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The dreaded 3 week stall strikes again!! You are NOT done losing weight!! Don't even let yourself think that! This is a great time to take your measurements and see if you are losing inches. If you didn't take them before surgery, then do it now and watch those inches shrink! I lost my first pants size during a stall. I was frustrated by the darn scale and, while I was getting dressed one morning, my pants fell off my booty! That's when I realized that there are lots of NSVs (non-scale victories) to be found. If your clothes are getting bigger and you are more able to do things, then you are still getting the benefits of the sleeve, even if the scale isn't moving. Remember that muscle weighs more than fat. It's definitely true! If you are exercising, even walking and very light weights, then you are building muscle. Even if it's a tiny bit of exercise, it's more than you were doing before surgery and your body responds very quickly to that little bit of exercise. Believe me, I don't work out intensly and I'm seeing HUGE results from my 30 minutes of walking per day and my 3 pound hand weights 3 times a week! At just over 5 months out, I'm seeing definition in my arms and legs, plus my weight is redistributing itself into more feminine lines, instead of the sponge-bob squarepants look I had before! Put the scale away, get out your measuring tape and work on drinking your Water. You will start losing again, and very quickly! Good luck!!

Hi All, I thought I'd share some of what I thought were the odder moments of surgery. First off was I had been in my room several hours before I noticed the gown I was wearing when I was willed in was a different one. Now I know during surgery we are all laid out like Sunday chicken but it still felt odd to think of someone undressing and redressing me! I also had something called an On Q pump an odd little gizmo that pumps in a novacaine type drug into your stomach area. The last was a bit of a NSV well not really but felt like it they came to take me to x-ray for the upper gi they brought this wheelchair big enough to almost fit two of me in it. The barium stuff was nasty as could be but with someone like me with bad reflux I was able to do it. Oh and a last bit of advice for anyone waiting on surgery, when they bring you your first liquid tray do not go crazy mixing in the unflavored Protein into every thing (G) Nancy

So I'm now a little over three weeks since being sleeved. I actually typed this up once before but somehow lost it and was too tired to type again until now. My time in the hospital started off with a glitch and ended with a glitch. At first (after being at the hospital for over 5 hours- also had a vena cava filter put in) my bloodwork showed I had low potassium. If they couldn't get it raised by taking what I call potassium "shots", which were super nasty tasting, then my surgery would have to be post-poned. Yeah...I freaked, but my levels did raise about 40 minutes after the potassium shot- so yay surgery! Everything with surgery went fine. The surgeon said if I hadn't lost the 63 lbs. ahead of time she would've had to have done an open procedure because my liver was still pretty big but thank goodness that didn't happen! I was so happy to wake up alive and with the laproscopic option! My other glitch was one night I woke up with a nurse sitting by my side. Apparently my oxygen levels went really low and I stopped breathing. The nurse had to stay with me as I slept that night since it kept going low- scary! Anyways that led me to staying in the hospital another night and I was supposed to stay a fourth night but they decided to let me go home if I slept with oxygen at home and scheduled some heart tests and a sleep study. Whew- I was glad I could leave the hospital! I was so ready to be home! Finally after a couple days home I got on the scale- oh I so shouldn't have- I had gained 15 lbs!!!!! What... I thought I was supposed to lose weight! So I know it was due to receiving fluids for 4 days and the air they pump into your stomach during surgery but still it was depressing. I've since lost those lbs- thank goodness. Then came the appointments. Had an echocardiagram and bubble tests done on the heart, potassium checked, additional bloodwork done, follow- up with the surgeon and nutritionist, and more bloodwork done to see if I had infection (had some bad stomach pain). All of that came back good. And then I had the oh so fun sleep study last night. Wow- that was an experience! How weird to be hooked up to so many wires and to have someone watch you sleep. The strangest thing was waking up in a pitch dark room while someone was saying my name. Of course I woke up forgetting where I was and I kept looking around trying to see who was calling my name- well duh it was over the intercom. he he . I haven't received results yet but the technician said I definitely didn't have severe sleep apnea and she wasn't even sure I'd be diagnosed with sleep apnea/need a c-pap. Both she and my surgeon guess it may be because of the pain meds why I had issues in the hospital- but of course I won't know for sure until my follow-up with the doc. Whew- well there is my story. Overall things went well. It is definitely an adjustment but I continue to tell myself it will get better and better. I've really enjoyed reading all your stories and NSV's and can't wait to be there with you soon!

