Search the Community

Congrats on your NSV!!! Your post made me smile!

Ok. I'm a year post op (6/6) and I've lost 78 lbs. I've gone from a size 18 to a size 10. I'm told I look great but I've got to honest, sometimes I don't see it or realize how far I've come. I got a HUGE reality check yesterday. Over a year ago I flew in a plane and squeezed myself with the seatbelt. I didn't want to ask for an extension so I sucked it all in and barely buckled up. You couldn't even see my seatbelt as it was tight and hidden under my big belly. Yesterday I flew on a plane with my family which included my sister and her two year old twins. One fell asleep in my arms mid-air. The seatbelt light came on and I didn't want to put my nephew down because I didn't want him to wake up. Ready? Ready! The seat belt fit around me AND my nephew AND IT WAS STILL LOOSE!!! I couldn't believe it. I was in tears. It was a reality on how far I've come. My weight has come off slow and I've run across many plateaus but it has and will continue to come off. I just wanted to share

That's an amazing NSV!! I hope you're keeping track so you can do the tax write-off!

I know it's hard, but you need to stop comparing to others & just compare you to you. Look at how far you've come. I'm 5 weeks out now & have lost 19.6 lbs since surgery (32.2 lbs in 7 weeks with pre-op). I have never before lost that much in 5 or 7 weeks!! I've also lost 15+ inches (haven't measured for this week yet). I also focus on all my non-scale victories. There are so many things I'm enjoying more now that I was 30 lbs ago! If you check out my blog - http://mygastricsleevelife.blogspot.com/ - you can check out a post I did about "my new four-letter word 'compare'" & other posts about NSVs & the scale. I'm sure you get a workout with your kids & are more active than you think too! Please just focus on your own successes! I'm not saying you can't be supportive to others, but don't make other people's successes get you down!! You have your own successes to rejoice in!

Don't worry about Bandster hell! I don't consider that I have gone through it and was banded in 08. The worst part was right after I had surgery, then again after I had a fill a few weeks ago where I thought.. what did I do? I got over that right away, and frankly do not want to be without the band. I have PB on Occassion since I got the recent fill, but never before. I have found that feeling sad or mourning food choices is the worst of it for me, but I think about how fast I started to feel better and any negative thoughts go away. I think alot has to do with the way your looking at it. There is little you cannot have in moderation when you think about it, take it one day at a time. You will find that when you go to bed you will wake up wondering what subtle changes your body has done... at least that is how I think about it.. think of the NSV... not all of it is on the scale!

Well, it finally happened. Three weeks later than I expected. Six weeks out and I hit a stall. Stuck at 215 for the last week. It's okay though since I added exercise to the schedule this week so my body is probably just trying to adjust. I did have a great NSV this week too. I cleaned out my closet and took two large trash bags of clothes that i will never wear again to a consignment store that sells only women's sizes 14 and over. I get 50% of the sales price. These are very nice clothes as I have to wear business dress for work. I can use the profits as credit in the store if I want. The store has really cute clothing and accessories so I think this is a good deal as I am dropping sizes and don't want to spend the money on new clothes. Great transitional clothing! I'm eating regular food now but still having a hard time getting the calories up to 800 per NUT's recommendation. Still around 600. Protein has been in the high 70's to low 80's, carbs in the 20's, and at least 64 ounces of water daily, sometimes more. Last night I had halibut cakes, rather cake (singular) since I could barely eat one. I'm not finding eating at restaurants challenging at all. There always seems to be healthy choices. I ate one or two bites of the outside of the cake which was very lightly coated with panko, and ate mostly the middle of the cake and two green beans. It was a delicious meal, although just the very small bites of the panko crust did send me to the bathroom an hour later. At least I thought that's what it was. Could also have been the rich filling in the halibut cake too. For Father's Day, I'm making Emily's Bites Lasagna Cpcakes since my husband wants lasagna. Can't wait to try them! I feel like I am in a really good rhythm now and it is great!

I remember the stalls I had and I would totally get frustrated and depressed. I had to get away from the scale because it was driving me absolutely crazy! It was amazing to see the inches melt away when I was in a stall and I loved it, except I had to spend money for new clothes. But today, I have very few cloths and am determined to not settle for what will fit and only, I mean only, buy the clothes I absolutely fall in love with. YayyyyyyyY! You guys will have several stalls but will be losing inches. Ditch the stupid scale and live day by day enjoying every NSV that is coming your way. I love my sleeve but sometimes, on certain days, I do want to eat more. So I constantly will have to be on top of my head hunger and drink lots of water first. We can do this!

Thank you for these great words of wisdom Shadayo! I have been one of those people who have posted on the forums stressing out about my stalls. My husband did me a favor and took the batteries out of my scale. He lets me weigh once a week. I was driving myself crazy if I didnt see the numbers going down. I became quite obsessed with the darn scale. I now focus on all the wonderful things I can do being 130 lbs lighter and know that I am not quite done losing weight. NSV's are MUCH more rewarding than any number the scale can say.

Dear people who are in a stall or not losing weight, Stop weighing yourself everyday. Just my advice. If you are eating right and exercising you will lose the weight unless there is a medical problem... which is not usually the case. Your body is not a machine. It takes time. Maybe try weighing in once a week or better yet every 2 weeks. I got rid of my scale altogether and I only weigh myself when I go to visit my mother which is within the time frame I just gave you. I don't think I have had any stalls... but I wouldn't know because I focus on my well-being and NSV's, not pounds on a daily basis. Now if 1 or 2 months goes by and no weight loss and you are doing everything right- then worry. But besides that don't stress so much. I am only posting this because I feel sorry for those of you who are so stressed out. I am about happiness and optimism and I thought I'd spread it a little. :-) Have a good and healthy day! Sincerely, Shadayo

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!