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Yes. A definite NSV. And I would share a picture with her from a year and a half ago. It might help her to know that we're all in this together. Fighting our wars against society's expectations and our own inner battles.

Congrats! NSVs are the best!!

I'm trying to train myself off the scale -- it makes me crazy sometimes. A small gain or a plateau can be so frustrating even though I know it's fine and that I'm probably losing inches, fitting into jeans that were tight before, etc. Those are important things to look out for......the Non-Scale Victories, NSVs. You are doing beautifully -- tell yourself that every day because it is true!

I have been putting off joining a gym because you know that big lady off in the corner pouring sweat that is beet red and looks and sounds like she's having a heart attack...? That's me!! Lol. I need to get myself into slightly better shape before I 'publically sweat'. Good for you for kicking your scale to the curb! My biggest NSVs are shopping back through all of my old clothes in my closet and being able to wear things that I haven't in years!

That's wonderful Bandacat, and a profound change! I agree--perceptions changing are indeed among the best NSVs that come with the banded life. Keep it going, you're a winner!

Ah, when I broke my ankle last year I couldn't use the crutches for that exact reason. It was so depressing. I can't even imagine how many things in my life will change after surgery. It is the little things. Congrats on the NSV!

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

Wow - how healthy and glowing you look! Phenominal change! NSV moment here - do you notice now how you do not have to bend over at the waist to be in a face shot with friends(!!!!!!!)?

Congrats!! Gotta love the shopping NSVs.

Went shopping today.... I'm officially OUT of the PLUS size department!!!! Yahoooooooooooooooooo!!! I'm doing the happy dance!!! I didn't buy too much ~ just a couple of tops. I still have a long way to go, so I don't want to invest too much in clothes right now. But... it feels good to have a couple of new, nice things to wear to work!!

That is a great NSV! I do the same thing with Junior dresses, especially the sweater types - I wear them as tunics over legging or skinny pants. I get so many compliments on that "look".

if you are able to walk.......that is a NSV if you can wipe your ass.....that is a NSV if you can put your own socks on.....that is a NSV if you can sit on a chair or bed no longer fearing it breaking...that is a NSV these are some of my personal NSV's after i had WLS i did not care what the scale said (still dont as i go by losing inches/clothes getting bigger on me) i did not care if i ever got to be a size 2 i wanted to be able to do those things merely WALKING without fear of passing out due to heavy breathing merely sitting down somewhere not being scared the chair would break (like in the movie shallow hal) trust me, those NSV mean a lot MORE than a stupid ass number on a scale when you go from wearing a TIGHT size stretch 30 to a snug 12/14 ......you understand when inches lost means losing TRUE weight... only lost a pound? how about being able to live comfortably its about health not about being skinny or a size...

lulu, are you logging your food and exercise? i find when i dont log, i dont lose. i literally log everything that goes in my mouth - even if it is one Herhsey's kiss, one cracker, etc... give me an few samples of what you eat, how hard and long do you work out? how many times a week do you REALLY break a sweat? i was 402 pounds when i started, so the weight did come off fairly quickly in the beginning, but now it's a struggle. i am seeing the inches, but not the pounds.. dont discount NSVs!! those are my saving grace when i dont see the numbers on the scale move. keep it up.

DIVA!!! I can't stop laughing. You CRACK ME UP!! :laugh I called my husband on the phone & read the poem to him. He was laughing too! Great job. So, my big behind was so inspiring to you that you just couldn't resist writing a poem about it - ha!! I LOVE IT!!! The Best Me - The panties are the same in the both pictures! They're the stretchy kind & just stretched a lot more in the first picture. They are pretty comfortable!!! I am SO RELIEVED To not have to wear the big ol' bras I used to wear. I now have normal undies that actually look decent!! There's a big NSV for ya!!! I'm still laughing.............Diva!! You're hilarious!!:Banane04:

What is your "Bandiversary" goal? I would love to be at my goal weight of 135. It is looming so close. What have you learned this past year? That I can succeed at weight loss...all I needed was some help. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? There are so many. I have found the self confidence that I thought I lost, no more cholesterol medication, the restless leg syndrome is gone, bye bye sleep apnea, hugs from my son because he can get his arms around me, shopping in normal sized stores, enjoying shopping because I can find things that fit, mowing the yard without getting winded in the first five minutes.....the list goes on and on and on. What is your biggest challenge? Trying to keep eating the "bandster" way. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Make good food choices, but don't deprive yourself of a small treat once in while (this is for your sanity). Drink lots of Water (dehydration is a bad thing.....kidney stones are not your friend). Don't be afraid to ask questions. The best people to get banded information from is from another bandster. What is your greatest fear? Slipping up, eating too much, and falling into the same bad habits that got me to where I was in the first place. What goals do you have for the future? My biggest short term goal is to participate in the Danskin triathlon in Seattle in August of this year. How has your life changed? I am definately more active and outgoing. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? I didn't really have major expectations to begin with. I read so much about only losing a portion of the weight will be lost. But I truly believe the weight you lose will depend on you. I am so happy I did this and I would do it again in a second. If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? To not be so afraid about doing something for myself. Be a hero to yourself as this will be a life changing experience.

I have had a few NSV's too: 1. Wearing clothes that I haven't worn in the past 5 years!!!! 2. Fitting into the seats in the auditorium at my kids school!!! 3. My 16 year old son noticed my arms are getting smaller, he said " Hey, I guess that band really works!" 4. My co-workers call me "baggy pants"!!!

