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I went to my absolute fave place to eat, Panera Bread, and I passed all the delish breads and pastries without even considering getting something. I ordered the chicken noodle and only drank the broth (I'm on my pre-op liquid diet) and got water instead of my signature iced green tea. This is a huge accomplishment for me, because I used to have a toasted cinnamon crunch bagel every morning after work with an iced green tea, of course. While I haven't been perfect on the pre-op diet, I did start back at the gym after 3 years of not doing a single thing. I lost 11 pounds the first week. Surgery on Tuesday!!!!'

I thought of this thread when I rolled over onto my back this morning and damn near broke the ceiling fan. NSV Sent from my mobile productivity killer.

Kids are so funny!! My little girl who is 6 was one of the main reasons why I decided I needed to do this. I also have a 2 1/2 yr old boy. But she said a couple months ago "Mommy you're fat". OMG I lost it. I started crying and and of course she got upset. Needless to say, Yes that was a slap in the face and a very hard pill to swallow... I'm looking foward to NSV.. Keep up the good work!!

Congratulations on all the awesome NSVs and I think the dress Looks beautiful and not "out of date" at all.... Enjoy it! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I have a lot of NSV's but my most memorable, my favorite is when I could see my collar bone!!!

Well.. As sometimes happens, I had this post all typed out and then I lost it. Ain’t that the pits? :-/ I could call these progress shots, or I could call these goal shots as I am 9 lbs away and I am so happy that I feel like I am already a success story, Even though occasionally I still see “Fat Heather” in the mirror, I see her less and less with every passing day. I am only a week and a half away from my surgiversary and I think these are the first “progress pics” I have posted. Let’s start with the stats. I started this journey: Weighing: 302.4 lbs Wearing: Size 24W pants, 2X shirts Waist: 50" I am currently: Weighing: 164.4 lbs Wearing: Size 10 pants, M shirts (I think with a tuck I could wear an 8) Waist: 25" I have lost 5 ft. total from my bust, waist, and hips alone. I still have a nice, ample 34DD bust and my waist is 25 inches. I am so proud of this, let me tell you. I also started married and am now divorced. Funny how that happens. Anyway, enough jabbering before the pictures, but after I will share some NSVs I posted in another thread so maybe stick around to read those? I guess I should start with those dreaded befores.. The first few in the dark bar are from either late July or early August of 2011 and the last is from September 2nd, 2011 with my sleeve sister on sleeve day. Before: Now for the afters (these are WAAAAY more fun!): August 20th, 2012 (164.4 lbs) August 4th, 2012 (Idk.. Maybe 170?) Father's Day 2012 (183 lbs!) About 25 lbs ago, I was carried around piggy back for the first time since childhood... All around my house. It was the most amazing feeling ever! 21 lbs ago, I got the courage to post the bathing suit picture 2 up on FACEBOOK!! I can shop for panties and bras at VS.. I think I look my age more now (26), I think. I wear my 4 and 5" heels with EASE!! I can sit on my BF's lap and not ever worry about hurting him. I have freaking defined collarbones! Not the scary kind, but defined and I love them. I fit into EVERY chair, usually with room to set my purse next to me.. This is sometimes not the case. I think by the time I hit goal and have my plastics, my measurements will be very, VERY close to 36-25-36. Men ask for my number in bars and clubs. I get carded more often. Doors are opened more often. I am 110% more confident at work. Well, (in the words of Forrest, Forrest Gump) That's all I have to say about that! Thank you for reading and viewing and (possibly) commenting. xxoo Heather (GemInTheRough, soon to be JustAGem)

Congrats! That's awesome!! A definite victory for you!!! My dinner tonight was @ Mexican with a girlfriend I haven't seems in months. I'm not sleeved yet (55 days to go!) but I've been trying to liquid diet as much as I can beforehand. I was so proud of myself: NO CHIPS even though they were on the table in front of me. I ordered chicken fajitas & was able to ignore the soft tortillas on the side. I grinned all the way home thinking that must have been my first NSV.

I agree with Spatters3, you are very brave! I gave up on the water parks years ago because I could not stand the feeling like I was going to have a heart attack just from climbing the stairs, let alone the weight limits! I cannot wait to read your NSV about conquering the water parks next summer! You will get there! You are doing great so far!

GOOD GIRL!!! kudos! that's a NSV to me!

Fabulous! I love these NSV'S! Bet you were on top of the world!

~claps~ so happy for you...and when ever I see a NSV i open that post first...I so love reading milestones everyone is celebrating .... GREAT JOB

So I am with my family at our favorite Mexican restaurant. I always now get 1 shredded chicken soft taco with grilled onions, peppers, and tomatoes..sans the cheese and lettuce. Only eat 1/4 of the tortilla and all of the meat and vegetables..way less than I used too and way more healthier..anyway..I digress... One of the gentlemen we see there often came over and said "Hola Skinny..I need to go do what you did..and rubs his belly". I turned around looking to see who he was talking to and he said " Yes ..I am talking to you!!" OMGoodness...skinny used in the same sentence as me? Shut up...don't get me wrong..I am nowhere near my goal..I have a lot more to go..but wow..it's working. I love my sleeve!

Great NSV! Best wishes on your future weight losses and NSV'S! I can guarantee there are more to come. Karen

Today i put on a shirt and for the first time in years all i saw was my chest! Not a belly sicking out past them! Awh * sigh* the little things that mean so much! ' FEELIN IT '

I ran an entire mile without stopping for the first time in 10 years. I am three months post opt, down 35 lbs and running again. I feel so blessed.

And I sat there, eating my ham slice and cheese stick, while my coworker ate one across from me. I had no feelings of envy, temptation, or mourning. I didn't even realize until I got home that I'd gone up against my major trigger food and won! It's a great NSV and a big step forward to getting a healthy relationship with food.

Tonight I completed my first Yoga class!!! 1 hour and 45 minutes of amazing energy, relaxation and stretching- I even "impressed" the instructior- She assumed I would not be flexible o limber but I am very (thanks to Zumba) and I am so proud of myself.....

Besides being embarrassed by not fitting in a roller coaster, I actually went car shopping and couldn't strap on a seat belt in one car and barely fit behind the wheel in another. TALK ABOUT EMBARRASSING. I feel your pain!! that said, I'm super jealous you got to take those rides. when I was a kid, I used to absolutely LOVE roller coasters! such an inspiration that you're still having nsv's 2 years later. that's so awesome!!

We all want to wake up skinny, take that magic pill..... But what fun would that be? We would miss out on all those NSVs that we love so much. Enjoy the ride, it's going to be hard with lots of ups and downs. When you do get to your goal weight you'll look back thinking boy that went fast.... Your husband gave you a wonderful compliment, believe it IT'S TRUE! You are working hard at this and people will notice. 21 lbs is a lot of weight. Be proud of yourself.

Well here I am, and I'm one month shy of 2 years post op. I'm STILL enjoying life and I'm STILL having NSV's this far out. I'm on top of the world and I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Just a little history so anyone can realize how big a deal this is... I was kicked off a roller coaster when I was about 20 years old because I was too fat to get the lock to latch. I've always been a thrill ride seeker and there are only but a few I won't dare get on (one being the Ferris Wheel if you can believe it, but that's another story entirely haha!!) Anyhow, all this time I'd never tried to get on another. I don't know if any of you have ever felt the humiliation of being kicked off a ride because you can't fit in it. I have, and it ain't a good feeling!! It was a busy day too, and just thank goodness all my friends happened to get on the train just before mine so I didn't have the embarrassement of people I knew to watch that happen to me. I never wanted to feel that again so I avoided roller coasters for a LOOOONG time until I knew for absolute sure I'd fit on any which one I chose to get on. Well, yesterday Hubby and I went to Discovery Kingdom here in California. It was such a fantastic day!! I fitted on every single roller coaster and ride I got on with LOTS of room to spare. My hubby even became worried as he said I was flying all over the place in them. I said yeah because I had so much extra room in it, but I was fine... haha I loved it!! Well everyone, I'm just here to tell you, if you keep working the magic of the sleeve, it will keep working it's magic for you. Many blessings!!

Congrats on your NSVs!!! In another note, I've always wanted to go to Knotts Berry Farn.

Forgot to mention the other NSV. My husband and I are going to get our marriage blessed and I fit into the dress I wore when we first got married 10 years ago. My daughter took one look at the dress and told me I needed a new one. Yes, this one is out of style and has crinoline under the skirt part, but it's symbolic to get back into that dress. Here's a pic from 10 years ago if I can figure out how to load it.

NSV Update ** I just wanted to let everyone know that I have gone a whole week WITHOUT using my wheelchair!!! I was having to use it after 7:30 - 8:00 pm but starting last week i decided it was time to take a stand... so as of last Monday ""no more wheelchair"" ... when i felt the nagging pains .... that use to make me get into my chair... I sat down on a chair or the couch for s few minutes... then got up and continued walking...I did have to buy some compression socks because of leg cramps... Next week, I will have my husband remove the motorized chair from the house... I gained weight (244 to 248) last week but I am to excited about not using the chair minutes, I don't care. Do you think maybe the weight gain is muscle?...((From all the walking))

Great NSV!! I've been doing a little shopping here and there. I was SHOCKED two weeks ago when I tried on an XL and it was too big. I had been in XXL for years. The XL almost draped off me. I went to a Lg. I haven't worn a plain Large since...junior high?! It feels GREAT!