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@ Justine13: Well they go up to a 3X so I'm hoping I can realistically be in a 1X-2X by November. That would be at least a 50 lbs total weight loss for me. I have a lot to lose. I have my "skinny" clothes on hand in the house and I don't foresee buying anything new except bras, underwear and pants as the weight comes off. I have a whole stable of black pants and leggings on hand, but none have belt loops or zippers.They truly are my "big girl" pants with the elastic waist. I just can't wait to feel comfortable in my own skin. Just comfortable being able to cross my legs like a lady, wear a mini-skirt on "date night," sit comfortably at a booth in a restaurant, not have to request a seat belt extender on the plane, and sit Indian style on the floor w/o effort. Little rewards like that, I want to experience. I think the lingo on the forum is NSV (non scale victory). I think I got it right?....LOL. I just look forward to what I will be able to accomplish with this new tool (The Sleeve) to help me with my weight loss and health. Sigh...Lots of work to do!

What a great dialogue this thread stimulated! A myriad of things come to mind when I think about my ongoing weight loss journey. Tonight I am going to the Hollywood Bowl for a summer concert under the stars, to see Smokey Robinson. I am looking forward to the music of course, and hanging out with my girlfriends - but I am also looking forward to being able to walk that hill without feeling like I am going to pass out. Last year, I went to the same concert with some friends, and I used to huff and puff up the little hill that takes you into the venue site - I would always ask to stop at the restrooms at the mid-way point, even if I didn't have to use the restroom - I just needed to catch my breath! I would then get a few paper towels and moisten them to be able to cool myself off by the time we would get to our box seats. You know how it is or used to be, when you would stop walking - the heat in your body would just build up...and sweating was soon to follow. I can easily walk for miles now and I am nearly 75 pounds lighter than last summer...this is a milestone in my journey - oh how I used to wish I didn't have to go through the shame of being so overweight and out of shape! Well this is my little victory walk tonight! That's a NSV (non scale victory)! I was also thinking about the mechanics of the post-op hormonal changes that take place, one the decrease of the hormone ghrelin, but also what I think may be a change in our natural reward centers revolving around the eating process and the release of dopamine and serotonin - our natural feel good chemicals, many of which are released during the eating process. The process of eating pre-op without limitation offerred us more than the reward of just getting full, the "feel good" hormones were soon to follow, and that reward kept us coming back over and over. Feeling bad, lonely, frustrated....bring on the food. Feeling joyful, elated, excited...bring on the food. What I have noticed without the food binge opportunity, is that my reward isn't the same, whether it is because we are comsuming so much less, or whether the balance of hormones has changed, it is different. I think this is why so many say that eating is more of a chore than a pleasure. Also, once you experience a negative side effect of eating something you cannot tolerate, it sends the body a powerful aversion to that behavior which is held in our memory bank. This stuff is all probably instinctive, to prevent humans from consuming things that were toxic. But, hey...it works! The other side of this is that "feel good" hormones are coming from different strategies for me now. Feeling like I have a "can do" attitude makes me soar. Feeling good in my clothes is a secret little joy. Having control over my eating makes me proud of myself. I still enjoy cooking and I still enjoy food - I mean we need it to survive...but I don't turn to it first to make me HAPPY anymore. I get out more, I can do more physically, and I just keep feeling better and better about this decision I made ! Good luck DeterminedGirl !!

Outstanding!!!! You are on a roll... Err, umm I mean walk:)keep it up. You're turning this NSV into an NSV V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V

Great NSV, I too have bought things, wore once and found next time too big!!Great for the ego, no the pocket book!

TJMom, I think you're doing great!! I keep saying I couldn't walk before surgery because I couldn't go from my front door to my car without being out of breath, but you're blowing me out of the water!!! Every day you are getting a little stronger and one day you'll be posting that you "couldn't walk before surgery" and that you're now using that wheelchair to grow flowers in the back 40! Great NSV! I hope you'll keep us updated on your progress. I wonder how you could track the lessening need for the wheelchair on a ticker?

Sounds like everyone is doing well as usual! Erica, that's a bummer that somebody blabbed at work... I haven't told anyone except a relative at my workplace either, but I have a feeling some may know because no one ever asks me about my current eating habits and they always used to on every diet (many!) that I've been on. That's one of the reasons I didn't tell people, because I can't stand it when people ask for updates (how much have you lost? How much do plan to lose? Etc). It could be that they are just not that interested anymore, but either way, I've decided that I won't make it an issue anymore. Glad you're taking the "super-model" approach! Kymie, thanks for the info link ... And Amica, for the recipe. Crissylu and JustDoIt, you guys are my role models and so inspirational! Nicole, congrats to you on some revved up positive attitude, you'll do great, and Meredith, great NSV. Last time I posted I was having irritation when I swallowed food. I guess I was overreacting, because it went away after a couple of days eating soft foods and has been OK since. I went for my fill on Wednesday and even though I've only lost 4 pounds in the 2 months since my last fill, the doc gave me a .2 cc fill and said I was doing quite well, slow and steady. He asked how long did I feel "something" after the last fill and I told him for about a month and he said I was probably getting very close to where I needed to be, and that very small amounts make a big difference at this stage. Anyway, I totally forgot to ask how much I have in my band at this point!! I think it's like 3.5 or something. My goal to the end of the month is to crank up the water, get in more exercise, eat only "healthy" choices as well as small portions, and to rev up this weight loss! Cheers to all of you, love reading your posts.

Isnt it great!! I flew for work yesterday for the first time since actually feeling small...was surprised at how the seatbelt went on. Even flying home in that horrible middle seat (cause we were late to flights) was not uncomfortable, no squeezing my arms in trying to remain in the space, my arms all fit within the seat. I love to travel so these are the funnest NSV's!!1

Very Nice NSV!!! Congrats on your sleeve and congrats on no longer being winded. LOL....