Kyleigh, 70 pounds! Gone, Gone, Gone! I am so proud of you! Great job! Now what are some NSVs that you've noticed? Keep up the fantastic job!

soulmate, what a wonderful nsv for your wife and an exciting event for you as well. Good luck to you both!

Huge NSV today!! I got a new job at one of my favorite jewelry stores (yay!!) and the manager said my work wardrobe was too boring. I needed more personality (moi?? Gasp!!). Excuse to go SHOPPING! I usually hate shopping. There are no plus size stores in my town and I usually have to go 45 minutes away to find stylish clothes. I decided to try my luck in the plus size section at target to see if I could find anything that didn't resemble a sack. EVERYTHING THERE WAS TOO BIG ON ME! I ventured to the regular sizes and tried on some really cute stuff in XXL and it all fit!!!!!!! I even got some stuff in XL!! It was the greatest feeling ever! I was in tears! I'm so excited to start dressing for work now. I haven't been able to do this.... Ever! I'm loving my sleeve. I just wanted to share this NSV with everyone

I put on my son's track and field warm up and it fit! Size large top size medium bottoms. Bottoms a bit too tight but doable if I had an emergency need for bottoms. Top fits really nice.

Those sound like a ton of NSVs! Great job!

Oh, the knees.... so many years since I could bounce on the knees... When I hit THAT NSV - y'all will hear me screaming nationwide...

I'm finally in the 170's!!! I'm so relieved to see the 170's I can't tell you! My primary goal is 169 lbs, and my birthday is in 2 weeks. Today I weighed in at 177.9, which means I'm only 8 lbs away from my goal- most importantly my birthday is in 2 weeks!!!!! I want so badly to make my goal by my birthday, a present I've never really been able to give myself before. I have friends coming to visit me and I'd like to get dressed up in a fabulous tight dress and show everyone AND take pics!! I still haven't told the rest of my social world about my surgery (not really planning too) but I also haven't posted ANY pics since my weight loss started, and now every time someone see's me they kind of freak out a little bit. So I figure my birthday in two weeks is a great coming out party for weight loss pics, and even bigger motivator to get this last 8 lbs off! I can do this! And my NSV this week? NSV... my skinny jeans/pants I bought in Nurnberg, Germany years ago on the Euro size chart at H&M... FIT! Like a glove. Hallelujia! About a size 9/10 on the American standard. Here is my before and after 2.5 months after surgery! Size 16 to size 9/10!!!! Check out the before and after below!! Height: 5'9 Highest Weight: 216 1st Goal Weight: 169 Sleeved: (8/17/2012): 216 lbs Week 1 (8/24): 204.8 (-11.2) Week 2 (8/31): 200.6 (-4.2) Week 3 (9/7): 196.8 (-3.8) Week 4 (9/14): 193.5 (-3.3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 9/17/12- 1 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 5 (9/21): 191.6 (-1.9) Week 6 (9/28): 190.1 (-1.5) Week 7 (10/5): 187.0 (-3.1) Week 8 (10/12): 181.9 (-5.1) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> 10/17/12- 2 Month Anniversary w/Pics Posted in Blog Week 9 (10/19): 181.4 (-.5) Week 10 (10/26): 177.9 (-3.5)

This week, I have been complimented like crazy about how I have lost weight!! All of a sudden, BAM!! Everyone is saying something to me. It feels pretty good. However, I was not prepared for the compliments,. People are asking me what I am doing, and it never occurred to me to have an answer. I guess it is a like a dream come true that you are not ready for. I just tell people I cut carbs and eat very differently. But if feels good and is great incentive for me!!

How awesome! To not be recognized - that's an NSV for sure.

That is awesome Shelley. Keep up the good work. With numbers improving like they are not only do you look 10 years younger, but you probably added to years to your life. I love NSV's like this. I am also 3 months out and was thinking this morning how funny it is that I no longer even unbutton/unzip my pants. They are big enough that I just slip them on and put on a belt to keep them up. These are pants that came out of storage because they were too small to wear for the past several years.

I started a new job on Monday. On Wednesday a coworker said, "I think you went to school with my husband". She told me his name which sounded vaguely familiar....lets face it, I graduated 30+ years ago! She then went on to say, "He said you were heavy in school and I told him it must be someone with the same name because you were VERY THIN!"

i went to the store today to buy some jeans. Last ones I bought were 48X30's. Today, my new size is 38X30 and they arent even tight!!!. Mn that really made my day Now I am only 6 inches away from my goal size...

My blood pressure is now 110/70 WITHOUT my blood pressure meds! I started this journey on 2 blood pressure meds then I went down to just 1 and now... NONE!

I'm 7 weeks out. I'm down 56 pounds but more exciting to me is I have lost 5 inches in my waist and my hips. I'm down from 24 pants to 18; and some 18s are getting loose! I bought a shirt at the store last weekend. It was in the regular section so I didn't know if it would fit. I held up the XL and thought it fit. Got home and I was swimming in it! Went back and tried on the medium. It fit well but the bust area looked odd the way it was cut because I'm still a D. So I got the L and it looks good even though its a bit big. Unbelievable! I also lost three inches under my bust and I'm having to use the inner clasp. I'm putting off getting new bras as long as I can. Also I talked to my daughter who is 9. I was talking to her about eating habits and told her I don't want her to end up over weight like me. She said she didn't think I was overweight. If only we could see ourselves through their eyes! I'm able to walk up the stairs at work which are huge without grabbing the rail or feeling tired. I have a lot more energy too!

@@B-52 Amazing NSV to get out and kick ass in life. Your health and fitness level always keeps me interested in what you are doing to keep yourself in shape. Love your posts.

First off, I'm 64 years old, and had Lap band procedure coming up on 6 years. Prior to that, I was morbidly obese, diabetes, high BP, triglycerides, cholesterol, etc, etc, you name it, all out of control. Was seeing as many as 4 different Dr.'s all on a 4-month schedule. I was so out of shape I would become short of breath and need to rest doing the littlest things like carry groceries into the house. My PCP simply and straight forwardly stated that if I did not do something, specifically lose 50-80 lbs, I will not be around much longer. I should think about my family, etc, when I am gone. I told him, yet again, that I have tried every diet under the sun and was never able to keep it off. All diets started out good, but then I back slid and ultimately complete failure. I went for a stress test, and they found blockages in my arteries, which resulted in angioplasty with stents. It was then they discovered an area of my heart muscle was damaged which was a result of a Myocardial Infarction. They asked me when did I have a heart attack? I said never. They said Oh yes you did, a quite serious one...However it was silent which is very common for diabetics. Back to my PCP...suggested as a "Last Resort", I go for WLS. Which I did. WLS was 100% successful for me, once I got past the initial stages it became the easiest thing I could have ever done. Lost all my excess body fat, became a gym rat. I don't count calories or anything similar to traditional dieting. With the band I am forced to eat less so when I do eat I just make sure it is something as healthy as I can put together. Always focusing on the Protein. I indulge in things that are usually a hot topic here...point is, I'm not a glutton so a little here and then works just fine with me. Fast forward to a few days ago....went in for my scheduled Nuclear Stress test. Other people in the waiting room had O2 with them, were using walkers, etc...I came looking like I just came back from the gym knowing I would be running on their treadmill. Through every phase people would comment how good I looked and I surley worked out. One TECH wanted to know what my workout routine was. On the treadmill, where they take it to a high BPM (stress), they had me running at a good clip...I was also carrying on a normal conversation the whole time. Then they inject the isotobe and take pictures of your cardiac arteries First time I had one of these it didn't take more than a brisk walk, and I was so out of breath I could not speak. My cardiologist called me later and said I passed with flying colors..everything could not look any better...Perfect... This is what WLS did for me...literally saved my life. Turned around my Coronary Artery Disease, not to mention reversing my diabetes and everything else I was plagued with. I'm 64 years old and am the weight I was when I played football and ran track back in HS 45 years ago. I am at an optimal body fat %, (don't care about BMI's) cannot lose anymore because there is nothing left to lose. Wear normal clothes right off the rack, or order online without any worries, never short of breath, and I feel like I'm 30 years younger and can do anything. Last summer I climbed a volcano where the next oldest in the group was 1/2 my age, the rest younger...I led the pack most of the way up. I read posts on this forum all the time about people complaining about this and that, or having fears of failure only a year or less into it... People, PLEASE get over it....stop the whining!!! This thing DOES WORK...don't sweat the small stuff, focus on the big picture..like the rest of your life!!! Ok, off my soapbox. Thank You

