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Sunday I became the Mrs. to my best friend! The day was everything I could ever want thanks to my VSG surgery 8 months ago. I was able to hold my head up high, have energy for the days events, and actually feel like a pretty bride instead of an embarrassed-about-my-weight bride. My new husband deserves the best me I can give him and I feel like this surgery is allowing me to offer that. Thank you to all the people on this forum who have shared their experiences, offered support, and cheered for me along the way. Oh Happy Day!!!

Ditto ... People on BP claim they see a huge change in my photos two months apart. I fail to see anything in the pics. My NSVs, OTOH, give me a smile ... trouser waist down from 152cm to 138cm (or 60" to 54"). My body fat down from 47.8% to 42.6%. My lung capacity up from 18 seconds holding breath to 44 seconds. Was walking with a cane for support in June. Not using a cane now as my exercise extends past two hours per day. (Exercising 13 days per TWO WEEKS!) Averaging 22500 steps/strokes on the Vivofit 3 wristband daily in December ... up from 3500 in September!

So awesome! That is a wonderful NSV.

We're coming up on our one year bandiversary in a couple weeks so I'm wondering how everyone is doing. Not just weight loss but also NSV's. How has your life improved. What are you able to do this year that you couldn't or wouldn't do last year? For me, I'm down 38 lbs per my last dr's visit but my nsv's are many. I feel better, my lab numbers are in the normal range, I'm wearing smaller clothes, people who haven't seen me in a while do a double take and a gal told me yesterday that I'm a shadow of my former self. I thought I'd be very close to my goal by now but it took me some time to get to the "green zone". Also, I've never been a fast loser and that still seems to still be the case after the band. I'm now losing about a pound a week. I'd love for it to be more but a pound is a pound and my doctor is thrilled with my progress. The biggest thing I've learned is just how little food I actually need. I've always just wanted to be a thin eater and now that's me. I had to get over the portion size idea in my head. I felt ripped off a little when i got back on real food because I simply couldn't eat 3 or 4 ounces of Protein and some green veggies. I can only eat a couple ounces and I'm not always full/satisfied for 3-4 hours but that's ok because I get to eat again later. Such a simple concept but it was a huge milestone. Anxious to hear how you all are doing.

Nah......I will never get tired of this one, or anything sharing our NSVs. I don't even mind it when brand new newbies ask the same questions that come up every week.

Looking good! NSV are greatest! Love shopping NSV's!

This is a great NSV that we all experience. I wish the fat would come off my lower abdominal area toooooooo!

One thing I love to do is go to candlelight church service on Christmas Eve; however, I haven't had a pair of pants that fit me in over a year. I have been too proud to buy bigger (actually much bigger) pants, so I thought I would just wait it out until I lost enough weight to fit into my smaller pants. Well, I didn't think it would happen this fast, but now only 4 weeks post-op I am again able to fit into my pants which were 8 sizes too small just 4 weeks ago!!!! YAY!!! I am so happy!!!

I think the hardest part when I was on the way up was when I quit wearing skirts and tried to make pantsuits look good (which they can but they weren't me). Now as you said the first time I crossed my legs..oh did I look up and say Oh thank you God!! and now it is skorts galore!! These are called NSV (non scale victories) so keep them coming!!!

Congrats Mandy! Now, post your top ten NSVs!

I have a whole list of NSV's do I have to choose just 10? ~Mandy

Myra – Good luck with your barium swallow. Keep us posted! I wish you the best. Marz – keep us posted on your fill – hopefully this one hit the sweet spot. Missy – Your trip sounds awesome. I have not been on a mission trip since high school. You will be in my prayers. Marci – I don’t puke after drinking something cold but it is harder for me to get it down. My doctor told me to start out with hot tea to loosen the mucus from the pouch and open it up well. Then drink Water, etc. Do you start out with something hot and then switch to something cold? Just a thought if you haven’t tried it. Maybe your pouch is just a little stubborn and needs coaxing to handle colder drinks. I am officially 2 weeks out from my last fill and I am freaking out. I started out around 192 and by the first week was down to 188. I weighed yesterday and I was 192 and today I am 194. My TOM is upcoming but I have never gained that much. I just don’t get it. I have great restriction and I was thinking I might need to increase my calories more because I may not be getting enough to lose. I am chugging water this morning, hoping it is all water weight and will just be flushed out with enough peeing! Is there a January challenge? I didn’t get on in time for the Turkey Take Off. If we don’t have one, is everyone game for doing one after Thanksgiving? Oh yeah, major NSV to report. I went to Old Navy on Sunday and bought a pair of size 14 jeans! WAHOO! My bottom half is finally catching up with my top half!

@@Hiraeth I am exercising. It's one of my NSVs I go to the gym everyday and do 1 hour of cardio and 30 minutes of strength training. Effective the 15th, I will be working out with a personal trainer 3 days a week. Like you, I was expecting the stall, so I'm not concerned. I weigh myself every morning, but I'm not discouraged by the lack of weight loss. The weight will come off when its ready. I've read where some 3wk stalls lasted a month or so. I *hope* mine won't be that long, but there's nothing I can do other than to follow my plan.

I had a nsv at the movie theatre today. I was able to cross my legs comfortably in my seat!

Hahaha, Shasta Daisy!!!! This is one of the simple things I am most looking forward to. Congrats, it's an awesome NSV!

When you really wonder if this is the right call, read through this section...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ If you don't spontaneously tear up at times, you are NOT a candidate. I still do. It's amazing to me how over a year out I hear about someone's struggles that they have overcome after losing weight how it brings back memories of my past struggles. I don't think those weight PTSD memories are ever going to go away. But these NSV's always bring me hope and happiness.

Well, I successfully (and easily) lost the weight I gained on last blog. Funny thing is, I don't really feel like I"m even trying. I do notice that I am eating less, but I don't have anything in my band yet. Which, I'm not complaining, at all! Today, I reached my first NSV. I tried on a shirt I was able to wear (and look good in) 3 years ago, but haven't been able to wear in at least 2 years. YES! It's actually exciting to look at the back of my closet now and see the clothes I will soon be able to wear again! Right now, I am only a couple pounds away from being under 300..I can't wait. 300 is such a gross number. I am READY for the 2's then the 1's! That was the good news I had to share. Now, comes the bad. Did you hear about this ridiculous article written by Maura Kelly in Marie Claire magazine? If not, I encourage you to read it and be completely outraged. I can't believe, in this society, we have people like this. I almost wish I had a subscription just so I could cancel it! WHAT A TOOL! Here is the link: http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television

@James Marusek hey guy thanx for running this list again newbies et al appreciate VETS like you that help them with info you said ---“Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] (never knew or heard that one congrats on all your NSV's down 117 lbs almost 4 years PO GOAL!! maintainning and of course being such a nice guy kathy

I had a NSV the other day. I walked up in Acadamy Sports and bought me 3 under armour shirts and 3 pairs of shorts. All size medium. I didnt even try it on or anything. I get home and guess what that medium shirt is to big. Thats a big NSV to me especially the last time I was in a medium was when I was in the 4th grade. I tried on My sons youth large shorts. They fit. A little snug like some come and get mes but they fit right in the waist. Thats sad smh...

ladydi way to go on the NSV! It does feel great when you make it to a size you haven't been in awhile. My thoughts are with you for your surgery! A question to you all, do we ever get rid of "mental" hunger? I find there are still times when I think that I'm hungry but instead of reaching for food I now reach for Water or take a walk. I think that it is fill time for me so I'm going to go make the call. Ya'll take care!

I decided on my last fill that I would ask for what I wanted. I told the PA to "get serious" and fill that sucker up. She added .5 cc I think and it made a big difference in restriction. So, I say, go for it -- ask for what you want. You're paying for it. If it's too tight, you'll know when you drink the Water or they will see in on the fluoroscope. Robin, I am so proud of you -- you are doing so awesome. You have so much to be proud of. All those NSV's to go along with your great weight loss!! Especially, the health-related ones. Those are truly the best. I may be able to do lunch on Saturday -- I have a busy weekend since this last one was a total bust with being sick, but I'd love to see you and anyone else that is available. Otherwise, after the end of this month, my schedule frees up a lot. I am finally feeling like I'm going to survive -- I'm even going to get into the office tomorrow even though I worked 10+hours today, I did it from my bed, which is a lot easier! Take care!! P.S. I'm totally excited that I am now classified as "slightly overweight!!"

we all inspire each other here, thats the wonderful thing about this site, lets keep the NSVs coming!!

what is NSV. boy do I feel stupid.

