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You look amazing! Congrats on your weight loss and the NSVs! Livinglifeout is right - your happiness is evident in your words! Congrats on your relationship! I'm in the last stretch to goal too - have about 20 lbs to lose. Isnt it the hardest? I'm truly hoping I get to goal within the second surgiversary. Have you been doing anything special now that you are more than a year out? If it is okay to ask - did you have any lose skin issue? Is it manageable? Would love to hear from you!

Hey all, I used to be fairly active on here but life has kept me busy! I'm not at goal yet (I'm still about 30 pounds away) but I just wanted to give an update plus some pics! Some NSVs: Can shave without it being a contortionist act. Those annoyingly tight squeezes in between two not completely pushed in chairs? Don't really bother me! I now look at a pair of pants or a shirt and think, "Oh geez, that's definitely not going to fit," and it does! I don't feel as subconscious at work, as if people are looking down on me because of my weight. Lost a whole shoe size and can now wear even more cute shoes! Having a size 10 shoe wasn't very fun. Can shop in the "normal" section in clothing stores! No more x's in my labels! Basically can't wear anything from Lane Bryant. Got the confidence to join a dating site (I'm not really a bar scene kind of gal) and have been dating the most amazing man for 6 months now. Went from a ring size of 8-9, and am now a 5 1/2-6! Sometimes my work involves going up and down stairs a lot while being quick about it. I don't get out of breath doing it! Not as much knee or hip pain (hurt my knee when I was younger, and the added weight made it worse). Started out in the morbidly obese BMI range, and am now safely in the overweight range. Never had much trouble in booths, it was movie theater seats that gave me problems. I wasn't very comfortable if I was seeing a movie with someone else, and with being so pear shaped, the arm rests dug into my legs and hips. Not anymore! I started out at 289 pounds. I remember being so depressed that I knew I couldn't let myself get to 300, by any means necessary. I was a size 24-26 pant and size 2x shirt. I am now between 179-181, so a 110 pound total loss so far. I'm in a 12-14 pant, and M-L shirt (both depend greatly on cut and brand). My goal is to be 150, a single digit number pant (would love size 6, but will take 8 since I think my thighs and hips have a mind of their own!), and S-M shirt size. I also just want to be in the normal BMI range (even if it's at the top) and healthy. Here are some pic updates. I think I look pretty good for still being considered overweight.

It's so normal and it will happen on and off Try to measure and use the fit of your clothes for NSV's Don't let the scale rule you You will lose weight Eat healthy and get moving Enjoy the ride... No worries!!!

Great message Terry. One way to build those markers is by rewarding yourself so that you associate the reward (non-food) with your NSV. For example, when I could ride a certain distance I rewarded myself with a new road bike. That was pretty big reward but was all the more special because my husband initiated it. Another reward I gave myself was a new gold watch when I hit a scale goal. Since then I've had another link removed and it is loose again. Keep up your great work!

I remember during my undergrad studies in Psychology reading a paper that talked about people who were addicted to gambling and a peculiar memory trait that only allowed them to remember the times that they won. This caused them to constantly misjudge the odds when placing a bet, because the were overly optimistic about their chances. I think that we who are fat have a similar trait, but in reverse. We only remember the times that we have failed in our journey to be fit, and so when there is temptation, when there are rough spots we err by forgetting all the scale victories, all the nsvs, all the times that we beat temptation and made a right choice and we only remember the times when we failed. So we believe that failure is inevitable and give in. Today has been a hard day for me, I am experiencing a bit of bandster hell, combined with a generous portion of head hunger and emotional eating and the only thing I can think about is why bother, I am just going to fail anyhow. No, I haven't given in to those voices, but I have had one NSV after another this last week, I am within 4 pounds being at the lowest weight I have been at since I was a freshman in high school, and yet my failures are the memories parade before me today. One of the things that the people of the Old Testament did when God did something spectacular in their lives was they built a marker, a pile of stones to remind them of the victory that had happened in that place. I think I need to start building some markers in my life so that I can concentrate on the victories, and not the defeats.

i wish i was more creative in the kitchen. i'm suffering from what most everyone else is going through-food boredom. had a taste of some of my old foods this weekend, and it was a big mistake. i was sick and now i'm on the straight and narrow. no beef, Pasta or doughy foods for me, (they sit heavy and cause major pain) and i have to stay away from all chocolate-even sf and dark. it's just too addicting. if i never eat another serving of Jello, yogurt, chili, or refried Beans it would be fine with me. i could also gladly give up the Protein drinks, they are so nauseating now-but without them i can't get in my required amounts so i'm stuck. boo anyone have any tips or tricks they'd like to share? on the up side, i am starting to see my collar bones (yay-NSV!) and need to go shopping in my closet to see what i can wear to work next monday-it's been 6 weeks since i've worn any of my dressy clothes. probably better try on my heels and flats as well because my shoes are fitting a little differently too. now that i think about it, do any of you have any tips on how you survived when you started back to work? were you able to get in any walks, how about eating and Water? no one at work knows, they only know about my severe gerd and acid reflux and that i had a hernia repaired.

Woo hoo!!! nice NSV!!!!

So my pound loss hasn't been that speedy as I've mentioned in my other posts, but I still have much to be grateful for. My pants are much looser...which feels good. I have more energy, and I am able to do more cardio in a day. I've also noticed that my belly is finally smaller than my boobs!!! I haven't seen this happen in almost 3 years! Today I took my measurements in hopes of having a comparison for the future during my weight loss stalls. I am still excited about my new journey and I am still happy about my decision.

A hot firefighter? Wow that's the best NSV yet! Is it time for a new pic?

Congratulations on your first nsv. You can do this, it might get a little frustating in the begining but you will lose a few more pounds. Soon you will be on the sleeve side and on you way to a healthier you. :-)

Today was my first post-op appointment with my surgeon. My day kicked off to a great start to find that I had lost four pounds since my weighing yesterday morning. I've been losing anywhere from one to three pounds every day, so that one about knocked me over. That being said, there's a reason I'm losing so much weight. I'm drinking mostly Water and managing an Isopure about every other day. I'm really starting to feel my body beg for something more. Not as in cravings, but as in just pure sustenance. Two weeks is long enough. My follow-up went great. As much as I was beyond ready to have this drain removed, I was still dreading the actual removal. I literally felt nothing. No pain, not even the weird feeling some people talk about. I wouldn't have even known he was pulling a foot and a half of tubing out of my belly had I not seen his hands doing it out of the corner of my eye. I felt so silly for asking my Mom to hold my hand for that. xD He cleared me to move to Phase 2, which is full liquids, and to start my Vitamins. I had decided I wanted to try Premier Protein, as I've heard so many people say they like it. Part of me could not wait to start drinking something else, as I could barely stomach the Isopure for another day, but I was also afraid that I wouldn't like it and would have trouble finding one I did. Now, please understand me, I know how to make myself just drink something anyway when I don't like it, but my new sleeve has done a number on me. If it makes me feel icky one time, then it's like my body starts rejecting it before I even try to drink it again. The nausea starts at the mere thought of drinking it. My sleeve really is picky. I think I'm going to have to find a prissy name for it, like Lola, or something. Only the best for her, apparently. Anyway, I digress. I just finally opened up the chocolate Premier and... *angels singing* I love it. It's the first flavored thing I've tasted since surgery that I didn't have to just tolerate. I'm actually enjoying it. It tastes almost identical to Ensure, which I've always liked, oddly enough. I'm so grateful in this moment. I can totally do two weeks of this. I drove for the first time today since my surgery, and even though I've lost 32 pounds, I am just not feeling it in my clothes yet. I wasn't really expecting to feel any different behind the wheel, but lo and behold, I could totally see and feel the difference. My stomach still touches the bottom of the wheel, but just barely. It's not pressed against it and with the wheel rubbing against it while I drive. I guess that's my first NSV!

congratulations... here's to more to come! NSV are the greatest!

NSV are the best

FINALLY NSV....went to the movies Saturday...without thinking I crossed my legs!!!!!!! Cant remember the last time I could!!!!!4 weeks post op weight has not changed in over a week. Dr appt next week hopefully will be released to exercise. Still on mushies....so want a salad! Weight loss since surgery 25 lbs.

Great NSV. !!!

FINALLY NSV....went to the movies Saturday...without thinking I crossed my legs!!!!!!! Cant remember the last time I could!!!!!4 weeks post op weight has not changed in over a week. Dr appt next week hopefully will be released to exercise. Still on mushies....so want a salad! Weight loss since surgery 25 lbs.

