Search the Community

Hi Everyone, I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon today. I had written on the forums a little while ago asking advice for this horrible 4 week stall I have been on. For those of you who dont know me a little bit of background for you: I was sleeved January 25th, 2011. At my highest weight I weighed 304. I am only 5 ft 4. Today at almost 18 months post-op I weighed 173.5! 130 lbs gone forever! I have struggled throughout my journey but can honestly say that I have not one single regret! My blood work all came back perfect. Pre-op I had high cholesterol, I was on medicine for type II diabetes, I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 15 and hardly ever had a period. I also suffered from bad sleep apnea. At age 22, I was a wreck. Now I take no prescription medication, I have had a regular period AND ovulated every month for the past year. I have never felt so good. I was also cleared to try and become pregnant. Although my goal weight is 145# my surgeon told me that I was healthy enough to start trying now. This is a HUGE NSV for me! I have always wanted children and pre-op was told that my chances of having children was slim to none. I probably will not be having children for at least another year ( Im a nursing student and have enough on my plate!) but nevertheless this was wonderful news for me. Basically, I want to be an inspiration for others. Those who havent been sleeved yet, I know how nerve wrecking and hard it can be, as well as the flood of emotions you feel. You are making a huge commitment to your life. But I can promise you that you will not regret your decision. It takes a leap of faith and a great deal of courage to go through weight loss surgery but the benefits are neverending. To those that have already been sleeved, whether your 2 days post-op or 2 years post-op I encourage you to enjoy your journey. Be patient and take it one day at a time. I have been notorious for getting bent out of shape when the scale isnt moving the way I want it. It is important to enjoy yourself at every weight and enjoy watching yourself become a healthier, happier you. This website is full of such wonderful people with a plethora of great knowledge. I feel blessed to be a part of such a great community. Good luck to all of you! "The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."

I went shopping today for a skirt. Bought 3. I got to the register and one of the price tags were missing. The cashier said she had to get another one and showed me. She said not to worry cause it was a regular not a plus size. Cause as she pointed out to me plus sizes cost more(duh). She was explaining it to me like i wouldn't know and never bought plus size. Amazing Wendy

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!

Congrats!! What a great way to reward yourself for your nsv

Its fun, isn't i!!NSv's are the best!

I had a friend take measurements and photos at the end of January. She came over again last night and did the next month's set, even though I'm preop (surgery is Thursday). I wasn't expecting much, but I was surprised to learn that I've lost 1.25" each off my waist and hips, and .75" on each thigh. Today I have on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear in quite a while. I've been jeans-less, because the next larger ones I have have been huge on me for a couple months now. Yay! Jeans!

This is one of the hardest any of us will ever do. However, this has been the most rewarding for myself. There are times when I find myself worried that I'm in a stall, but after reading stuff from other members of our BIG LOSER's ClUB, I have decided to just go through the process and enjoy each new day. Today and the past few days I have had some NSV's (non surgery victories) like being able to bend down and tie my shoes and a tremendous burst of energy. Loving it. Even if I'm thinking about being in a stall, I get so into trying to trigger weight loss that I wasn't enjoying today. So, today I am choosing to trust that my weight will come off. Love it.....

I know how exciting that must have felt! I have some Ferragamo's I bought BC (before children), which I still have saved & wrapped in tissue paper in the box that I hope to get back into someday. My feet are puffy but hopefully with WLS, they'll fit again one day. If not, I'm requesting they go with me in my coffin someday! Enjoy your NSV!

38 pounds down and 8 Weeks out I rocked three inch heels all night at a bridal party!

Congratulations to your NSV's!! and your scale victories, too!

You know, NSV's don't happen to often for me anymore. Of course, last summer was my first swimsuit purchase and wearing in 20 years, and now here I am 5 months pregnant, rocking the bump, rocking the wrinkly thigh skin, and you know what I could give 2 poops what anyone else thinks of me. I've gained a whopping 10lbs with the pregnancy, and it's all belly. My butt is getting a little rounder, but really, I'm so grateful to be able to live the life I have today ! ! ! I can't count how many messages I receive about loose, wrinkly skin ! ! ! My answer is always the same " YEP, I got it, and you know what , I wouldn't change it for the back fat, and looking like can of Grand's biscuits busting at the seam! ! !" Honestly, who gives a **** about excess skin, and wrinklyness when you aren't slowly dying from obesity. I'm just as vain as the next woman, but let's be realistic, My boobs are deflated, my thighs look like I got beat with a bag of nickels, but I'm healthy, growing another human, and I feel amazing ! ! ! For all of those out there wondering if you should have the sleeve, or what your body is going to look like after surgery, it's a concern, I get it, but it's either live with some loose, wrinkly, flabby skin, or end up in a wooden box from obesity related diseases and conditions. Yeah I live here, it rocks ! ! ! Ohhhhhhh and the big bump ! ! ! I might look like a beached whale to everyone else, but who the hell cares ! ! ! I'm pregnant, wearing a medium regular swimsuit with bikini bottoms ! ! ! NOT a maternity suit either. . . So, ya know what, I'll enjoy every minute of it. I do have to cover up somewhat due to risk of melanoma and must use 50-70 SPF sunscreen so yeah I wear a little netting cover up because I've been picked and prodded so much for skin cancer, and have had more moles removed and sent for path reports than I care to count! ! !

Hope that is a really wonderful NSV!! Congrats lady you are doing so great!!!

@@Terribj great accomplishment !!! we all love those NSV's clothes shopping et al nothing special with me except i'm continueing to enjoy goal happy as a clam life is good guesss that's a pretty neat/special thing poor Lane Bryant their loss is also YOUR loss 33 lbs down you are aces!! keep up the good work!!! kathy congrats

Yay! I sent my before/after pictures to Nina, and she asked if they could feature them on Dr. Aceves' website. Pretty flattered - definitely an NSV!

Mine just happened today... I finally got to exercising and did the treadmill for over and hour today...AND did 100 crunches. Just so psyched that I got myself to do it!

Better still karina...don't focus on the numbers. Focus on the NSVs. They are infinitely more satisfying than a number on a scale.

I made it to the top of a mountain trail today, 3.2 miles to top and back. Approximately 1,500 feet in elevation. I had to stop 5 times just to rest on occasion but I made it. The last time I did this was 24 years ago. Last summer I wrote down why I wanted to lose weight and being able to hike to the top of this trail was one of those goals.

This is an odd NSV, but I was putting on my jeans this morning, and I was checking that my belt was looped through all of the belt loops correctly. I didn't realize it until after the fact, but today was the first time I didn't have to lift up a layer of flab to accomplish this! I was able to just look down at my belt, you know, all normal-like! That was a bit of a "holy cow!" moment. It's a really pleasant feeling to not have to be constantly lifting up layers of flab to see stuff "south of the equator."

He, this reminds of my "I can see my a$$" NSV (just less vulgar of course) - LOL

NSV= Non Scale Victory!

Hi Everyone! My 6 month surgiversary was on October 27th! I wanted to really think about what I was going to write up because you all have been such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration and support that I don’t know how I could have gotten where I am today without each and every one of you. I feel like I know all of you personally LOL. My hubby actually said "You act like these people are your close personal friends." one day when I was talking about somebody’s struggle and how I felt for her. Truth be told, this is such a personal journey that without all of you it would be so hard to do, I feel like I'm not alone and that is an awesome feeling. I am 15lbs away from my weight goal. HOLY COW! It is almost surreal to me to be this close. I don't think I have weighed 155 since I was about 11 or 12, maybe younger. I still get caught up in the whole why am I losing so slowly etc etc. In the beginning I would compare my weight loss with everyone else’s. Not a healthy thing to do, but we all do it, even though we know that everyone’s body loses differently. I will get there when I get there, but be sure I will get there. My body seems to like hanging out in ranges for about 2-3 months at a time. I was in the 180-189 for almost 3 months up and down, up and down, then one day bam, 179. Now I am in between 170-176 for the last 2 months. I've only hit the 170 mark 2x but hey I hit it! I haven't hit 177-179 for a month so that seems to be gone forever now J. I think somewhere within the next 2 weeks or so I'll hit 169. It’s how my body likes to lose so hell I'll do it how it likes it. Do I have a choice? hahaha, um nope. Here is my journey in NSV’s stats to date: Co-Morbidities: T2 Diabetes in remission A1C from 11.5 to 5.5 at last blood work. Blood Pressure from 180/90-100 to normal with one pill a day now. Tryglicerides from the 1000's to 450 without medication now only taking 2 pills a day for this. Cholesterol 236 from around 400. Pills: from 20 a day to 3 a day Energy level: from 0 to 10 LOL Last Summer I could barely walk to the store, less than 1/2 a mile away without getting winded and feeling like I was going to collapse. Today I can walk several miles, 7 being my top so far, without missing a beat. I can do an hour of hard core kickboxing and power lifting classes and think “That’s all?” at the end of the class J. Clothes: Dress pants from a tight size 18 (probably should have bought the 20's but I just couldn't do it) to 8-10. Jeans from size 18 to size 6, 11 juniors. Dress shirts 2XL to L. Casual shirts 1XL/2XL to L. Dresses from 20 to 10. Winter Coat: 18 to 8 (just bought it today!!!). Shoes from tight 10 -10 ½ (rare finds on that) to a comfy size 10 and some 9 ½’s. So thank you all for everything you have given me. Yes, I have the support of my family and most of my friends, but they don’t “know” what I am going through and don’t understand like you guys do. This would have been a lot tougher without all of your support and friendships.

Sorry is that 13 weeks!! If so wow!! Great job!! I can't wait to come off my BP and cholesterol meds!! I'm 3 weeks post op and haven't seen WL since the first few days post op. Great work and keep sharing the NSV. I know so many like me are inspired to keep working towards our goals!

I have been so busy with life that I haven't made the time to get on this forum for a long time. I'm down 94 pounds now and I'm loving it. I've recently had some more trouble with my stomach and GERD, but its just something I will have to deal with. Now for the NSV part...I put in a pair of my husbands jeans last night and they fit me! I have no idea why I tried them on-I'm not going to wear them-I just had the silly curiosity to see if they fit lol. Going from a snug size 22 to being able to fit into a mans size 32 jeans is amazing to me. This sleeve has been a life saver and its worth all of the trouble in the beginning to get to things like this!

These are some of the Abbreviations commonly used on this site. ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AGB = Adjustable gastric banding AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) BB = belly button bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliary Pancreatic Diversion bs = blood sugar btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray DDD = degenerative disc disease Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine MFP = my fitness pal msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist OA = Overeaters Anonymous omw = on my way Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PB = Productive Burps PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome POSE = Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RH = reactive hypoglycemia RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y RTD = ready to drink RYGB = Roux-en-Y gastric bypass SADI-S = single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy s/f or sf = sugar free SG = Sleeve gastrectomy SIPS = stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SO = significant other SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck TTC = trying to conceive Ty = Thank you. [but according to the urban dictionary “Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] u = You UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = Vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight

Congrats! Quick question - what does NSV stand for?