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Love the NSV! Keep them coming.

Okay so I had the lap-band on the 5/23/12, so a little over two week. I had severly bad athma I was on advair 500/50 plus another steroid inhaler plus nasonex plus rescue inhaler plus my nebulizer. I also had really bad sleep apnia. since surgery I have not used any of my athma medication. I've gone from 217 to 197 in two weeks. When I first started using the eliptical I could only use it for 5 mins and the other day I was on for a whole hour. I love this tool and it has not been easy but am following doctors orders. I still have along way to go but for the first time their light at the other end of the tunnel. I no longer live on my nebulizer and am so excited for this journey.

Wow,I know that must feel awesome! CONGRATS!!! Cannot wait to check this off my list of nsv's!

Alright, I decided to post a couple of NSV's that go through the warped mind of a paramedic, hopefully you all hearing how us warped individuals that save lives everyday think won't frighten anyone, lol. Most recent one was the other day I respond on a lift assist the classic I've fallen and can't get up, get to the house and as frequently is the case all the doors are locked, the patient is in the house and yells for us to break down the door, now I have been running on the ambulance for 23 yrs and am currently a Supervisor so don't do as much direct field work as I used to, so it's probably been at least 10 yrs since the last time I broke down a door and for the last couple years I usually call for fire department or let the police do it because I didn't have the energy and or strength to break them in anymore, but this time I figure all this time in the gym i'll just go ahead and do it. So I hit the door with my shoulder and bust right through, actually almost fell going through because it was so much easier then in the past, afterwards I look and had actually split the door jam down the middle. The 20 something kid that was my partner that day looks at me and says nice job, and then laughs and says but you don't need to look so happy about busting down someone's door. On another recent shift got dispatched for an unconscious person in a vehicle, get to the scene and the fire department already busted the car window and got the doors open, but there all standing there looking at the patient trying to figure out how they should get him out of the vehicle. In the past I usually have just stood back and told the firemen how to extricate the patient, but this time I walk right up reach in grab the patient under the arms and tell my partner to grab the legs and pull the guy out and then realize I forgot to make sure the litter was ready first so now i'm stuck just holding this patient in the air while the fireman get the litter set. The rescue coats we wear for protection at vehicle accidents and fires are very expensive, in excess of like 500 dollars for just the coat and they have to fit right or they actually go from being protective to being dangerous, but due to the cost it never goes well when you tell the manager that you outgrew your rescue coat and you need a new one, if your lucky the timing works out that they can find someone else it will fit that needs one but obviously the bigger you are the less likely of that. Well anyhow the other day I take my Rescue coat into the manager's office and say I have to turn this back in because I can't wear it anymore, it's a size 4x and I now need a size large, the manager looks at me and says good job, go ahead a call and order yourself a brand new one. And of course the strangest thing a paramedic thinks and I believe this one is true of many other medical professionals is that paramedics are constantly looking at peoples veins, it is actually almost subconscious, can't be helped, when your trained to start right away looking for a good IV access point right away so you can get it established quickly you just start looking at peoples veins in everyday situations. Yes that means if you know any paramedics and have spent anytime with them even just talking they probably already have identified most of your major arm and neck veins and determined wear they would like to stick needles in you. Anyhow it's funny as I keep losing weight I keep finding myself staring at my own arm veins constantly thinking how easy it would be to start several large bore IV's on myself. OK, that's all for now, hope you can all get some enjoyment out of my disturbed thinking.

I was bulimic 30 years ago & then quit purging but kept binging. Then I really gained. Therapy has helped (and is) helping me with my head issues. You are doing great! Just look at it as doing the best you can everyday & you'll be surprised how fast it goes. Then, enjoy the NSV's (non scale victories). All the best!

I'm two weeks out from surgery today and I have lost 18lbs since surgery, 43 since the start of my preop liquid diet. I am pretty large so you can't tell much, but today I bit the bullet and joined a gym. I realized that this journey is for me and I'm going to make the most of my tool. I didn't care about what others might have thought about me or that I was sweating my butt off just walking on the treadmill, it was just about me pushing myself to be better. I'd say that is a great victory for me!

I dont recognize myself and then i see all the wrinkles. my skin is falling off. so far this is an nsv for me, i am nearly 60 and have no illusions left. I see it as a badge of success. the only one that even comes close to bothering me is the belly. I shall see what it looks like when (if?) i get to goal and maintain it for a while. It would be interesting to get it removed at that time but from what i can tell the panniculectomy seems to be a far tougher surgery than the sleeve and i did not have the easiest time with that one.

They're absolutely right, you do look like your daughter (or should I say she looks like you?). I don't think they were joking when they asked if you guys were sisters. If you had posted this picture without an explanation/caption I would have assumed I was looking at two sisters about 2 - 4 years apart. Talk about an awesome NSV!

Dang your (running) with this (band) I guess in your case you can say band on the run lol not only is the band helping you but you are also helping your self not to seconds lol but to days this is a great NSV.

Okay, so it was freezing out this morning and as soon I started my van the tire pressure light came on; I went to a local store that has air and had a guy (a very nice looking one) come from around the OTHER side of my van to "help" me put air in my tires…He then proceeded to check every tire on my van to make sure they were all good. I was like WOW!! I'm happily married, but it sure made me feel good!!!

that's a wonderful NSV and just you watch....those jeans will button up before you know it!

LOL! great NSV!

You deserve every single NSV you get. Sometimes when things come easy we don't appreciate it as much as we would if we had to work for it... And you are working hard to get to where you want to be. I am so happy that you are not getting on your own back when you have a bad time. Frankly we all do at one time or another and you are learning as you go along... I loved this happy event......Forward go girl!!!

