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My husband and I took our kids to the carnival in town, they had rides there. The last time I had been on an amusement ride was over 3 years ago, it was an extremely tight fit, and so embarrassing I stopped riding all together. I thought I'd give it a shot since I'm almost 50 lbs down. I fit in fine and there was a little room to spare!!!!! This smile hasn't left my face all day

LapBandTalk Contest & Newsletter By LapBandTalk.com Newsletter Hey, Bandsters, It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on LapBandTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter. Launch of the LapBandTalk.com app for Kindle. Encouragement to welcome new LapBandTalk.com members in the ”Introductions” Forum. Tick and Track your way to success! Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan gets banded and loses 90 pounds – and inspires his little brother! First Member Spotlight: Coming Soon! Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try. Visit LapBandTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the lap-band. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder LapBandTalk.com Kindle App Launched! The LapBandTalk.com app for the Kindle has launched! You can download it for free from Amazon for instant use on your Android. The Kindle app joins the lineup of LapBandTalk.com apps for iPod, iPad, iPhone and Android. All of these apps are fully functional, so you can read and post to the forums, upload photos and send private messages. Don’t go anywhere without LapBandTalk.com! Don’t forget about the contest to celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first LapBandTalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on LapBandTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, comment on our new WLS magazine, upload photos or refer a friend. Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Bandsters Even More? LapBandTalk.com has more than 100,000 members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because LapBandTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community. We know that many of you Bandsters go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use LapBandTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow bandsters. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Introductions” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks! Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful! What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course! Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value. Trackers are for recording your current body measurements. You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow bandsters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it. Lap-Band Helps Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan Look a Little More Athletic You already know that it doesn’t feel so good to have other people look at you and judge you because of your weight. It had to be tough for Rex Ryan, head coach of the New York Jets pro football team, to regularly be on national television weighing 338 pounds, and it probably didn’t help his ability to move around the football field while coaching. He got the lap-band in Since then, he’s lost close to 90 pounds. He’s approaching his goal weight of 250 pounds, and he looks a lot more comfortable in his clothes. He’s had no serious side effects beside slight indigestion following a post-game celebration, and he’s even inspired his younger brother, Rob Ryan, to get the band. Whom will you inspire? What do you think of the story? Post your thoughts and any lap-band talk news stories you see in the LapBandTalk.com News Forum! Coming Soon: Member Spotlights! We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each LapBandTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees. We’ll be Contacting You Soon! Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Bandster! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the LapBandTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member. Bandster Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try! Each Bandster Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum. Roundup of the Previous Bandster Challenge: Try a New Food! In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Bandster Challenge Forum. Here are three good ones. Breakfast – Cream Cheese Pancakes from MadcapMama. These pancakes are high in protein, low in calories and a sweet way to start your day. Lunch – Tandoori Chicken Salad from SageTracey. This salad has tzatzitki dressing – it’s a great for your lunch or dinner. It has 166 calories per serving, but SageTracey says she couldn’t even finish it all. Dessert – Vanilla Ice Cream with Peanut butter from imperfect 1974. What else is there to say? Thanks to the three of you for sharing your culinary expertises! Don’t forget that you can always go back, try the old Bandster challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences! The New Challenge: Share a NSV! Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non Scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your lap-band journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important. This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be: Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat. Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store. Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law. Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Bandsters learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them! So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at LapBandTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

Congrats! !! I'm loving these NSV stories keeps me inspired

Pookey, Great NSV!!! I am laughing because your friend didn't recognize you! That's terrific! BTW, My sons love Rammstein, so I've definitely heard a good bit of their music! Pretty good, IMO!

I too am over 50 and I enjoy your telling it like is. This is just a tool. If we make the right decisions, it helps. If we make the wrong decisions, it's useless. Keep it up. You body is eating away the fat and you are seeing NSVs. Sounds like a success story to me.

What an awesome experience and thank you so much for sharing it with us. The closer I get to surgery the more I need reassuring and comforting stories to keep my mind balanced. I understand all the risks, I understand there are complications, I understand that it's not easy and I may be one that has complications, I am so aware of them and am going into this with wide eyes, but hearing positive and uplifting stories that some day things will be better, makes me so happy. I hope you have a great NSV every day!!!