wannalise i am so very sorry and confused at the same time for what you are dealing with i totally understand what you are dealing with, and i hope you and your neurologist get this figured out/get control, very, very soon we are "sisters" - when i turned 16, (43 years ago) i became aware of my epilepsy i have been "controlled" all these years - with a couple of exceptions due to medicine changes my NSV - after i had lost about 50 lbs - we realized that due to my extreme weight loss, i now needed LESS medicine (keppra & lametcal) unfortunately we found this out the hard way - when i had an "unexpected" side effect I became very "dilusional" after knee replacement surgery 3 months PO WLS had to stay in hospital 3 extra days til they could figure out and deal with the prob - getting the right dosage for me I now take 1/2 the dosage that i took before WLS - this is huge for me i hope you and your neurologist get this figured out very soon!!!!! losing 160 lbs - you have done amazing i wish the best for you take care my friend

I was able to JOG a quarter of a mile. I was sooooooooo excited to jog. I have never jogged since being fat. I was so proud of myself. I end up walking a little bit over 2.5 miles. When I got home it was the best sleep I had ever had.:notagree I want to see if I can jog a quarter every other day for a month and then move to jogging 1/2 a mile.:clap2:

Way to go ...what a great NSV

Jaygirld: wow.. congrats on jogging! I used to be able to do that, actually, it is how I quit smoking. I used to keep running until I didn't want to smoke !!!! Now, my boobs would knock me out..... LOL Bermy:::: yahoo!!!!! crossing legs is a big NSV... good for you! I will be there soon ... I hope : - ) CONGRATS TO BOTH OF YOU!!!:clap2:

I had TWO great exercise NSV's this morning. I have been walking & running (couch potato to 5k program) for nearly a month now, using the bike bath near my house. NSV #1: I ran (ha! that is an overstatement of my very slow jog) 22 out of 40 minutes I was working out. All the way from my starting point to the bottom of the big hill (15 minutes) then turned around and walked back up the hill and ran (7 minutes) back to my start. Woo! NSV #2: just as I was ending my run, I was very tired and wanted to try to keep running back to the start but wasn't sure I could. I see the same people on the path every day, including one lady with her huge black poodle. This morning, she smiled at me as I was running my last tenth of a mile, and said "I wish I had your energy!" I was so flabergasted I had to ask her to repeat it to make sure I heard her correctly. Then I laughed! Tomrrow I'll have to make sure I tell her how much it meant to me to hear her say that. :whoo: I'm really starting to love this running thing. Frog.

When was your surgery date? How long has it taken you? That is AWESOME!! What a VICTORY. Congrats on your NSV and on being an inspiration to others. :clap2: