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Spent several hours at the mall today. I haven't done that in 5-6 years. Today I went to "normal" stores, bought clearance shorts and capris in a size 14R (down from 22/24W 6 mos. ago), shoes 1 size smaller than 6 mos. ago, and two shirts in a size SMALL (down from 1-2X). The size small is an outlier 'cause I've got some big hooters, but I'll take it! I can't remember the last time I didn't have to shop in the "big lady" section. Still can't believe this is all real. Sent from my iPad using VST

Unfortunately, yes. Its as if I am not invisible anymore. More people look and smile more. Whereas before I felt as if I was kind of ignored. Now part of that probably has to do with the fact that I have a different attitude but still. One thing that irritates me is that a man almost always holds a door open for me now. I know its a nice gesture and it is not his fault men didn't do that before but its a reminder of where I came from and there sooo is a world of beautiful overweight people that out there that deserve that kindness too. The clothes part has had a strange twist I didn't see coming. I gravitate back to the plus size section every time. I am (or was) comfortable there. But its not where I belong anymore. Yet when I go to the regular sizes I feel like I don't belong there either. Its a work in progress. Funny NSV (non scale victory): that I had to adjust the seat in the car because since my bum shrunk, I was sitting lower in the seat. Losts of little things you never thought could be affected that are. Its very fun. Size wise I am a comfortable 14 with a few 12s. My personal goal is to be comfortable in a size 10. I think its doable.

@@JamieLogical I've been hearing you talk and get ready for this run for a long time i've had my eyes on you just like having WLS - nerves, emotions are normal, even freaking out!! you've practiced, run other long distances too You ARE ready you know what to do go for it!! you'll do great!! (hmmm analogy for Newbies? LOL you'll be terrific, i know you will!!! we're all watching you No Pressure LOL run the race have fun with it such an accomplishment wonderful NSV on your mark get set go!!!!! good luck bud you ARE a winner hugggggs kathy

One Year Bandiversary Well, I’m about here. Next Friday will be my one year mark since receiving the band. <O:p</O:p In this first year, I achieved 77% of my weight loss goal, going from 307 to 244 pounds, for a total loss of 63 pounds, leaving 19 more to go. The weight loss period is not over yet. Since I still have up to 2 years of potential weight loss left to go, I am confident I will get that last 19 pounds off, and realistically, had I followed all of the Bandster rules religiously, I am sure I would have already taken those pounds off, too. <O:p</O:p How did the year go? I went from abject terror prior to surgery, full of fear from reading the various threads and claims about successes and failures, to an immediate sense that “everything would be alright” on the morning that I awoke from my really, not very invasive surgery. Sure, the incision from my port hurt a lot for the first two weeks. And the nausea I experienced for the first 10 was so monumental, that the memory still stays with me. But after that initial recovery period, I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to receive this life saving device. <O:p</O:p Other than the occasional bout of having food that I shouldn’t eat, or that I ate to fast, come back up, I don’t have any side effects at all. <O:p</O:p How did life get better, and what are those NSV’s that are always asked for at the one year mark? I have had many, many more than the ones listed below, but here are the ones that come to mind: <O:p</O:p 1) My wife and I delivered a healthy baby boy 2) My blood pressure went from around 154/100 to about 121 over 75 3) My pulse went from an average of 110 to about 65-70 4) My painful, swollen feet which were so bad that I couldn’t walk in the morning, are no longer swollen or painful. In fact, they’re just fine. 5) My shortness of breath, which left me red and stressed and gasping after walking only a few blocks, is completely gone. Now when I go running with my dog, the dog runs out of energy well before I do. 6) As my weight fell away, my physicality picked up to the point that I am much more active in my favorite sports, (i.e. karate, skiing, walking and running.) I can ski for 6 hours straight, and the only reason I get off the runs, is because the lifts close, not because my legs are tired, and not because I can’t breathe. Now I am planning on rock climbing, hiking, and biking. I would have never considered this before, and now I really look forward to it. In fact, I feel like I have to do it, because my other exercises seem to fall short in terms of trying to get my heart rate up, and trying to really get a good workout. 7) My knees no longer hurt. 8) At night, I used to gasp, and feel like I was suffocating. I had to lean up in bed in order to breathe. I used to snore really loud, and my dear wife just had to deal with it. Now, I don’t snore, and I don’t have any problem sleeping at night. In fact, I probably went from the worst, loudest snorer in my whole family, to the least, if at all. 9) My waist dropped from a tight 46 to a tight 36. My shirt size went from an XXXL to an XL. I can now go to any store, and am still flummoxed when I select clothes, that I pick it from the MIDDLE of the range of sizes, rather than searching for ANYTHING that might be big enough for me. It also means I can now buy a pair of walking shorts at costco for $15 rather than paying $65 for an inferior quality pair at the big and tall store. I can go swimming with my kids now and be seen with my shirt off, and not feel embarrassed. 10) My friends and co-workers tell me that I have never looked better. Old friends know that I look better now than I did 25 years ago. <O:p</O:p Most of all, I look forward to what I hope will be a longer, healthier life, that I can share with my family. And it just keeps getting better. <O:p</O:p My thanks to Doctor Layton Alldrege at the Sandy Medical Center</ST1:p, and to Vivienne Sullivan, his fill nurse, and the rest of his team. He has the most amazing practice, staff, and follow-through. I am thankful that I was fortunate enough to have chosen him and to receive his care.

