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Today is my 4-week post-op surgiversary. I don't have a scale (on purpose) so I took all my measurements. I've lost NINETEEN INCHES since surgery! I was stunned and recalculated 3 times because I couldn't believe it! I lost the LEAST amount (1.5 inches) in my bustline. Yay! Just had to share my excitement with someone.

I was very fortunate in that I was not hungry at all for 2-3 months post op. I ate because I knew I should. When my hunger returned it wasn't as intense as before, and by then I had established my new eating habits which helped a LOT. Now I eat every 4 hours (8a, 12n, 4p and 8p), and I keep my carb intake as low as humanly possible. Both factors contribute to my never being hungry for very long at a time. What keeps me on track when I could never stick to a diet before: The feeling of satisfaction / fullness after each meal, plus the decreased hunger, is the main thing that makes it possible for me to stick to the plan. I do get head hunger sometimes, and when I can't ignore it I have a big glass of Water, a SF popsicle or some SF Crystal Light. I've lost a significant amount of weight doing this, so I KNOW it works. I will be da**ed if I'm going to throw away the $12,500 I paid out of my pocket to have this done, not to mention all the work I've done (and the goodies I've resisted eating) to get to this point. Sometimes I just repeat to myself, as many times as necessary "I'm not going to eat that. Not gonna do it. There will be goodies available when I'm at my goal." The support available on this site and on the Facebook group I belong to is PHENOMINAL. It helps SO much, especially at those times when family/friends would probably beat me to death if I mention one more thing about the trials and tribulations -- or the NSVs -- related to being sleeved. You may also want to review the rules, to get your head back in the game. I just posted my version of them in the Taking a Trip thread. Hope that helps. Best wishes.

There will be NSV's you never even knew would be an NSV someday. Clothes fitting is only one of the probably hundreds in a list! Try also side by side photos at least monthly but I used to do weekly. Also, use a measuring tape and measure everything. I used to even measure my neck and wrists which sounds strange but as they went down even a quarter inch it gave me a reason to be happy and feel good about my efforts. Not only that but is there anything you notice physically you can do now that you once couldn't when you first started? Stay strong and above all stay positive!

soooo im almost 2 months out and ive lost 21 lbs so far butttttttttt im not really seeing a major difference in the way my clothes fit...I started at 245 size 14....im 224 still size 14 lol...what the heckkkk I wanna see those one digit numbers I love to shop & theres just not a variety of stuff in plus sizes....hoping to see a change soon!

Better still karina...don't focus on the numbers. Focus on the NSVs. They are infinitely more satisfying than a number on a scale.

I have been noticing lately that I am getting "checked out" by guys. In my car, walking down the street, in a store. I had forgotten that this happens to people. What once would have been a minor annoyance is now welcomed by the new sleeved me. Think it would be odd to thank random guys for looking at me?!

I take monthly pictures to remind me of what I looked like and my progress. Down 100 lbs and sometimes I still don't see it yes I know it's crazy but I didn't "see" me at 297 the same way I don't see me at 197 but the pictures they don't lie. My weight at it highest I still liked myself n thought I looked great dressed fashionable for my size etc ... So I do t see the loss at times still in shock when I pick up a large shirt and size 12 jeans and it fits I was a 18/20 3x shirt n 22/24 pants last year. But the pictures keep me grounded and I am 2/3 towards my goal and enjoy each NSV and watching that scale move downward . The weeks when it doesn't move or nice slowly I look at what I have accomplished so far and it helps to keep me motivated. So take pictures galore and buy a cute yet cheap outfit in the size u think u will be for ur Cali trip now bc it will fit for ur trip because you are doing this !!!!

Awesome NSV as each one cones the feeling is great . Slow and steady wins the race you are doing this great job !

Great job! You will experience many NSVs during your journey but sometimes, the first ones are the best. I think my first real NSV was being able to button the 3X shirts I wore. Till then, I had to wear them open with a cami underneath. I really think that this was the first time I realized I was losing weight other than number watching.

When I first started this journey back in August 2013, I weighed 301 pounds and according to my BMI of 50.1, I was "super obese." Now, 61 pounds later, I have a BMI of 39.9 and am *just* "obese." I also got a call from my PCP - she said my bloodwork confirmed that I no longer have to continue my diabetes or hypertension medication and that my bloodwork looks fabulous. The only thing I need to do is get my good cholesterol up and I can do that with exercise - which has been happening 4-6 days a week since surgery so I think I'm on the right track. Still have a ways to go but it's nice to see the results in so many various "weighs." From giving away clothing, putting on dresses that didn't fit for a good long while and now seeing things like my BMI and being off some medication. I'm sure that I'll hit a stall soon, or there will be bumps in the road but I'm trying not to focus on the negative and really just focus on the good news. And be happy. It's a novel experience, really. Hope everyone is having a good Thursday! Holiday weekend is almost here!!!

