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Well, I don't know if I am back or not - i hope I can do it again and it wasn't a "one time" thing. I feel a little sore today. I think I will walk tonight and that is it... no running. Then, tomorrow... I will go for the run again. I don't want to overdo it like I did before and mess up my knee. Your right though it did make me feel alot better. I wish this Marine lived closer. I know he would whip my bod into shape! I could make him take me running and exploit his well trained butt! Turn him into my own personal trainer. :-) THAT would rock. I might be able to half way keep up now. ---------------------- Nat - congrats on the NSVs honey! I totally notice when I lay down at night or any time I hold my legs together... the bones are touching at my knees! Who knew there were bones there!?!? I think it is funny to notice those little things that everyone else would never think of! I LOVE holding my knees up in front of my now and wrapping my arms around them! It is my favorite way to sit now that I can actually do it! hehe - i soooo understand! tranformer - OMG PMSL! better fantasy than your belly flap!? I almost pee'd myself when I read that... I often sit around and think about mine... hehe! only soooo funny because I knew what you were talking about! HA! I like to move mine around in the mirror and see what it looks like with it gone. SweetHot - Yeah, I've never even seen him in his uniform to be honest. I met him in Indianapolis at a concert and he was "out of uniform" -- I was really unimpressed with the whole Marine thing at the time. I think that is what threw him off the most. He probably likes to use it to pick up the ladies and I was more interested in all the weight he lost and his life than I was in the marine stories. I will give the guy a chance and see what he comes up with... not like I have any other offers on the table right now. haha VAband - Did you get ahold of your doc for your fill under floro?? I know you've been worried about it :-) How is the job hunt coming? Would a chocolate covered marine cheer you up?? hehe Steph - That is a crazy Alaska story :Banane34: but not so crazy if you are me. I had a similar situation - only with England. THAT is why I shy away from ANY long distance anything. I have this part of my brain that thinks they are all con-men and liars covered in a sweet chocolate disguise. You get past the chocolate and "suprise"..... not so sweet. So, not to worry. No hastey decisions to be made here. I know better. In fact, I tend to worry that I will do the exact opposite anymore and completely ignore a good guy instead. Other than "cuddle time" with my best friend Eric. I haven't even wanted to be anywhere near a guy. I like things that are familiar and being with someone that actually cares about me. I'm to a point in my life where I've moved past evening desiring a random "booty call." Is THAT possible? haha. yeah, sadly it is. BooBoo - and AirForce man huh? Us women are all a bunch of suckers for a man in a uniform aren't we??? damn, they can look so freakin good! hahaha - the jerks. Wish women had an outfit like that. No matter what you look like... you put it on and stop men dead in their tracks. Nikki - So glad our bundle of joy is doing well. Where were you from again? Congrats on your SIZE 14! Isn't it amazing when you realize you've made a mistake like THAT. I can actually eat rice (brown rice). Just in very small amounts. I can't eat bread though... not after this last fill. THAT would be the death of me. Bannannie - OMG 150's... that is still just a dream to me. I thought i would be there by now too! CONGRATULATIONs you've actually figured out how to do it! so proud of you baby girl. Cant wait for the day that I make it that far. That had to feel wonderful to see that number on the scale. How is the prep for plastic surgery going? i know it is coming up soon. i am so happy for you! you are such a success girl! (HUGS) LOVE YA! Kaydot - Body bug!!!! If you hear of a sale, PLEASE let me know. How is it going? You still loving yours? I want one soooo badly. I would love to see what all my running actually amounted to last night. See how many calories I actually burned! Thinde! hey mamma!! so glad to see you back on the board keeping up with our crazy butts :-) we missed you! I totally freaked out when I couldnt see the board for a whole day! AGGHH! Even when I dont post, I have to read to keep up with everyone! JillRn! - hey to you to mamma!! glad your are checking in - you have anything chocolate covered and yummy in your life right now?? haha - these crazy ladies have been cracking me up!

Anyone have any "NSV" to share? I've noticed lately people sit next to me on the bus, they would always avoid me in the past! Kinda miss that ..hahaha

Had a nsv and a sv today. XL fitted shirts fit great and I broke the 250 mark today when I woke up to 247 on the scale. I love my sleeve!!!

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!

Great NSV! They come in many ways. this is a victory for you!!!

This is wonderful news congrats I can't wait for mine own NSV lol

I got out of the shower this morning and decided to try on all my swimsuits from the past 4 years. Every single one of them fit and look somewhat great! Whoo, hoo!

Checking in for the 15th and I am at 321.8...3 lbs down from last week and the NSV of my belly not touching the steering wheel of my mini van!

Kthump, Search for 3 week stall, although it sounds like yours may be starting a little early. Especially if you lost a good bit of weight on the pre-op diet, the stall kicks in and you may not lose anything for several days. It is normal, natural, and it will pass. Theories abound, but I think it's our body's way of readjusting to all the changes after surgery. You have gone from eating whatever you like to barely putting any calories in and your body says "Whoa!" The weight loss will resume, but this is a great time to measure yourself and see the changes in your size/shape that are going on. I walked out of my first size lost during a stall. I hadn't dropped anything pound-wise in days, then I put on my work pants and they fell to the floor. That's a big WOW moment, and it happened when I thought I wasn't losing anything. Look for the NSVs (non scale victories) and pay attention to the inches lost, especially during stalls. The stalls will happen, but they usually mean that you're losing inches as things adjust themselves. good luck!!

Pookey, Great NSV!!! I am laughing because your friend didn't recognize you! That's terrific! BTW, My sons love Rammstein, so I've definitely heard a good bit of their music! Pretty good, IMO!