Congradulations on all the NSV's, I can relate to the adjustment of the driver's seat in the car. One day I got in my car and it just did not feel right, had to re-adjust!! Harley, finally getting to wear those important rings do mean something. I finally was able to wear the ring my mother gave me, makes me "warm and fuzzy inside" each time I look at it now. Purple, bet the dress looks beautiful and heres to hoping you get more uses out of it! Candles reflects great off purple! Wisshi, start buying cute underwear!! Fenton, buy a new belt!!

Congrats Harley, Jen, Hungry, those are great NSV. I had one today. My husband is a pretty big guy, but for the last few years I've weighed more than him...so when I would put his shirts on, they would be kinda snug. Well today I put one on and it fit be like a gown, it hung off my body and not snug to it.

hi i have 2 "best" NSV's 1. a regular size towel fits around me. i love this to this day 2. the seat belt on an airplane no longer cuts off my circulation nor do i have to ask for the extender. that was the most embarrassing thing in my life.

I had an NSV last nite, when my DH gave me hug after I got home from work, he told me "he could tell I was losing weight because he could get his arms all the way around me again". That put a smile on my face!!

Wow! Looking good! Congrats on the NSV & the honeymoon!

I guess I'm just the opposite..............I LUV purging the closet, bagging things up and moving them out. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I'm done. One of those NSV's for sure. I've been buying cheaper "transition" clothes from places like Cato's and have even found some designer pieces at our local Goodwill to get me thru the falling sizes.

I got my sleeve on March 4th and have lost 59 lbs since. My journey has been good so far. My hair loss has kicked in but I've been expecting that. There have been no complications so I can't complain. NSVs lately has been going to my hometown for a wedding last week and be described as "skinny" "tiny" and "small". I've never been described this way before. I'm happier and would do this over again in a heartbeat.

What is your "Bandiversary" goal? To consistently weigh in below 200 What have you learned this past year? That I CAN do this!!! That my life does not have to center around food. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? I take no more prescription meds for high blood pressure, or diabetes. My back doesn't hurt. I FEEL healthy! What is your biggest challenge? To eat enough veggies, and some fruit. I havre a tendency to eat meat...and other high Protein foods, forgetting my body has other needs too! What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? To enjoy the year---yes we all want to be at goal NOW!!!! But getting to know yourself and your body along the way, is wonderful. Seeing how far you can push your new abilities---is eye opening! What is your greatest fear? Losing my band! I try really hard to make the way I do things into a habit, so if something should happen, I would KNOW what to do, to keep from going back where I was. What goals do you have for the future? Taking my grandbabies to amusement parks, and Water parks, and not embarrassing either of us! To be the best support I can for others following me on this weight loss experience. How has your life changed? I breath easier, I feel healthy, I don't feel people staring at me, I buy clothes in Misses sizes. I wear jeans again, I can wear flip flops without my feet hurting. There are so many of these little things---there are also big ones. I upped my life insurance, and did not require a Dr. exam to do it! It has been full of changes---wonderful, dream filled changes! Has living with the band met up to your expectations? Yes, I didn't go in with a lot of expectations...this was not as involved (the board) then. I expected not to be able to eat some things, that I have been able to eat. I read about all the PB's---only to find out they are not a daily occurance! I expected the surgery to be more painful---all in all it has been much better!!! If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! I had failed at so many diets, I really doubted myself going into this too. I would explain the why's and the hows that I have learned along the way. Knowing why you are on a liquid diet, makes it so much easier to stay on! Knowing why you are sliming, makes it less scary. I researched, but I learned so much by experience!! I would share my own experience!! Banding is without a doubt one of the best things i ever did just for me---i would do it again in a heartbeat, and recommend it to anyone and everyone who asks me!!! Kat

Calling all April Bandits of 2006: Let's come together and share our successes! What is your "Bandiversary" goal? I never really set a goal for "Bandiversary" just small goals along the way. What have you learned this past year? I have learned that I can pass up former favorite foods and that the world will not come to an end if I don't eat everything in site. :hungry: Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? My best NSV for now is buying a pair of designer jeans to wear to the Trace Adkins concert. What is your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge is consistent exercise. I really have to make myself do it and it's still hit or miss most days. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Hang in there! Good things come to those who wait. Oh, and liquids can be your friend. What is your greatest fear? That I will lose my band and regain all the weight plus more. :paranoid What goals do you have for the future? My next goal is to get to 199. When I do, I get a pair of diamond studs. How has your life changed? Life is so much better. I can get up and down off the floor with my students. I don't tire as quickly. I can ride roller coasters again. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? Living with the band has been great. I really can not believe that it has been a year. And due to all of the research I did before hand, there really haven't been that many surprises along the way. :bounce: If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? Keep at it. Life is only going to get better. I really can't believe that today has been one year. Someone asked me at work yesterday was I going to take myself out to eat to Celebrate. I told her no, that I look for other ways to celebrate now rather than with food. Of course there are still surprises along the way, but that's ok. I'm learning to roll with the punches. I look at how much more some of our group has lost than me, but I also know that they have taken a different road than I did. I started this journey at 300 lbs. and this morning I weighed 255 lbs. When I first started working on weight loss before banding I weighed 348 lbs and had lost down to 280 before it started creeping back up again. After diet, exercise, life style change, and work with a personal trainer for 8 months, I realized that I needed help on this journey. A co-worker was looking into the band for herself and suggested that I go to a seminar and check it out. I did that two days before Thanksgiving and then less than five months later I was banded. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I tell anybody who asks me what I've done to lose weight. Because I've been so open at work, some of the others are looking into it as well. No one thinks twice about what I do at work as I think most have even forgotten that I had it done. I'm losing slowly in weight, but the inches are coming off. I bought new tops for work and they are 1X, the last size before I shop in the regular sizes. I found a velvet dress for Christmas for $14.00. It's a Large. I will be wearing it! For now, I'm just working for my diamond earings. :biggrin1: Pic