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Glad you are feeling better! I wish I could go to mushies, I still have to wait 11 more days, argh! I can't wait to chew. I did have an NSV today that made me not feel so sorry for myself. I was down a size in clothes, I needed new pants and was pretty excited when I went down a size!

It's finally happening! Had my monthly appt with my band doctor yesterday (the awesome Dr. Duffy at Yale New Haven Hospital's Bariatric Surgery office), and I was down 11 pounds! :w00t: I update my ticker in my email signature more often than every month, so it reflects my total loss, but I was so excited that I'd lost 11 pounds in one month I was ready to scream with joy! :thumbup: And guess how I did it? By following the bandster rules! Being careful to choose nutrient-dense food instead of calorie-dense food, chewing thoroughly and eating slowly, not drinking my calories, and avoiding "slider" foods that don't stay with you long enough to indicate a feeling of fullness. Amazing how well the rules work when you follow them LOL Combine that with a few well-placed NSV's regarding clothing, and it's been a really good period. My latest weigh-in this morning has me at 230 lbs, a number I haven't seen for at least 10 years...I'm really excited about that! Next mid-range goal - making it to 200 lbs by the time of my family reunion in Florida in July. Next short-range goal - dropping another 15 pounds before May 30th to put me at 215 before Memorial Day. Swimsuit season is looking like it's going to hold a lot less terror for me this year than in previous years - that's a definate plus! What made the difference? Regular exercise and eating correctly. Mostly the eating correctly, since I already walk 30 minutes 5 days a week, with longer walks on the weekends (weather permitting). Now I'm going to add some weight work back into my schedule - nearly done with this semester's classes, which will give me more time. I need to keep 'tightening up' my physique, which I know weight training will do. Check in again in a few weeks - until then, if you are already banded, follow the rules and move more - that's the "secret" to success! If you are not yet banded, get the info you need to make a quality decision, and then GO FOR IT! Your life, your health and your happiness can all be enhanced by losing the excess weight. I know it's happening for me...:thumbup:

OK, this is the LAST time I am going to try and update my blog! I have written this three times, and each time when I hit the "Post" button, it disappears! If it doesn't work this time, forget about it. I have been saving my loose change since Christmas, and took it to the bank last week in anticipation of flying home earlier this week. ($320.00!!!) As soon as hubbie picked me up at the airport, I told him I wanted to go to The Blond Genius. It is a retail store in West Des Moines, IA that specializes in fitting anybody in jeans and making them look good with a great fit. They are pricey, but they always look good. Their slogan is "We Can Fit ANY Body!" So we headed to West Des Moines, and I went in ready to spend my cash. I told the sales clerk I had lost about 80 pounds recently, and didn't know what size to try on, but maybe to start with a size 16 or 14. She brought four or five pair into the fitting room and I started to try on jeans. She asked to see each pair, and finally she said "these are all to big on you, let's try something else." She brought back a bunch of jeans and I tried on size 12s! I thought "never, no way, no how". But guess what? They zipped up easily and looked GREAT! I was so thrilled, I had to sit down right there in the dressing room and cry for joy! (Am sure the sales clerk thought I was Crazy, Nuts!) I don't think I have ever worn a size 12. I went from children's sizes to a size 16 womens with no pause in between for smaller sizes! A 12, I can't believe it! How great is that! I am thinking of making a sign that says "I wear a Size 12 now!" and hanging it on my back just so the world will know! When my husband came to pick me up at the airport, he drove right by me, he didn't recognize me at first! Had to back up the car when he realised it was me. I have to say, my sleeve is the best thing I have EVER done for ME! Anyway, all you VGSers who are in a stall or not loosing as fast as you want, hang in there, the (NSV) rewards are SO worth it!

Awesome! That must have felt amazing! Congratulations and here's to hoping that all of your future NSVs are just as rockin'!

That's a huge NSV! Congrats!!

Hey Maysters! Haven't checked in with you guys lately! How is everyone? Happy Bandaversary to all of you! We have done so well as a group! My Bandaversary is coming up in 9 days! I had hoped to be in Onederland (199) by then and am just outside of it. Today I weighed 204! How awesome is that?! I had another fill on Tuesday and am now up to 2.75 cc's in my band, so I'm still on liquids. HOPEFULLY I will make it to 199 by the 26th. If I don't, I won't be upset... this year has been amazing! I bought some size 14 MISSY's capri pants and a size 12 Missy's skirt the other day(It doesn't zip all the way, but it will). I have NEVER in my life shopped in the MISSY'S Department! I went straight from the Sear's half sizes when I was in elementary school to the Plus Size departments. I gotta admit that I am totally freaked out by the Missy's department and find myself wondering back to the safe, comfortable Plus Size area. This is a mental hangup that I have to get past. I feel totally out of my element in the Missys. How crazy is that? I have sooo many NSVs that I have exeperienced over this last year that I can't even begin to list them all... I had a wonderful talk with my surgeon the other day.... These were his comments: "Wow, do you realize that you have lost a lot more weight than we expect in just under a year?", and "You are definitely leading the pack", and "I can't ask for you to be doing any better" and "Since you have done so well... we aren't gonna go crazy with this fill.. the only thing worse than being too loose is being too tight". My doc made me feel sooo good about where I am right now! I love my band!!! Its the best 18 grand that I will ever spend. Also... I have been getting alot more attention from guys... A little background... my younger cousin (by about 4 years) and I have always been very close, she is practically my little sis... anyway.. she is adorable.. 5'6, 125, awesome blue eyes and gorgeous long flowing brown hair. She has recently become single(broke up with a total loser, thank you God!) and we've been hanging out a lot. In the past, I've always been the invisible fat girl with the hot cousin. Well, now I'm no longer invisible! I catch guys checkin me out a lot more now. This is nice, but I still am having lots of body issues. I think I've always hidden behind my weight and I am a little freeked out that its not gonna be my protection from the world anymore(I have no idea why I need this protection). Most people don't understand this because I am very outgoing... everyone's confidant, everyone's buddy,I never meet a stranger.... but nobody's girlfriend. My friends tell me that I put out a major "don't approach me vibe" when it comes to guys. I don't know why I do this... I guess it is because my self esteem has always been pretty low, which I have always attributed to being big. Anyway... the weight loss has been awesome and I will never regret being banded. I just gotta work on the self esteem and body image now. Slowly the fat girl in the mirror is being replaced by a "normal sized girl"...the transformation continues. Thanks for letting me rabmle and I know you guys can relate! Have a great day Mayster and thanks for being here for me!

