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I ditto what Lissa stated! You are not done losing weight, in fact, you have just begun! I can't wait for you to experience putting on your slacks in the AM and by mid afternoon, suddenly, they're baggy! Such an awesome NSV! Hang in there, it will happen over night.

I love these NSV's! CONGRATS to your new found confidence!

The last time I took my Lisinopril and HCTZ was Tuesday (the day prior to surgery). Post-op in the hospital every time they took my blood pressure, it was respectable and very close to normal. I had asked if they were giving me my blood pressure meds and they said no - they hadn't given me anything because my vitals were strong. Say what??! So, being a bit overly cautious with my new gogo gadget toy tummy, I talked to my general MD today who asked me to come in ... and ... *drum roll!!* she took me completely off all my blood pressure meds!! Here I am 2 days post-op and already kicking meds !!! The only requirement she gave me was to check my BP a couple times a day and if it goes up then to only take 1/2 tablet. I'm so excited to see that happen so quickly!!

Thanks for all the replies ladies! I guess we are all different, but... I guess my calves aren't too fat after all! Can we say NSV??

I was in a training class for three days this week. At the first, we had to write some things down about ourselves to use in the "icebreaker" "get to know each other" time of the class. Once of the questions I had to answer was "what is your favorite food"? This stopped me cold. I really had a hard time answering the question. Before surgery, I could have answered this is a nanosecond. Now, I really had to think about it - and the foods I thought about writing down were totally different. Post Surgery A fresh, raw snap pea - nice and cold - and one that is full in its shell. A perfectly grilled scalllop or two Broiled salmon over a green salad Sauteed mushrooms Garden ripe tomatoe Moo Goo Gai Pan Crab Cakes Baked Sweet Potatoe Pre Surgery Brownies Ice Cream Chocolate Cake Lasagne Pasta Primavera Barbequed Ribs Moo Goo Gai Pan Scalloped Potatoes This might be the best NSV ever. My tastes have changed and my portion sizes are radically different. Love my sleeve!

IT has been 8 years since I was able to shop in the non plus size of any store and today I went shopping for the first time since my sleeve surgery and almost 50 pounds later I can easily put on size 12 jeans in American Eagle! I am soooo grateful for this sleeve and for this forum, the support that is out here is amazing!!! Happy Friday!!

This is great! I need to make my own...lets see -Cross my legs like a normal woman -Be able to walk more then a block with out being winded -Subway steps. My enemy. Be able to climb them with out feeling like I'm going to dye -Ride a roller coaster comfortably. I have a fear of heighs and would probably hate them even if I was never fat, BUT I want to be able to do it- would be a huge NSV for me! -Buy clothes at Victoria's Secret, Express and Charlott Russe. I've always wanted to shop at these 3 stores. I especially want to be able to buy one of those PINK shirts/pants from VS. Silly but it's something I've never been able to do and I've watched all the thin girls be able to fit them and i want it! -No more wide shoes. The day I am able to go into a shoe store and buy a show in M width I will cry my eyes out -Date. At 23 I should be dating a lot more then I do. I've been big my whole life and never dated like a normal girl- I settled for a guy for a while who was awful for me and almost 2 years later I find myself still hung up on it because in a way I guess I've felt I couldn't do better. -Wear shorts. - Persue the jobs/opportunities I've been too afraid to go for over fear of being rejected because of my weight - BE NORMAL There it is, my very honest 'weight bucket list'

Had a laugh lastnight. My 5 year old grandson was looking at portraits of our family before my kids were married. He recognized Papa, Uncle, and Mommy, but wanted to know who that woman was sitting next to Papa! I had blond hair, wore glasses and was about 70 lbs heavier then! He was not as amused as the rest of us were! I guess I have truly changed my looks as he did not know me. Woohoo for me! Karen

Checking in for the 15th and I am at 321.8...3 lbs down from last week and the NSV of my belly not touching the steering wheel of my mini van!

I went to a beginner belly dancing class tonight and it was SO MUCH FUN! Everyone was friendly and non judgmental. It works the abs, thighs, hips and arms! Definitely recommend you guys try it if you get the chance. As a woman who has been heavy her entire life I've never felt especially feminine or "sexy", but the class made me feel good about myself for the first time in a long time. I wouldn't have had the confidence to even go to a belly dance class pre band so this is a NSV for me. Just wanted to share

Vamp that is a great NSV!

Wow....trying hard to visualize myself as a 10...ugh! can't do it... Congradulations! That is a crazy kewl NSV, Aussiegal!

Ok as most of y'all know I've been stuck for awhile and been fluctuating between 168-178 well 176 on Monday when I went for a check up! Well awhile ago I posted a pic of me in a pair of jeans that fit but were so tight I couldn't stand up an take a pic they were size 13 non stretchy jeans (I wear a size 12 in stretch) but I haven't been able to wear these jeans since I bought them small on purpose! Well I've been hitting the gym big time...sometimes twice a day and I got curious and decided to try them on today....note my periods have been all over the place so I'm thinking that's why my weight is all over the place! And right now I'm still on my period so I can only imagine how well they will fit when aunt flow is finally gone but I had to show you all!! I'm beaming right now!! SN: I'm finally loosing my hips!!! 1st pic is of me the 1st time I put the jeans on size 13 non stretch and they are the brand that is made small!

