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Had a great week, down 2#'s the most I've had in a single week in a long time! Yeah! NSV - For the first time in 25 years of being together, I weigh less than my husband! (OK, so it is only a 1/2 pound, but it is less.)

On this subject, I wish folks posting a general question or comment that's not specific to a particular surgery type would put it in the general forums and not sleeve forums, etc. I like to see posts about NSVs and universal issues, but I don't want to scan the sleeve forums for them since I'm a bander.

What a super NSV!!! Congratulations!!!

Yes, I have been looking forward to the day to be able to wash that biggest size of dress, top and pants I had pre-surgery and put them into a donate box! Getting everything all neat and clean to donate. Might even try to see about consigning to a Plus-size store for some smaller clothes to swap! NSV!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

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.

WOOHOO!!! Those are some AWESOME NSVs!!

I'm so happy to hear about your NSV keep up the good work, we will be at goal sooner than you know it.

I had to drop off a prescription today while on my lunch break. I walk up to the automatic doors and darn near run face first into the glass. It's not one of the pressure pad type doors, rather it is the black eye above the door type. I take a step back and wait for it to open and nothing happens. I have to wave my hands for a moment before it recognizes anyone is there! I'm sure that it was just dirty, but for a moment I thought that I was too small to register!

Good job! Each NSV is better than the next, it's the little thing that you have been missing out on for years that mean the most. I can touch my toes (and I do it often just to prove it to myself..lol) My jeans are hanging off my bottom and suprisingly my shoes are getting floppy. Enjoy each new victory! You work hard for them and you deserve each one!

what is an NSV?,,,sorry I am new and not very computer literate

Well done -it's great that you are experiencing NSVs with your clothes - they are at least as important as the scales. You're right - you will have ups and downs, so stay focused on the longer term goals you have, be patient and stay motivated. Try to build in some exercise when you can, as that will not only help your weight loss but also your general fitness levels. BTW, isn't Edinburgh a beautiful city?

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!

another NSV for me!!! my mom measured me on august 3 and then again on sept 7... 13 1/2 inches gone... combo of.. neck... chest.. waist.. thighs, upper arms and calves !!!

Denise, you get every test done that your dr. requires and then have the peace of mind knowing that you're in GREAT (just a little overweight) SHAPE. Then you get your band and REALLY get healthy! Be thankful that you have a thorough surgeon and insurance to help cover the expenses. We were in RMNP and Estes Park 10-1 thru 10-8. I cried when we had to leave. How far are you from the mountains? By spring, you'll be zipping up and down those hiking trails! That is truly God's country! A few short months ago I never imagined that my life would take such a positive turn. I can't wait to hear you tell about your banding NSVs!

This may sound silly, but I joined the gym 6 months ago but was too afraid to actually go. I dont want people looking at me and I am not familiar with the machines. I bought a 3 session personal training package to learn the equipment and get more comfortable with the gym enviroment. Today was session 1. I learned alot and also noticed that very few people actually looked at me. Like most of us I am ashamed of my body and feel like people are thinking to themselves "Why is this fat person even here?" I have one more day before I go back to work, but will do some time on the treadmill. I only made it 5 minutes today,even though I have been walking .8miles every day.

I am almost four months post-op and I have never posted a topic in the Success Stories tab. My Mom says I am my harshest critic but I really haven't felt any noticeable successes though I know they are there. I have lost 53 pounds. Never in my life have I lost that much, I think the most I ever lost was 25lbs. The pants I couldn't begin to pour myself into before surgery are now comfortable. The bras that dug into my back and shoulders now fit nicely. I am wearing the same shirts as before surgery but now they hang as they are meant to. In photos my smile is more prominent than my chins, of which I am down to only 1. Yet, I look in the mirror and only see vague changes. Over 50 pounds gone and I feel like I look the same. When I look at a photo of my face from a year ago and a photo now the contrast is obvious, but a photo of my face taken within days after surgery and taken now, to me looks no different. I know I am impatient, I know it can't happen fast enough for me, I'm sure most of us feel that way. I try to be cognitively aware of the progress, of being appreciative for the now, but I just can't seem to stop myself from counting ahead, doing the sums in my head, trying to gauge when I will hit a certain weight. When will I realize that I am making progress? I try to notice if I fit in office chairs better, but I can't remember what they felt like before anymore. I know that when I am able to fit into an airplane seat and use just the actual seatbelt, and bring the tray down fully, those will be concrete signs of progress, as I was not able to do either of those things prior to surgery. When will I feel/comprehend/recognize the progress? I know some of you long-timer/maintenence achievers have mentioned automatically reaching for larger sizes long after you've stopped wearing them, so clearly the acceptance isn't an overnight thing. I remember, 30 pounds ago, saying to myself that I wouldn't feel like I was progressing until I had lost 50 pounds because that sounded like a legitimate serious amount. I think I knew then though, that I would lose that 50, and come up with another further out number that would instead be legitimate. I must sound like a headcase. People say to document your measurements, that this will show changes even when the scale and mirror do not. So far there has only been maybe an inch change in my hips and no change in my waist or ribcage. Maybe I will see/feel a difference at 75 pounds? Does it make any sense to anybody that I am only now truly beginning to grasp how enormous I was, now that I am losing weight? A photo was taken of me recently and I was startled/saddened to see how really big I still am. Anyway, I've lost 50 pounds so far, looking forward to 115 more.

