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Today NSV, the fact that my boobs once again stick out further than my stomach. Woohoo!

No extension will definitely be a MAJOR NSV for me. I used to love flying, but in the past few years I've become so uncomfortable about the whole experience that I get very anxious about it. I am looking forward to people not looking at me with fear and dread, hoping I am not assigned to the seat next to them! LOL

So excited, almost 7 months out and down 90lbs, I've been contemplating getting rid of my old clothes for awhile, I've gave a majority of them away but really should have sold them! I ways bought quality plus size clothing at Addition Elle. I thought hey, why give clothes away when I payed lots of money to clothe my old body, and now that they new has changed and I'm needing new clothes lets just sell them, I made 160.00 dollars today just getting rid of some old work scrubs and some hoodies! This will help me buy new clothes, I love it.. So excited I thought I'd share... Just not wanting to sell the new silver jeans I bought in November first pair of silver jeans and they now fall down when I walk, let's hope I have nothing in my hands...

NSV is Non Scale Victory. It is like a mini goal that isn't tied to what the scale says

What is NSV?

Dee Dee....it's been a few weeks now, I am wondering how you are doing? I am so glad that you got such supportive responses. It is hard to admit when we are struggling, but you know what, most of us struggle at times during this process. I am a slow loser, but after tracking for so long now, I see the pattern. My body holds onto the weight for awhile, then I lose 3-5 lbs overnight. I was going thru my closet this weekend and getting rid of the rest of my larger sizes and trying stuff on, I had this favorite brown jacket and it was my "small jacket" of all my jackets, I could snap it closed but barely. I thought I could get a few more wears out of it, and as I slipped it on and the jacket wrapped from side to side...the buttons under my armpits...I had that NSV my little private reminder that I am so much smaller. Lately the scale isn't moving...and I started to think that I was the same size I was before....I still have weight to lose and have my tummy fat to contend with you see....but I allowed myself to realize that I am already a success with my healthier me campaign!!! I am doing it .....and so are YOU !!

Those are some great NSV. You are doing FABULOUS! I wish my weight would have came off that fast. There is nothing like a NSV to bring a smile to your face and to help you feel proud about the commitment you have made to your health.

Today, 7 weeks and 1 day out from surgery I had two non-scale victories. When I started this journey (August 2012) I was wearing a size 22 pants (women's) Today I can wear a size 17 Juniors!!! pants. Whoooohoooo. I was shopping in Traders Joe's right after that victory and decided to buy my husband a bottle of wine. I was asked for my ID at the register - I will be sixty on my next birthday!! In just 9 months!! I don't even care if they ask everyone for an ID - I just know it made me feel fabulous. Especially since I chuckled and told the cashier that I would be 60 on my next birthday and she didn't believe me. After seeing my license, she said I look great and I don't look my age. Happy girL! These little things make up for when the scale stays the same or only moves an ounce or two even tho I'm eating according to the plan and exercising.

Surgiversary! Yay!! Yup I made it to my one year mark with some pretty remarkable (for me) results! I started my pre-op diet by mid Dec 2011 and was sleeved on Jan 11, 2012. So Jan 11, 2013 marked my first surgiversary. I have lost a total of 120 lbs WOO HOO!!! (and those lbs are gonna stay away, if I have any say in that matter LOL!) Here are the details: Starting weight Dec 2011 124 kgs or 272 lbs BMI = over 53. Surgery weight Jan 11, 2012 119 kgs or 261 lbs Current weight Jan 12, 2012 69 kgs or 152 lbs BMI = 29.5! When I started, my BMI was just over 53. Now my BMI is 29.7! I'm so happy that I'm 'technically' no longer 'obese' and that I'm only 'overweight'. This last year had been so freakingly awesome! When I first started lurking in this forum before seriously considering surgery, I never really appreciated what the others meant when they said it is a rollercoaster ride. I fully appreciate it now; It is totally true! I've had some amazing SVs and NSVs, and I've had some pretty s#itty days fighting head-hunger, fatigue, and most of all, self doubts. But this forum and you wonderful friends have helped me stay on track. I come here whenever I need inspirationand motivation. You guys are the best! And my surgeon! OMG! I seriously believe that God tailor made a surgeon for me! He is the best person who personifies the word 'tough love'. He is very encouraging, amazingly funny, but will say it as he sees it. I trust him with my life! He and his staff have my eternal gratitude! I have not had the courage to post any of my pics on the board till today. But I made a promise to myself that I'll do it after my surgiversary. I admit that the pics on VST were a major factor when I decided to have the surgery and they gave me a great confidence boost whenever I felt down. So in my own small way I want to give hope to others here. My family, friends and colleagues say I look smaller - but I just dont see it. In my head, I still see the huge me. So I kinda rely on pics to see the journey I have been through. I'm nowhere near goal - I have 20+ lbs to lose, but now I'm confident in my new body, and dont feel embarassed to stand in front of a camera LOL.

I have not lost any weight for over a year, my body settling out where it should be, and wants to be, weight wise.....YET within that year I have dropped 2 more clothing sizes!!! My last visit to my surgeon, after I got on the scale, he was looking at my chart ans was "puzzled" He asked a few routine questions, and when we got onto my exercising routine, he then brightened up and said "That Explains Everything" People say all the time how they loose weight with little or no exercise, but believe me....you have no idea what a additional change it will make!

I love the nsv posts...I officially retired my pre-surgery jeans and a few pairs of sweats even! My winter jacket is too big too. I'm also able to di stairs without huffing and puffing! :-)

I was able to paint my own toe nails for the first time in years... May not look perfect but the fact that I did it was amazing! So proud or myself and incredibly happy with my sleeve decision! It's the small things that excite me!

Every NSV is so important and keeps everything in perspective . It truly is the small victories that count some days!! Be proud of your successes!!

A few weeks ago I went on a little shopping spree at value village and bought a number of XL button shirts. It was not a large fortune, but more shopping than I have ever done at one time before. I honestly thought I would be able to wear these for a while. I tried one on yesterday and it was draping over me, like a tent. And another and another. They were all very large on me where they for nicely when I bought them less than a month ago. I know because I tried everyone on, one at a time in front of the dressing room mirror. Sigh- I am going to have to donate these and go buy some large size button shirts (thrift store until my weight stabilizes). It is sort of a bittersweet realization, well, perhaps more like shock. A few of you may remember when I donated all my 2x, 3x clothes not too long ago. I filled 10-12 garbage bags full of button shirts, some 250+ button shirts, t-shirts and jeans). I think I shrunk a bit in the last few weeks from running all the time. It may be time to take a new picture for VST profile soon as the current one is a couple months old. Also yesterday, my wife's cousin came to visit for the evening and told me i was very lean and looking really good. He was joking around and asked if i was eating any longer ( the answer of course is yes, 6 times a day, about 100-300 calories a meal). He is about the same age as I and is an ex marine, very muscular and lean (can you believe that comment coming from him?!?!). His wife did not recognize me at first and i just saw them 2 months ago. I have a twin brother who has always been the "skinny" one where i was the " fat one". In quotes because weights fluctuate, but those generalizations have held true for the last 20-25 years. Well, i now weigh 45-50 lbs less then him and work out almost every day. he lives with me while he is getting his life together (been with us for 3 years going to school, now finishing CNA training, looking for a job, and saving emergency money that he gets from government for his own place). I keep encouraging him to eat a little better and to join me in some exercise beyond walking the dog. he will when he is ready to and certainly understands he needs to as being overweight. She thought she was looking at my brother, but then got confused because i look a little different from him just due to different life experiences, hair styles, clothing choices etc. She also said i had fine bone structure because she was commenting on my new delicate cheek bones and jaw line that i now have. i was surprised as i always thought of myself as large boned being heavy most of my life. Others reading this probably also think they are large boned and can relate to this reaction. One of her daughter's said i had a body shape " similar to daddy's" ( the ex marine). It was both cute and did a lot to put a smile on my face. I guess losing weight near goal weight (e.g last 25-30 lbs or so) makes more of a difference in the way clothes fit then losing weight at obese size (150 overweight). I am only 5 lbs away from my first goal of 185; i may try for 165 if it does not turn me into a skeleton. I hope you all have similar stories like this (hopefully not as much pain in the wallet with regards to clothes though ). This time I am going to only buy a few shirts if for some reason I enter the medium size. I really doubt it though being 5'11 and building muscle with strength training.