Thank you for sharing! I love reading about these and you definitely did not overshare The NSV's are what make this whole process worth it. More than numbers and even clothing sizes. The NSV's make us shout for joy and plaster smiles on our faces... to read that someone else is experiencing it as well is an awesome feeling! It makes me feel proud, even though I don't know you personally. Good job and keep it up! I am so happy for you!

My NSVs: -clothes fit a lot looser -my body doesn't ache when I get out of bed in the morning -I feel more confident already I need to work on eating slower! I love this thread too!

[awesome info!!!!quote name=Lilee84" post="2285395" timestamp="1332967880] DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references. How do I embed the weight loss ticker? Click on the My Tickers link under your settings in the top right of any page on here. What can I have during liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows: Day 1-7 Clear Liquids Day 8-14 Full liquids Day 15-21 Purees Day 22-50 Mushies What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed. Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs. How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day. How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest. Best protein shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy unjury. What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods) How long will my surgery last? Typically about 45mins assuming there are no complications or other procedures (ie: hernia repairs) being done at the time of your surgery. Every surgeon is different so for a more accurate answer you should consult your respective surgeon. Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside. What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching. What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between. What do all these acronyms mean? In no particular order: WLS – Weight Loss Surgery NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…) NUT – Nutritionist PCP – Primary Care Physician VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy TOM – Time of the Month SF – Sugar Free WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off. What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own. When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity. When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home. What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink. Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however. I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses. I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon. Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy. When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks. How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay. Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign. Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling. What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult. What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon.

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.

Thanks for the feed back. I find if I eat slower and talk more then I eat less. That's pretty hard for me being the introvert, but I find if I eat with someone at lunch instead of at my desk, I slow down a lot more and tend to sort of play and pick at my food instead of eating, so net I eat the smaller amount. First fill is scheduled for April 4th, then I go back every two weeks until mid May while my Dr. is trying to get the band to the right place. I have the larger band and he said it takes a little more adjusting to get the restriction to the right place where he wants it. On a completly different note I had a NSV already that almost had me doing cartwheels this morning. I know it sounds lame but big to me. I was acutally able to buy clothes at Wal-mart and they fit. It was the largest size they carry, 3X mens, but none the less it fits. It has bugged me for years to not be able to buy what I call yard clothes or play clothes like tee shirst and stuff from discount stores like Wallyworld and such. Just seems so unfair I have to go to a speciality store to buy a tee-shirt to mow the yard in. So anyway, it was a huge victory for me this morning!

Happy Bandiversary Vines! What an incredible list of NSV's. You truly are an inspiration to us all! Robyn

Crystal, Go back and re-read, first, your list of NSV's (absolutely fantastic), and second, all the posts from people who love and support you - not forgetting all the posts from people whose lives have been touched so positively by you. I too am always happy to see your posts, they're always on point and full of encouragement and enthusiasm. Here's to Year Two! Cheers!

Good NSV, Green!!! Yesterday, instead of going to penningtons, where I've shopped for like 10 years, I decided to go to the mall. I asked my daughter if she minded if we stopped into Cotton Ginny, I havent been to there store since my youngest was born, there sizes didnt go big enough for me. Well, I was like a kid at Christmas, trying on everything!!! Even my 17 year old was having fun. Here mom, try on this!!! It was a great moment! I'm happy!! Oh, and I came home with 2 sweaters and compfy track pants!!

I am so excited!!!!!!! I finally have a NSV (that i recognized). I went off my arthritis (sp) medication when I started my optifast and after the first week, which was he....!! I found that i wasn't aching as bad. I was banded Dec 15/06 and I haven't been taking any of my arthritis (sp) medication on even any Tylonel (sp) either. I had been living on both medications for the last 2 years. I am not sure if I was having a hard time because of food allergies. But I am feeling so good and I am glad that I am no longer taking any kind of pain med. I still am taking my blood pressure meds, but the Dr. said that she thinks I will be off it soon.

Congratulations, Cloe! That is a wonderful story. I am glad that your winter coat is now too big. I think that the NSVs drive home the fact of weight loss more than the scale victories for we are then experiencing weight loss in our daily lives, not just as numbers. And congratulations to you, Woodys. That is a huge NSV! You are incognito now.

Here's an NSV that is important to Green: I can now put my clothes in the dryer without worrying that they will shrink. Yippee!

Hi Cloe: What does NSV mean. Just think of the wonderful time you will have buying new up to date clothing plus "goodwill" will love you.

Here is my latest NSV: those jeans that I bought only three weeks ago are now too big! I can slide the damn things off without undoing them. I would be really, really pleased (in fact outta my mind with pleasure) if a) I didn't still feel like a fatty and :Banane57: if I hadn't just got them. I haven't even got the VISA bill yet!:cry I shouldn't have bought two pairs, eh. I have to buy a belt. :help: I haven't worn a belt in over a decade. Maybe even two decades.... I still wear a 3X top.

Well, this thread will be right here waiting for you when you are ready. I think the LBD is an awesome NSV for us ladies. I sure would like to see many more posts!!!

So last night was my first night back at work. It went well! I’m glad to be getting back into my routine. Here’s my first NSV! When I went to put my watch on it’s on a tighter loop! Woot woot! I have to say switching back to overnights has been rough on me and we are only going into day two. Yesterday was a liquid only day for me. I just couldn’t have imagined trying to do mindful eating and dealing with first day back things. It’s been wonderful reading other peoples experiences on this thread as well! I started it because for me there was such an unknown of what it was going to be like post hospital. I may not be an expert- but I’m going thru this day by day. Thank you for being with me on this journey! 💙