What a wonderful NSV, I'm so happy for you and PROUD of you! Awesome job!!! I love your smile, that dress could be a rag and your smile would shine right through! My wedding dress (15+ years ago) was a size 24 and I'm wearing a 14 now, so it definitely is NOT a goal of mine to fit back into that dress, but maybe someday I will renew vows and wear a smaller sized dress AND redo all my photos!

Today I put a shirt on that was an 18/20.....an 18/20...down from a 26/28 (but I was barely barely barely fitting in them....that's bad)..an 18/20!!!!!! YEAH!!!! Lorraine

My weight hasn't changed all week, which considering the amount of calories I am consuming seems unbelievable. So getting dressed this morning delivered a much needed NSV. My "skinny" jeans - hardly skinny but jeans that have never fit well - feel pretty darn good and a shirt that I tried on a week ago suddenly has room to spare. The shirt really threw me because I had tried it on just a bit ago and decided it made me look pregnant. Now, it is loose in the stomach and doesn't leave an imprint across my butt from being so tight. It's amazing what an NSV can do for your mood. Plateau, schmateau.... Though I still hope to see the numbers actually go down soon!

I finally broke down and started cleaning out my closet over the weekend. I had been putting it off for so long. I have lost 60 pounds since my surgery on 1/19/07 and lost 15 pre-surgery so that is like 75 pounds since last year this time. Surgery day I was wearing 26 bottoms and 26/28 tops and today I am in 18 bottoms and 18/20 and XL tops.I have enjoyed trying on and buying new clothes, underwear and bras. But for some reason have been reluctant to part with any of my old stuff. This is my first time losing enough weight that I had to buy all new stuff and in the back of my mind, I have been kinda paranoid and think what if I gain it back and need my old clothes again? I was watching Lifetime on Saturday afternoon and something told me that it was time. I bagged up 5 huge bags of stuff for Goodwill and a huge bag for one of my cousins. It was very interesting pulling out those clothes & remembering wearing them. But then I got so sad and mad at myself. How could I have let myself get that big? AND I had way more size 30/32 than I recall buying. I have pretty much been the same size for 15+ years so you can imagine the amount of clothes I have and have not even touched upstairs yet. I got mad, called my best friends and blessed them out asking them, "how come you didn't tell me that I was that big?". They all were like "I thought you knew?". Evidently I was in some serious denial and even if they had said anything, I would probably have gotten mad at them for something that was not their fault. I tried on some clothes that I definitely remember wearing and they are bagging off of me. I held them up and they were huge pieces of material. I got depressed temporarily thinking about the past and how I feel as if I have wasted like 15 years of my life, but then I snapped out of it, became grateful for the long way I have come and was able to hang all my new smaller clothes in the old place. I think I have gotten over my anxiety of parting with my big old stuff and I am looking forward to throwing out the rest that is upstairs to make room for even smaller clothes. It really changed my perspective because i have been unhappy lately with this weight loss lateau thing that i am going through despite losing inches and having to buy new clothes. Seeing so many of my old clothes at one time really put things in focus for me. I am shedding the old weight, old clothes, old everything.

I think that is a verrrry nice NSV anything that encourages the purchase of sexy pants cannot be a bad thing Nina x

i didnt eat any candy this halloween. i stuck a tootsie roll special edition (vanilla) in my mouth. chewed a couple of times and spit it out. not something i intended, but DD needed one in half. it was an instinct just to bite it and eat the other half. sooo glad i thought and out it went. i was banded October 2006, i found one pic that DH snapped while i (begrudgingly) posed with DD last year. this year, i wanted to see the difference. 102.25 lbs down from last halloween. yeah, i can see it!

