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I am 2 1/2 months post op. I started getting hungry on the 3rd day post op and i still get hungry, I know its not head hunger. It is hard to stay at 800 cals per day. I am exercising 35 mins per day on the exercycle (6 miles). Getting fluids in is harder. Ive only lost 37 lbs (down from 244 to 206). The weight loss has been really slow. I've had lots of NSV's (from a size 22 to an 18). So the hunger is a disappointment. An acid reducer seems to help, as well as chewing on lots of popsicles. Im trying to focus on the NSVs but I sympathize with your frustration. I will be happy to see what others think of this. I am sure we are not alone in our hunger. Please "like" us if you are in the same boat. We need encouragement.

My top 3 NSVs so far on this journey are: My mother-in-law having to acknowledge my weight loss with a positive comment (finally) Getting lost in the regular sized clothing section of department stores (I've shopped the plus sized section for 20 years) Looking forward to continuing this journey every day, whether the scale gives me a victory or not.

my best "normal" new NSV????..... feeling and looking terrific every day. ........... waking up every morning happy looking forward to what the new day will bring me

It's been almost 3 years and my 'top 3' haven't changed. 1) Waking up to a collarbone! 2) Having a sales lady call me small (Me, is she serious??!!! That's what I was thinking) 3) Trying on a size 6 GAP jeans and realizing they were too big. I got a size 4 and inside I was squealing like a four year old!!

It's official!....I no longer need to shop at Lane Bryant! I was in Nordstrom Rack today with a friend and where do I head as soon as I walk in the door - PLUS SIZES! And then I picked out about 10 tops in a 1x...my friend kept telling me - you are NOT a plus size anymore! But in my mind I still am (was) and I took the clothes to the dressing room. YEP - they were all too big! And shockingly not just by a little! I was shocked and very surprised! Do you mean to tell me that I can go back to looking and shopping in "regular" stores! Talk about a great day and incredible NSV!!!!! Wwwoooooooo-hooooooooo!

I just had to share a fabulous NSV... I saw a co-worker today that I hadn't seen in over a month or so....she said, "wow - you look fantastic - like 10 years younger" Yay me!!! It's funny, because I look in the mirror and see ALOT more wrinkles as I lose the fat in my face - but evidently that's not what others are seeing! It certainly boosted my confidence today and made me go for those 12k steps that I was going to put off today :-)!!!

So, today for the first time EVER someone at work told me I look fit! I felt like that is the BEST compliment ever! Now, I am no where close to goal and I still have a long way to go but this morning one of my co-workers came in and said to me "Wow you look really fit! How much weight have you lost" How awesome is that I have NEVER been told I look FIT!!!!

Hey Gang!!! I hope everyone is doing their very best, pre and post op sleevers. Monday I finally went back to work and had a blast. I put on a bright pink dress with make up and all and had a great non stressful day. I will say I have had more success with eating adequately and slowly since I have come back to work. I am drinking more than my 32 ounces of water with no problem.. maybe I should have came back sooner. This process has been a blessing and a curse sometimes. I did not have any major complications. My only complaint was the stomach cramps. No vomiting, little nausea and no "bathroom" problems. Surgery did make my surgery a week late but that was to be expected. Soo here are the stats. Initial Consultation- 280 Submission Day- 291 Surgery Day-272 Today?????? Drum Roll Pleaseeeeeeee............. 258!!! Now If only I could find a dedicated gym partner, that would be great! I am trying to go to the gym or outside with my son everyday and also 30min 4 times a week in the morning. Here are some of my NSV's -A pair of shorts I bought 1 day after my wedding were super tight on my thighs and I could not get them up... Put them on the other day, --:-) Dance party in my bedroom, smiles all around.. They came up and I had some room. -- My workout clothes are becoming lose again! ---Yesterday while getting out of my car, a man in a minivan stopped his car and said, " Ma'am, I just had to let you know it's nice to see a pretty thick woman, you are beautiful"... Then he drove off! Confirmation at the least, ego booster! ---- My husband and I have "drives" through the roof right now! ----- I have inspired my husband to eat healthier and lose weight for the upcoming trip.. Love him either way! ------ I actually chased after my son while on his new bike yesterday without becoming winded. Also walking with my coworker around the block twice without my back tightening up on me..... I am thankful I was able to have surgery, have such a wonderful support system and also hopefully be an inspiration and greatly supportive to all of you !!!!!!!!!

With those NSV's I'm confident you will be heading toward more weight loss! It appears you are losing inches now and the scale isn't moving with it, but that will change again!

Non scale victories are just as good, if not better, than the weight loss pounds. This is a journey and we are not in a race. Just keep eating your protein, getting in your water and the loss will follow. I am one pound away from 60 pounds but I have lots of NSV that I experience everyday that keep me going.

My seven month sleeversary will be March 20th and I've been a bit discouraged because I've been hovering between 205-206 for a few weeks now. For the first time since being sleeved, I don't think I'll lose more than 2-3 pounds. So I decided to take stock of my NSV's. 1. Inches lost - Since I started the process in February 2012, I've lost a total of 60.6 inches! Over six of those inches have been in the last 45 days. 2. When I had my mammogram last year, I had to hold the gown closed. This year, It was swimming on me. 3. Last year, I was wearing a size 26/28 in jeans. This weekend, I bought a pair of size 14's. I can honestly not remember a time in my life when I fit in that size. Granted, they're a bit tight right now, but they zip up! 4. For the first time in years, I bought dresses. And they're 14/16, not 26/28. 5. When I did Walk MS this year, I walked the entire 5k and didn't feel like I was going to die. 6. I'm sleeping through the night, not waking up gasping for air or vomiting because of severe acid reflux. 7. I'm able to easily cross my legs. 8. I don't have to guess whether I can fit into a booth at a restaurant. 9. I'm able to get 2-3 meals out of an entree, or order an appetizer and have plenty left over. I'm sure there's a number 10, but I can't think what it is right now! I'm having an easier time eating foods I shouldn't have (chips, carbs) and I'm sure that's why I'm not losing much this month. I really think that since I'm pretty close to goal (15 pounds to meet surgeon's goal, 25 for mine), I'm kind of self-sabotaging. So my focus now is resisting those foods that don't give my body what it needs. I hope all my fellow August sleevers are doing well. Keep it up, we can do it!

I was in bandster hell and everyone is different. I thought I would have the surgery and poof I would start losing but it took 6 months 4 fills, weigth GAIN and now I think I am in "green zone." Now I love the band I see what everyone is talking about weight is coming off and it provides more motivation to stick with it. Some people don't even need a fill for the first 6 months so I felt like a failure and I was self paid so that was hell thinking I was going to be the one that failed at it. Just go at your own pace no one is the same. Oh and I never new what NSV meant so thank you!

I usually buy jeans or a shirt that are to small so I can work on eventually fitting into them. Well, today I bought a pair of capris in hopes that they will fit by summer. I bought a size 8. I got home and tried them on to see how small they were and they FIT comfortably too! I haven't been that size since middle school.....actually I think I skipped size 8 in my sleep in 7th grade lol. love my sleeve!

thank you so much! i've had a few nsv like my shoes are big and slip off my feet and my clothes fit better, I can almost fit into a size 22 i was a 26-28 before and I feel really good and I'm not always tired anymore thats the best one so far!

What a wonderful NSV!!! Congrats

Hey! *waves* Just found this and was compelled to post! Just want to say, thank you to each and every one of you who posted kind words about me! Heart warming indeed! The reason i don't post that often nowadays is because I feel that many newbies and not so newbies don't think my journey is successful cos I ain't at goal. Often I will post and my comments are over looked... I guess I can't be bothered to be ignored! However, I do pop on here most days and stay in touch with my sleeve friends! I am sure my story is not uncommon, the fact that I am still around here is more to do with me being proud of my achievements, regardless of that stupid scale, whereas others might see not reaching goal as a failure. I have to be honest, I was in that failure place... and believe me it was dark, damp and ugly. I really had to kick my own ar*e - with the lil help of my cyber friends (you know who you are) - and get on with it!! I've said it elsewhere, so forgive me if you've read this before... Over the last 2 - 2 1/2 years there has been many 'issues' in my personal life that has really knocked me for six, and only now on reflection can I see that I have come through them as a better, stronger person - with no weight gain - NSV right there. I was told that I was peri menopausal 2 years ago, but I have had the 'symptoms' a long time before that - I just blamed my weight! I am now menopausal at 41 yrs of age, and although it is not an excuse, I do feel that is part explains why my body has stopped losing and would seem rather comfortable at this weight! Stupid body.Since being sleeved I have also had other health complaints... are they other reasons for my lack of weight loss? Who knows! The upshot is that I've been in a stall for nearly 18 mths. I've exercised, dieted, done the refeed, taken time out and so on with no results on the scale. Do I stop trying... hell no! My sleeve is precious to me, it has given me a life back that I never thought I would ever get! There is no expiry date on this bad boy! Will I make goal? Dunno! Do I care... yes!!! For those of you who know me, you will know that I will keep on keeping on... I've got my eye on the prize! Oh and to Celebrate my 'failure' *coughs*, I mean success I am getting a TT with uplift this week. And that will only mean one thing... yep! Me rocking a new pair of skinny jeans...lol! Seriously though, if you consider yourself a slow loser, cut yourself some slack. Take a deep breath and remember the bigger picture. I used to say that my journey to goal was the scenic route because it is much prettier!!

