Search the Community

I LOVE reading NSV's !!!!! they are since inspiring and motivational....keep 'em coming! Great job, all of you!

@@Katcloudshepherd OMG poor hubby has been through the ringer you are his primary health care provider?? things must be very difficult for you too you've lost 121 lbs!!! might be a little easier to breath and move around helping hubby unexpected NSV maybe?? hubby needing oxygen 24/7, high blood pressure, many, many co-morbities many surgeries over the years it must be so hard for him and for you too having to be attentive to all his health needs (i'm sure you don't mind, but it must be draining/hard hopefully many of his ailments will improve or gradually disappear sooner than later he will "probably" have a difficult recovery the two of you will be standing hand in hand together standing very tall and strong being their for each other may the new year bring you both health and happiness good luck kathy

dont get me wrong i am grateful for having the procedure. but there are moments i am so down. i have NSV and scale loss but just not enough even though im averging 2lbs a week. i might have to get off this foroum because i see ppl with larger amounts dropping and it is kind of upsetting to me makes me ask why am i not losing as fast. i am scared to wieght train because the scale will go up more and that will only freak me out. smh. i have good days where i am so happy and gitty and then there are these days where i dont feel progress. my daughter fussed at me and said mom you are you and just because someone is losing more dont mean you are doing bad. maybe i need to speak to my nut again and have her tell me again how im expected to lose 30lbs the first 3 months and i did in 2 months. so i guess i can look at it like in another 3 months i will lose another 30 which will put me an 60lbs in 6 months. ( light bulb over my head) lol. ok im breathing now lol

I am SO comfortable with my sleeve. I have read that some people are scared or weary of restaurant dining. Not me! I have been out to eat several times and have CONQUERED the menu everytime. Today, I went to lunch with a friend that I haven't seen since surgery. We went to eat at our fave Mex rest. I ordered a carnitas soft taco lunch combo. I ate the "guts" out of my soft taco, a couple small bites of rice and 2 chips dipped in salsa. I was Stuffed and satisfied. Saturday, I was in SF with some girlfriends and we ate at a rest. on the pier. I had the grilled mahi mahi tacos. Again, I ate only the inside of the tacos, tried one of my gf's garlic fries and another gf's crab dip. Full and satisfied! The point I want to make is that it's OK to eat out. Don't feel like you need to seclude yourself at home, embarrased by how little you eat or not sure how to order your food. The conversation and time with loved ones will always trump your embarassment. I am comfortable and confident in my sleeve. I was sleeved so I can live again! I have been a professional dieter for so long (like many of you!) and I know how many calories are on a plate just by looking at it. I make sure to make healthy responsible decisions when I eat. I may have a nibble of the "bad stuff" but I don't dive in. That's the key. Don't let your sleeve hinder your decisions on life, embrace it and let it guide you. HTH!

Why, oh why - please tell me...Why am I in the most danger when I've had a victory??? So we all know that exercise is the bane of my existence. But I've managed to work out at least 3 days a week for a month now. So this week, I'm bumping it up to 5 days a week. Grrrr. So I haul it out of bed this morning with the intention of doing something different at the gym. Everyone says you shouldn't get stuck doing one exercise routine - you should mix it up. I was therefore going to do a bike instead of the elliptical and weights. Started out fine - but the seat KILLED my butt (and not in the good 'oh I'm feeling the burn' way - more like the 'OMG I'm being sawed in half' way) !!! So I switched to one of the bikes where you are more seated with your legs horizontal instead of vertical. Didn't like that either because everytime I pedaled, I smooshed my stomach (which is still considerable) into my boobs, which are even more considerable. All of this and I only burned half the calories I burn on the elliptical. Had to leave the gym earlier than usual because I had an early morning at work. Managed to actually eat a good, protein breakfast and get to the stupid meeting on time (HUGE for me). Only to find out the meeting was canceled!!! However, we were having a drug rep coming later - with breakfast! So now - I've already eaten and they bring in tons of food (breakfast pastries, naturally) to leave in the break room, 3 steps from my office. Before vacation, about a month ago, I bought a new linen outfit. Fit perfectly. I haven't gotten around to wearing it until today because it's linen and requires ironing - which I only do about once a year. So I put it on - pants are too big!! :-) YAY me! I've mentioned that I was getting pissy because the scale wasn't moving, which usually triggers a binge for me. So I'm not allowed to get on the scale until the end of the month. The idea is to get used to doing the healthy thing because it's healthy, rather than being motivated by a number on the scale. So having a NSV like my brand new outfit being too big already is big for me! SO - someone please tell me WHY I'm seriously in danger of having a really, really bad - out of control eating - kind of a day! Why must everything trigger a binge for me??? If doing the right thing and not having a payoff makes me want to eat - why does doing the right thing and having a payoff make me want to eat?!?! Getting up for an extra workout - victory Healthy, protein breakfast - victory On time for early meeting - victory New clothes too big - victory I just have that unbelievable urge to eat everything I can find. I am my own worst enemy! Ready to turn around, go home, and climb in bed to hide until it's over!!! Shelly

I painted a 3 foot high wooden Easter Egg as a hanging ornament for my front door. It turned out pretty good, if I say so myself. So, I posted a photo of it on face book with me holding it. Holy cow, I got so many comments but they weren't about the door ornament, they were all about me. I've lost 35 pounds but people were acting like I had lost 80 lbs or something. All the comments were so positive and I had no idea anyone would really even notice. I felt like a rock star with all of the comments. LOL I am loving this sleeve and I am so motivated to stay on this diet and do what I am supposed to do in order to lose the weight. I am so excited.