Ok so.......I am happily married and have been with my DH for almost 7 years. When we met I had a one year old son whose father wanted myself and our son when it was beneficial for him to have a family! AH won't cry about it, I only wanted a relationship with him for the stability it would give my son. Didn't work and God blessed me with the most wonderful husband and father to our children! Ok fast forward 7 years my son is turning eight yay and we have three additional children. My son's biological father whom he has not seen in almost 6 yrs does not call, write, email anything he has abandonded the role of a father and we are fine with that! Well I have to go to court next week and I am hoping to get him to sign over his parental rights! Mind you although he has been an absent father he has actively pursued certain "relations" with myself (yeah right buddy)! He never saw me at my highest weight as I moved out of state and the majority of my weight gain was rapid and within the last 2 to 3 yrs. Well I am down 40lbs almost to the weight I was when we last saw each other and I plan on losing another 5 to 10 by the time I have to go home for court next week. I am willing to resort back to the original post-op diet for a few days of Clear liquids just to blow his mind! ok so that is person number 1 who will need to close his mouth. #2: Growing up I was extremely skinny and the majority of my family.......NOT.....as I got older and began having children and gaining weight they went from calling me anorexic to fat....well guess what they can say hello to my little friend. None of them know that I have had the surgery but they all seem to have an accurate count of every pound I gained! Well I cannot wait to see every one that made the comment ooooh how did you get so big? or Oh you can't call that baby weight! I might carry around extra tissue for the drool. I made a post a couple of weeks ago about how I do not like taking photos well I ahve been snapping like crazy. I finally see a change when I look in the mirror. My surgery scars are no longer a mile apart, those boogers are right there close together! And possibly my favorite NSV was when a young lady I know said I hope I look like you do after 4 kids when I get older. I smile so much now........no one knows my secret but all see my progress. Guys that are pre-op it is worth it your quality of life changes drastically after the first 7 days post-op! And each day it gets better and better! Go for it. I am 2 1/2 months post op and down 41 pounds and I feel like a new woman. I made a decleration that I would not turn 30 fat and this time my words are not full of hot air!

When it seems like I am not losing, or losing too slow. I know why, however, and I know now, understand now more than I ever did - why this surgery is so invaluable. I have issues with my metabolism that is quickly regulates to whatever calories I am putting in...and it gets very hard to trick it...My sis ter was the same but instead of the furnace banking itself, hers burned red-hot. At one point she ate 4800 callories a day and was still a size 0. We both caught a very bad flu once, I lost 15 lbs and was getting "you gos!", she lost 15 and was in the hospital. I need not trick it anymore - there is no feeling of being desperate to lose before I fail on my diet. I ma waiting out my metabolism, and winning. I finally decided on the surgery because I had lost just enough weight (from 1/2011 till 10/2011) that they could see the cause of my issues with my stomach – I had a tumor growing in/through/ and progressing out into my abdomen from my stomach. So since I was going to have to have so much removed anyway, and I HAD been looking into one WLS or another for a decade (lol), I decided it was time. Sleeved 1/2012 – will never go back to what I was, ever. The fat lady syndrome doesn’t help slow losing, I just have to remember to not let it get me. – I still am not “seeing” myself at the size I was (almost) not the size I am. That isn’t helpful at all! But I look at my NSV’s – and they are real. Squeezing into a size 12 recently made me dizzy and nauseous…not because I squeezed into the jeans, it occurred to me I could button size 12’s. I asked a lady I know (as politely as I could, but she is so nice I hope she understood) what size she was, because I was asked by a friend to “find” someone I thought I was the same size as myself, near my height. She is a size 20-22. I am a size 14, squeezing into a 12, and I see myself as a size 20-22. It's all good, however - I now have the equipment to play this game, and I win.

Hi everyone- I wasn't able to get on the site at all yesterday! I missed all y'all (that's plural in the South for y'all). Chrissy- yay on the new summer bottoms! I think the closest Sears outlet to me is about 45 min-1 hour away. I'll have to check again!! Meredith-How's the yard coming? If you'd like to come help me with my yard, I'm all for it!! LOL. I totally have tons of stuff I need to do- slow but sure. I just got my big patio poured and my driveway widened. Kflower- I tried the muscle milk light and absolutely hated it!! I use the unjury protein powder- chocolate splendor and vanilla. I mix the vanilla with trop 50 orange juice and strawberries, love it. Savannah- I might try those EAS shakes, I have heard they are pretty good and it would be nice to have something already made sometimes. Also congrats on the NSVs! No one but my immediate family knows I had WLS either, so it's nice to get positive comments. And slow and steady will win this race for sure!! Rhale- hm, was your doctor concerned about the sideways port? Do you know why it happened? Good thing they could still do the fill!! And like I said to Savannah- slow is good, I look at it as it's way better than gaining, which is what I was doing!! Erica- I really felt it when I overate last Sunday- it wasn't even fun, which is a good thing! We go to the beach tonight, so I'll post from there to let you know! I tried on the swimsuit for fun last night though . I weigh in every day but only count the weight on Wednesday. I know thought that I may get obsessive about it, and may have to revisit how much I weigh. I was down another 2.5 lbs yesterday, WID, yay! My elliptical needs a new wheel, so I walked outside yesterday, which was nice, up and down hills. It was a nice change of pace! Everyone have a great day, I'll update from the beach!

