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This is one of the best NSV's ever! Keep this snapshot in your vision.......Beautiful pic!

I'm three days post op and have been a type II Diabetic for 10 plus years. I've been medicated on and off with Insulin, Glucophage, and Diabeta at different intervals during that time having been on Glucophage only these last several years. Uncontrolled type two diabetes has brought me cataracts in both eyes and other health related issues. My surgeon had me discontinue meds after surgery. As of yesterday, my glucose numbers are completely normal and Dr. says they should stay this way. I am both amazed and awed at the turn around the sleeve has brought me already.

Laura, you rock, by the way. And thanks for sharing your truly awesome NSV. My husband was never the limiting factor in my social life and my willingness to venture out. It was all me. I'm thankful now that I'm confident enough to leave the house and be social and be seen. Four years ago I was a hermit. ~Cheri

Was feeling kind of down because I had a week where I didn't lose any weight. A very wise bander suggested enjoying a Non-Scale Victory -- I thought, nothing feels as good as seeing the numbers go down on the scale. Omg was I ever wrong!! Just for the heck of it, I tried on a pair of jeans that I could not even wiggle past my hips prior to my surgery on September 5. Lo & behold... they slid on easily!! I immediately dissolved into tears because it was a precious moment for me. And, then, I got it -- I had a NSV!! I won't call it my first because, quite frankly, I've had many that I've failed to acknowledge - all equally important to my journey but overshadowed by my obsession with the numbers on the scale. I'm not getting on the scale every day anymore, I'm curbing that -- slowly. It's more like every other day (I know, I know... not much better but I said slowly...). I don't use the numbers as validation anymore because I know the weight will come off. Why? Because I'm doing everything right -- I'm not cheating & I'm committed to a healthier me! I deserve this & I'm not going to stop. And, once I found some peace -- I lost 2.5 pounds. Who knew? Lol! Anyway, thank you for all the words of encouragement, sharing your stories & the sound advise. This journey forces you to get to know yourself in ways that are unfamiliar & sometimes scary, but there's so much joy when you just trust the process & believe in yourself!! Thank you for listening!!

Congratulations! NSV are as uplifiting as SV's.

I don't sign in here very often, but since it had been awhile, I thought I'd check in. It's a year ago this month, that I had my last fill. That last one was so restrictive, I have not wanted to get another. Maybe I should go for a check, but I don't know that I want more added. I only managed to lose about 20lbs since that fill. I wonder if this happens to others. I lose 2-3lbs, then gain a little back at "that time of the month", after that, I may lose a little but then it remains the same weight for several days, before starting to lose again. It is very, slow. It's like two steps forward, one step back (that kind of thing). It is frustrating, but, as long as I keep heading in the right direction, I'm okay. The good news is, that I have been buying smaller clothes. Medium tops and smaller pants/jeans/skirts. Bottoms are mostly 10s, but I have at least one or two 8s, one size 9/10 and some just say Medium. I even have one pair of jeans I got at a yard sale, that I'd had hanging as my inspirational jeans, that I fit into!!!! I just about fell over, when they zipped up, because they're size 6. That brand's sizing has to be off. I've got other size 8s that I can't get even closed to zipped. It has also been nice that people have obviously noticed that I'd lost more weight, because they comment on it. I've heard 'skinny', 'thin' and 'svelte'. That last one gave me a good laugh, as nobody has ever called me svelte. So, as of right now, I am 23lbs from my official goal. As I've always said though, we'll see how it goes. If I feel great and am happy with a little bit higher, I'll be good. I do not want to be wafer thin. I think we should have 'some meat on our bones'. Stick thin is just not cute. If you're frustrated like me, just hang in there and work for it. Don't give up. It is hard, but I would've never gotten as far I as have, without the band. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan..... For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, Protein Bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey Jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it.... Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling shit, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups). Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.

So today I'm wearing a brand new (i.e. not stretched) Australian size 14 shirt --- AND IT FITS!!! Plus, I saw a new surgeon (for something unrelated to the band) today, and in taking my history he found out that I'd had the band. He exclaimed "But you're not that big! Why did you get the band?!" I was like... ummm, I used to be bigger than I currently am!!! :D

Fantastic list of NSVs - congratulations.

I almost 3 weeks out.. highest weight was 317 day of surgery 298 today 280....37lbs from my highest weight 18lbs since surgery.... Anddddd I'm down a size. From size 20 to size 18... Watch out 16's I'm coming!!!!!!

This was one of my happiest NSVs two months post banding. Congratulations!

Your life will get better every day and when the NSV and the weightloss happens. You will be soo glad that you did this for yourself. It is very life changing for the good..

Several years back i had to get another wedding band because my original one from 34 yrs ago was too small. Well now the bigger one along with my other ring is starting to slide off. Thought I'd try my old band knowing it won't fit yet and omgosh it slid right on. So now I wearing my original wedding band again. oh what a feeling!!!

You are entering into the "3rd week stall" zone. This is far more common than many think. You are not doing anything wrong, you will need patience at this time. Just keep doing all the right things that you are currently doing, continue to heal and keep getting in all your fluids. The scale will start moving again in time. In the mean time, it might be a good idea to stay off the scale for at least a few weeks. I know, easier said than done, but if it's frustrating you then it's just causing you unnecessary stress that is really unhelpful to your efforts. Please note, stress is a factor when it comes to no weight loss as well. Find other ways to measure success, there are so many. What NSV's have you had already? How many inches have you lost? Are there side by side photos you can create to see the difference? Find other avenues, you will see they really do make you feel a lot better.

Congrats on the NSV. I am very encouraged by your "testimony". I was in a 22-24 and I am now in a 16-14. I'm out 1 1/2 yrs and would love to be at goal this August. My problem is the extra fat around my stomach. I know that it's a good 5-8 #'s. I would love to have lipo but I don't see that happening unless God provides(yes, I have asked him). Again, congrats and yes, I understand the tears of joy.

CONGRATULATIONS! what does NSV stand for?

Hah! Lots of folks wish they could get to that point!!Great NSV!

Yes it sure does, it gives you motivation to keep going. Congrats on the NSV! Keep up the good work!!

Major NSV moment. Ladies I've been a 22 - 24 for the past 18 years, thanks to GOD and the lapband I made it all the way down to a 14 (or so I thought). Hubby and I were out doing some Christmas shopping and I saw some fierce suede pants on the clearance rack for $9.99 (WOW) size 10, I passed them over, hubby said why don't you try them on, I didn't think I had a chance..... Ladies...they fit, lovely. I was in shock. I went home and actually had to study myself in the mirror. It had been so long since I had actually saw ME. I loved what I saw and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

I was at the Fruit Market, when I said Hello to a Neighbor. She told me I looked Great, and even her Grand Kids were checking me out.. I said thanks, but it is a lot of work.. She said she bets it is.. Then she said are you smaller then you were, last time that you lost weight ? I said NO ! I have 2 sizes to go down to reach where I was before things got goofed up. So I am looking forward to this summer. She said my God you are going to look Great. So I said say hy ! to your husband and was on my way. I felt as light as a Butterfly. A couple streets down is the Auto Parts Store, so he needed to stop there. We took care of Business and he got a head start, so I looked like I was walking alone ,when I was WHISTLED ! at.... He said HAY BABY, WANNA GO OUT ON A DATE SOMETIME ? I was floored, when all of a sudden I heard "W H A T T T T T !" The young Guy says "I'm Sorry sir, I didn't know she was Married. ! ! ! ! In the car He said your starting to look to Dam Good ! I said Nope ! not in a size 20 I'm not... I still got a long way to go.. I'm still flying High on this, and Hope to enjoy it all day. Its been a long time since I was asked out on a date. I should write it on the Calendar.

So happy...wore no elastic in the waist jeans to church! They slipped on like a glove. This is a great day and this makes everything I have went through all worth it.

As of late I have noticed other men, besides my DH checking me out. It is such a great feeling to get the looks again. I am still far from my goal or ideal weight, but it sure is nice to feel sexy again! :clap2:

I can still distinctly remember having that fear of not fitting in a desk at school going back as far as grade school. This is indeed a monumental NSV! Congrats!

Took this pic this morning haD A NSV THERE is space between my wheel and me Space yay!!

Congrats! That's a great NSV!