Blan, that must feel so good. How rewarding such minor things like this make a 'huge' difference in our lives. I can't wait to have NSV's.. -Patty

to LIVE !, not just EXIST !!! to be healthy and happy with a strong slim build, no matter if im at 140 or 125 ( im at 209, down from 225- 6 weeks banded),to get rid of the c-pap machine, to not feel uncomfortable in a group, to some day be able to ride a horse again. to go on a week long fishing trip to Alaska summer 2013 & to be able to ride in a small plane and a fishing boat without being qverweight and unhealth and embarrased by my size........so far i have had my clothes be so loose i have to buy new ones and to find out that when i go on my long walks that i can JOG part of the way & I weigh less than my hubby-( he's 6'1- 215 lbs.) (been there done that already-yee haw ! love those NSV's ! ) hope this helps !! good luck on your journey !!

Other NSVs to watch out for, that maybe you aren't expecting: Your shoes will start to feel sloppy big, and your bed will feel like it got bigger.

What a great NSV! You brought tears to my eyes with that one! Congradulations!

Okay... now you made me cry... that is a wonderful NSV!

Slowly but surely this band is actually doing its thing!!! I am still totally amazed at how full I get in just a few bites...I have learned over the last couple days that when I start to feel uncomfortable when I eat and feel like something is trying to get stuck to take a huge deep breath and hold it as long as possible and it really does help me...I have been doing my 30 minute workouts everyday except for today when I only got 20 cuz my son had a major life threatening problem with his playstation 2 that I just had to address right then, but thats ok!! It makes me so happy to step on that scale each morning now and see a little difference...I have been adding it up and if I keep going at this rate I should have around a 10 lbs loss for this month (I can certainly deal with that)...The only bad thing is that my uniform pants from work are just about to that stage where they are going to fall off me...Everytime I stand up I am yanking on the legs or the waist to make sure they stay up...Good thing is that we put in orders for new uniforms about 3 weeks ago and are just waiting on them to get to us...So from my 4x shirt I ordered a 3x (i still like big comfy shirts) then I went from a mens 50x34 to a 46x34...Of course we didnt have anyone measure us out for our sizes so I just had to guess...I hope that I did the right thing on the sizes or I am just out of luck for a while...Maybe in several more month and several more sizes down I will even be willing to tuck in my uniform shirt...I guess that would be a great NSV for me!!!

Just had to share this... So, my husband has been teasing me lately and telling me that I'm shrinking. Now having been morbidly obese my whole life, I can see the numbers go down on the scale and feel it in my clothes, however, I still don't really "see" a change. I know that'll come with time I'm sure. Lately, I've been finding that even my tightest bras are getting looser and my undies are getting baggier. I didn't realize how baggy until a few days ago. I got up, exercised, took a shower and headed to the store to do some shopping. To my surprise, I kept feeling my underwear sliding down my butt...so I sneak into an aisle and hike those babies up good. Well, about 10 steps later, they do the same thing, so I hide in another aisle and pick them up again (I must have mortified the little girl and her dad that happened to run into the aisle JUST as I was doing this). The bathroom is on the other side of the store...I know I can't make it there...by this time, my undies have fallen again and the only thing keeping them up is the fat in between my thighs! Now most people would have just taken them off at that point, but I decided to waddle myself on out of there, hanging panties and all! Keep in mind that about 6 weeks ago, they were snug. I had my second post op (1st fill appointment) today. I shared this story with the doctor and I swear, I can still hear them laughing a whole city away. I figured that I should share this with you all in case someone needed a laugh. With that said, I've lost 10.5 lbs to the day from my first post op appt. (a week after surgery) a month ago. (35 lbs all together) Dr. said that I'm doing great and my lab work came back perfectly, except for a deficiency of Vitamin D, which I was told is pretty normal. On top of exercise and monitoring my portions, just having the band placed is offering some sufficient restriction (my band was empty). So 1.25cc's was added because the doctor (and myself) think that I'm knocking on the door to my sweet spot. Sorry for the long post...I'm so proud of myself and felt like sharing today! :thumbup: Start of Pre-Op Diet (2/15):345 lbs Day of Surgery (3/2): 330 lbs Post Surgery Appt (3/11): 320 lbs Follow up/First Fill appt: 309.5 lbs!...1.25 cc's