Love it!! It's so amazing how these little things can go unnoticed until all of a sudden you're like holy crap? That's something I've never done?! I have to climb a long flight of stairs to get to my office at work and 8 months ago I would be sweating ad soooooo out of breath by the time I got up there. Now it's a breeze and I'm not out of breath. I'm loving all my little nsv's. I love hearing everyone's.

Last night I had errands to run after work, between that and rainstorms, I ran too late to go to the gym. By the time I got home, I was CRANKY. I grumped around the house, put on my workout clothes, decided against the Wii because I would have had to move the sofa with husband attached to it, tried the mini trampoline that made my back hurt, and finally grabbed a dog leash and dog and went for a brisk walk in the drizzle. Did about a 2.5 mile walk around the neighborhood and tried to let my mind clear a little. On the way back up the street, I had an epiphany. I just walked over two miles at a fast pace, and I was not sweating, gasping, limping or being dragged by my dog. It blew my mind a little. In mid-February I had to be wheeled through airports because of my back injury, weight and general bad condition. Oh. My. Freaking. Gosh. Needless to say, my bad mood disappeared instantly. I love Me 2.0, and can't wait to see what the next upgrade will bring!

I Was told yesterday by a co worker that I was dwindling away!! I just smiled and said "and I'm ok with that" ???ƒ

Erica...I would feel betrayed too. No one in management is supposed to reveal that kind of information about you to anyone. However, I agree with Nicki...I wouldn't make a big fuss about it as it will just blow up. Work it girl...and then be a model (a super model!) of why you did it. Meredith...great NSV!!! I think I'm really close to a 16...or a 16W anyway. All my skirts and pants are too big. I don't know what I'm going to do! LOL. Nicki...doing okay. Still haven't moved but I haven't gone up either. I'm doing more liquids and mushies than anything else. Today is a rest day from exercise...though I might decide to get out on my bike this evening. I just did not feel like getting out of bed for that 2 mile walk this morning. LOL. Plus...I think I'm somewhat constipated (I know...TMI)...so I feel like when things "get moving" there, I'll see a change in the scale. Just trying to keep drinking water and not get dehydrated...its so HOT and HUMID in Nashville! ugh! I'm not doing great with logging my food. I MUST get back into that habit. In fact...I'm going to do that now. Have a great day everyone!

About a week for me... And as long as you brought this up, I can share up a very private little NSV! Last night, the first time in about 9 years, I could see over my belly enough to watch. woo woo!! :-) hehehe... It was like my own little porn movie!

okay guys, not the most flattering pic because I was concentrating, but this is a very basic Acro Yoga pose. The bottom is a "base" and the top is a "flyer". I had based many time, and sorta flew, but that day, evan if it doesn't show it, I took my hands away and completed the posture. I held it for about a minute, supported by her feet on my pelvic bones. This is a NSV all its own. I can’t buy this. I can’t “afford” surgery for this. I didn’t get this because of anything other than my persistence. The classes are at Blue Tree Yoga in Houston, and they are donation. So you can’t not “afford” it…I did it…it just keeps going in my mind like that. “I did it”. For the first time, I think, I feel very deep down like there is no going back. :’)

Thank you so much for sharing this fabulous Nsv!! I'm so impressed with your determination!! Keep up the GREAT work!!!

got to love them NSVs !!!!

That is the best NSV ever!!! So happy for you!! And thank you for sharing hope.

Congrats! Now that is a tangible NSV! I look forward to seeing your post when you finally donate the chair to a charity because you no longer need it

My husband calls me from work yesterday and says, "I thought I would tell you that Bill ( husband's best friend) was at the grocery store the other day and he thinks he saw you wanted to say hi, but wasn't sure it was you...how much weight has she lost? She was unrecognizable." Ok it has been one year since he has seen me. Made my day and I guess I'm realizing that I have changed my body! ( his sister is heavy he is kind about the weight issues)

Congratulations ! Great NSV's thank you for sharing !!

Congratulations ! Great NSV's thank you for sharing !!

Just think of it like this, if you're following your dr's plan, there's no way you can't lose. With the calories alone it makes it impossible. Add exercise to it, it the recipe for success. You guys got this. And weight is just a number, it's the NSVs (non scale victories) that mean the most. Smaller pants, shirt, and someone noticing that hasn't seen you in a while that says how great you look.

Welcome to the forum, it is a great way to learn and get support even for the NSV's God Bless Lassie

Hey welcome. If your shoes are untied, one of the nsv will be that you are able to do it yourself. nsv means non scale victory. When I got the surgery my hubby was so supportive. He also lost 30 lbs.along with me..So will your wife...best of luck.

Hi Gals, I'll get back to you all after I catch up on your recent posts. I had a nice NSV moment today. We go off road jeep riding in the fall with about 100 others' up in the Catskills. I always admired other women wearing Columbia hiking shorts and convertible shorts/pants but could never get them in my size. Besides if I could get them in my size, they certainly wouldn't look good like the much thinner gals. :-( I decided to go shopping in a normal store today and went to the Premium Outlets near by. I passed Lane Bryant and Dress Barn and never looked twice before heading to the Columbia store. Not only did I get two pr of khaki hiking shorts, $16@ on major sale, but also bought a pr of convertible hiking shorts/pants in size 16 khaki's which are still snug but know they'll fit by the end of Sept when we go to the Catskills. And, they were only $29.00 on sale. So, now that's my incentive to get my ass and my side hams in gear and get moving and thin them out some more. Those pants are not made to 'give' and look so much better with less meat on the thighs. :-) Can't wait to wear them!