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

It is important for me to share my journey with others. I will be honest about what I am feeling so that new people or people thinking about getting banded can have an honest view point. I believe most people are this way but there are also some trolls out there with weird agendas that want to scare people. There will be ups and downs as with anything, I am sure. It is my goal to honestly portray what it is like to be banded. I am 34 years old with a start weight of 305. I have a large blended family. Between my husband and I we have 6 children and a very busy life. I am 8 days post op today. My surgery included a hernia repair, lapband and plication. My band was not "primed" at time of surgery. My first fill is scheduled for 6 weeks post op. To be quite honest, I am one of those people who don't do well with any pain meds. They knock me out and generally make me groggy. That is what happened this week. Not only was I groggy but I experienced discomfort like never before in my life. This was me being unprepared as I have never had major surgery before. The gas pains alone threw me. They are not your standard gas pain. Until you have it you really won't know what people mean when they are talking about the gas. When you have your band do what everyone says and walk, walk, walk. The first three days after surgery, I was happiest when walking. Working out the gas pressure is a relief! My relationship with food this week has been an emotional roller coaster. In the beginning of the week, I felt like I had lost a dear friend. I am still on the clear liquid part of my post op diet. It seems like every commercial on TV is about food. Food I don't even normally like looks delicious. Now, at the beginning of my second week Post OP, those commercials no longer bother me. I have accepted the stage of the diet I am on and I know that eventually I will be able to eat "real food" as long as I keep it healthy I WILL succeed! My relationship with my husband has gotten stronger. I am 34 years old and needed help taking a shower, getting dressed and making broth for myself. He stepped up and did all of these things for me. He took the kids to school, cleaned house, and made their dinner all while holding down a job of his own. I could not have done as well this week without his loving support. When I was ready to start doing things on my own again he did not smother me. He is letting me take control back one step at a time, as I am ready. I am truly blessed to have him in my life. I hope everyone can find support in this journey as I have. I have had a lot of time to think this week. I took a long hard look at myself and have decided I will not fail my band. Notice I did not say the band will not fail me. I will not fail the band because I have made a decision to follow doctor's orders, to be honest with myself and to let my support system help me. I made the decision to take this step in my life for my health. Let's be honest here.. I also have dreams of feeling sexy again. I am 34 not 90. It is up to me to see that this tool helps me reach my goal. I believe with all my heart personal responsibility needs to be a big part of the healing process. So flash forward to post op day 8. I feel fantastic today! I have no more pain. I have not had to take my pain meds for two days. The gas is all gone. Food commercials no longer bother me. I am not weak or groggy anymore. So I promised in my title two NSV's (non scale victories) and one SV (scale victory). So already I am encouraged by progress. My first and a very important NSV is I was able to get my wedding rings back on. Not only are they on but they are comfortable and no longer cutting into my fingers! As I was heartbroken and sorely disappointed in myself when I had to take them off, I am overjoyed to wear them again. My husband is also very proud I am wearing his rings again. The second and also very important NSV.. I was able to sleep in my own bed last night! This was the first time in 10 years I have had to sleep apart from my husband when in the same house. We have never let a fight make one of us sleep on the couch. I spent the entire last week in my recliner because it was the only comfortable spot to sleep. I am so HAPPY to be back in my own bed. And drum roll please... My scale victory... As of this morning I am down to 289 from 305lbs. 16 lbs lost! I have not seen the scale move backwards in years and never has it moved 16lbs! I can do this. If you are a new person with doubts and questions.. YOU can do this if you want to. Do research. When you think you have done enough.. do some more. It is not easy. Oh boy is it not the easy way out.. It is a tool for you to use. If you want success, reach out and grab it. It is there for you. Remember success comes with bumps in the road. These are just things we all have to get through. It is part of life. I am sure I will have ups and downs. Lets be realistic. Of course there will be ups and downs. I will share as many of these as I can that I feel people considering this journey should hear. If something goes wrong (unlikely), I will be honest about it and what caused it. I will share the victories as well. Thank you for reading my first blog. I wish you all success in your own journeys no matter what road they take. I am happy to answer any questions I can if you have any. =)

I attended a memorial for a friend this past Wednesday. It was a sad occasion, but really good to see old friends. Everyone I talked to told me how good I looked. It felt good to hear. None of those that I saw this week knew I had the surgery and I left it that way. Although I told one of my oldest friends as she just kept complimenting me. She said I looked like I did back in high school, what a compliment. I really felt good knowing that all my hard work is paying off. Yay for all the nsv's to come.

Great NSV! The sizing going down is an amazing feeling. I know just how you feel! Congrats!

ROFL! Fantastic NSV! Buy new pants!

Congratulations, what a great NSV!!

OMG! What a hysterical nsv! Time to get some new pants!

Huge nsv!

Congratulations on your awesome NSV!

Enjoy the pants as long as you can. Pretty soon you will be in a smaller size! This is such a wonderful NSV...... CONGRATS!