I'm down a total of 36 lbs, which is fantastic. I started this journey at 310, and I'm now at my lowest point in about 10 years (I think I was around 270 after I gave birth to my youngest. I could be wrong though...it was a while ago) I am slightly irritated that I'm still so swollen that my clothes are not reflecting the loss, and I am frustrated that I can't do much walking because my stomach HURTS (I hit 3300 steps yesterday, which was an accomplishment. Pre-surgery, I was doing 10k steps). I know that I need to give my body time to heal, but I am ready to start MOVING! Last night was a bad night. I was told that "This time last week you still had your whole stomach. I am sad for your missing stomach" and "God gave you a stomach because he wants you to eat." To say I saw red would be an understatement. After the pain I've gone through in the past week, to say things like that just irritate the everloving fuck out of me. And I'm agnostic bordering toward atheism, so saying God did anything is guaranteed to get me to turn a mute ear. By that same token, God gave me a gall bladder for whatever reason (it's been gone 9 years), a thyroid gland (partially gone for 6 years) and reproductive organs (non-functional for 10 years due to surgical intervention). Just because some Big Invisible Friend allegedly gave me something doesn't mean that it works. And when you have something that isn't working as intended, you fix it. My stomach wasn't working as intended, for whatever reason. I had no shut-off, and whether that was physical (I couldn't read hunger cues) or mental (because food=comfort). So I fixed it...with the aid of a surgeon. He and I decided together which surgery would be best for the amount I have to lose, for my general health and for a lot of other little reasons that go into making this kind of momentous decision (I didn't just close my eyes and point to a chart for which surgery I wanted. I thoroughly discussed the options and chose the one that was best suited for my situation) So in closing, don't bother with the pity for my missing stomach. If you want to feel anything for me, feel happy that I took control of my life for a change. Feel happy that I can walk up and down the stairs as intended, without heaving for air at the top or limping up them one step at a time (that is my NSV for today...walking up and down the stairs without pausing and without painfully pulling myself up one step at a time) Be glad that I took this step before my health deteriorated to the point where I would need my hips and knees replaced (my knees...oh my knees...they feel completely different with just this small amount lost. I am SO looking forward to walking longer distances and eventually starting the C25K.)

Great post, @@LindafromFlorida! Just the other day I was browsing the messages here, and it seems like every other topic was No Weight Loss/Freaking out/ HELP!, etc... I was even going to find a post I made offering encouragement and support and put it into a text file so I could cut and paste repeatedly. I'm in a stall right now, and all is good. One of the NSVs I've been experiencing lately is a level of joy that I've not felt for years. I have a ways to go to get to my goal, and that's fine. I trust the process. And for the first time in, like, ever, I'm seeking out help, and really listening to what everyone on my bariatric team is telling me. I mean really listening. Be well…

Praying for you! Way to go on NSV!!

Woo hoo ! Way to go ! Keep up the good work ! Since you asked for "1st NSVs " , if I remember correctly, I had also lost my first 19 lbs, and an aquaintance who hadnt seen me in a few months asked me "Have you lost weight ? You look thinner in the face ! ". WOW. That made my day ! That , and cleaning out my closet with bags and bags of too big clothes !! Now, THAT was fun !!

Its starting to get real now...I had the final psych visit, tomorrow is the nutrionist and June 2nd I meet the surgeon and they send my paperwork in for approval. In the mean time it seems like I am just waiting for my "real life" to begin. Waiting to be one the other side of the surgery losing weight and posting my NSVs, stats and pics. This surgery has been soooo many years in the making and now that I can finally taste it, I find myself waiting for the pot to boil. It reminds me of being pregnant except I can't go shopping for stuff yet. to bide my time. I am just READY! My husband and I are doing this together so our lives as a family is going to change and I just want it to be here. I know, I know...whining doesn't do any good but it does make me feel better. Good luck to all those in the state of waiting!

