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Lol! I've noticed how easy it is for me go up stairs at home. Sometimes may run up b/c I'm not out of breathe like the past. Congrats ok your NSV!

Oh NSV! Fastened my bra today on the last hook!!!

I appreciate when the newbies post of their successes. The reason is that it reminds me of the elation I felt when I was seeing success for the work and commitment I was putting in. It was very motivational to see the results and know that I was doing what I needed to do to make this work. When I read such posts I hope that their victories are providing them with the same elation and validation I felt when I was where they are now. As a side note, one would be very wise to document such events, NSVs, feelings of elation, etc. There comes a time when the NSVs and the, "wow you look awesome" encounters fade. We all begin to live in what is our new normal. It is in those times that it is beneficial to be able to look back and remind ourselves just how important those events were to us and just how far we have come.

I felt the same way when mom bought me a size L old navy sundress as an incentive. I figured I'd try it on to gauge how much more weight I'd have to lose to wear it and it fit! A large! Not a XXL or XL but a large! Which is probably the smallest size I'll ever wear in tops. My grandma passed on her chest size to me, even at my smallest Mediums felt like a corset on my tatas Congrats on the NSV! Personally, I find those way more gratifying than the scale

I posted something similar to this when I was preop. I think that so many expect the weight to just melt off at a rate of 20lbs a month for 6+ months. I don't know of anyone who had those kinds of numbers on here. I lost about 60lbs in my first three months. 10lbs month 4 and 5lbs this month. I'm slowing way down as I get closer to goal. With only 25 or so left to goal, I know it's not going to be easy. But I'll take my 5lbs lost this month. Because that's 5lbs less. I would take 1lb a month loss because that would mean I'm not gaining. Early out in the first month or two when hormones are all out of whack, I think it is easy to go into a tailspin of panic that you will be the one person this doesn't work for. But if you are following the plan, then you will lose. Might not be at the pace you want, but a loss is a loss. Every ounce lost should be celebrated because that is one ounce closer to goal and one ounce less you are carrying around. It is hard in the beginning. But don't focus on how far you have to go. Stop and look at how far you have come!!! Look back at trying your shoes preop compared to now. Think about the waist line from your pants digging in to needing a belt. Post your NSV and enjoy every aspect of this journey. Don't be a slave to the scale. We can't get fixated on seeing our magic number pop up when we step on the scale. We need to focus on the journey so we can learn healthy lifestyles. That way the destination won't be so scary.

I had two pairs of brand new jeans bought a couple years ago that sat in a drawer because they were too small. I finally pulled them out today and guess what? They are too big!!! I got down on the floor last night to look under the bed for something and popped right back up. I was like wow that was easy. I usually take several minutes getting off the ground. I cut my toenails the other night and realized I can just reach down and cut them no problem. It use to take forever just to get in a position to do that. I love love love my lap band!!!

Awesome NSV!!

Soon you will need to donate these clothes you are washing and buy all new ones!! Congrats on your NSV : )

Today was day 6 of my liquid diet. I had a really bad, stressful day. I wanted to dive into a 1/2 gallon of butter pecan ice cream.... As I walked through the grocery I started rationalizing that my Dr. only prescribed 7 days of liquids, not 14, so "technically" I didn't have to start till Thursday...What did I do? I had a coupon for $1.50 off a 4 pack of EAS shakes. I grabbed the shakes and checked out. When I got home, I took a French Vanilla Advantedge shake, added a few drops of butter pecan extract, some ice cubes, and threw it all in a blender. It was yummy, and I didn't have to feel guilty and remorseful like I would have had I bought and eaten that ice cream. A NSV (non-scale victory).

The most exciting NSV to date.....all of a sudden I had a collarbone!!!!

I was doing some housework and my jean capris that were too tight before surgery literally fell off...time to go shopping!!! Whoo Hoo for NSV

That's great!! Sometimes the NSV can be just as good! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Lisa, I try to go to the gym at least 4 times a week. However, for now, I'm sticking to the treadmill for an hour at 2.5 and incline of 2.0-2.5. That may not be a lot for others but for someone who hates exercise, it's a big accomplishment. My lapband doctor has been encouraging me from day 1 to exercise. I trust him, so I listen and take his advice. Yet, in two weeks, I haven't lost any weight! But I've had NSV moments.

My ample bottom actually fits in the chairs at my doctor's office! I no longer have to sit on the edge or have the arms dig into my thighs.

