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I've always had "deep veins" and I've always been pretty sure this is nurse-code for "fat". I used to squick and squirm about getting IVs or doing blood draws, but eventually I learned to just calm the f* down and everyone's life is easier. I have coached people through which veins might hold, which veins blow easier, where to try looking, and a lot of "no it's ok you can keep poking." I've stopped having to ask for a pediatric needle as I've gotten better at telling people where to look, but it's still a chore. Can't ever find the one in my elbow - always gotta go with my hand.... My surgeon sent me for my 100-lbs-lost blood work (85+ since pre-surgery diet but 104 since my first visit!) and I went to the lab, took a deep breath and said, "I'm pretty patient about getting stuck, so if you can't find a vein right away, it's OK. My veins are hard to find." "No, I see it, it's right there," said the tech. I looked. Sure enough I saw a little glint of blue in the fossa! "Your veins are great," she said. "Great veins"?!? I have NEVER had "great veins"!!! But losing some of the thick fat in my arms.... Now I have great veins. WHO KNEW.

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....

Now that's a unique NSV! Congrats!

I bought women's shoes for the first time in a loooooong time! Sad, I know. I've been wearing men's shoes because my feet were so wide (fat)!!

@@Terribj great accomplishment !!! we all love those NSV's clothes shopping et al nothing special with me except i'm continueing to enjoy goal happy as a clam life is good guesss that's a pretty neat/special thing poor Lane Bryant their loss is also YOUR loss 33 lbs down you are aces!! keep up the good work!!! kathy congrats

Love reading your posts…what an inspiration! I chuckled at your first NSV…i just posted on another thread…how amazed I am that I can now see the seat under me and so much of it too! And like you, the steering wheel would rub my belly and now I had to lower my steering wheel…guess theres not as much butt and back "lifting" me in my seat now! Im also looking forward to summer with my kids…last year I avoided the pool all summer because I didn't want to get in a suit…now Im okay with my new suit in a smaller size! Just did some clothes and shoe shopping on sunday….so happy with my 12/14 pants….14/16 shirts and even my shoes shrunk a little in width! And like you I am feeling like this is just where I am supposed to be right now in my life…and yes….LIFE IS GREAT! Was having a "rut" with my eating and food choices and realized that only I can get myself back to where I was with my revised and better eating habits. I love so much of the new me that the cookie or bag of m&m's really isn't worth it…but it is so DARN TEMPTING…and the head hunger is just killing me…but I'm just gonna take one day at a time….AND BEAT IT! Thanks for posting your successes and your tips….love them! You look amazing!

Thank you!! You go girl! I LOVE this, this is the kind of NSV that makes it ALL worth it!!! You're rocking it!!!

I really do love reading your posts. I have been in a blah mood today and this made me feel better. You look awesome by the way! I had a NSV last week as well. I was jogging at the park and I looked over to my left and saw someone running next to me. That someone looked good, and then I realized it was my shadow. I am finally starting to notice the weight coming off.

LOVE THIS. i'm not sure i'll have what you're experiencing this summer, but come next summer, watch out! i'm so ready for this!! love reading these nsvs!

So I'm totally pumped, the sun is shining, it's 86 degrees here today and just absolutely beautiful (too bad I'm at work;)). While I was getting ready this morning it almost felt like a special day you know a day that you've been waiting for, anticipating for some time because something good is planned or special is going on, so I was thinking humm what is so special about today? It's not my Birthday, it's not Mother's Day, there's no work parties, it's not the weekend........ IT'S LIFE AND LIFE IS GREAAAT!! I hope it's ok but I want to share some NSV's with everyone that really didn't occur to me until this morning. I got in the car today and for the first time realized how much room there was between me and the steering wheel. Yep before I had this surgery when I was driving the steering wheel would actually rub against my stomach when I turned now there's a good 18-24 inches between my stomach and the steering wheel. I spent hours, and I mean hours doing hard manual yard work on Saturday and Sunday, fully expecting to be completely imobile come Monday, with much to my suprise I woke up and nothing, no pain, no stifness, no feeling like I'd been runover by an 18-wheeler. It felt awesome, my yard doesn't look half bad either:-)!!!! Summer. Yes, I said it summer, swimsuits, pools, lakes, tubing you name it anything to do with Water activities I'm in and I can't wait. Even when I was large I still participated, not gracefully or unembarrased but I still did them. This year I'm so excited because there is NO hestitaton NO feeling self concious; looking around before I do something to make sure no one is watching in case I make a fool out of myself ( I will still make a fool of myself because I'll never be graceful:)) but now I won't give two SH****!!! I've already purchased 2 swimsuits and I'm all ready to gooooo!! I was telling my husband I can't remember the last time I was a normal weight during the summer time. It's such a stress lifted and I feel like now I can finally FULLY enjoy every ounce of summer fun, my favorite time of the year and I just can't wait! Everyday I wake up and I'm just so thankful for the decision I made to have this band! Life has always been good, I've been blessed with many things in my life, a wonderful husband and two beautiful children, first and foremost but now I just have this whole new perception of life. I wake up and everyday is almost like a new adventure. I 'm still finding things out about myself and my surroundings that I never noticed before, so exciting! So yes, this is all for my sunshine and roses speech for today but I would like for everyone who reads this to post something(s) that maybe you just noticed about yourself that has changed or you're looking forward to now that you have a new leash on life:-) I can't wait to hear everyone's!!!!!

So I haven't weight trained since my VSG on January 8, because I didn't want to do it until I'd gotten clearance at my three-month post-op checkup, which was last week. (I've been swimming and walking for exercise since surgery, but no weight training.) I got clearance from my surgeon to resume weight training last week, so I went to the YMCA (where I work out) today. The YMCA has a computer system called ActivTrax that will generate weight-training workouts for you so you don't work the same muscles all the time or get bored, and I wanted to have a trainer re-evaluate my ActivTrax weight stats before I just went back at it willy-nilly. I did the re-evaluation today, and I am right where I was before surgery. The last time I weight trained must have been December sometime, but I guess the swimming helped keep my muscles strong, because the trainer didn't have to adjust any of my weight levels. I can pick right back up where I left off. I am so happy I haven't lost any strength. I love weight training (cardio bores me but I do it anyway), and I am just tickled pink that I can still do what I was doing pre-op. YAY!

Congrats on your NSV!

When I was pregnant, I had to go for weekly Biometric scans at the perinatal center at the hospital. I had gestational diabetes and learned to get an NRGize meal-replacement shake - "PBJ" from the cafe. It's 520 calories, 48g Protein, and I could suck one down VERY easily while waiting to be called in. Today, my mate is in hospital for cardiac testing and I stopped by the cafe, knowing I could get a good healthy shake. I figured I'd drink it slowly. I got maybe 6-7oz into it (it's ~24 oz) and decided... UGH I AM SO DONE. YAAAYYY!!!

That's a great NSV. Time to do the happy dance in your new jeans! Don't forget to shower yourself with praises. good job

I had my first NSV today! I'm just over 3 weeks out (down 47 from the first time I walked into my surgeon's office, and about 15 since surgery). I tried on my wedding band which I haven't been able to wear since I was pregnant with my twins, 6 years ago! I had been wearing a replacement band my DH bought when the kids were born so I didn't have a naked finger but I love the original so much more. It makes me so happy to finally have it on again!

Went to dinner tonight with my BFF and she asked me if I had on make-up, I said no. She said what do you have on your face then, I said nothing! She called me a liar!! I had a take a napkin and wipe my face so that she could see there was nothing on my face!! One of my NSV is my skin complexion, especially my face! Thanks to eating healthy, drinking PLENTY of water and of course my Mary Kay cleanser and moisturizer my skin is looking like I'm wearing foundation when I'm not! My class went on a field trip to the zoo last Friday and I thought I was gonna walk right out of my jeans! Had to keep pulling them up and folding them down but they were still too loose. Only 33 lbs down so far but I'm loving all the "extras" that come with it!

I just wanted to share my nsv with everyone. I've lost more than 50 pounds since I started this journey its been slow going and kinda frustrating but I'm really seeing results in my body. I started this process as a size 24 on the bottom inching towards a 26. Now I sit solidly in 18! Which means of shrunk out if every piece of bottom wardrobe I own lol. ...What a wonderful problem to have :-) My biggest challenge now is to find the mythical size 18 Jean at thrift stores. I would love to hear stories about others nsv, who else has shrunk out of their pants?

Good one readyset. I can't wait till you slip into that airplane seat either. I had a funny nsv last night. I wasn't paying attention and reached for my SF pudding on the coffee table and of course, knocked it over onto the carpet. Boy was I annoyed. I started to clean the carpet while bending over, which is a killer on the back. Suddenly I realized hey, I could get down on the floor and get up again. so I did. Imagine someone smiling while cleaning a stain on the carpet. Well that was me last night. LOL!

Crazy NSV I fit better in the seat of my car when I got my car last year I couldn't see the seat I was right up against the middle console n door n was disappointed with downsizing my car I felt how big I was. Yesterday while driving I looked down and saw the seat my thighs did not cover the whole thing the car doesn't feel right anymore. Can't wait to get in a plane in July and see what it is like In that seat last year I barely closed the seatbelt .... To be continued

Congrats on your NSV. Keep a record..your going to get a lot more!

So yesterday i went to one of my hairdressers that i haven't been to since about a month and a half before surgery. Immediately after i said hello, She was like OMG, You have lost alot of weight. then continues to say, you're about the size you were when i first started doing your hair about 5 years ago. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! What... did she say that? i'm all smiles over here. So i'm leaving work early today and won't return here on site for over a month. Many people here says daily or no less than every other day about how much weight i've lost, how good i look, or asking how much weight lost, etc. I'll be out of town on buisness for 2 weeks, go on vacation for a week, then back out of town for another week or two. SO when i return back at my site hummmm, let's say at least June 2nd, Wonder what look, questions, or wise remarks that i will get? Lol, What do you think?

Everyone one loses at different rates but looked at your eating plan my first reaction is that it's too high in carbs and not enough protein. It could be your are just in a stall too. That happens from time to time. How are cloths fitting and have your measurements changed? When the scale isn't moving you have to look for those NSVs!

Just moved into my new apartment this weekend, one of the teens asked my daughter if her mom was the skinny lady that's always running up and down the stairs! OMG! The skinny lady!

Thank you very much, Ladies for your support and inspiration. Jeanaluvskisses, thinndskies and Gingersnaps! You have great reminders of NSV's. I've started a list of all the NSV accomplishments I would like to see and many of the ones listed here are reminders of items to put on my list. Like you have said, it may not be just a clothing or shoe size but ease of movement, walking without puffing or the ability to get up out of a chair easily. I'm looking forward to following this thread in the weeks, months and years to come as I progress and experience many successes on my new journey.