NSV -- I attended my niece's bridal shower! I am 10 weeks post-op and I have rejoined life. A year ago I probably would have figured out how to NOT GO to the bridal shower because of so many things--self-image, feeling judged, discomfort, etc. Yesterday, I was confident and it made my niece and sister-in-law tear-up with happiness to have me there. During the sit-down luncheon, I was able to eat a little of almost everything. It was a beautiful vegitarian luncheon but I had a Protein Shake before going into the party so was comfortable I would get what I needed. I only had one person comment on how little I was eating. The amazing thing that hit me was when we were preparing to sit at the table -- I chose a seat in the middle -- not on the end. I have never done this before! I have always sat at the end so that I wouldn't overflow into someone else's space. Yesterday, I was "normal". Thinking back on it, I was still probably one of the larger guests at the party, but that wasn't even an issue for me as it would have been in the past. It was a very special day and I am grateful that I didn't miss out on it. I'm also grateful for this always-inspiring forum!

Thanks everyone! I feel even better now! I did my workout and usually I'm tired after a mile around the track and I managed to do 2 miles. Because it actually felt great! Nsv's are amazing. Lol

An NSV is a non-scale victories. It's the little things we Celebrate during our weight loss that have nothing to do with numbers or scales. It could be fitting into an old dress, climbing up a staircase without losing your breath, etc.

What does NSV mean?

The NSVs make all the difference in the world, don't they?!

Congrats!!! It is always the NSV's that mean the most! You DO look fabulous

So I have pcos. And well my skin was terrible because I had dark skin on my neck, under the girls and in other places. So I took a picture of my neck and omg!!!!! My skin is back to white!!! No spots or anything! And the skin tag has also cleared back there!!! And underneath the girls! I'm super excited! I look and feel fabulous!

It definitely could be a stall already. Or, it could be that you're not eating enough calories! It's great that you're getting the Water in though. I find that a challenge! Try eating just a little bit more (if you can do it) and see if that helps. If not, just be patient (yes, I know...that sux). The numbers will continue to drop soon. You've already lost 24 lbs. That is freaking amazing! When was the last time you lost 24 lbs in less than one month? Never, I'll bet! Also, did you take body measurements when you started? If so, then hide the damn scale (so hard....I know!). It's only frustrating you right now. Instead, do body measurements 1/week and you will probably see changes there, even if the scale is not moving. Focus on NSVs (non-scale victories). For me, for example. I have hardly needed my Asthma meds since I started the liquid diet pre-op. Before that, I was on 3 different puffers and an oral med. This is a life-changing NSV for me and I've only lost 22 lbs (with another 160+ to go!). There are TONS of great things happening for you right now.........even if the scale doesn't reflect that. Keep the faith and keep up the good work!

I went into banding thinking i was going to be one of those who lost 25 lbs a month. I was going to sore right on to 165 lbs. So why 3 weeks out am i not there???? So i have spent some time beating myself up, like most very obese ppl do. I get on the scale expecting 20 lbs gone but find only 1 or 2 lbs gone. So today I did some soul searching. I am 25 days post band and i have lost 10 lbs in those 3 weeks. I have lost a total of 18 lbs since i started the week preop diet and a total of 22 lbs since my highest weight a little over a month ago. Hmmm ok maybe i am not losing 25 lbs a month but i am losing! Slowly but the lbs keep coming off. So I am going to rejoice in that and try so hard not to beat myself up. Oh and i did have a small NSV this week. I got out of my closet a pair of jeans i have not had on in 2 years and i pulled them up. sucked in my tummy a little (lol) and zipped and buttoned them. Yes they are TIGHT but they least went up my hips and closed. Yay me!!! Yes this turtle is going to win this race.

The pain is almost completely gone. I'm thinking it was the 4WDing in waipio valley yesterday am. It was a rough ride & felt like it was gonna beat me to death! Notime-congrats on your NSV! Gaining back some independence was one of my goals as well. I hate asking for help! Lol

I waited two weeks but just bc I didn't feel like it. It was fine and it also turned into my second NSV - next morning my hubby told me "baby I could really tell last night that you are down a lot in weight". It was sweet in a weird way. I am down twenty pounds and most from my tummy.

That is wonderful congrats. NSV is non scale victory.

Fan-friggin-tastic!!! I'm a newbie...what dies NSV stand for?