Congrats! Not only a scale victory, but with your new clothes you have a NSV, too!

I start pre-op liquid diet today. This really puts it all into perspective for me. I've made the choice to make a major life change in two weeks, and I know things will never be the same. It's so exciting, yet it's very intimidating. I'm nervous about the surgery, I'm nervous about the changes to the way I approach food (and drink), but I can't wait to get back to the activities of old (being able to really workout; getting back into running; getting back into hiking; fitting into my waders to go fly fishing, etc.). Something tells me this is going to be an emotional rolling-coaster (uh oh, I used the e word; can I even say that word in the forum). I had someone ask me the other day why I'm doing this. She wasn't being nosy or unsupportive, she just wanted to know my reasoning. I told her it was a very easy decision to make when I boiled it down to numbers. How many cokes are worth taking a picure with my family on my son's graduation day? How many beers are worth walking my daughter down the aisle? How many Cookies are worth making it to my 50th wedding anniversary with my wife? When I looked at the decision like that, it's a fairly easy answer. I have to admit that I've been very nervous about the operation itself. I'm 34 and I have a 2 and 1/2 year old son and a 6 week old daughter that mean the world to me, and I know that this is a major surgery. At the same time, if I don't go through with this, I will be shorting them on life, and likely won't live as long as I should. In order to keep my eye on the prize, I've come up with some NSGs (non scale goals; can I just come up with an abbreviation like that, or does it have to be approved first). Here are a few; 1. No longer having to shop online or at specialty stores to buy clothes; 2. Wearing my wedding ring again; 3. Running a mile w/o stopping; 4. Running in my first 5k in 9 years; 5. Being able to coach my son's/daughter's soccer team; 6. Going to Disney World with my family and being able to ride all of the rides; 7. Not having to request a table at every restaurant I go to (i.e. being able to sit in a booth again); 8. Not having to request the extendor when I get on an airplane; 9. Being able to sit in a chair w/ arms and not feel like I'm trapped; 10. Weighing what it says on my drivers license. These are just a few NSGs I have, and along the way I'm sure I'll have many more NSVs thay I'm not even thinking about right now. I'm ready to start this journey; I'm ready to start living again. I'm ready to live a life not shackled by fad diets and fast food. I want to thank everyone on this forum, because without it, I'm not sure I would have made this decision. It's scary, but I know I'm doing the right thing.

Congrats on the successes. For those of you who have slower results, be patient and make sure to get fills regularly to make sure you're in the green zone. I myself was banded April 5 2013 and have lost 80 pounds so far. Lots of NSV's along the way, especially these past few weeks (raiding the back of my closet and finding out that old clothes that I assumed would fit me now, actually are too big!). Lets keep up the hard work and keep moving forward !

So, some of you already know, I will have been banded for a year on August 15. In that time, I've lost 100 pounds, and can hardly believe it. It is taking a long time for me to recognize certain victories, but I can say for certain that today was one of the best ones. I had to go to a wedding, and the dress I was planning on wearing ended up being way too big. I didn't know, until I attempted to get dressed, and started to freak out because I had nothing to wear. I called my mom, ran to her house, raided her closet and while holding my breath attempted to wear one of hers. Well, this formally size 24, was able to wear her mother's size 10! That's me, the blonde on the right, in my moms dress!!

My NSV...wearing my workout clothes and actually looking like I might be a person who works out!

