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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

Not my first but very exciting none the less !!! I fit into a size 16 dress today at jc Penney!! Considering I was in a 24 less than 6 months ago, that is unbelievable!! Flying high! Love my sleeve!!!!

That is AWESOME girl!!! I had my first NSV today too! Wore a pair of shorts I couldn't get into at the start of summer

I had my first NSV! I have been waiting to have one of these . I went to buy a few pieces of clothing and I'm down one a size ! I'm so proud! I can't wait to hit the gym in the morning before church . I pray that the scale keeps going down. I know it will because I've changed my life !

Ok, I'll bite. WTH is NSV?

My first NSV - wearing a pair of shorts I couldn't get on at the start of summer!

kmed21 never did a scrapbood but....... you can do anything your "big" heart desires the skys the limit you could keep track of your approval letter ( that you posted on line earlier ) pictures of yourself through the months aka before and after you could print off good suggestions/posts from the board on food, carb et al that you see from the VSG board important dates - like your 1 month, 3 month , 6 month et al surgiversary you might write a post on the board signifying any of your many future successes then print and put in the scrapbook whatever your pretty self wants after all, its your life maybe also start a blog recording all your experiences good or bad your successes (NSV's) good luck kathy

Just saw my surgery date ticker and turns out that today, July 19, happens to be 75 days since my surgery on May 6! My highest weight ever was 357 and my weight the day of surgery was 350... today I am 296 meaning I have lost 61 lbs and broke into the 200s! (is that Twoderville, Twonderland, etc ??) At 5'9, my goal weight for now is 200, which means I am 96 lbs away and have achieved 39% of my journey! Now for the NSVs... I have been Instagraming a lot (as many 21 year olds do nowadays)... I hadn't had any pics of myself on my Facebook in years. A restaurant I hadn't been to in awhile has very tight booths - for once I wasn't touching the table at all. I haven't been at this weight since I graduated high school in 2010. My pants really don't fit! They actually were always too big for me (I guess my waist is just naturally smaller) so now it's kind of embarrassing pulling them up all the time so I gotta buy new ones. Have a follow-up appointment on Monday so I am excited to share my progress there and the biggest one coming up... tomorrow is my great-aunt's 100th birthday party where we are first having a pool party - majority of extended family hasn't seen me since Thanksgiving! So much more left but I am so glad I did this... getting my happy back is so important. I don't want to lose focus by being too proud though. Thanks all who have been so supportive and encouraging, especially in my "Miserable inside" thread back in May! ~Mark P.S. Attached one of my Instagram photos so you can see haha.

Weight Day of Surgery 299 BMI 44 size 24 Today 172 BMI 28 Size 10 NSV: Riding horses!!

I am patting myself on the back today. My hubby is deployed and like any marriage...some days it's really a lot of work to remember why I stay married...especially when we are trying to converse via chat and nothing is coming across right...BUT...where I might normally eat a bag of chips and wallow in my misery...today I picked up a cookie, stared longingly at it...put it down and went out and ran/walked on my treadmill for 30 min. Huge accomplishment for me. The start of bucking that stress eating habit I have. It would have been so easy just to eat the darn thing and skip exercising. The best part was realizing I didn't really want that cookie. I wanted the exercise. Hoping this NSV becomes a habit!

congrats on the NSV and your upcoming wedding! keep up the great work

Went to the loft and bought 4 medium shirts. I haven't wore a medium ever. I am so happy!!! I'm down 70lbs and my BMI is 28.9 I hope to get down another 8-10lbs by Labor Day when I do my wedding dress fitting. Fingers crossed I can do it.

Great NSVs! I can't wait to take my daughter to Disneyland, I plan to ride ALL the rides!

I hope it all starts getting better for you. Keep your eye on the prize. It won't be long until we are filling up the NSV thread

Yesterday I weighed myself in the morning and the scale showed 186.6. A few hours later, I weighed myself again and it showed 189.4. We just need to stay off the scale! Lol. NSV moment: today I wore a black t-shirt I purchased two months ago. It used to be fairly close to my belly. It is size XL. However, today, when I wore it, it looks like a mini- dress. Amazing!

karen my vice are Protein bars sure they are good for you full of protein but..........way too many carbs and i eat them like they were candy bars others also mention that eating Protein Bars is an addiction like have heroin i have way too many so i stopped buying them that actually is a big NSV for me there i said it!!!! ahhhhh i feel so much better now hands out of the cookie jar!! good luck i can see you will do much better in your future good luck kathy

Thanks everyone! I hope you all are experiencing great NSV's!