Jack loves me how I am, skin and all, but acknowledges my right to feel the best possible about myself, he suggests waiting on a tummy tuck and breast reconstruction till after pregnancy and breast feeding, what do you guys think? Those arms though, WANT WANT WANT . Okay, I'm gonna talk about a subject that would get me FLAMED if I brought it up with non-sleevers or people who aren't focused on weight loss and fitness, the lying of our pants! I am 5'3" and 159 pounds, with an hourglass/apple shape, there is no WAY I should be wearing a size 8 - 17 years ago when I weighed 150 lbs and was an inch shorter I wore a 12. Anyway, I went to Old Navy the other day and tried on skinny jeans for the first time in my life (NSV btw, lol) Now, because of my shape and my excess skin I need to wear shirts that both show off my cleavage, skate loosely over my rolls, and hide my crotch so I go with empire-waist tunics. The pants that fit my squashy waist area smoothly just swim in the legs and the legs that hug nicely sausage my middle but at any rate, a size 8short skinny jeans in the Sweetheart cut FIT and with a loose summery tunic you can't see the squashy rolls and it looks good! Here's the thing; the friend that I am staying with has become very fat - 5'5" and (she says) 210 but I am going to put her closer to 250. She was bragging that the pants she bought were too big and all I could think was "that's no victory, these pants are sized for the fat and delusional American masses". We did our shopping at a major shopping mall and this Old Navy was massive and I got to do a lot of people watching and DAMN, people are FAT! At 5'3" and 159 lbs I have no right to be considered in shape or small!! Not only are people really fat, but everyone is dressed so shabbily, it makes me wonder if we have a national epidemic of depression, masses of people just eating their feelings and dressing in soft stretchy jammies... So, I had my Drs appt on Monday, the neurologist; this was the appointment to end all appointments so to speak, because I have now had the MRIs, the LP, the bloodwork, and the neurologist now collected everything together to form his opinion. His opinion, which he gave immediately upon entering the room without beating around the bush, is that yes, I have MS. I don't know what I was expecting, I have lived with this knowledge for almost 8 months but there must have been a subconscious part of me that felt there was a glimmer of hope so long as I didn't have the LP. I cried all the way home, but not just boo-hoo tears, deep guttural sobs of loss. And my tears weren't for me, they were for Jack, all I could think of was his love and involving him in this and it just hurt.

That's awesome! Find as many NSV's as you can along your journey to keep you motivated! You're doing a great job!

Hello everyone! I was banded 5/6 and yesterday had my 1st nsv! My mom and dad have been telling me they could tell I've been losing the weight but honestly I hadn't been able to tell yet. I've been working hard though this past week when I started feeling better from surgery. (19 lbs lost) Well yesterday was my nephews bday and usually I hate getting dressed up to go places bc I've felt no matter what I wear I look awful.(might I add both of my sisters put together weigh as much as me by myself) Well I pulled out some old clothes I haven't worn in a yr or longer. Clothes actually fit!!!! And we're loose!!!!!I actually thought I looked really pretty and when I got there my sister told me how great I looked. I'm so excited! Great motivation! !!! I will be working really hard this summer to keep this up!! What was your 1st Nsv story?!

Oh RJ...Girlfriend will you ever catch a break?? Wow. I am praying for you. It is high time your body "get's with the program" so you can go about your life enjoying your new "skinny" self!!! A small bathing suit on a beach would be such a better NSV than fitting into a tiny hospital gown, but I applaud you for looking for the bright side! My thoughts and prayers are sending healing ju ju your way...

RJ'S/beginning, I'm so sorry that you are still going through so many complications! Things have GOT to start getting better for you. Bravo on your NSV! I'll be traveling to Nevada in June and am hoping my rear end will fit in the airline seat much better this time! Sending healing thoughts and prayers your way, Kathleen

I am so sorry you have had such a tough road! but so happy for your NSV!! that is such an great feeling (minus the reason for you to have to put it on)!! I will keep you in my prayers!

I forgot to mention I had a major NSV as well at the hospital.. When I went to have the CT done. The nurse handed me this little cotton navy blue nightie to put on. She just handed it to me. It was cotton and there was no stretch. I took it from her and went into the changing room. I opened it up and looked at it and thought that there was no way it would fit me..Then I thought maybe I should just bite the bullet and go out and ask for a larger size. Then I was so distressed that I thought fine I'll try it on and if it does not fit I will get dressed again and go tell her then. I slipped it on and there was room to spare. It was loose on me. I came out of the room and my hubby had been worried about the same thing that it was too small for me..... He looked at me and said wow.....I sat down and looked at him and tears ran down my face...I would not have been able to even pull it over my head 18 months ago....I felt really tiny and excited and happy.. Until I went into the room and it took her 5 times to find a vein to hit for the dye....

Omgosh!!! This is the best NSV, I've seen. Way to go!!!!

YAY, single digit sizes!! That is a HUGE NSV that I am aiming for as well! (currently size 20/22) Keep up the good work!