Hello everyone. I have been reading when I get a chance, I haven't really got online much lately. Savanah- Bravo to you for being so honest! I am right there with you about wanting to push things. I ate 3 chicken wings the other day and decided I could eat one more, I regreted that decision later, ugh! Congrats on the 5 pounds, that is awesome! Sounds like you are working the band now. jlhale- Good luck with the port, I am glad they could still fill it for you. My port flipped completely over and I had to have surgery again, I hope yours stays ok. Chrissy- I love that you love shopping for sales, I do to. I wish I had a sears outlet near me. Enjoy your khakis. Justdoit- Did you enjoy your time with your family? How was the real bathing suit? As for me- I have decided this week to try to eat less and only weigh myself once a week to give it time to work. Not weighing myself has been so hard, I was weighing everyday. I was seeing so much up and down, it was discouraging. Even though my weight loss has slowed, I am still noticing clothes that are getting too big. I went a bought a new bathing suit and we went to the lake. It felt great to be able to pull myself up onto the boat and the tube, I wasn't able to do that last year. I remember feeling like a whale last year, it makes me sad to think of that, I am glad that old me is gone. I also had another good NSV, at work someone said,"Man you are getting really skinny." I need to learn to say thank you, my usual response is, "Thanks, but I still have a lot to go." I should say thanks and enjoy the moment. I hope everyone else is doing well!

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."

One time at Band Camp.....lol Where is everybody at? It's so quiet in here... echo, echo echo OK, enough of that - wanted to share another NSV this week, being that I received three unsolicited sincere compliments about looking like I've "lost alot of weight and really slimming down" - one each day since Monday. Just a reminder that NO ONE knows that I had WLS. Hoping tomorrow is even better as I am going to see a friend that I haven't seen in 30 lbs. - lol. Again, since my weight loss has been considerably slower than most everyone else, I was really needing that motivation. I actually worked out till after midnight last night and got up at 7am and worked out again. My mind is finally where it needs to be in this journey.

It's amazing how the sleeve has changed my life!!! A year ago, I was 100 pounds heavier and was completely out of breath when climing a flight of stairs. I had my surgery 7 months ago and a week from Sunday I will be competing in my first triathlon (1/2 mile ocean swim, 13 mile bike ride and a 5K). Becoming a triathlete has been something I've aspired to do for about the past 5 years....but something that seemed so unattainable because I had such a hard time losing the weight and because I was so worried about what other people thought of me. I'm super excited but anxious and nervous at the same time!! I just want to let everyone know that you CAN do anything you set your heart and mind to do!!! And for those of you that are just starting out on this journey....don't be afraid to jump!!! I have spent way too much of my life standing on the sidelines because of fear. My sleeve surgery has never really been about the number on the scale....of course I still weigh myself more than I probably should and of course I'd still like to lose about 60 more pounds but if I didn't I would still be happy because I AM HAPPY. I'm happy not because of how much weight I've lost or what size clothing I wear, but because I'm living my life the way I've always envisioned it!!! YAY me!!!

Very cool! I have never had that happen to me, but my son(who had surgery in Aug 2011) had to not ride Harry Potter at Universal Studios,but has since gone back and ridden it! Congrats for your NSV!!Karen

Yesterday I went on a roller coaster and I fit without any help from the attendents! Just 7 short months ago I could get on the coaster but It took a lot of pushing on the lap bar and the buckle was strecthed to the max! Not anymore!! The lap bar went down and closed with plenty of room to spare! As I was sitting waiting for the ride to start I could feel the tears of joy! This was a big goal of mine and I accomplished it! This has also given me the motivation I needed to get these last 40 pounds off!! I LOVE MY BAND!!!!!!!!!

That was my point, MissMarbe. I hate when the darn scale doesn't move!! I have it in my signature line, I'm an NSV 'ho! That's because I know that how I feel, how my clothes fit, and my fitness ability are way more important than that scale. I've had it sit on the same number for weeks while I've lost 2 inches from my waist. That tells me that the scale is a filthy little liar!

Lissa you are truly amazing and such an inspiration....i get such a great feeling reading your post.... There is hope! some day i too might go into a gym.... I am in my wheel chair less every day.... Congratulations on such an important NSV !!!!!

That has probably got to be the most awesome NSV ever!!! Congratulations!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us!!!