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welcome Louise! I understand some of your pain. Please make a list of your NSVs, since not all victories are by the scale. I know that in our culture pounds are all that seem to matter, when really they are only part of the picture. Hopefully this analagy will explain why I think NSVs are so important. When we look at a picture, a line drawing we see the outline of the object. We see detail, but the image is flat and one dementional. Now contrast this picture with one that more complete, one with shading and conturs. The more detailed picture gives us better and more complete information, it is more interesting than the simple line drawing. I think the information about pounds provides is the line drawing, just one bit of the picuture. When we start adding information from our NSVs and our inches lost then we start to see a more complete picture, one rich with dimention and textures.

@fadstabora that is a win! Social situations can be a minefield. It must have felt really good to walk out of Wingers having made good choices@chiquitabananaz14 focus on little consistent steps...getting on the scale is up to you... don't feel defeated, you've reached out for support and it takes guts. Bravo! Not everyday is about the # on the scale we all have areas to work on to make ourselves stronger and more resilient...Just look at this thread...you started with honesty and openness and as a result we all found a place we can come for support and encouragement while we work towards our personal goals... your current choices have had a positive impact on others, that is an NSV if I've ever seen one!! Stay on your path:)

You are doing great work Vines: O Great Mother of the Turtles. Thanks for all the inspiration! I have been pretty faithful posting my NSV's...got some good ones once I started thinking about it. Thanks for that! The Fall Challenge has ended and I still need to post a pic but I can use the Before pic for my After pic, in true turtle fashion. I lost 6.4 pounds. Ah well. I did post "what I learned" on that thread and I'll copy/paste here, since you asked about mental breakthroughs... ________ Things I have learned this challenge: don't skip breakfast and drink coffee all morning. Eat lunch before noon...don't wait until 2pm. Eat several healthy snacks in the afternoon, at least every 2 hours after lunch: a yogurt, 1/2 banana w/ peanut butter, an apple, or some sliced deli turkey...it curbs my appetite at dinner and I don't scarf as much as possible. Eat a small dinner by 7pm and nothing else after. 'Cept coffee if I want, which I usually do. Search for 1200 calories as best I can, which is actually hard when I eat as listed above. WOW! I have been busy banding my brain and it's helping. I don't need a fill. My restriction is great...not too little, not too much. I need to choose better. I know I have lost a few more inches all over and I have been posting my NSV's too. All good stuff. ________ I have been thinking like my mother...OMGosh, say it isn't so!!!! She has always had some cute gem of diet advice along the road..."just eat a 1/2 a banana with about a tablespoon of peanut butter for a snack, it helps tide you over till dinner" blah blah blah. She never understood, and I never understood the kind of thinking it took to be able to follow good healthy eating advice. A half a banana??? Who the hell eats a HALF a Banana!!!!! Well, me! Now that I'm banded. So, there is hope. I'm doing this thing and I may be a turtle, but by golly, I'll get there!! Keep forging forward everyone!!! And Kozmic...you are NOT alone! You can't come here and say that. Nope. Not allowed. ((((hugs)))))

NSV stands for Non Scale Victory. (When something happens that isn't related to the scale, that tells you you've lost weight) I am a really slow loser too. It's maddening. It would seem that as little as I am eating now, the weight should be falling off, but it's not. Exercise makes a huge difference, but some days I just can't force myself to go.

I went thru a divorce and lost 75 pounds. Still heavy at 180 but felt awesome. Told myself I would never put that weight back on. Fast forward, remarried, happy, and the weight slowly crept back on. My breaking point was not when I could no longer wear my beautiful wedding and engagement rings, but when after over a year of not wearing them, my wonderful husband wanted to get them resized for me for Christmas. That was it. I was 230 pounds. I am now 220 and on preop liquids for surgery on 3/28 and doing something so I can lose it and never put it back on again. My first NSV is to put my rings back on!!!!!

So excited for you to reach your first nsv! I'm sure it will be here before you know it!

I guess I should post an update since I'm back from my trip and getting back into the swing of things. NSV- I had my wedding resized for a second time and it's now size 5 1/2. That's definitely smaller than it was when I got married. I think it was a 6. I know my ring size was at least an 8 before I had my surgery. So glad I have a warranty on the ring that gives me free resizing for life. I had a very nice visit with Jaime and StLouisGal. We met at a restaurant and had dinner and chatted. It's great to see others going through the same milestones and talk about our individual battles. Thanks, Ladies, for meeting up with me. You're both looking great! My weight is at a standstill. It doesn't look like I gained or lost much on my trip. It's good that I didn't gain. I behaved in a manner consistent with maintenance, I suppose. I've ordered a couple of books that I'm hoping will be here today. They are the Body for Life book and the Eating for Life cookbook. The recipes are what caught my attention. They are very similar to how I have been trying to eat. I think I will read through the books and see if I'm up to completing a 12 week challenge. Heaven knows I could use some toning and shaping. I hope everyone is having a good summer. I'm loving the evening thunderstorms and rainbows we've been seeing.

I'm here! I'm doing really well. I'm enjoying this fall weather and keeping crazy busy. I made a really awesome cake this week. I'll attach a picture of it. Ckktwallace, the situation you are in would really scare me. Do you have a specific plan for your eating and fitness in order to help you make good choices? Won't that be amazing when you are able to keep at your goal weight by your efforts? You can do it! Tap, Awesome NSV with the size 8 pants! Woo hoo! STLGal, that would drive me crazy to have my port at my beltline. Maybe you can just wear high-waisted pants? Anyway, I can imagine you just being grateful for your band at all at this point. Since starting the Body for Life stuff at the beginning of September I'm down 7-9 pounds. That is the most weight I have lost in a very long time. I need to be more careful on the eating part of the program. I wast stricter at first which is when most of that weight came off. Hope you have a great weekend.

Congrats on your NSV! Please post pics as proof!

I'm doing really well! I had my 6 week check up on Monday and everyone was extremely pleased with my progress. When I get down to my goal weight they might use me as a poster child, which they would show patients my before and after picture and I would speak to people just starting their journey. Sounds like an amazing experience to me. Eating and exercise I have done very well and I am starting to really feel like a normal human again, slowly though! I've had a ton of NSVs, which is the best feeling in the world!! Also, I'm visiting Florida in less than 2 weeks and I get to see my best friend for the first time in 2 years, he's going to be shocked when he sees me! How's everyone else doing? Not many posts on here lately. Hope everyone is doing awesome. Highest weight; 406 lbs Surgery date; 355 lbs 6 weeks out; 322 lbs.

Hey All, Haven't checked in in a while so I would pop in and say hi! All of you are doing incredibly amazing!! I had to change my profile pic to a before and after...and the after is from July...I have to update it again....but one of my most recent NSV/NSA was that I fit into a size 18 Calvin Klein dress for a wedding this past weekend!! When I first started my journey I was wearing a size 28! And I now have my very first piece of name brand clothing!! Never in my life did I think that this would happen for me. I still have about 60 pounds to go until I meet my goal, but since I am training for my very first half marathon in March of 2015, I'm hoping that it will melt right off. Keep it up wonderful ladies!! ~*Samantha*~

Wow what a transformation! Great work girl that makes sense about A for Advantage, lol I saw it and the first thing that came to my mind was "no strings attached " I'm a dork, it's ok. I do have a cool NSV to add: when I shave my armpits now it's more difficult because they're sunken in to my body now lol. I just have to shave them differently now I guess.

I struggle with what I see in the mirror a lot. Some days I feel huge, other days I pat myself on the back. It's very tricky, isn't it? To me, it's clear that you have lost a TON of weight. You are also very curvy. It may be a case of your eyes being drawn to some parts of your body and not others... Or looking at yourself in a vanity mirror versus a full-length one. My eyes never see the same "me" twice. The funny thing is that when I was 50 pounds heavier, I played the same games with myself. In the mirror I saw reasonably passable me some days, and "hippo" on other days. I just don't know what to make of it any more! You and I are the same size and wearing the same size pants, but I'm not nearly as curvy as you, so my butt looks flatter and my waist thicker. A few inches of height can make a huge difference as well, or where you carry your weight. Focus on the positive changes you see in your life. Check out this post: http://www.rnytalk.com/topic/9953-how-about-some-nsvs/ It keeps me motivated by not just looking at the numbers on the scales. And hang in there! We're all here with you!