Post-op life has been incredible so far. Even when I was in the hospital right after surgery, I was so positive. I was so thankful to the nurses, doctors and hospital staff - and I told them so endlessly - that many of them told me that I was the sweetest patient they'd had in a long time. Why? Because I was so thankful to be alive, to be doing okay (in pain, but no complications), to have them helping me, to know that IT WAS DONE... I just couldn't help but want to thank each of them so much for being there to help me through the hardest part (first few days post op). It was wonderful. Through all the pain and discomfort, I was guided by the idea that this is exactly what I wanted. I was exactly where I wanted to be. It was only gonna get BETTER from there. And it has. SO MUCH!!!! So, last Thursday was my 12 weeks post op. My stats: High weight: 459 Surgery date: 417 Today: 370. In 11 more lbs, I'll be at 100lbs down. And my high weight is from November 2012, so in LESS THAN A YEAR (cuz I know 11lbs will be coming off soon) I will have lost 100lbs. This surgery is my miracle. And I am an agnostic cynic who doesn't really believe in miracles. At my highest weight, it was impossible for me to have any sense of fashion or feeling cute in clothes. All my pants had to be ordered online and were usually somewhat ill-fitting. Almost all my clothes were bought from catalogs because plus size store tops were just too snug, even in the highest size. About 6 yrs ago was the last time I was able to buy pants at a store. Tops were okay, but jeans/pants were too small. Well, now just about everything I have is way too big. So, I started pulling clothes out of "the archives" a few weeks ago. I had held on to some of my nicer work clothes from Lane Bryant from about 5-6 yrs ago when I could still fit in them. Now, even those are all getting too big. The smallest size I remember being in my adult life is 26/28 and 12 weeks post op IT'S TOO BIG. I still find it so hard to believe! Well, I went clothes shopping this weekend. I waltzed into the Lane Bryant outlet and grabbed a pair of 28 jeans thinking "I'm sure all my old clothes are stretched out/worn in. So we'll see just how much more I have to lose before these brand new ones will fit", guessing that I'd get them pulled up but would have trouble buttoning them. Wrong. More like "Um, Miss, can you get me a 26?" A 26!!!!! And yes, I realize this is still big. I have a long way to go still, but just the idea of buying something in a store - something smaller than I would have bought even 5 years ago - it blows my mind!!! I got a bunch of cute tops in size 22/24 - and by the end of summer THOSE will be too big because they are already just a tiny bit big in the shoulder area. Anyway, aside from the clothes shopping (which I always LOVED back when I could actually shop in stores, so it kinda made me giddy to be able to do it again!) - I also have some NSVs. I've started parking on the 3rd floor in the parking garage at work. I was on the 2nd and would take the stairs every day. There are 5 floors, so I want to work my way up. Not sure how long it will take, but I just want to be able to do it! I can cross my legs at the knee. My thighs are still so huge (UGH), but small enough that I can cross my legs, and I was NEVER really able to do that comfortably in my LIFE. I moved my seat up in my car about 2 inches. Never thought that would be something I'd have to do because I'm almost 6 ft tall, but without my gut (well, with LESS of a gut) I felt a mile away from the steering wheel! I no longer fear any chair. Sometimes arms with chairs were just too tight and I couldn't sit in them. Now, I don't have that problem. Next challenge - sitting in a booth at a restaurant! this last one may sound snarky - but I have an overweight friend who's been acting a lil jealous of me lately because my weight loss is getting noticeable. I'm REALLLY close (if not already there, really), to being smaller than her. I've ALWAYS been the biggest friend. Always. I know that may sound petty - but I am just so sick of being the fattest person in my family, at work, in the store, of my friends - I have always been the fattest person... and now - I'm not! however that comes across, there is something about that fact that makes me proud of what I've accomplished! And last but not least - I met a guy. He's a really good one, too - so far. I haven't shared all my secrets with him or anything, it's still really new. But I do thoroughly enjoy him and want to see where this could go. It's got some potential! I haven't had the confidence to date in YEARS, and I go on this one blind date and am lucky enough to meet a really great guy. Another miracle? I dunno. Maybe I've been overdue for some miracles in my life! lol Anyway, that's about all I got to share at this point. Hope everyone else is doing well out there, too! <3 <3

Wow! i cant believe that my restless legs are all better. I have struggled with them for decades and since the surgery six days ago not a problem! i had not even thought about it until i saw this post. WTF? this is not supposed to happen but my feet feel great. I guess this counts as an NSV I hope that yours is temporary thing, there are medicines that work well, i have been on both Mirapex and Requip, they do cause intense dreams though. the best help i received was from an acupuncturist who showed me two spots that i could needle myself and relieve it when it got bad. i hope mine werent transfered to you.

My favorite NSV, my oldest grandson hugging me around the waist and being so excited that he could get his arms around me! Sent from my iPhone using VST

Best wishes to you both! Smaller is better and a great NSV! :wub:

SkinnyRicki ahhhh the good ol' clothes NSV's!!! they are the best!!!! my hearing and eyesight isn't the best did you say you lost 57 lbs??? adjusting my hearing aide..and putting on my bifocals......... yes, yes you did say that!!!!! and i can see you are lookin "hot"!!! keep up the good work/job kathy

CheerMama Wanna cry??? here you go - nice box of kleenex at your disposal!!! its all those little/small NSV's that we love they continue to pile up nicely towards your healthier, happier, longer life in sleeveland keep up the great job/work good luck kathy