pretty sure I'm now in a stall. No scale so my daily weighing habit is on hold (I'm on vacation). Loving all the NSV's though.

Congrats on having such a great recovery. I would count that as your 1st NSV if you haven't started counting them yet!

I love this idea. And you could even (with some creativity) add non-fitness oriented NSVs too, like a shopping bag for having to replace your wardrobe, and a plane for not having to wear a seatbelt extender, etc. So fun, and congrats on your accomplishments!

Loving my new charm bracelet that has charms for all my fitness NSVs! So far: plumeria flower for Maui Half Marathon, engraved charm for OKC memorial half, ragnar charm for the Miami to Key West Ragnar Relay, and tiara for the Disney Princess Half. Looking forward to adding more in the future, but taking a break right now for orthovisc injections in my knee and plastics next month.

A new small NSV for me. I needed a white belt for my summer white jeans and shorts. Being that I had a massive huge waist I bought an xl. Too big and they didn't have a smaller size, so took it and had holes made. Was in Kohl's the other day and bought 2 size large belts and they fit and past the first hole. My weight has not changed in about 1 year but I guess inches are changing which is wonderful for me. Yesterday I wore a size large maxi skirt from Gap and I looked great. I don't know how to down load pictures, that is why you never see any of me. Needed to share. Thanks for listening. Arlene

NSV- non scale victory

Lylabelle maybe you would post a list on here and FB - the abbreviations and what they mean so we are all on the same page and providing the same information!? NSV is one I am stuck on!! Thank you, in advance!

Excellent NSV!

It finally happened to me. I'm down 35 pounds since surgery (jan 22). Today I tried on 2 pairs of my old jeans (size 14) and they fit. Woohoo. Seriously love the feeling of not being afraid to get dressed and see myself in the mirror. And not only that it gives me such motivation to continue this journey and get to my goal of 150. I have 47.5 and half pounds to go and I know I can do it!

Well here are my stats as of this am: Start weight was 189 ( that is as I was doing my preop diet) May 29 surgery weight was 183 Weight today is 171 NSV I can now wear my engagement and claddaugh rings hubby gave me when we were married 17 and a half years ago. I am fitting into smaller clothes in my closet. Challenges: it is tough when my family is eating all these tempting smelling things around me. But I have not given in and I will not give in bc I know this is head hunger, plus I am scared to pieces of leaks! I am basically having my protein shakes water and sf Popsicles during the day. I have tried stuff a little more "substantial" like puréed beans sf pudding and low carb yogurt, but gurgulina (my sleeves name) sings and complains for quote a while afterward so I get scared I am pushing it too soon.

Its monday all!! Time to check in! Let us know any NSVs of the week and give us your sugery date number! Ill put it up on our new thread tomorrow so we can see how everyone is doing at a glance No bit nsv. but Im down -13 from surgery!!

Yes, ma'am, that's a bonafide NSV. So is the increase of the reps. Same here with my love for the pool. It's the one place I can exercise with no issues. I take an exercise class 2-3 times a week and if I can fit it in, I do laps as well. That pool saved me for sure. You have a great day as well Mikee.

LOL! I read this as tongue in cheek. But, I guess if it really matters, it is important! I bet that your little pockets are there because the clothes are little, imagine the big pockets on little jeans, how funny looking that would be! Great NSV anyway!

thanks again Gowalking...then I had a NSV this morning...put my shorts that I wear over my swimsuit and they were loose...is that a NSV. I couldn't get a full mile in the pool done this morning due to a car issue...but I was able to increase the reps of my leg exercises (that I did after my knee replacement surgeries that I now do in the pool) up 10 reps now...so I will do alittle extra walking today at work on land...love love love the pool though...LOLRH!!! Have a great day GoWalking!!!

Good for you SJ! Hooray for NSVs to keep us going! My odd NSV this week has been on a few separate occasions having a panic attack while driving because I thought I wasn't wearing my insulin pump. I remove it to change clothes and a few times over the 10+ years I have had them have actually forgotten it at home when I run errands. I guess it doesn't dig into my sides like it used to and I'm more comfortable when sitting. It's one of those funny little things you don't notice until its not there anymore.

