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As my hubby said , I was a "cheap date" before surgery, as i cant hold liquor much. 2 was my limit, now im "one and done ." !! I have a cup of regulat tea in the am, decaf the rest of the day. Couldnt tell you about soda pop, I rarely had it before WLS , now its never . . Some people just lose their taste for certain things, but honestly you wont care when your clothes are getting too big ( again ?? ) , the compliments are coming in left and right along with all the NSV s !!! Good luck !!

That article is me. I have lost half my body weight and I have always been honest on this forum. I see a therapist because I don't recognize myself in the mirror. I find I resent compliments at times. They just remind me of how big I was. I'm tired of hearing people say that that they didn't realize it was me. (I was out of the office for several weeks on medical leave). I know I have issues and I'm working on dealing with them so I don't become one of those folks who starts a topic saying they have 'fallen off the wagon.' I don't mind when I know I'm having a NSV but I'd just as soon people get used to what I look like now and leave it alone. Oh, and I also go to a physical therapist as well. Just like the article mentioned, I had very limited mobility and there is alot of damage even with all the weight off. I have no muscle strength and my balance is still poor. Just goes to show you that while my ticker says I've reached goal, that's just a number. I'm still very much on this journey.

Great start mocca. That's alot of weight to drop in the beginning. I'm sure you've heard alot of it already...eat smart, eat slow, small bites, etc. Can I give you a little different advice? Because you've already lost a great deal of weight, try not to weigh yourself too often. It might feel like you are failing (which you are not) once the weight loss slows down. Find NSVs instead of checking your numbers. That's the best thing you can do because there are alot more of those even if the scale isn't moving. Good luck and keep us posted!

My NSV today is this. For the second time in three days, I am moving my younger daughter's college stuff out of her 14th floor dorm and bringing a carload home. Although my joints are hurting from my arthritis, I have not been out of breath even once. This is amazing to me, because less than six months ago, I could not walk even half a block with empty arms without getting winded. Now less than nine weeks postop, I can do all of this with ease and feel so much healthier. The surgery has truly saved my life.

Of course we have... we all will at one point or another. Try not to stress - 2 weeks is nothing... i know it totally sucks & feels like forever, but it wont last forever... during a stall, you have to look for the NSV - like lost inches, or fitting into something smaller, underware falling down... its those little things that will help you during the stalls... cause they are going to happen... Try to up your workout, or look at your food intake, lower your carbs, increase your Water, maybe do a few days of just Protein shakes... something to "shake" things up a bit... Good luck to you! (remember this wont last forever)

It is so South Florida lol! I love this forum because you can't really "brag" or "whine" to anyone else I am so very happy for all of you and all of your NSVs - you make my heart smile! Debbie - you look great & so healthy! Go Walking - you are an inspiration to me and help us all remember all the little things we are missing when it comes to our weight loss/journey! Chasing a Dream - you aren't chasing your dream - you are living it - look at those numbers Sandy & CG - you have changed your whole lives and with every single post I want to be just like you! & CG - you keep me in check - I don't want to get smacked by your pink feathery whip (although some people might think that was a little kinky) LOL

Congrats on such a great NSV!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to my next flight. It will be the 1st time I will be able to put the tray all the way down!

I flew today and did not need a seat belt extender. I sat next to two men and I was not super cramped. It was glorious!

well I know I've just lost 20 lbs. so far however I just had a NSV. My neighbor, whom I haven't seen since I started the pre-op diet two weeks ago, just saw me outside and said I looked great and looked like I had lost a little weight. I beamed and said yes, I'm trying to watch what I eat, lol. Just made me feel good so I thought I'd share. happy moment, can't wait for more moments like that

Ok here is one more as some people o posted about plane rides and the small seats and seat belt extenders , well guess what I didn't need one either so happy for all of us as you can really see how much more length I had not a great pic, as I was slouching so my clothes are all bunched up , but you get the of this nsv . Oh and my face is getting smaller, as you can see I didn't and people were telling me they could se it in my face so it was time to take a pic and try and see it for my self, even though my eyes and mind still play that mind game of me being the big heavy , unhealthy me.

I understand why you would wonder that - it's an excellent question. The way being sleeved helps me is that I now have a short list of very simple rules that I have to follow if I want to get to my goal weight and stay healthy. They go into effect when one is released from the post op liquids/pureed/soft foods restrictions. They are: Consume 60-80 gm Protein per day and 60-80 oz of Clear liquids per day. Every day. Do not drink anything for at least 30 minutes before a meal or snack. If you forget and do drink, re-set the timer and wait another 30 minutes before you eat. Eat dense protein first at every meal. Eat a very few bites of non-starchy veggie in addition if you have room. Decide how many meals and/or protein Snacks you're going to have per day, and stick to it. Do not eat between meals. Wait at least 30 minutes after every meal or snack before drinking anything. If your mouth gets really dry you could rinse after eating or brush your teeth. I avoid alcohol because I'm concerned it would decrease my ability to resist bad food choices. Follow those rules at least 90% of the time, and you will succeed. For the other 10%, do not beat yourself up - just get back on the wagon immediately and Sleeve On! 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. The above have kept me going even through a 6-week stall, and I am deTERmined to get to my goal. Hope that helps. Best wishes.

This made me laugh out loud and really made my day. I know I still float! I made a long, long list of about 100 NSV's that I anticipate to achieve and I'll have to add this to the list. I'm going to mark them off with the date I achieved them. I've been around Water my whole life and was a swim instructor and life guard and always been a good floater! I can't wait to SINK for once in my life! Thanks for sharing this NSV, NMJG Carol

@NMJG Oh congrats on your NSV!!! Love moments like this - I cant "weight" either par1959 LOL!!! Guess i better start thinking bathing suit shopping!

I used to float around the pool on my back. Discovered yesterday during my first swim of the season that I sink now. Can't float! My ballast is gone! I just think this is so funny.

I think at first everyday I was discovering new "non-scale victories!" It's very exciting!! Congrats on your journey!! I think one of the best unexpected "NSV" for me has been how everyone has commented on how much younger I look now. I definitely wasn't thinking necessarily of looking younger as a benefit of losing weight. :-) But I'll take it!!!

I hit major stalls at pretty much every "10 lb lost" mark. The longest stall was 2 months, and it made me so mad! My doctor helped me through it though - he told me to stop worrying about the numbers on the scale, and to use it to just make sure I'm not gaining in a significant way. And that's how I use the scale to this day. NSVs are way more fun anyway! OMG, I remember one week I went up 5 lbs, and it P'd me off so bad - I wasn't even eating solid foods yet. Granted, it was the week before the start of my menstrual cycle, but still. For the first year, the numbers on the scale didn't move to match the changes I saw in the mirror, and it was so frustrating. I had a lot of anxiety over my 2 month stall (at 214 lbs, I'll never forget it). I kept saying to myself, "IS THIS IT??" Long story short: don't worry!

Congrats on your Nsv. I am told that I look so young for my age of 60. I feel like I am 40. The weight loss has certainly added years to my life with better health . And the weight loss took years off of looking aged.

What does NSV stand for?

I can't imagine a better NSV. congratulations.

Happy NSV!! Keep Pimpin' that Sleeve!

I wanted to share a NSV! I have been going to my chiropractor for about 6 years, however, I haven't been there since a week before my sleeve surgery (Surgery was Dec 11th 2013)... Anyway... When the Dr came out of her office to greet me (I was the only one there) she looked at me, then looked around, then looked at me & said to me "I'm sorry I was looking for someone else.." I gave her a big Smile & said "how are you?" she looked back at me & said "OMGoodness - I was looking for you, but you weren't the "YOU" a was looking for... WOW you look amazing, I didn't even recognize you - You look so happy!!" Such a great feeling!!!!

Here is a big NSV for me, my little garden. I'm going to eat healthy and grow some of what I eat. I don't think I would have ever had the energy or motivation to do this last year. It's small, but I tilled it all by hand so it was a lot of work. I'm not done with it yet, but I've so happy with what I've got done so far.

Yeah,..had me a bit concerned too LOL we'll wait for the update I'll tell you one thing... I had gone to a thrift store and found a beautiful braided belt for $1.00 only to find out it was COACH!!! It was WAY too small for me (at the time) so I was going to sell it... found it after we recently moved...and I had room to spare...talk about your NSV!!! I love wearing it...it is truly a "symbol" for me even tho no one else sees it LOL

Gowalking I swear not only has our journey mirrored one another along with our views but now our NSVs on the same day are almost identical. Are you my sister from another mister:-) I went shopping today and they had a sale on all their collegiate apparel. My husband and I are BIG Ohio State fans and I've been wanting a shirt for forever but they didn't make them in my size (or atleast not the cute ones). I went up to the man and asked, do you have any Ohio State things for ladies and he said yeah I have a couple is it for you and I said yes, so he goes over to the rack and pulls out a dress, shirt and a jacket and says here these are cute and should be the right size, I smile and say thanks and as he walks away I'm looking at the items and all of the tags say size SMALL, I said to myself WTH is this man crazy I can't wear this stuff and then I looked at the items again and said well maybe I can and sure enough I tried them on and what do you know......they fit, (they must run a little on the larger side of small) but DAMN....I just bought a small and like you said someone else picked these out based on the size they saw me to be!!! Woe, what a great feeling this is. LOVE IT!!!! Oh what an eye opening NSV just now. I'm here in my office today and the place is like a freezer. Cold as all get out. I have a long sleeve blouse on but I'm just frozen to the bone. My very slender colleague comes into my office to chat and I tell him how cold I am and he offers me his fleece jacket that the company gave out a couple of years ago. I got one of these fleeces also but quickly gave it to my son because even the extra large didn't fit. So when Claude offers me his fleece, I take him up on it hoping it isn't too small because I still think I'm fat damn it! Well...I'm sitting here typing and warm as can be....and zipped up to the neck. Not only does the thing fit but it's got extra room as well. This is what normal must feel like. To be offered an item of clothing and not realizing the person offering isn't wondering if it will fit....they know it will fit. I need to remember this NSV to help me to see what everyone else does....