Today i had my annual mammo. I was escorted to a dressing room. There were several rooms in a group, doors open, and my tech was looking into each one. Finally she stopped at one, said, "ok, go ahead and change, gown open in front, come out when you're finished changing. Bring your purse, leave your clothes." a clean pink print gown lay folded in the chair. I sadly smiled, said thanks, all the while thinking, " ah ok, she was looking for the room with the special, BIG gown in it". I put the gown on, and it fit. All the ties inside and out tied. There wasn't volumes of heavy material wrapped around me, skimming my calves. Hmmmm this is weird. When i stepped out, i see other women stepping out, all " normal" size women, and we were all wearing the SAME PINK GOWN!!! I was wearing a "regular size" gown. Not the XXXL gown, which is a dull white or gray blue color. OMG. I am wearing a normal gown. It was shocking to me. Off to the xray room we go. Again, my pre conditioned thought was " i'll have to wait while she gets the bigger plates" (you ladies know what i mean!!) nope. Normal standard glass mammogram plates. She wasnt having to use both hands like before, one positioning the boob in play, while the other shoved fatty extra tissue from the OTHER side out of her way. When i went back to the dressing room, i peeked into the open dressing rooms. Some had clothes, hanging from hooks..and the rest had clean pink print gowns folding neatly in the chairs. The tech had only been looking for an open room, not a king size gown. I shed a few tears before i left that dressing room. I'm still stunned. Maybe some of you can relate, or at least know that you'll soon have a day like this, too. All my best to each of my sleeve sisters!!! SW 10/31/12: 300 CW 238 50/F 5'10"

I think my last straw was after I saw a nutritionist and I weighed in at 357 lbs at age 41. From that day forward, I have been on plan and I have never looked back. I am almost 16 months out and I feel like a million bucks! I got on a plane without needing an extension or buying an extra seat (EMBARASSING) and the tray table went all the way down AND I was in the middle of a 3 person section. I felt like I didn't make them feel uncomfortable. I felt NORMAL!! I avoided going to concerts because I and those people sitting next to me were miserable. I can't wait to see another concert!! I can fit in restaraunt booths comfortably and I have lots of room between me and the steering wheel in my car!!! I have so many more NSVs. Thank you sleeve!

I'm in the slow loser boat too! I'm 6 weeks out and have lost 24 lbs (14 of that was the FIRST WEEK!) So that makes the other 10 I lost about 1.6 lbs per week. I haven't been on here as much because there are so many opinions but everyone on this post said it right = we are all individuals! I am looking forward and not backwards. I WILL lose this weight whether it takes a few months or a few years. I could have never got as far as I have without my sleeve and that pleases me to think about it. I'm still in a size 16 and can still fit in most of my pre-surgery clothes, but I can't let that get me down! I just keep telling myself a "slow loss" is better than "no loss", and a "stall" is not a "stop"! NSV's for me: -people have noticed my weight loss, especially in my face -I can sleep on my side comfortably -I can wipe myself easily after going to the restroom (TMI but its true!!) -I can control my portions -I don't get sad when I walk in my closet - I know my size is going to go DOWN! Blessings to everyone on their journey's - especially the slow losers! Keep the faith!

Today I got out of the shower and a regular sized wrapped completely around my body AND i still had room left over! I've been a slow loser and today I barely hit the 30 lb weight loss mark (7 weeks post op) but its the little things that make it all worth it!! Wooo hooo!

I fit comfortably in the booth at IHOP last night! Plenty of room- hallelujah! We haven't been there and sat in a booth for quite a few months, but wow, what a difference! BTW, I had the steak tips dinner and they let me subsitute the corn and mashed potatoes for a double portion of steamed broccoli. It came with a piece of garlic bread (which I ate half of) and a side salad with honey mustard dressing (which I ate a few bites of). I have leftovers for lunch for the next couple of days now. Loving my sleeve! -Kendra

Great idea! How are our Mexico Octosleevers faring with their losses and NSV's?!? As for myself, I had surgery 10/27/12 with Dr Garcia. Started at 270--now down to 206.5 . So about 63 lbs down and I feel great!!

That's a great NSV. Go you!!

Bless your heart, someone who is actually shorter than me. I am almost 5'0". I think 4' 11" and a half. My doctor's goal for me is 130. I am currently going between 185 and 187 which is fine with me since so far I don't have much hanging skin and don't want any. I seem to be losing about 6 lbs a month now. Hopefully in 6 months I will be down to 150. Anything is better than 240. I have a new NSV. I can now put my pants on without sitting down and can cross my legs at the knee now.

Ok, I put aside my vanity and wore my baggy cool weather gear and went out for a ride. 47 degrees, but not a bad way to burn 672 calories in 50 minutes. The part that is really an NSV? While it isn't my fastest time, it is less than a 1/2 MPH off of my fastest and I haven't been on my bike since October of last year when I was 35 pounds heavier than I am now. I definitely noticed that the hills didn't seem as steep, and I didn't seem out of breath. Several weeks of spin class can take some credit, but the weight loss is the real champion. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/282936239