I feel your pain, as I'm having a similar experience! Though I'm only a month out (1 month today, actually), I've only lost 17 pounds and I'm super disappointed, even though I have had several NSVs. Stalls are normal, unfortunately, but it seems to me that even though you aren't losing pounds, you're gaining your health. And that's really, really good!

LOL this is awesome. I now have another NSV - buy some corduroy pants!

When I was first Banded 10/31/06. I was so happy that I spread the word, because I was know 1/2 the size, and loving it. They came out in Groves ! Can't you do it yourself ? Why do you have to have Surgery, don't you have any willpower ? I heard it all. I was sorry that I opened my mouth, because of the peoples ignorance about the band. Mostly these were people that I worked with. and loved the fact that I started to looked so good, (SO THEY SAID) but then would stick the knife in my back. So this time around, I told no one ! It's none of their business how I live, and what I do. People are just amazed at the weight loss, and approve it. So they see me in stores every now and then, and see the difference, at then compared to the last time they seen me. So a lot of NSV's going on by the General Public, and Friends. I am Happy when I see the Cloths size change. That does it for me. I would say don't worry about it, because they really don't know what they are talking about. Your the one that has to tie those shoes (never will forget that..) So you know what must be done. They will get use to it, and you will also find out who your friends are. Shirley.

Great post, @@LindafromFlorida! Just the other day I was browsing the messages here, and it seems like every other topic was No Weight Loss/Freaking out/ HELP!, etc... I was even going to find a post I made offering encouragement and support and put it into a text file so I could cut and paste repeatedly. I'm in a stall right now, and all is good. One of the NSVs I've been experiencing lately is a level of joy that I've not felt for years. I have a ways to go to get to my goal, and that's fine. I trust the process. And for the first time in, like, ever, I'm seeking out help, and really listening to what everyone on my bariatric team is telling me. I mean really listening. Be well…

Ah man! It is such a wonderful accomplishment. I am not fully able to cross my legs but I am getting there. I semi-cross them everyday. My husband says that I think I am cute. He will never understand. But you guys do. Its not about being cute. To be able to sit like a woman and not with my legs COCKED wide open with my hand on my hip. Or with my hands under my belly. To look at a pic and see that, I hated it. I have never been able to cross my legs and always wanted to know how it feels. That is one of my NSV goals. Everyday I am going to keep trying until it's right. So, YOU GO GIRL! later losers!

What a lovely bunch of ladies. Your mom must be very proud. I feel sorry for your brother though. He gets left out every Mother's Day! *grins* Grats on your NSV. I knew you used to be the largest of the sisters and you once said you were afraid that they would all treat you differently once you were no longer the biggest. So... now that you're one of the little sisters, how is it?

I need some :help: and hope someone can lend me some advice. Please let me know if you have tried any appetite suppresents and if they work I went to my dr in Jan to start my WL journey. She put me on some diet pills that made me GAIN weight - I think Water weight since I felt majorly bloated after 2 weeks on these. I went back to her after deciding to get banded. She sent me to start doing pre-op testing to make sure there were no medical reasons why I gained weight. During the tests, she thought I had Type II diabetes, which was just borderline and she said would probably fix itself if I lost weight and exercised. She is all for me being banded BUT I am learning patience early young gwasshoper! I set my surgery up for April 21, 2006. Got all my ducks in a row, (or so I thought) and had to move my surgery back to May 5, 2006 due to a financing glitch I found out a few weeks ago about. :confused: I got some test results back and my PCP sent me to a urologist last week, he made me put my surgery on hold :think because tests from 2 & 3 years ago showed I have a mass on my right kidney. He's not sure what it is, could be a vessel crossing that was moved due to enlargement or tumor etc, he said he wasn't second guessing anyone until he did more testing. He set it up where on April 21st I am having a specialized CT done, then MRI next week. I go back to him on May 2nd for all the test results and to see where we go from here. I rescheduled my surgery for the 3rd time now, to May 26th, and have a feeling I am going to be one of those who cannot go forward with banding for awhile. I started a lifestyle change plan on March 31st and started exercising 4-5 times weekly on April 2nd along with high Protein, low carb eating. My problem is I STARVE!!!! lol I can eat something, usually not alot though and then be hungry in an hour. I do mean starve, not head hungry - having a major headache, the shakes, nausea and almost passing out starving. I want to take some appetite suppressents but have no clue where to start or what is effective since I haven't dieted or exercised in 3 or 4 years. TY all, I will ask my pcp when I go back and see if she can prescribe something else until I am banded :plane: Anyone know where I can buy Forelli brand clothing, also how true to size does this brand run? the tag says Made in Turkey RN 73960 I'm asking, because I have a pair of cargo shorts that I haven't been able to fit in for 3+ years until this morning and they are a size 20 :clap2: I know I am losing without being banded yet - I havent weighed in almost 2 weeks (had a few slip ups the past week lol) and this is my NSV for the day, ok and the fact I will look human again instead of "cousin it" after visiting my hair dresser today.