OK - so last night was quite a NSV, or maybe more than one. I went to the Toyota Center here in Houston to go see Rammstein (think German punk/industrial). So it started out with me realizing I had nothing to wear - so I went out and boutght a pair of 36 Dickies workpants - after realizing 38 were too loose, and searched my closet one more time and found a military pinstripe steampunk shirt I had made for a guy friend but he never picked it up - fit! So I throw on a red tie and some extras and my steel toes boots and off I go. I stopped at smoothie place I go into regularly (in workout garb or very casual) and they just flipped out - I thought for a bit they were joking (the outfit is not something most walk around in 90 degree heat, or for tha matter 40 degree, lol). They bought my smoothie for me, took my pic, I have promised a before pic to post with it, too. I get to the center and I blend in. I wasn't the big chick, I was just another face. My shirt got several looks (that shirt rocks on its own) but past the costume I was just another person. I didnt have to worry about the seat, or the person to either side of me. I didn't need a purse. I just has some cash, a couple cards, id, and my asthma inhailor (unfortunatey that is more allergy related than weight, and smoke is a big trigger). No BG meter, no meds. So in the first time in for-absolutely-ever I just walked out with the fewest necessities! Crazy! Outside the venue my friend who was meeting me there could not find me, Even when I got up on a bench and waved. She had not seen me in a couple of years. She told me "I mean, I knew it had to be you, but I was like, no way!" There is actually more, but if you have been this patient I guess I should wrap it up! lol. It.Just.Felt.So.Good!