I'm reading alot about folks reaching goal, trying to reach goal, almost at goal, not successful, not as successful as they want to be, blah, blah, blah.... So...here's the question. What is it that means success to you? Is it reaching a goal weight? Is it some NSV that you've attained? Is it a change in your perception of self? Something to do with relationships perhaps? I'm curious what you all think. I'll start it. I reached goal in terms of weight a couple of months ago. But my idea of success is not hitting goal weight. It's being this size more or less the rest of my life. I've lost alot of weight before, but as usual, put it back on and some extra just for the hell of it. My son says he doesn't recognize me and it bothers him. He knows the fat me...and I understand that. I was fat for a very long time. He doesn't remember when I was this size some 20 years ago. I want him to start to think of me this size so that he's comfortable with the smaller me. That means I have to stay this way. That's success in my eyes. What about the others on this forum? What's your definition of success?

Damn Girl! What a GREAT NSV...WOOHOO 70 lbs gone and she's ridin the bull..lovin it!

Lisa, are you seriously challenging me to see who's had the most Wild NSV? I'll see your bull riding, and raise you Bellydancing ...

Bull Riding and Belly Dancing OH MY! I love it! This is also on my wish list of NSV's to come once I am banded. How fitting Gretchen came on at the same time. I admire your spirit, you are an inspiration. What fun Bandsters have! Tonya

"I'm a redneck woman I ain't no high class broad, I'm just a product of my raising I say hey ya'll and yee haw!" Gretchen Wilson I waited all night to hear Gretchen, and she came on right when I got on the bull! It was meant to be, just like my new Harley was meant to be as Metallica yelled "Gimme fuel gimme fire gimme that which I desire" as I pulled out of the dealership on my brand new bike! I gotta wonder if my days are numbered because I simply had to ride that bull, it's not like I had a choice. And the whole "Debra Winger" thing was Hollywood B.S. because the guy running the bull doesn't do any special favors ~ I asked him to go really slow but, "You don't come to a cowboy bar to ride a slow bull." It looks so easy, but that's a wild bull! Since debanding & dieting, my new drink of choice is a glass of wine diluted in a tall glass of ice. I allow myself 2 per night, but I think I had 4 last night because not only did I go to the gym at 5 a.m., but then we took the dogs for a long walk, then danced my brains out and rode a bull. Was I buzzed? "Let me hear a big HELL YEAH from the redneck girls like me, HELL YEAH!" Yep, buzzaroni! Tonight I'm going bungie jumping. NOT! So there, anyone can beat my NSV cuz I ain't NEVER jumping off any building unless it's on fire, nor will I jump out of any airplane unless it's on fire! You guys crack me up. Thanks for always making me laugh so hard. I laughed so hard at these responses that I cried!

LOL!!!!!!! Time to get out the duck tape! That is a wonderful NSV!

That's some awesome NSV's!!! That must feel so great being checked out!!! I was only a few months post-op and some guy asked me for my #! I hadn't lost much yet, but maybe I just had more confidence! That felt so awesome! I would totally check you out

Ok so when I started I was 315lbs....I am now down to 198lbs with 28lbs to go till I make my goal and I am 5' 9". Some of my latest NSV's are.... Some of my old shoes fit again... Some of my old clothes from High School fit again... The bath towel goes all the way around me... My lab coat at work has gone from a 3X to a M... I can cross my legs so easily now... I can wear clothes in the juniors department... I can wear things from Victoria's Secret.... Goodbye Lane Bryant and Avenue..... Some of my struggles are..... Getting 70g of protein a day it is more like 50-60g... Drinking enough water... Dying for a coke from Mcdonalds... I cant' see the weight loss in myself/ mirror... (This is my big one) I still feel larger than everyone around me... Thanks for reading..... Amanda

I am 23 and have always had to shop at Lane Bryant, Torrid...only plus size stores. For years I have been going to Forever 21 just to buy jewelry..well because thats all that fit me (sometimes not even that!) Today I walked in there looked at their pants and said "no way am I fitting in that" I asked "do you guys have plus size?" the lady said "no". I said forget it, and went to try them on..they FIT!!! yay! They are pleathur (fake leather) so they are close fitting, also I never want to show my arms but thanks to Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred (2 weeks so far) my once loose arm skin is tightening and I thought to myself, my arms look pretty good so I bought the tank too =) I almost cried at the cashier, happy tears because I feel like a normal young woman for once in my life!!!

I think that's amazing. To feel normal. To not stand out and to just fit in Aside from health benefits it's one of the most important nsv you can have. Congratulations

Happy for you. I ll bet all that hiking was alot more fun than it would have been 6 months ago. Another NSV !!!!!! Right ?

I fly about twice a year and usually had to ask for a seat belt extender. One of my favorite NSV was when, in March, I flew to Illinois to see my sister and nephew and I did NOT need an extender!! I am flying to DC next month on a different airline (so possibly a different make of plane) and I am looking forward to seeing how I fit in the seat! Good luck everyone!