Wow, that was like hitting the trifecta lottery of NSV's! Congrats!

Saw a friend today that I haven't seen since before my surgery and when she saw me, she was excited because she could see my weight loss a lot she said. It made me smile from ear to eat. I'm down 22lbs. Tomorrow I will be one month out.

My first one is even though i haven't lost weight since surgery (11 days post op) i have lost three inches in my belly. What about you guys?

Congrats... Nice NSV!

I hid my scale. Needed some NSV (non scale victories)

The obvious answer is go back to basics.....original protein/fluid/carb goals. Go back to measuring and tracking if you've stopped. Basically whatever you did to lose those 164 pounds the first time is what you have to do again. I was run over by a tractor and shattered my pelvis and femur when I was just shy of 3 years postop. Was in the hospital for a month and gained 10 pounds on the carb heavy food they served. Went home in a wheelchair and transitioned to a walker over several months. I was extremely depressed over being so helpless. I had stopped seeing my therapist about 6 months earlier but went back to regular visits to help me with my depression so those 10 pounds didn't turn into 100. So if you aren't seeing a therapist, I suggest finding one. In the meantime work on finding your motivation. Dig up old photos of the "before" you. Sit down and make a list of your NSVs. What can you do now that you couldn't do 164 pounds ago? How do you feel? If you don't want to go back to the old you, pull up your skinny girl panties and do what you know you need to, and can do again.

@@Hiraeth I am exercising. It's one of my NSVs I go to the gym everyday and do 1 hour of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training. Effective the 15th, I will be working out with a personal trainer 3 days a week. Like you, I was expecting the stall, so I'm not concerned. I weigh myself every morning, but I'm not discouraged by the lack of weight loss. The weight will come off when its ready. I've read where some 3wk stalls lasted a month or so. I *hope* mine won't be that long, but there's nothing I can do other than to follow my plan.

Donna. Great NSV. Congrats!

Donna, way to go. I love the NSV's. I went to dinner at the parents today and my aunt looked right at me and didnt know who I was. I havent seen her since before the journey began. Keep it up, you are doing great...Dave

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO Kimmie!! Great NSV! Welcome Bloo! Glad you could join us! You can just post your stats on Monday and I'll add them to our list.

I'm wearing green pants in honor of this challenge today....BRIGHT green actually lol Just got back from the gym, and am about to clean a bit before heading off to get my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding next weekend! A nice NSV there...they ordered me a size 28, only needing to take off at least 8 inches :thumbup: Woot! Hopefully it fits...if not she'll have to take more off before next weekend! Eep! Go green!!!

Thank you for your thoughtful post. Right now I'm scouring through the "NSV" thread that was quoted above, and my heart is letting some joy come in thinking of these things. Having lost some weight before, I can recall how GOOD some of them felt. So freaking GOOD! Congratulations on your being thisclose to the twos as well. I never thought I'd see 300 again, and I did just before my pre-op diet. That, also, was a reminder to me of where I've been, how far I've come, and where I want to be a couple years from now. ♥️

What a great series of NSV's. And I love Vegas - so that makes it even better. Good for you. Happy Band Journeys to all.

Super NSV!

This past week we went on vacation to vegas. The last time I flew (13 mos ago) I could barely get that seat belt done up. I had to use every ounce of strength to get it buckled (my arms were shaking I was pulling so tight). Also, I thought I had the "bad seat" all the time because my seat would go back when it was supose to stay in the upright position. That turned out to be a little button that my leg would depress in (I had no idea that button was even hiding there). Anway back to the NSV. I fit! Whoohooo, I FIT GOOD! I was able to buckle up and have a good 6 inches of extra belt (never had extra before). AND I finally saw that button and no, my fat does not push it in anymore. I too can keep my seat in the upright position!!!! We literally walked miles and I was able to keep it at a good clip and didnt get tired out and could speak while walking! All good things! I get so concerned with the scale that every now and again it is just so good to see there are changes happening that the scale does not show me. Life is good! :scared:

Sweet, two great NSV's in one day, you are rocking it! Sent from my iPad using VST

Two NSV's today...... Had to cut 9 inches off my belt and got called a "skinny ass"! Even though I'm down 60 pounds since surgery and still 67 pounds from my goal, it felt good to hear that! I laughed at my friend that said it and then immediately went to my room to shed a small "happy tear".

CONGRATS! I love these NSV's!

Great NSV, I can hear you smiling all the way in SC!!!!! Mimi