VerticalSleeveTalk.com Newsletter Hey, Sleevesters! It’s that time again…another couple of weeks, another newsletter! We keep you updated on the latest happenings on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, and there’s a lot happening! Here’s a quick rundown of this week’s newsletter. Launch of the VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for Kindle. Encouragement to welcome new VerticalSleeveTalk.com members in the ”Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Story” Forum. Tick and Track your way to success! Hot on the Boards: Why doesn’t everyone get the Sleeve if it’s so effective? First Member Spotlight: Coming Soon! Newsletter Challenge: summary of the previous one, and a new challenge to try. Visit VerticalSleeveTalk.com often to stay on track with your weight loss journey and stay motivated to follow your diet and exercise program to get the success you deserve with the sleeve. Stay involved in the discussion forums, and always let us know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Take care of yourselves and each other. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Kindle App Launched! The VerticalSleeveTalk.com app for the Kindle has launched! You can download it for free from Amazon for instant use on your Android. The Kindle app joins the lineup of VerticalSleeveTalk.com apps for iPod, iPad, iPhone and Android. All of these apps are fully functional, so you can read and post to the forums, upload photos and send private messages. Don’t go anywhere without VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Don’t forget about the contest to Celebrate the launch of our new apps. The contest to win a free iPod Touch is still on, and you can get the details in the first VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter. There’s still time to enter; just complete your member profile and post to the forums to become eligible. The more you post and more involved you are on VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better your chances of winning. Your chances improve when you post to the forums, join a group, upload photos or refer a friend. Wondering How You Can Help Out Other Sleevesters Even More? VerticalSleeveTalk.com has thousands of members who regularly come here for information, support and advice during all stages of your weight loss journey. Some of you visit often to read the forums, but you don’t post very often. Some of you post regularly. Both kinds of members are fantastic because VerticalSleeveTalk.com is dedicated toward helping everyone who needs it. We’re a welcoming, supportive community. We know that many of you Sleevesters go above and beyond the call of duty, and want to know how you can use VerticalSleeveTalk.com to become even more supportive of your fellow sleevesters. A few of you have asked about it, and we know a lot more of you are wondering the same thing. A great first step is to reach out to new members. Greet them when they post on the “Tell Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery Story” Forums, and answer any newbie questions to help them learn the ropes. And thanks! Tickers and Trackers Help You Be More Successful! What do you need to keep yourself on track, show the world who you are and remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished? Tickers and trackers, of course! Tickers let you mark your BMI, body fat, weight and countdown to surgery. They show your starting value, where you currently are and your goal value. Trackers are for recording your current body measurements. You get to customize them by choosing what they look like. We encourage you to make your tickers and trackers public, so that they are displayed when you post in the forums. That helps you stay and inspires your fellow Sleevesters. If you’re a little shy, you can make your ticker private so that only you see it. VerticalSleeveTalk.com Hot Topic: Why Don’t All Yo-Yo Dieters Get the Sleeve? We all know of a few celebrities that have struggled with their weight for years. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actress Kirstie Alley have talked openly about their attempts to lose weight and different diets they have tried. So, OntheFence wondered why these famous role models haven’t gone for the sleeve and asked about it on the boards. That set off a great discussion about the sleeve! Some of you pointed out that the sleeve keeps you in check constantly – you don’t have the money to hire a personal trainer or nutritionist to watch over you full-time, but the Sleeve does that. Many of you also pointed out that weight loss surgery is not magic – you have to be dedicated to making a lifestyle change with your diet and exercise if you want the sleeve to be successful. What do you think about weight loss people for famous people who struggle with obesity? Come by and post your thoughts. Coming Soon: Member Spotlights! We introduced them in the previous newsletter, and they’re coming soon…Keep your eyes peeled for member spotlights! Each VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter that comes out from now on will feature a different member. You’ll get to read all about our honorees. We’ll be Contacting You Soon! Don’t forget to post in the member spotlight forum to nominate yourself or another Sleevester! Don’t be shy about it. Your story can make the difference in someone’s life. Within the coming weeks, many of you will be contacted through the VerticalSleeveTalk.com PM system about becoming a spotlighted member. Sleever Challenge! Highlights from the Last Challenge and a New Challenge to Try! Each Sleevester Newsletter, we’ll give you a challenge. You can always find the latest news about the current challenge and check out the old ones in the Challenge Forum. The Challenge is a non-competitive way to push yourself to try something new or unusual. We encourage you to let everyone know how you did on the Challenge by posting in the Challenge Forum. Roundup of the Previous Sleevester Challenge: Try a New Food! In the last newsletter, we suggested trying a new food or recipe that was healthy and a good fit for your meal plan. You can check out member contributions in the Challenge Forum. Here is just a sample of the great ideas from the challenge! lunch – P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps from M2G. The only difference between these and the real ones is that these can fit into your Sleevester diet! dinner – Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers from LadyIvy. These tasty burgers are easy to grind so you can eat them in the mushy stage if your surgery is recent, and they’re great for any time when you’ve progressed to solid foods! To celebrate Cinco de Mayo – Ground Turkey Tacos from Doreykn. Ole! Thanks to the three of you for sharing your culinary expertises! Don’t forget that you can always go back, try the old challenges and post your experience. Going public is a great way to motivate yourself, and other members can learn from your experiences! The New Challenge: Share a NSV! Okay, first of all, what does NSV mean? It’s short for a Non scale Victory, and it’s just what it sounds like. It’s a victory related to your weight loss journey but not related to the number on the scale. We all have disappointing weigh-ins at some point, but it’s not all about the weight. The journey is about getting healthy, loving life and having new, positive experiences. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the number on the scale that we forget to celebrate the other victories that are just as important. This Newsletter’s challenge is to recognize a new NSV and write about it in the Challenge Forum. An NSV can be anything that makes you realize what positive steps you’ve taken for yourself. Some possible NSV’s that you recognize might be: Going to a baseball game and fitting into the seat. Buying your new summer swimsuit in a regular store. Keeping your cool while you eat a meal with your hypercritical mother-in-law. Don’t be shy about sharing your NSV on the Challenge Forum. You can help other Sleevesters learn to recognize their own NSVs and take pride in them! So that’s about it for this week’s newsletter, but there’s never a dull moment at VerticalSleeveTalk.com! Come by and post often, and be sure to share your opinions, advice and feedback. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

Hey I totally understand this LOL! This really is a big NSV Congrats!

Ok, so this morning I was doing my normal post workout shower. Planned on going swimming tonight and shaved as well. I shave EVERYTHING. For the first time in maybe in 10 years I was able to SEE what I was shaving... Not just by feeling. Had to share. Figured some would understand my excitement. lol

Ive been going to the gym 2-3x week since surgery and was never that psyched on it... but last night I had TRIFECTA of NSV's!! And its soooooo encouraging, I have to share! 1. Ran a tredmill 5k in under 45 minutes without stopping and without doing any training! 2. Pre-VSG I was a sweat-er at the gym.... I mean it looked like I just got out of the pool sweat-er and it was so embarassing... and last night, a bit of perspiration, but nothing close to like it was before! 3. My form-fitting yoga pants were falling down! **bonus** 4. Im not even sore today! Im in a bit of a stall lately, so these NSV's were particularly sweet! All you staller's- get on out there this weekend and get your sweat on..... we will break this insanity NOW!