This thread is inspiring. My success is still sinking in. I thank God for this opportunity to live life fully. RNY has been a very positive experience for me. The NSV are the BEST!!!! No more high blood pressure! Fitting in an airplane and movie seat More flexibility (wink) Joy of playing with my 6 year old Wearing my high heels again! Opportunity to share Gods grace with the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Blessed! HW 324. consult weight 313. weight as of 2/12/13 233. Goal 213. surgery date oct 2012

I've been googling what things mean such as onederland and NSV... I thought there might be a FAQ somewhere here that I could reference, but I can't find it. Any help?

Last night I had my first NSV (non scale victory). I went to see the play Les Mis in downtown Charlotte and I always dread the small seats in the theater. Last night was the first time I have felt comfortable in the seat and did not feel like I was taking someone's space. I am almost 6 weeks out and last week hit my first stall. Only lost like 2 lbs all week but I continue to lose inches. I have not thrown up one time and I am tolerating most food well. I usually have two premier protein shakes a day and a real food dinner. In between I try to eat a string cheese stick. No problem drinking all the required water. I consider myself lucky to be doing as well as I am and have lost close to 30 lbs since surgery. I think my biggest help has been hitting the gym and doing the elliptacle for about 60 minutes at least 5 times a week. Someone told me to rename my bathroom from the John to the Jim so I can tell everyone I go to the Jim everyday. Hope all my fellow January sleevers are doing well.

How is everyone's weight loss going? I am stalling and have lost around 50-51 pounds. I just can't get the scale to budge. I am off of blood pressure medicine. I have went from a size 22 that wouldn't button to a loose 14. I have lots of nsv but really want my scale to start moving again!

Yesterday was the first day since surgery (1/18) that I truly felt ecstatic and overjoyed. Many NSV's to come (kinda long...): 1) Finally found a food I can tolerate, that tastes great, and that I can eat a decent amount of: Chili! I know... I'm a late-bloomer when it comes to chili. 2) My neighbor, who hasn't seen me since the day after surgery, hobbling down my apartment hallway wearing baggy PJ pants and a t-shirt, saw me yesterday wearing yoga pants and a pretty pink (snug) t-shirt and said, "Wow! You're looking great!" 3) My boss came back to work and, in the middle of updating me on what I missed while I was away, said, "Gosh, you're getting skinny!" (We sure do use the term "skinny" loosely, don't we?) 4) But best of all... I went to Macy's and decided to try on some jeans (since the ones I wore to work were falling off me). I normally HAAAAAATE clothes shopping, but felt brave today. Pre-surgery I wore a (tight) size 18, and found some size 16 jeans, and... They fit PERFECTLY! I paired them with a size 1x top (formerly a 2x), and actually jumped up and down in the dressing room with joy! I actually looked cute! And I couldn't believe I could actually wear a skinny jean. I ended up buying 2 pairs of jeans and 3 tops. Those should last me a while. I wanted to post this for those who are also just starting out, like me. I was super discouraged at my 2nd appointment on 2/7. I was in the midst of a stall and was feeling like the procedure wasn't working (3 pounds lost in 2 weeks). I followed doctor's orders, and now I'm down 9 pounds in 10 days. The surgery DOES work - if you work it properly. And the good far outweighs the bad!

The pink shirt pic was take around July 15 2012. The scrubs was taken on January 30th, my six month anniversary. I've lost 116 lbs. was a sz 24/26 now a 13/14. Lost lots of hair, still am but it's slowing. Having my first true stall. Gotta get that exercise piece going! Have lots of energy. Doing so many great new things. The simple NSVs are the best for sure! I only mildly dump, which kinda sucks. If i have too much of anything I get nauseous and tired. So I just gotta stay strong and diligent. Hope u all are well! I'm gonna try and get on here more and keep myself motivated. : )

NSV--- size 13 skinny jeans!!!??? Haven't been this size in over 10 years! Feels great! [ATTACH]2494[/ATTACH] xo Hilary

I find myself missing the NSV'S and the attention. I didn't really like being the center of attention then. This is the new me and it has been quite an adjustment.

Happy Birthday. A button front is a great NSV. You look great by the way,