I had often told myself during my journey that even if I were to ever possibly hit goal I would never post a success story. Maybe I was being modest or perhaps just really hard on myself or…just not able to forgive myself for ever letting my weight get out of control as it had. I guess a lot of it no matter how you sum it up is really just embarrassment. Well I had a change of heart. That change of heart came because I can remember so vividly the feeling of the hopelessness and despair. At times I felt I was knocking on deaths door and that there was nothing I could do about it. So I am writing this tonight in hopes that if I can help just one person even if only one tiny bit then it is my responsibility to do so. I believe in paying it forward and giving back. If it wasn’t for the people before me that helped me then where would I be? It would be irresponsible for me not to do the same. You are not alone and there are people out there, really good decent people who can help you but YOU have to want it and at some point you need to swallow your pride and ask for the help. Help will not come to you. YOU have to seek it out. I have told my story several times and you can read it on my profile. I lost 170lbs doing Atkins between 2003 and 2004. I went from 393 to 220 and felt great…and then I got sloppy and let my guard down and weight started packing on. I went from 220 to 488 in 8 years’ time. At 488lbs doing day to day activities was quite a chore. My knees were taking a beating carrying so much weight on a 5’6 inch frame. I developed arthritis and serious sleep apnea. Walking from the parking lot to my office was a real task and that was even with the use of an elevator. I had to sit out in the car and have my Wife do the grocery shopping because I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes on my feet. I had to sit and fold laundry sitting in a chair. This list could go on and on about the limited mobility. My amazing Wife stood by me and encouraged me to make a change but we both knew until I was ready to commit to change it would not happen. I am not sure how many other women out there would have put up with what she did. My weight affected us both physically and mentally. I did not feel like much of husband at times and I am sure there were plenty of times she felt more like a caregiver than a wife at times although she never said so or complained. Something had to give and it finally did and in September 2011 with my wife at my side I attended a local seminar for WLS. We listened to the Doctor discuss all the surgical options available at the time and being new and somewhat naïve we decided Lapband was the way to go. It was reversible and probably the least invasive of all procedures. I signed up for a one on one consult with the Surgeon that night. October 2011 I met with the Doctor and told him I ready to make a life change. He told me he wanted to see me lose 24lbs and work on shrinking the liver. Insurance required me to do a 6 month monitored diet so instead of losing 24lbs preop I lost 38lbs. My Surgeon was impressed and after completing all the preop requirements I finally got a surgery date of April 16, 2012. I weighed in on surgery morning at 450lbs on the button. So there I was April 17th and getting discharged from the hospital and all that went through my mind is why the hell did I do this? There was no way it would work and I will be known as the fat guy who couldn’t lose weight with WLS. As much as you research and prepare for this new life it seems at some point you say OK well I had the surgery why is the weight not coming off?? This is so frustrating!!! Well apparently I had never heard of bandster hell. Bandster hell is that time from when you have the surgery to the time you actually get the necessary fills to get the need restriction to control your portions. Some very few people are lucky they have the surgery and automatically get that restriction. Not me, it took me 6 months. 6 months of frustration. Probably one of the most difficult pieces for me to learn was patience. Lack of patience made this road even longer. I stepped on the scale almost daily these last 2.5 years waiting on a large drop in numbers that never happened. How on earth could you possibly see a large drop if you’re stepping on the scale daily? Do yourself a favor and don’t do it. To this day I still step on it daily but now it is about accountability not so much weight loss. Always look for other measures to success. We call them Non Scale Victories or NSV’s. Losing weight is not just about numbers. For a while I was buying new clothes every other month because I was shrinking so fast. I went from a size 62 waist to a 34. I went from squeezing into theater seats to have padded space on each side. I could go on and on here rambling about all sorts of stuff weight and band related. If you’ve read this far then thank you and thank you to those who helped me get here. I would like to especially thanks @@Alex Brecher without him I wouldn’t have a home here and I perhaps would’ve remained lost. If anyone has any questions or comments or just need someone to talk to don't hesitate to message me regardless how personal you think your question may be. My name is Jim and I am junk food addict. I have lost 300lbs and the lapband saved my life. 2yrs and 8 months 488 to 188. Peace!!

Non scale victory Mikee. It could be anything that tells you that you're smaller other than what the scale says. For me, it's things like being able to walk, sitting in a chair with arms and not worrying I won't fit. Not needing a belt extender on the airplane, etc, etc. Those NSVs are way more satisfying than just numbers watching.

Could someone please tell me what NSV means? have seen it but have no idea what it means. wish they had a glossary of these for some of us newer folks...LOLRH...just learning alot!!! thanks

I know I am crossing over onto a sleeve sight but I have seen this NSV before but have no idea what it means...please help me out will ya?

@@Miss Mac what a wonderful NSV!!! being/playing with kids/and or grandkids................ thats a major achievement many people are anxious for 58 lbs down too!!! you are aces!!! keep up the good job for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer lifee kathy congrats

Luv this post! Never even noticed, but I just went to check my size 8 pockets. They do seem awfully small. I don't have any of the 22's I used to wear so I can't compare. Not every NSV is positve! Thanx for pointing that out! Congrats on the fantastic loss!

Congratulations! I have ortho issues as well but cannot wait for the day I have grandchildren now that I'll be able to get on the floor and play! That is an awesome NSV!!!!

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery, and still losing in drips and dribbles, I've loved almost every aspect of having WLS. I've loved the smaller clothes, the CUTER clothes, the stares, the compliments, ALL of it!! EXCEPT! I would like to write a memo to the designers of pants, blue jeans in particular. Dear Blue Jean Designer People, I love your product! It is roomy, durable, comfy, can withstand multiple uses without washing, it truly is the universal napkin! My only complaint (and it really is quite a serious and big one) is pockets. I have gone from a 24 to a 4. My legs have shrunk, my thighs have shrunk, all of the junk in my trunk...has shrunk. HOWEVER, the items that I like to carry in my pockets...HAS NOT SHRUNK!! When I was a 24, I could happily carry my cell phone, my keys, chap stick, I'm convinced I could have even smuggled small animals and children in my jeans pockets. I loved it!! If I didn't want to carry it, I popped it in my pocket! My HANDS even fit in my pocket!! Now, I'm lucky if I can squeeze a toothpick and half a penny in the pockets that you make for the size of jeans I wear now. I am thouroughly disguisted! Yes, I AM SERIOUS! I cannot tell you how many times since wearing size 10 jeans and under I have left my cell phone somewhere, been left with parched dry lips because I didn't have/couldn't fit my chapstick in the tiny fold of fabric that you try to pass off as a 'pocket'. I have wasted at least 16 hours of my life digging for keys that are lost somewhere in the bottom of my gigantic purse while juggling groceries, and simotaniously sweating/freezing the death. I am convinced that you are now in cahoots with the purse industry. Since I have been able to buy smaller jeans, instead of being able to cherish the extra funds, I've had to spend it on Much. Larger. Purses. I'm onto you, and your shenannigans! Don't think that everyone is complacent about your lack of design and the sham that you are pulling! I have almost enough mind to cut out your 'pockets' and sew in my own!! I'm watching, I know, and I am spreading the word!! Give me my pockets back!! Sincerely, One Pocket Lovin' Lady