Love this idea!!!!!NSVs are what it's all about!! Just went shopping! Shirt Before 2xl now xl Pant size Before 22 now 16 Bra Before 42ddd now 38ddd I also fit comfy in an airplane seat! Road behind someone on a motorcycle without dropping the back three inches! My office chair is way too big now! My coworkers refer to me as skinny! I'm trying to stay positive everyday. Lots to be thankful for.

The pain is almost completely gone. I'm thinking it was the 4WDing in waipio valley yesterday am. It was a rough ride & felt like it was gonna beat me to death! Notime-congrats on your NSV! Gaining back some independence was one of my goals as well. I hate asking for help! Lol

Very strange week. I'm down 8 lbs since the previous Thursday "thanks" to food poisoning from tasty, but bad seafood the weekend before T-giving. As of Sunday, I'm actually feeling normal but Thanksgiving goodies were not an issue. One great NSV, one of my nieces saw me and "as only a child can" said "Aunt Susie, You look great". That was truly the best part of my holiday. Still sick, but I look and feel SO much better than this time last year. Hope y'all's holidays are going well!!!!

I hate I missed the meeting. Oneder Woman, the speaker at the first meeting was kinda the same way. She said she still ate junk, just less of it and she didn't exercise either. That just goes to show how different we all are. I can't eat junk and lose. That's just not the way it works. And if I didn't exercise, I guarantee I would not be losing. Kinda sucks, but that's just the way it is for me. Thought I would share a small NSV with ya'll. Most of ya'll know I have been training for a 5k next month. I was beginning to wonder if I would be ready. Anyway, after being sick a few days and not running, I went to the YMCA today and ran. I ran for 30 minutes straight....about 2.3 miles! No way I could have done that without my band. Now I finally believe that I can be ready for the run! I finally feel like my hard work is beginning to pay off! Have a great weekend everyone!

Congrats on your NSV allykat! Those kinds of NSV's always make you feel good. I had a rough weekend too. I had diarrhea most of Friday morning. Then Saturday night I started getting chills and fever, then night sweats all night long. The fever would come and go. Sunday morning I had diarrhea again and also continued having chills and fever and sweats all day long. Thankfully I feel much better today, I'm guessing it was something viral. Anyway, looking forward to a better week.

I hate roller coasters, I get very sick, but I just rode the Manta at SeaWorld yesterday because it was my sons birthday weekend and he wanted to ride. Guess what? I kinda rode it because I COULD!!! I fit damnit and I was gonna ride, even if I puked afterwards!!! NSV Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I got this tattoo about 2 years ago. It has a lot of meaning to me since I lost my dad almost 3 years ago (July 26th). The butterfly has a lot of meaning and there is a story that goes along with it. It's just too long to tell here. I need to write it all down so I don't forget every detail. Anyway, my mom noticed my tattoo looked brighter and smaller, LOL! It is hard to tell from this picture, but it is!!! I got it on my neck because I was afraid when I lost that it would be distorted if I got it anywhere else on my body. So glad it still looks good. And actually I got it on my neck too because I have a birthmark (its red, the tattoo covers some and you can see it into my hair) and my dad had the same birthmark. The picture on the left was taken right when it was done, and the one on the right is from today. I count this as an NSV because my neck is starting to look more "normal"

Glad you have posted. Sometimes it does us good to get all the down feelings off our chests. I don't know to many people who would think 45 lbs was not a HUGE success. It is hard not to compare ourselves with other people. Especially when they are doing so good. I have down in the dumps moments too. For the most part, I stay focused on all the victories I have had. Many are the NSV! I've lost 40 lbs since my surgery and feel proud of those lbs. For me, I didn't have the drive to loose the weight on my own this time, so I got the band to help insure that I wouldn't see those lbs again. Do you have a decent level of restricion? If not go for a fill. I log what I eat daily on a different support board I belong to. I've joined a walker tracker program and am involved in a challege. All of these things are very positive for me. I could easily focus on the short fall of the band with the expectations I had, instead I choose to look at all the changes and postives that have come out of getting banded. For me feeling better and getting healthy is the key. I am not in a race. This WLS is known for a 1-2 lbs a week loss. Hang in there. Staying plugged into a good support group is key for me. I've been going in monthly for check ups at my surgeons office. I post and read on the OCC forum and cruise this one. Think about all the good that has come from being banded, I am sure your list is a long one!

So I had my surgery on August 6 on that day I weighed 302 lbs as of today 5 weeks later (or is it 6... Hmmm ) I weigh 276... Weight loss kinda slow but not getting my protein in like I should... But on a positive note for a NSV I started in a size 24/26 and today I put on a pair of 20s and they fit perfect! I put a 22 on the other day but wanted to see if I could fit in to any smaller sizes and a size 20 fit great! Anyone else with any NSV!

I am so impressed by everybody on here - October was obviously a good month for Sleevers! I've had a week of NSVs this week - just come back from skiing in Austria. Covered 300 miles in a week and had no problem keeping up with my ultra-fit dad and brother! Then went out for dinner with my new man on Saturday and had no problem squeezing through tiny gaps between tables! Mentally I am struggling a little bit though - I am down from 240lb to 154 and I know that within the next 20 or so pounds I am going to be having to start maintaining rather than still losing - and the thought terrifies me. Losing weight has been my life since October now and I think I will feel lost when I'm not losing anymore. Also, I still feel absolutely huge and I really can't see that in 20lb time I will be any happier with the size I am. Have an appointment with my surgeon and his team at the beginning of April so will mention it to them, but if any of you lovely people have any thoughts, they would be appreciated!

Well I got back to my fill clinic today, and once again they made hamburger out of my stomach--couldn't access the port. She got me in at the hospital in less than 10 minutes, and an MD came in and got me under fluoro. It was very cool to see a needle sticking in my port on the monitor for the first time. Didn't see my band. It took some time---guess the port is deep and I'm "fleshy" ::::gasp:::: but finally he got in and took out 1cc. I tell you I have never been so grateful in my life! I spent last night with soup broth coming up through my nose at 3am waking me up out of a sound sleep---soup I had eaten at 11pm. Water, fuhgedaboudit...I pb'd it. After the fill came out, I finally could swallow and feel the water trickle down. I went to eat and had a small turkey dinner. As long as I could eat very slow, tiny bites, and chew, I could get it down with no pain. It was amazing. I learned something, I believe this to be true, the pouch doesn't hold the food for 2-3 hours as I've read, the reduced stoma size only slows the food down. This may be true in my case, some say their pouch is full. My skull, neck, shoulders, temples, gut, ribs, intestines...you name it...are completely wracked out. I feel like I got run over by a truck. I felt sorry for myself but I'm getting over it. LOL I finally peed about 7:00 pm and it was dark orange. Sorry for the gorey details, but I know some of you will appreciate it. I must be the kind of person that has to whacked up the side of the head to finally get it. Big duh moment. I wanted lockdown, I got it....never again. My 3 new resolutions....I had some time today on the road to think about this, and I had my friend with me so I said this outloud. Paying pennance. LOL #1 get on my eliptical trainer every morning, no excuses #2 no more night time eating/testing...after dinner, nothing but herb tea #3 no more buying candy...I won't even go into the aisle My weight drop in the last few days...got into the 30's yay...is due to dehydration and not eating for 4 day, but someone said you never post gains, right, so I'm keeping it. Oh, I haven't been this weight in 18 years. I got my first real comment today.....that I was starting to look good. Not just losing. Looking GOOD. I got out a tub of summer clothes that I forgot about and all but about 3 tanks and 2 shirts (stretchy) are too big. That's my NSV. Another one I have is it's so much easier to turn over in bed. I love that! WTG Safari! You can do it. Think of me blurry eyed on my ET every morning....I'm with ya! Amy, kudos to you on your personal choice. One thing you can almost guarantee yourself is if you follow the rules, you won't put the 44# back on. Big, I'm so sorry about your aunt. Everyone else, keep going for it!

I don't get the squirrel picture posted by Stef. ("You are awesome if you get this picture"). BUT, I just LOVED the one (for Insub's NSV, I think) with Ricky Gervais that said "You are awesome!" He TOTALLY cracks me up! ~Toni