Really no secret, just your basic, healthy meal plan..... For the first 6 weeks I followed my surgeon's meal plan and transitioned slowly through the food stages (very good restriction did not allow for "skipping ahead"). As hard as it was, I met Protein and Water goals 90% of the time. Once I was on regular food I focused on protein and non starchy veggies. Steak, burger, ham, ribs, pork, chicken, BBQ, tuna, refried Beans, eggs, milk, Protein Bars, PB2, Greek yogurt, avocados, cheese, cottage cheese, mixed nuts, beef and turkey Jerky, broccoli, spinach, kale, green and yellow beans, mushrooms, red peppers, edamame, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, Chinese mixed veggies, you name it.... Now at just over 7 months out I have a 24-32oz protein smoothie with 30-40g protein everyday and eat 4-5 meals and Snacks. I get a MINIMUM of 64oz water daily and I take whole food based Vitamins. I have had sweets, deserts, chips, fries, alcohol, bread, Pasta and rice, but in moderation and probably not even once/week. As I got close to and passed goal, I started adding more fruit and whole grains. Besides protein bars (Natures Valley Protein, GNC Lean Bars, Fiber One Protein) I added whole grain bars like Kind, Kashi pumpkin Flax, and Pure Ancient Grains. I snack on mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds, edamame, Peanut Butter and apples, frozen pineapple, melons, and plain Fage or Chobani Greek yogurt flavored with Protein powder. I add berries and other fruit as well as Metamucil and benefiber to my protein smoothie. But really, the simple answer is I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein (always first priority) veggies, fruit and whole grains. I eat when I'm hungry and only until satisfied, not full. Besides protein and water, I never tracked anything. I have no idea how many calories or carbs or fat I eat. As for exercise, I've got no magic formula there, either. I haven't been to a gym in years. Immediately postop I walked a lot but that was pretty much to help with digestion and to decrease the bloated feeling I had. I rode my recumbent bike 20-30 minutes/day for awhile but I haven't been on it in a couple weeks. I actually just have a very active lifestyle. I work 60+ hours/ week. I am a vet tech, so I'm standing, squatting, bending, lifting and walking all day. On the weekends I ride my horse, sometimes 15-20 miles/day (which is an excellent Pilates and thigh master workout if you are riding "correctly"). And along with the horses comes chores...shoveling shit, fixing fences, hauling water, feeding and stacking hay. Last weekend I got 42 bales of hay. Each bale weighs 80 pounds and I had to lift and move each one 3 times (big stack to truck; truck to shed; stack in shed). So essentially I lifted 10,000 pounds in 2 days....and at least part of that over my head (Basically lifted weights and did stair master for a couple hours). I got another 21 bales yesterday and the day before went whitewater rafting and rowed a boatload of friends 8 miles (more Pilates and push-ups). Anyways, everyone's journey is going to be different. What works for me might not work for you. Just figure out what you are most comfortable with (establishing a workout routine and tracking everything is not a bad thing, it's just not what I did). And if you are still reading this, let me say my biggest advice is don't compare your weight loss to others. Concentrate on being healthy, don't torture yourself with guilt, keep a good attitude, and look for NSV's for validation, not the numbers on the scale.

Thanks AfrykanViolet, I workout at a gym and I also ride my bike. I was stuck at 252lbs for 3 weeks and low and behold this past week I lost 5lbs!!! Keep at it and keep moving...that scale is going to move! Janine, I think we're the only ones that use the name "Marchies", but I should have at least put 07 in the original message. I'll see if I can go back and add it. Juli, Congrats on the NSV!!! Thanks Tracy! Welcome to Bandland...you finally made it!!! I hope your surgery was a success! I'll be peeking over at the April thread to see how you're doing! Guns, LLSibley, and anyone else having trouble cutting and pasting...don't worry about it. Just give us a daily or weekly update. We wanna see!!! kuebel j, my5grlz, and medge, I'm sending some "will power" vibes your way as you all wait for your fills! Hazelbunny, size 32/34 to a size 24!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!! :clap2: