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Hi all, I'm one of those people who struggles with head hunger from the time my kids go to sleep till I'm sleeping. I have been struggling with this for years and obviously since being banded its harder because before I would just give in and eat. Two nights ago I was really tired and after putting the kids to bed I went to bed myself, watched some TV and went to sleep, no snacking or thinking of food. Last night I did my usual, cleaned up a bit, watched survivor, american idol and some Pope stuff. When I got in bed I realized I didn't have a snack or even think about one. First I almost felt like I wanted to go back down and have something. (I found these really good frozen Greek yogurts from healthy choice that I love.). I digress! Then I realized, hey this could be the start of something new for me. Maybe I don't have to think about food all night and count calories in my head to see if I can afford just one more 100 calorie snack. Hears hoping! Lisa

This is frustrating and I'm so sorry. Many of us have been there. For a while, consider focusing not on weight but on NSVs, which are Non-Scale Victories. Maybe certain clothing fits you better, maybe you can walk further than you used to, maybe you're making better decisions about what to eat. It gets better. Promise.

This seems to be touchy subject but I understand the frustration. I'm there. As in..."the stall" and it frustrates me. Logically I know the facts but some days I'm ok and other days I'm like, "c.mon..lWTF?!" I see others with same or later surgery date losing A lot more and I question everything I'm doing. But...I put on jeans Saturday that used to be hard to pull up. They had give in the waist. I spent the entire weekend sightseeing for a little mini vacation and I walked more that I could have a month ago. I feel better. I do. The scale haunts (taunts) because of the past struggles but I'm staying the course. Like the other poster said...NSV (non scale victories... a term I hadn't hear before) but true. They ARE there. The scale will catch up later. But it's a mental game. I get it. If I cam do nothing else...just know I understand. Love to all! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

What is NSV? Still new to all of this.

Wooohooo, grats on the NSV, how exciting keep up the awesome work

That's awesome,,especially no pain! That's a heck of an nsv for sure!!

NSV?

VerticalSleeveTalk.com Newsletter Hey, Sleevesters! It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter. Launch of the VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for Kindle. Encouragement to welcome new VerticalSleeveTalk.com members in the ”Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Story” Forum. Tick and Track your way to success! Hot on the Boards: Why doesn’t everyone get the Sleeve if it’s so effective? First Member Spotlight: Coming Soon! Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try. Visit VerticalSleeveTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the sleeve. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Kindle App Launched! The VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for the Kindle has launched! You can download it for free from Amazon for instant use on your Android. The Kindle app joins the lineup of VerticalSleeveTalk.com apps for iPod, iPad, iPhone and Android. All of these apps are fully functional, so you can read and post to the forums, upload photos and send private messages. Don’t go anywhere without VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Don’t forget about the contest to Celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, upload photos or refer a friend. Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Sleevesters Even More? VerticalSleeveTalk.com has thousands of members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because VerticalSleeveTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community. We know that many of you Sleevesters go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use VerticalSleeveTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow sleevesters. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Story” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks! Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful! What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course! Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value. Trackers are for recording your current body measurements. You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow Sleevesters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it. VerticalSleeveTalk.com Hot Topic: Why Don’t All Yo-Yo Dieters Get the Sleeve? We all know of a few celebrities that have struggled with their weight for years. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actress Kirstie Alley have talked openly about their attempts to lose weight and different diets they have tried. So, OntheFence wondered why these famous role models haven’t gone for the sleeve and asked about it on the boards. That set off a great discussion about the sleeve! Some of you pointed out that the sleeve keeps you in check constantly – you don’t have the money to hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to watch over you full-time, but the Sleeve does that. Many of you also pointed out that weight loss surgery is not magic – you have to be dedicated to making a lifestyle change with your diet and exercise if you want the sleeve to be successful. What do you think about weight loss people for famous people who struggle with obesity? Come by and post your thoughts. Coming Soon: Member Spotlights! We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees. We’ll be Contacting You Soon! Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Sleevester! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the VerticalSleeveTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member. Sleever Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try! Each Sleevester Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum. Roundup of the Previous Sleevester Challenge: Try a New Food! In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Challenge Forum. Here is just a sample of the great ideas from the challenge! lunch – P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps from M2G. The only difference between these and the real ones is that these can fit into your Sleevester diet! dinner – Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers from LadyIvy. These tasty burgers are easy to grind so you can eat them in the mushy stage if your surgery is recent, and they’re great for any time when you’ve progressed to solid foods! To celebrate Cinco de Mayo – Ground Turkey Tacos from Doreykn. Ole! Thanks to the three of you for sharing your culinary expertises! Don’t forget that you can always go back, try the old challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences! The New Challenge: Share a NSV! Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your weight loss journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important. This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be: Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat. Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store. Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law. Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Sleevesters learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them! So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