That sounds like fun! I love the hotel robe NSV too. I keep checking my wedding ring to see if it's still safe. I had wedding bangles from my dad and my husband (I don't care for diamonds so my husband bought me the bangles instead). One swift push and they would have been off my wrists. I couldn't risk them and they are now put away. My arm feels naked.

Good Morning Y'all! It is beautiful here this morning, I just finished my walk and it was really nice. I did get to go riding this weekend, and I had a good time. I also went to the neighbors for dinner Saturday night. After I passed on DB invite, the next door neighbors called and DH accepted the invitation. Needless to say I didn't stick to the rules very close! My eating went fine, it was the extra drinks I had that killed me. Oh well, I guess I am just living normal huh? I did still drop two pounds so I guess I won't bi*ch too much! Weekends kill me! Karla - Yes, it was in the 80's this weekend, and very nice. I hope you are resting, get healed up and don't do more than you should even if you feel like it. It sounds like you are doing great! Pat - I too would like to hear about the she-crab! I haven't heard that one before either. I am finding out that I have to try on everything lately that I buy. The sizing is the worst I have ever seen, each brand seems to fit differently! UGH! Eileen - I agree with the gas/heating bills, there is absolutely no reason for this to be happening. The last I heard anything here is that Gov. Perry made a deal with TXU to only (yeah like that is low) raise it 20% now and wait to raise the other in April. Well, that is just in time for the air conditioning to start getting used a lot here. Anyone can take a look at the profits those companies are making and know we are getting took. I shouldn't even get started on this subject, it really makes me mad! I know what you mean about companies giving you something like a picnic. Hey, give me the money and forget the picnic! Enjoy your hamburger, at least you can eat one now before the surgery. I think that is great that you get 4-6 weeks off! You'll be thinner before you go back too! Beanie - I can't believe how hard it is to plant things here because of the ground. Heck, the digging alone wears you out. Each time you take a shovel full of dirt you have to pry it off the shovel. And, that isn't counting how hard it is to get that shovel into the ground to start with. I can tell you that after you get the band and lose some of the weight, it will be easier to work out there though. I couldn't believe this spring how much easier it was for me, pulling weeds and planting. I hope you sat in a hot bath and felt better, although I think the massage sounds better yet! Give that insurance company a call bright and early this morning, make them give you an answer! Cindy - Whoooo Hooooo! I know you are excited. It feels so good when you break a milestone like that! You are doing great! :banana :banana Great NSV on the new size pants too! Now, do something special for yourself today!

Sounds like you are doing great! Congrats on the NSVs! I've had a few NSVs myself. I had been stalled for the past three weeks, but finally broke through earlier this week. I not only hit a total of 50 pounds down, but I'm now at my lowest weight since 2003!! It's feels great!

Carol, I am proud of you for hanging in there and not getting discouraged, not reverting to your pre-band ways. That is a huge NSV!!!! Mimi

Southerngirl: "Not being able to tie my shoes without an act of Congress" I hear you there --- my shoelaces ALWAYS seem to come open when I go for walks - and I'd look for something to prop my foot up to retie. NSV noted last week: I can bend over and tie my shoe now, without feeling like I'm going to pass out! :-)

Awesome NSV!

I love your dress Really cute,you look adorable Congrats on your NSV's

My jeans are to big already! And I went to Walmart...just looking around in the clothes to see what's out there for when I need to buy a few staples...and I found this really cute black and white printed maxi dress in a size 22/24...only one they had. So I bought it. Came home, tried it on..just to see how much more I needed to lose for it to fit...and holy balls it fits!!!!! Have to wear a smoothing garment under it...but it fits!!!!