Ok. I will be the very first person to admit I have struggled with my weight loss and motivation post op. I have lost weight and I am happy I got the sleeve, no doubt about that. But I have had issues with controlling my head hunger and staying the course, not eating slider foods. ( which I can and have) I do try to stick with plan for the most part, but some days it is simply easier than others. I am trying a new zen approach in my thinking and I hope it works for me. Rather than being down on myself continually I have decided to be happy I am where I am. I could still weigh 316 lbs. I still could be unable to do many things I now can do. I could be in constant pain from the stress the weight was putting on my joints. But I am not these things. What I am is 77lbs down from my highest weight. I am able to do so much more than I had been doing. My joints do not cause me constant pain. And I do eat so much better than I had been. Maybe I won't reach my goal weight in a year as I had hoped, or maybe I will. I will continue to live my life and try to be thankful for the good and learn to process the negative in a healthier way. That all being said I did something this weekend that has me very happy. I was able to take my 5yr old to several community parks and play for hours. I was able to interact with her too, not just find the closest place to sit down. I climbed up on a jungle gym set at one park and went down a slide!! Granted my rear got a little wedged at the bottom where the slide narrowed, but I still did it! And the bigger accomplishment was going up "the Mound". There is an Adena Indian burial mound located in my hometown. If I'm not mistaken the tallest point on the mound is 65'. What I do know is there are 116 steps to the top look out point. I decided we were going to try it, and I made it!!! I haven't been to the top since I was in my teens, and my daughter has never been. It was awesome. I was so proud of myself for being able to do this. It was something I had told myself before I would do again someday, and I did it! I wish the day had been a little nicer because the view is awesome on a sunny day. But to me it looked darn good as I sat there marveling at my accomplishment. Oh it won't be the last time we go up. It is great exercise for sure. Yeah, I had to take breaks to stop and catch my breath but I didn't stop. And the most fabulous part came after as we continued to hit different community parks to play. I didn't stop! That climb was just one of the things I did, not the only thing. I was able to keep going. Sure I was a little stiff afterward but heck , that stiff achey feel was a norm every day I was so grossly overweight. I lived with it daily. Now it is just a by product of a little extra exertion and it felt great! Needless to say I am more motivated to try other things. As the weather breaks my daughter and I are going to find a lot of other things we can get outside and do. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

That is AWESOME girl!!! I had my first NSV today too! Wore a pair of shorts I couldn't get into at the start of summer

It took me a while to realize I had another NSV yesterday. I got home from work and had some free time before dinner (because I wasn't starving hooray!) and made a spur of the moment decision to go to the nail salon and get a manicure. I haven't had one in years....I felt it was like putting 'lipstick on a pig'. I was so fat and ugly, why bother polishing my nails. Well...I'm not so fat anymore and don't feel so unworthy. So...I'm now typing with pretty mauve nails.... Can't thank you enough lapband.

healtwhip you always remember the first time (you hear a compliment!!!) or 1rst time of anything important there is nothing like being told you look great you'll read/hear of so many great NSV's that people have experience i think one of the common, wonderful NSV concerns our new clothe sizes, clothes being too big!!! one of my latest NSV's???? being able to use a normal size toilet and normal size fitting room instead of the larger handi-capped congrats on the first of many many more NSV's in your new healthier, happier, longer life keep up your great job/work!!! kathy

I was folding my laundry today (right out of the dryer -- that's an NSV all on it's own) and every item I pulled out was either yoga pants or a t-shirt. This isn't anything new from my fat days until I realized that I didn't wear these clothes all week because they were comfortable and all I felt like wearing, but because I SWEATED IN THEM every single day this week!! I am no longer wearing my exercise clothes to hold down the couch but to... EXERCISE!!!!!!! And while I am wasting your time, I will throw out that I hiked over 10 miles today, logging 25k+ steps on my fitbit AND I am doing a Pretty Muddy 5k Obstacle course in the morning. AND I LIKE IT!!

Sorry, I know I'm dumb but what does 'NSV' stand for?

Snowshoeing..The snow angle is for you @KindaFamiliar

My 1st 6 months was primarily about getting into good habits: *Learning to choose the right foods *Sticking with my diet guidelines - 75% Protein, 25% good carbs *Getting into a regular exercise routine - for me it was walking http://www.bariatricpal.com/blogs/entry/31216-nsv-2-you-best-step-off-b-hatch/ *Learning to have faith that WLS was going to work for me. I hit a stall about once every month, and it freaked me out each time. I had to learn to have confidence that what worked before would keep on working. My body just needed a time-out to adjust to this new way of life. I think those are the biggies. Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!

it feels so nice to use the desktop application occasionally and feels really good to update my weight and see me drop 9 pounds. WHOOSH. Gone, never to be seen again..... YAHOO!! I know so simple and yet so not simple!

I had a pair of professional fitted slacks I have not worn in five years. No elastic whatsoever. They were tight even when I bought them. I tried them on a month ago and they were still tight at the waist. Today I tried them on and they are baggy!!!!! I'm wearing them but they kinda look like clown pants. Moral of the story is don't miss your clothing size window! Dig through that closet frequently. This made me very happy today. *clownish grin to go with my clown pants*

That's one of the best NSVs I've ever read on any WLS forum. Congratulations to you. That's the closing scene in a WLS success story movie!

Improving your health like that is the best kind of NSV!! Congratulations! Sent from my iPad using VST