What's everyone's latest NSVs? I can finally use a regular bath towel instead of a bath sheet

WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO Kimmie!! Great NSV! Welcome Bloo! Glad you could join us! You can just post your stats on Monday and I'll add them to our list.

I'm wearing green pants in honor of this challenge today....BRIGHT green actually lol Just got back from the gym, and am about to clean a bit before heading off to get my bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding next weekend! A nice NSV there...they ordered me a size 28, only needing to take off at least 8 inches :thumbup: Woot! Hopefully it fits...if not she'll have to take more off before next weekend! Eep! Go green!!!

What a great NSV, more to come! -RC-

YaY! Congratulations for the NSV and having the surgery

Sleeved on the 13th and doing great. Like Karen74 I was losing a couple pounds a day up front but that has slowed as I expected it would. I'm still losing although slower which is fine for me. I know i'm dropping weight and that's what's important. I didn't gain 2lbs a day so I don't expect to keep up that pace in losing it. Between pre-op and post op I'm down 46lbs which is a ton more than I could have done on my own in this period of time. I'm seeing plenty of NSV's and couldn't be happier.

I know we talk a lot about NSV's that concern ourselves and our own self esteem, but I need to hear about our kids. I need to hear about YOUR kids. The truth is, I did this for my 2-year-old daughter. I don't want to be successful at this, I MUST be successful... for her. I sometimes feel guilty about the extra time I spend not playing with her because I'm in the kitchen preparing nutritious and healthy homemade food (as opposed to opening a can and slopping it on a plate for her consumption). But then I think about the extra time I WILL be spending with her if I don't die young. I know it's for her that I'm putting in the extra effort. I want to model good healthy choices and behavior for her to follow. If it were for myself, well, I'm sexy at whatever weight I'm at (in my own mind), but to die young and leave my daughter to someday raise her children without the help and guidance of her mother... no "fat but sexy" is worth that. I'm still young (27), and I don't know much, but I do know that a daughter never stops needing her mother. Especially when she's grown and has children of her own. So I'm asking all you mommies out there to tell me about the victories you've had with your children. How getting banded has changed them as well as you. Do they dance more often because you do? Do they walk outdoors and enjoy the fresh air because you do? Do they laugh more because you can now pick them up by their ankles and hang them upside down while you spin in circles and you both crash on the floor, not because you're out of breath, but because you're laughing so hard your sides hurt? If my daughter grows up and is chunky, I won't mind. That's her body and her choice. But I don't want to be the one who never gave her a choice or a chance to be healthy.

Jamie, that's such a great NSV! I'm so proud of all of us ABC'ers! We're doing great! All of you who've been losing so well are an inspiration. I got my fill last Tuesday and lost 3 pounds! Yay! :banana I'm so hoping that the loss keeps going. I've got more restriction than I did before the fill, but don't think I've hit my "sweet spot" yet. I'll just keep plugging away though. I got cleared at my fill to start abdominal exercises this week, so it's back to the Bowflex for me today! Maybe now I'll start losing some more inches.

Grats Jamie! What an awesome story. One of the best NSVs I have heard yet! and grats Kutia on your scale victory! My scale moved one pound today too for the first time in a month! Looks like it was a good day for lots of us!

I'll be going for another fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. On a happy,happy,joy,joy, note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

Just getting ready for tomorrow. This is the place where we can offer support, ask questions and chat about our band, the changes we experience, NSV's, whatever. Please remember to update your information, (weight changes, fills, etc.) in the "August 2006 ~ Running Totals and Updates" thread in the General Lap Band Discussion section. Cheers to the ABC!!! WE ROCK!!!:peace: :rockon:

NSV-is that non scale victory?

Here I am checking in for the Challenge. I weighed in this morning at 244. I only lost 1 freakin' pound this week! I am going in for my third fill next Tuesday... let's hope it's "the one!" My clothes are all starting to fit a lot differently. I am down to a size 20 in pants and a size 1x in tops. I was in a tight 22 pants and a 3x top a mere 3 months ago so I'm definatley seeing progress. Buying a pair of jeans at Old Navy has got to be one of my best NSV's so far. My wedding ring is looser, I can take it off at night now. My shoes are looser. I fit into chairs better. I am up to a 20 minute mile with a 5% incline on the treadmill. I have been circuit training as well the past 3 weeks. I am getting to the gym at least twice a week, usually 3 times. I am drinking Water like a fiend, usually 100oz a day or so. I guess when I look at all of this the 1 pound loss isn't so bad, I am getting much healthier overall. Sparkpeople.com has been a lifesaver in helping me track my progress. Peace!

Hi All, It's been a while. I've checked in once in a while but this is actually the first time I could find a minute. Not to mention, I HAD A HUGE NSV AND A SV!!!! For the first time in 8 years, I tried something just for the hell of it....are you ready?....imagine....collar golf shirt (hanging a bit)...black pants (about an inch give in the waist)...hmm, do I dare? Tuck in the shirt in the pants and actually wear a belt!....eyes are still not looking at the mirror (afraid to see the usual belly popping out and hanging from underneath the belt)...slowly look up...AAAGGGHHH! The belly is still there, BUT, not as much and this actually looks OK to wear! I screamed! Ron thought I saw a bug on the floor or something! When he came to the room, I posed! "Wow, you look great" (I love him!). Next... OK. Fluctuated between 216 and 214 for 3 1/2 weeks. Uck! Just for grins today...I mean what the heck?...stepped on the scales...210! About darn time! YaHoo! Hope all is well with you! I think about this forum everyday and I've been inviting some friends who are considering surgery to check it out. I'm so thankful to all of you!

:clap2: :clap2: NSV'S ROCK MY SOCKS!!!!:clap2: :clap2: Didnt it feel awesome! im finding all kinds of old clothes that fit! I LOVE IT!!!!! :clap2:

HUGE NSV for me today!!! I bought a pair of jeans at Old Navy!!! I cannot believe I can fit into size 20 jeans! OMG! I am just floating! I also bought a size 18 shirt from Lane Bryant. Size 18!!! This is so wonderful I can't even tell you how good I feel about myself right now. I actually had to buy a belt so I can wear the stuff I have now. I haven't worn a belt in years. I think I will work on cleaning out my closet tomorrow and getting rid of some fat girl clothes. Look out Ebay! Peace!

Kim ~ WhooHoo on the NSV!! :welldone:I don't think I've lost 2 sizes yet, but then again, I haven't been shopping. Still wearing my baggies. There seems to be a lot of us with the TOM this week. I just started yesterday and it should have been this past Sun. I was getting a bit concerned. So far, I've stayed the same. Reality is I could eat a HUGE chocolate bunny or anything chocolate for that matter. This is the hardest time for me b/c of the sweet & salt cravings I get with the TOM. chicken salad helps with the salty cravings. BTW, great job on the swimming too!! You inspire me. We joined the Y last week and the boys start swim lessons next week. I plan to work out while their swimming with the teacher. In answer to your question about calories, I am getting around 1000 daily. I was using the FitDay.com, but I was getting tired of entering new info everytime I ate a meal. I wished they had a more thorough food list. Plus with 2 little ones, I barely get my shower in let alone post everything I eat. I should make time for that though...it is important. Marci ~ :wow2: Good for you girl....keep it up!! I barely remember size 18. I WILL see it again someday soon. Also, CONGRATULATIONS on your anniversary of 27 yrs. Do I understand you correctly that your anniversary is on the 10th? We were married 7 yrs on July 10th as well. The kids & DH are recovering from strep, so we put off date night and will do it another time. Such is life with kids. Violetflame ~ Welcome to the May Bandsters Group!! You will find this a great place for support as well as the entire site of LBT!!! :welcome2: