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got to love them NSVs !!!!

Way to go RJ! I started with a trainer this month, too. It's so worth it. Just finished my third week. Sometimes I think I'm going to die it's so hard, and then I'm frustrated because I'm not losing lbs. on the scale. But, lots of NSV's: My lean body mass was only 100 lbs. (out of 211) last spring, and now it's 111 llbs. I gained 10 lbs of muscle since then. Yay! I'm not nearly as flabby and there are actually muscles under there that have been dormant for a decade I can lift and move things that I couldn't before. I don't feel nearly so helpless as I did Best of luck to you in this program. You can do it!

Don't worry about Bandster hell! I don't consider that I have gone through it and was banded in 08. The worst part was right after I had surgery, then again after I had a fill a few weeks ago where I thought.. what did I do? I got over that right away, and frankly do not want to be without the band. I have PB on Occassion since I got the recent fill, but never before. I have found that feeling sad or mourning food choices is the worst of it for me, but I think about how fast I started to feel better and any negative thoughts go away. I think alot has to do with the way your looking at it. There is little you cannot have in moderation when you think about it, take it one day at a time. You will find that when you go to bed you will wake up wondering what subtle changes your body has done... at least that is how I think about it.. think of the NSV... not all of it is on the scale!

I am trying to figure out what nsv stands for..lol

Wonderful NSVs!!

hi, welcome to LBT. the band is a great TOOL, but you do have to work with it. it IS a drastic life change, but think of all the great things that will result in those changes you will have made. look for some threads around here labeled NSV (non scale victory) - crossing legs, fitting in a size 16, fitting in a size TEN, no problems on airplanes, the list is endless. good luck and it truly is worth it.

lessnless....that's a GREAT NSV. Thanks for sharing. I'm O+ and have NEVER 'yet' been able to donate blood!! Seems like every time I try to I'm either post-op (or back in the day was breastfeeding!) or on meds that prevented it. The one time I DID get close enough to even get pricked my blood FLOATED and they turned me away. (They did give me a tee-shirt anyhow because I was crying I wanted to donate so bad!) I'm thinking about trying again... ...before I get too thin.

I know, I'm a day late with this week's entry. I just didn't feel up to it yesterday, or now for that matter. edit (10-29-06): I feel up to it now. I'll be going for another (my 3rd.) fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. I think I'll need a fill to help me cope with the Thanksgiving turkey. Man, I love making sandwiches with the leftover turkey. Oooh, and chocolate cream pie and biscuits with mayhaw jelly. Oh jeez, stop me now. On a "happy,happy,joy,joy" note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

I went for a long walk. Walked from my apartment through the complex to leasing office then went on the road and walked back (stopping at deli to get husband breakfast on way back)!!! And the best thing... No back pain! Feel very good about it. And I even did it in the rain!

Yes, one of my first and best NSV!

VerticalSleeveTalk.com Newsletter Hey, Sleevesters! It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter. Launch of the VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for Kindle. Encouragement to welcome new VerticalSleeveTalk.com members in the ”Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Story” Forum. Tick and Track your way to success! Hot on the Boards: Why doesn’t everyone get the Sleeve if it’s so effective? First Member Spotlight: Coming Soon! Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try. Visit VerticalSleeveTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the sleeve. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Kindle App Launched! The VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for the Kindle has launched! You can download it for free from Amazon for instant use on your Android. The Kindle app joins the lineup of VerticalSleeveTalk.com apps for iPod, iPad, iPhone and Android. All of these apps are fully functional, so you can read and post to the forums, upload photos and send private messages. Don’t go anywhere without VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Don’t forget about the contest to Celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, upload photos or refer a friend. Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Sleevesters Even More? VerticalSleeveTalk.com has thousands of members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because VerticalSleeveTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community. We know that many of you Sleevesters go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use VerticalSleeveTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow sleevesters. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Story” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks! Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful! What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course! Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value. Trackers are for recording your current body measurements. You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow Sleevesters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it. VerticalSleeveTalk.com Hot Topic: Why Don’t All Yo-Yo Dieters Get the Sleeve? We all know of a few celebrities that have struggled with their weight for years. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actress Kirstie Alley have talked openly about their attempts to lose weight and different diets they have tried. So, OntheFence wondered why these famous role models haven’t gone for the sleeve and asked about it on the boards. That set off a great discussion about the sleeve! Some of you pointed out that the sleeve keeps you in check constantly – you don’t have the money to hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to watch over you full-time, but the Sleeve does that. Many of you also pointed out that weight loss surgery is not magic – you have to be dedicated to making a lifestyle change with your diet and exercise if you want the sleeve to be successful. What do you think about weight loss people for famous people who struggle with obesity? Come by and post your thoughts. Coming Soon: Member Spotlights! We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees. We’ll be Contacting You Soon! Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Sleevester! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the VerticalSleeveTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member. Sleever Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try! Each Sleevester Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum. Roundup of the Previous Sleevester Challenge: Try a New Food! In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Challenge Forum. Here is just a sample of the great ideas from the challenge! lunch – P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps from M2G. The only difference between these and the real ones is that these can fit into your Sleevester diet! dinner – Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers from LadyIvy. These tasty burgers are easy to grind so you can eat them in the mushy stage if your surgery is recent, and they’re great for any time when you’ve progressed to solid foods! To celebrate Cinco de Mayo – Ground Turkey Tacos from Doreykn. Ole! Thanks to the three of you for sharing your culinary expertises! Don’t forget that you can always go back, try the old challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences! The New Challenge: Share a NSV! Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your weight loss journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important. This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be: Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat. Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store. Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law. Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Sleevesters learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them! So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

I've had a few NSV's this week: -could fit into a size 9 shoe (wore an 11 at one point) -people telling me that my XL size scrub top was too big -being called skinny mini at work and this isn't a weight loss victory, but a victory overall: my bf decided to join my gym!! now we're both getting healthier and spending more time together

My discovery of the day was a major NSV. I worked out in the yard most of the afternoon in 96 degree and very humid weather. I don't think I even broke a sweat and there was no slowing me down. 2 years ago it would have killed me. That's how my day went and thanks for asking!

THANK YOU ..I didn't know what an NSV was and had been wondering for weeks!! Anyways..that happened to me also. I tried on a size 40 waist pair of jeans today!! I hadn't been a 40 since GRADE SCHOOL...went from a size 46 to a 40 in 4 weeks isn't too shabby!

I thought of that, but I was over a year out when I got the idea and I didn't have many NSVs left, so I went with the fitness charms to motivate me to keep moving. I have a bucket list of races I want to do after I heal including another Ragnar, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I want to do a marathon and a triathlon some day.

I love this idea. And you could even (with some creativity) add non-fitness oriented NSVs too, like a shopping bag for having to replace your wardrobe, and a plane for not having to wear a seatbelt extender, etc. So fun, and congrats on your accomplishments!

OK I just have to share... I bought some shorts about a month ago and was bummed when they didn't fit.... I decided to try them on today and they fit, comfortably. YEAH I am so excited especially since I haven't been seeing the scale move all that much. I actually have some older clothes in my "new" size that I can bust out now :smile2: I have nothing smaller than this (pantswise) so I will have to buy a pair of jeans or something the next size down for motivation. YEAH!!!:thumbup:

Surgery was 9/20 and have been feeling well. We decided that since DH was leaving for Africa on Sunday we would spend the day together as a family at the fair in Waco TX. Our two grandsons (10 and 8) each invited a friend to join them. I wanted to be sure that my clothes would be comfortable for the day and chose a blouse tha5 I have not been able to wear in several years. I just realized that I really skipped this size as there is more cleavage showing than I have ever had. Means that I will be adjusting my blouse all day. Not a bad problem to have!

Experiences seem to vary widely as far as surgery and recovery. I felt only discomfort (no pain) after surgery. The discomfort was the feeling of a foreign object in my chest that felt very heavy. This feeling went away in about 10 days. I also experienced a strange rash on my hands and arms that went away by itself. I believe this was an immune response to the band. You may experience discomfort from the gas used during surgery. Most people feel pain in the shoulder area. I did not. I felt the surgery was a piece of cake compared to other surgeries I have had. Your surgeon will put you on a post-op diet that you should follow to the "T". You will get really hungry between days 5-10 but you must not deviate from the post-op instructions no matter how hungry you are. I recommend you focus on drinking Water during this time to keep the hunger at bay. The period between recovery and your first fill are called "bandster hell". It is called this because you will have no restriction and will have to use a great deal of will power to get through it. It does take some time to reach good restriction but once you do, you will not feel deprived of food and weight loss will be relatively easy. I highly recommend you begin walking immediately following surgery and increase the amount of time you walk each day as you are feeling better. My experience has been that you will lose rapidly the first few months if you walk a lot. As soon as your surgeon deems you ready, start a routine/daily exercise regimen. I joined Curves and go 5 times/week and ride my bicycle several times per week for an hour or more. Be sure you get measured at your chest, stomach, hips, arms, legs so you can see non-scale victories (NSV's) for when you can't see the loss on the scale. It is normal to hit plateaus during your weight loss. I find this to be very discouraging but just keep in mind the loss will start up again. This is why measuring is important. I will be happy to answer any other questions you may have if you would like to message me. Best of luck to you!:cursing: Donna

I've been jogging on my treadmill pretty much every day for the last couple of weeks, of course always taking at least one day off to rest. It was just a couple of weeks ago that I had to take a serious look at what I was eating and how much exercise I was getting. It was at that time I decided I had to get off my butt and get some real exercise. Yesterday, for the first time since starting my journey, I was able to jog the entire way. I do a 30 minute workout that has a warm-up for a couple of minutes and cool down for a couple of minutes with interval hills throughout. I usually have to stop at least once to walk, but yesterday jogged for the entire 25 min. I'll need to up the intensity before long to keep it challenging. I was really excited to be able to do that. It feels so good to be jogging again. I used to love to run and now I'm on my way again. I feel such a sense of accomplishment. I know it doesn't compare to those out there who are doing marathons and such, but it's my victory and I'm going to embrace it. I wore a dress to church today that I couldn't wear before surgery and now it's a little big. I even got several compliments today about how "slim" I am looking. I don't see it, but others must. That's the kind of thing that will keep me going. It drives me to get on the treadmill everyday even though some days I just don't want to. I've also decided every couple of weeks to change up my routine and do something either different or harder. This week I'm going to start lifting weights again. My DH and I have an entire set in the garage that we've both stopped using. It's time to dust them off and get going. I'm dying to go sleeveless. The Texas heat is upon us and it's time to tone up these arms. I want this weight gone. Truth be told, I would really like for it to be gone tomorrow, but I know that's not likely to happen. For now I'm content to use my band as a tool and work my way back to my old self. Whoever that is. I guess we'll just have to wait and see who emerges.

The clothes are a big NSV. But also, no need for seat belt extenders, I have to actually tighten them now. Fitting into rides at the amusement park back in October with my niece!

So happy for you! There are going to be a lot more NSV's in the future trust me.

Firstly....... You looked beautiful on your wedding day. Congrats on doing something you wanted to do after losing weight...... great NSV.

Woohoo! Those NSV are great, aren't they? How did you keep up your old jeans, going from 26 to 18?? I know that was a great feeling. Congrats. Karen

Amazing on the NSV and I am OVERWHELMED that you passed the HVAC test!! I know that, at least in FL, that's one of the toughest tests you can take!! Congratulations on both major accomplishments!!!