Ok, So I weigh 202 today and I hoped to be in ONEderland. Close, but no cigar. Anyways, I'm still pretty happy being this close to ONEderland. Also, just wanted to share my biggest NSV thus far - I'm graduating from law school at 2 pm today! I'm so happy, I have worked so hard, and I'm just so darn excited! And the best part is, now that I have lost 43 lbs, I will actually let people take pictures of me to remember this day by!

First, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Second, I weighed myself this morning & I hit 199.8!!!! WooooooHooooooo! I was sleeved on the 14th & lost 6 lbs on the pre-op diet and am down 19lbs in like 3 weeks!! And if that weren't enough I am down a full pants size & am wearing jeans I have never worn before cuz they were too small!! This is the best Thanksgiving ever!!! G

I hate going by what others have lost! I feel like I don't add up or maybe I've done more than others. It's a weird feeling. I did have a TOTAL NSV today. I had to go buy a new dress for dinner tonight since all of mine were too big. Well- I bought a new dress and it is a wait for it- size 12! What?! This girl in a 12!!! Woo hoo!

Awesome NSV~I hope you feel as great as you look!!! Strut your stuff girly.

Happy bandiversary!! Congrats on all your NSV & weight loss! You have saved your own life that's inspiriational!

I am basically 6 months post-op. I have lost 35 pounds, but I want to quantify that as "only 35 pounds." I struggle with this almost every single day. BUT. I now weigh 249. I have not been under 250 since late teens/early 20's. Yea to a new decade! Or maybe I should say old, haha. I have now worked out with a private trainer twice a week for two months. This was unimaginable a few months ago! I have an actual waist. Not just columnar hidden by chest and hips. I have rock-hard, well defined legs. I walk up my flight of stairs (I live on the 2nd floor) without huffing. I bring in laundry or groceries without straining my arms. and one of my favorites?? My hubby can wrap his arms entirely around me, locking his fingers together. Also, my kids call me skinny but I think they have joke, but I'll take it! So whether you are stalled, hit a plateau, fighting the 'only' demon like me, remember your NSV's. They are a vital part of this process.

Congratulations! You look (and sound) awesome. I love to hear about NSVs that involve living life. It sounds like you are doing just that.

Hello All! Ok so today I spent all day at my daughters Winter guard competitions. I posted a picture on FB talking about how I was the "glam mom" for the team (hair & makeup). After posting this picture my inbox BLEW up! I guess a lot of people haven't seen me since I've lost the weight. I don't normally post full body pictures. I got called "tiny" and "amazing". TINY! I had to go back and look at the picture again. It's like I'm just now seeing my new self for the first time. I'm starting to see what everyone else sees. It's the weirdest feeling! I don't think I'm "tiny"' but compared to the 267 lbs I was last year I see what they are saying. I also noticed I need a butt! Lol that's the "oh my goodness" moment. Where did it go?! My tush literally hurt sitting in the bleachers all day. I kept having to switch from cheek to cheek. I started getting paranoid thinking people are going to think I have hemorrhoids the way I keep moving but no! It's the bones in my butt that don't have that fat cushioning! So I had a NSV and a painful realization all in one! Now what do I tell these people. One I was honest with because she's a rather big girl and I didn't want to feed her some lie and get her hopes up. The others I said thank you and avoided the question. I don't mind telling overweight people but I don't like telling my skinny friends. I'm not sure why that is but I just don't feel the need to elaborate with them. Anyway just thought I'd share. Share yours if you have one! I posted the picture below , not the greatest but a 6 year old took it sooooo... The other is my super proud guard mom picture living on coffee and sour rainbow straws. Can't be good all the time!

WOW!!! And CONGRATS!!! I know and understand what a GREAT feeling it is to be in AWE when you realize that you and your daughter are wearing the same size. At the beginning of this school year, when my daughter and I were out shopping, we stopped at the Guess store to buy new jeans. We ended up buying the exact same jeans, at the exact same size; the only difference that mine are regular length and hers are short. I was in ABSOLUTE disbelief. Anyway, congrats on your AMAZING NSV!!!