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I have a NSV to report. Today I went into Marshalls and bought a size L top and size 16 jeans (from the misses section). Neither one was from the plus size department! I realize that I can still buy plus size clothes or squeeze into "normal" clothes. I was thinking of looking in the plus section. But then I thought to myself, I never want to wear plus size clothes again. It feels so good to realize how I took my body from a 2x top and 26 bottom to L top and 16 bottom. :embaressed_smile:

That has to be one of the best NSV I have seen, very happy for you. Congratulations!!

I always used to wear a lot of rings in my younger days , but my fingers got to fat and couldn't wear them anymore,so the last few months ,when i go out I put on my rings, well me a some girlsfriends went out friday night and i was talking with my hands and one of my rings just flew off( i found it thank God).Now I can't wear them b/c too small.Was wearing it on my middle finger also. lol So I thought that was a kewl nsv Keep up the good work everyone

My NSV is that I can once again wear a jacket that hasn't come close to fitting me in 3 years. I am also celebrating that scale is moving again.

Suggestions: Start a food diary, you may be surprised at how everything adds up. Even when we are eating healthy we can occasionally throughout the day snack on a bite here and there and those calories add up. Exercise- you need to make sure when exercising that you are reaching your target heart rate for your age and weight. You can goggle this and find out how to calculate. Take your measurements, when losing weight you sometimes will have NSV. Taking your measurements will help you not to become frustrated. When we do start losing our bodies have to adjust to every drop in weight, Protein, you need to be eating at least 60-70gms of protein a day. Your meals should consist of no more than a one cup volume serving at a time. Meals, they tell us to only eat 3 meals a day and we should not be hungry for 3-4 hours between meals. I have found that it is difficult to get the calories and amount of protein needed to lose weight almost impossible for me by eating only 3 meals a day with out planned Snacks, My snacks are complex carbohydrates like a banana and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter. Time for eating, also as important as your food choices are where you eat and how much time you spend eating. You should be eating for 15 to 20 minutes and than stop, it you can clean your plate in 10 minutes your band is to lose, if it takes you longer than 20-30 minutes to eat your food your band is to tight. Do you always clean your plate and are you satisfied after eating? How long do you stay satisfied and when do you feel like you need to eat again, is it because you are hungry or is your head telling you to eat. When you say that you think the problem may be that the band is not full enough, what do you mean? The band will never prevent you from eating certain foods, now it may make it more difficult to eat certain foods but honestly the easiest food for a lap band person to eat is junk. The reason junk is easier to eat is that it requires little chewing. You are only 4 months post op and I know you want to hurry up and lose your weight but it takes time, go back to your doctor, talk to a nutritionist and really exam what you are eating. Good luck!

So, I am at about 6-7 weeks out from surgery. I have lost about 50% of what I want to lose. I'm overall feeling better physically--or at least I was. For the past week and a half I have been getting very faint when I stand up and it lasts a couple of minutes. Also, all of a sudden going up stairs has become as difficult as it was before I had surgery. I don't get out of breath, my legs just feel like Iron. I have been on blood pressure meds for about 10 years now. I take Lisinopril HCTZ and Metoprolol once a day. My bp has been on average around 130/80 WITH the meds. So I decided to go to my PCP today to tell him about the lethargy and lightheadedness. He took my blood pressure and it was 95/60. WOW. No wonder I have felt like crap. The good news is that we are going to start dropping the doses as long as my bp stays in the normal range. So YAY!!!! And also I don't feel like such a lazy slug as there is a physical reason why I have just been laying around except when I'm at work. This whole journey has been so fascinating. I'm discovering something new about myself every day. And finally--for the first time in probably 15-20 years--I feel girly and I'm loving it!!!! Lisa

Shoot! I can't do Thursdays for several weeks - my husband teaches at night and I don't think my 6-year-old would be too interested! i will definitely come in the future, when this quarter is over for my husband. Again, congrats on your NSV!!

You look great. Keep up the good work. I have had my husband hide the scale on me as I have entered week #3 of my first plateau and I was obsessed with the scale. He told me it was gone for a week so I didn't get frustrated and turn to food. Keep focused on your NSV and you will do great.

Dawn, that is soooo great on so many fronts!! What a NSV day!! Soo thrilled for you!

Just got on the airplane (after an 8 hour delay) ...anyway.... I have on my seatbelt without an extender!!! I could cry eight now!! I've ALWAYS had to use an extender since I started flying 18 years ago!!

This is a list of some of the Abbreviations used on the Bariatric Pal website: ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament 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 Biliopancreatic Diversion (Scopinaro procedure) 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 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 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 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 RTD = ready to drink RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y s/f or sf = sugar free smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck 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 or :-) = ☺ = smiley face or :-( = ☹ = sad face

That's amazing. Such a great accomplishment. I did my first half marathon October 9th in Long Beach CA in 2 hours 25 minutes. I felt so proud and that was my greatest NSV since have been sleeved (01-17-11). Are u thinking of doing a full marathon?

I have been doing yoga for about 20 years, and finally started in a studio after surgery. I start working there SUNDAY! if all goes well, and I decide I like it, I will begin Yoga Instructor training in the summer. Cannot sit still. So excited! :D

NSV - (non scale victory) for the first time in I can't even remember how many years - I was able to trim my own toe nails, with a regular toe nail trimmer. Sounds silly, but made me feel great. Had been paying the doc to do it.

Last night, my husband and I went out. I dressed in a shortish dress with my hair french-braided and cute shoes and I felt so good about how I looked. But that's not the NSV... We were out sort of late. This morning, I heard the dogs and thought I'd let my husband sleep in so I quietly got up and grabbed my jeans and t-shirt off the chair and snuck into the bathroom to get dressed. When I put on the jeans and buttoned/zipped them, they were tight. I was all "WTF?" because my jeans have been pretty loose - I need to wear a belt with most of them. So I was surprised that the jeans were tight. I looked in the bathroom mirror and sort of turned a little and noticed that the back pocket had a faded square that was perfectly the shape of a wallet. I HAD PUT ON MY HUSBAND'S JEANS BY MISTAKE! And they fit! Oh, they were a little tight but I could wear them!! What an awesome feeling. I had a bit of a whoosh these past few days, so I'm down to 215.5.

Lol no just regular applesauce unsweetened of course. I eat it with a baby spoon. I’ve had growling but didn’t know actually what it meant. I’ve had sharp pains too when i drink something really cold. I haven’t bought a scale to see how much I’ve lost so far since surgery date, but i have had some NSV. My watch i got for my bday was tight and i can put a finger underneath... my class ring is spinning around my finger now. I guess I’ll go get a scale after my 2 week appointment next Friday

FANTASTIC JOB!! WHAT A GREAT NSV! I tried the elliptical once. Failed miserably. You are a trooper, both of you!

Sounds like you are doing fantastically well and are living your best life, which is all any of us really want when we have WLS. Huge congrats to you! By FAR my biggest NSV was completing a full marathon in September. Me! An obese person who never even ran a mile straight in her whole life until into her 30's! I ran 26.2 miles! You guys, can you even wrap your brains around that?

It seems to be that there are lots of people going through stalls right now !! If you are going through a stall or pre op PLEASE read the following wonderful post from Inner Surfer Girl in 2015, who sums it all up perfectly: It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall? I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea. Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds. For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response: What can you do to "break" a stall? 1) STAY OFF THE SCALE Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale. 2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck. 3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do. If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall). 4) EXERCISE If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle. 5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall). 6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics. 7) JOURNAL One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil. -- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general. -- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place. -- Write about what life was like before surgery. -- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future. -- Write about your fears. -- Write about your NSVs. -- Make a gratitude list. -- Make a bucket list. -- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self. Just write. 8) SEEK HELP Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous. The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them. The last, and most important thing you can DO is: 9) EMBRACE THE STALL Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process. Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines. Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss. If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

I am now 7 weeks 2 days postop. Before surgery I had a mini goal in mind: I wanted to lose the weight of my granddaughter. At the time she weighed 45 pounds (she's 6). I did not give myself a time limit because,, frankly, I was not sure how fast or slow the weight would come off this time. After the dreaded "three week stall," which, appropriately, lasted almost 3 weeks, I was not sure I would EVER reach this goal. I was wrong. I am now 45 pounds down. WOOT! Unfortunately, my granddaughter hit a growth spurt these past few months and she now weighs 49 pounds. Still, MY goal has been reached. I expect to lose another 4 pounds in the next week or 2 so then I will feel another small victory. Next actual mini goal: I want to weigh less than my husband, who is 220 pounds. I am within 5 pounds of what I weighed when we got married 10 years ago, so YAY! All these NSVs are what is keeping me motivated right now, and that is a wonderful feeling. Success is not always measured by the scale but for those times that it is, I am a happy loser!

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!

Hi, I made rules when I was learning to eat again. One of them was never to go back for seconds. That was what got me in to trouble in the first place. I suggest that you don't go back for seconds - ever. Are you eating slowly? Thoroughly chew your food and take your time. As for craving the bad stuff - well in my case that was never done. I just made the decision not to eat certain foods - bread, chocolate etc. If you must eat, eat fruit - I eat apples and bananas. They are much healthier. Take fruit to work with you. Also, get rid of the bad foods from the house - stick them in the bin. I eat the same food as everyone else here, no special diets or calorie counting. I just use portion control. The most important message is that you are not a failure! It's common to have setbacks, the trick is how you overcome them. See your weight loss in perspective to the rest of your life. It's important that you try to enjoy your weight loss. Have you had any NSVs? I had two operations because the tube between port and band became detached. My second operation resited the port and replaced the tube.

That's a great NSV, Jaime! I was amazed when I learned I could cross my legs too. It's been a few years!

Sounds like one fantastic NSV to me!!!!!!!!

Tutornmom~ That is a great NSV! I hear ya on losing and regaining the same 15lbs over and over. Isn't it nice to be on a road that will help us with permanent loss! Michelle~ Thanks! I am also hoping that it sticks! Crossing my fingers and praying! It would be nice to lose a few more pounds.