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Paula this is such a great NSV!!! Sounds like you enjoyed your new found health as well as enjoying life with your family!!

Congratulations! I hadn't thought about it, but that is one of my NSVs as well. Besides my wedding ring, I have a diamond ring that my mother left me. I would really like to be able to wear that one again. As that one is larger than my wedding band, I'll shoot for that one first. Congratulations again. Nice to be reminded that it is not just about the scale.

I'm so happy to hear that! I was a little dismayed to find no reference to bullet journaling after a search on this site, when it seems like it would be a great way to track everything, have goals, etc. and have everything all in one place. I also use(d) Baritastic (and others) but I see the bujo as a way of supplementing the apps, rather than replacing them. It'll be a lot easier for me to gather the raw data from the apps (especially the macros) than to have to figure that out all myself. So far what I've been trying to do is have a weekly spread for everything - meals, water, supplements, macros, exercise and a few other goals (like no eating after 8 p.m.). It doesn't leave a lot of room for anything else, but I think I've gotten a spread that I like since I want to minimise the number of pages I need to make (!) and will have to actually use. Last night I spent some time making an outline of how many pages I'll need for what, and so far I've got 20 pages (goals, quotes, photos, year at a glance, progress tracker, NSV page, etc.) before I even get to the first weekly tracker!

My husband has been wanting me to go to this festival for years, but I would not go. I was always too big. It is hot this time of year and I knew I would burn up; not to mention the pain I would be in from having to carry myself around. Well, this year we went. I walked around with no pain or exertion at all, did not even dew up, let alone sweat. And drum roll please..... I rode ALL of the rides. I haven't been on rides in years. I had no trouble what so ever fitting in the seats or fastening the guards. And to top it all off, my husband boosted me by the waist into a tall seat and another operator offered to get me down. YAY!! So this is a video link to me celebrating my SV in NSV-ville. By the way, this thing will scare your drawers off. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3315080369876 (P.S. sorry I didn't put this in my earlier post, but I didn't know how )

Congrats on your NSV!! What a wonderful feeling, I'm sure!

Well, today my kids came back from their visitation with their dad. Heres some background info, i was 21 and stupid (sounds like a taylor swift song) and fell in love with my self centered narcissistic ex husband. He verbally and physically abused me about my weight (i was 145 lbs during my marriage, my weight at surgery was 212, gained from depression after divorce, plus binge eating disorder) Anyway, today he gets outta his car, looks me up and down and says, wow you look amazing. i said, hey arent you married. He said yeah so what, i can have you if i want you. Lesson number 1: tigers never change their stripes. Lesson number 2: I am still 13 lbs above the weight i was when i was married, so he never appreciated me for who i was. My response: "Well you cant have me, I am not a homewrecker like your wife is" Best.NSV.Ever

Forens(my iPad won't let me type your full screen name)...anyway congrats!!! Today almost the same thing happened to me, and to try to get my hubby and 16 year old son to understand what it means to go from wearing a size 24 pants to today...buying a pair of 15/16 lady wrangler was huge for me. For the first time in 20 years, I did not even try them on until I got home. Fit perfectly. I simply can't wait to be a size 12 so to be in a 10 like you... whoot hoot! So here is to all of our NSV for Saturday!!! Take care all

FIT IN SIZE16 OLD NAVY CAPRIS YESTERDAY & GAVE AWAY MY SIZE 22S TO GOODWILL.

Congrats! Great NSV!

Congrats! Those are outstanding NSVs!!

I am stuck between 189-194. I keep bouncing back and forth these 5 lbs... yesterday I tried on a size 11 and....they buttoned! I can comfortably wear a 13-14 if it's not juniours size. I wear a 14 skinny jeans with some waist room to spare. but size 11, ohhh it's been a while!

so, i started this journey with my preop diet on April 1, 2012. at 5'6" i weighed in at 373. i got my sleeve on june 4, 2012. now, on september 1, i am still only 5'6" but now i weigh in at 258. i decided to Celebrate by sharing a before and after (during, since i'm not at goal yet) photo. my beautiful wife is a non-op, but is so supportive of me that she has lost 54 pounds by eating with me, and excercising with me. also, to share my favorite nsv so far. i was able to join my cross country running son in a 5k, the second picture is me getting ready to cross the finish line at 49 min 20 seconds. life is good, just wanted to share.

Michell, Everyone here is right. That three week stall is a bugger!! Just keep doing what you know you have to do: work on getting in your Protein and your Water, walk as much as you can, do a little light weigts for your arms (to avoid the jiggle arms) and don't worry about it. I'm a classic control freak, but I've found that I have to let go of what I can't control here and let my sleeve do it's job. I'm on MFP as well (Lissa912 if you want to friend me) and, at two months and three weeks out, I've lost nearly 60 pounds. I've been floating between 295 and 299 for over a week, but I didn't let it frustrate me because my clothes were getting bigger and bigger. Have you read about NSV's yet? Those are Non scale Victories. Check out that thread in success stories and definitely keep your eyes open for them. It makes letting go of the scale obsession so much easier when you start seeing all the other positive things that happen besides dropping pounds! Good luck on your journey!!

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

Honestly, my NSVs come when I turn down bread, but that doesn't really count because I can't eat the bread anyway. I've never been really tempted by candy or sweets.

I was so worried about turning 50 last Sept., but now thanks to the band I'm feeling better than I have in years! I had surgery 1/24 and have lost 33 pounds...not terribly fast, but I'll take it! If I could stay away from the chocolate it would go faster, I know. I get my third fill next week and am hoping that I'll get better restriction then. It was so neat to go for a brisk walk last night (about a mile) and actually enjoy the exercise rather than detesting every minute! And I found a shirt in my closet that I had purchased last year and it was too small...it fit great now. The NSVs are what keep me going!!! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer~ Emily

What is an NSV? Every time I think I know what's going on, I realize I don't. Congratualtions on smaller jeans. Diane

When you need to renew your Driver's License.... And you are smaller than the weight you lied about weighing last time. Last time I subtracted 40 lbs LOL

Knee boots that have the ankle zipper were the bane of my existence! My daughter had been wearing a pair someone bought me because I barely got them on, and they wouldn't go up my calves. They do now! NO, my darling daughter, you may NOT wear them this year....! NSV! (Can I also say that I teared up, it was THAT emotional.)

Yeah.. I think I'm throwing the scale away lol.. I need a lot more NSVs so I can start really seeing the change..like I personally notice some small things that seem different about my body like 'rolls' in the wrong place or moved or smaller lmao.. but would be nice if the scale could just confirm, give me a thumbs up or something that I'm doing good...is that too much to ask for? lol

These are some of the Abbreviations commonly used on this site. ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AGB = Adjustable gastric banding AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) BB = belly button bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliary Pancreatic Diversion bs = blood sugar btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray DDD = degenerative disc disease Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine MFP = my fitness pal msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist OA = Overeaters Anonymous omw = on my way Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PB = Productive Burps PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome POSE = Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RH = reactive hypoglycemia RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y RTD = ready to drink RYGB = Roux-en-Y gastric bypass SADI-S = single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy s/f or sf = sugar free SG = Sleeve gastrectomy SIPS = stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SO = significant other SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck TTC = trying to conceive Ty = Thank you. [but according to the urban dictionary “Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] u = You UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = Vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight

I’m coining a new phrase here on LBT. Because I’m going to need it. Soon. How many threads, posts, and blogs have you seen here about LB’ers who are getting close to goal (usually starting about 30 lbs. out from goal, depending on their BMI) and are facing a whole new set of challenges. Their BMI is lower, as is their weight. Although they’re at their Sweet Spot the amount of food they can eat and still lose weight is no longer working for them. The same goes for exercise. Yeah, they’ve hit plateaus before, but that doesn’t even come close to this…it’s much worse…the weight loss stalls and slows down to a painful crawl…a death march even. I’m paying more attention to all those ‘30 and Goal’ posts (sounds like a football commentary, doesn’t it?). They feel guilty for complaining or even asking for support here…How can they not feel guilty for even seeking support when they’ve lost a ton of weight and are now in clothes sizes they haven’t seen in years…for some, since grade school? How can they justify needing support when others are struggling just to start losing their weight? After all, they’re so close to goal…and look at all the newbies here just starting their 6 mo. diet…or those that are now in ‘Bandster Hell’ and are just trying so hard to maintain and wait for those fills. What right do they have to complain? They’d look like FOOLS for complaining! They’ve lost a ton of weight…they’re almost at goal…they look better…they feel better…they are so happy with their weight loss…I’m with you…WHAT THE HECK DO THEY HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? Except…now…I’m almost there… These Banders get that. They feel the same way…they feel happy and frustrated at the same time…they’re happy with how far they’ve come, but they’re frustrated with their slow progress getting those last 30 or so pounds off. Should they feel happy or sad? They don’t even know how to feel about it…and it‘s not like the NSV’s are still pouring in to make them feel good as they‘ve now been this weight for awhile. Maybe they even feel a little like a failure and as though they’ve let others or themselves down with their slow weight loss. These Banders feel like they have to apologize for even complaining. Over and over they feel like they had to justify why they had a right to be frustrated at all. So how do you go about explaining how horrible it feels being so close to goal and for your weight loss to stall. You lost the bulk of the weight at least somewhat steadily, but now the scale is barely moving and at this rate it might/is taking years to get to goal. Those people generally get sympathy from others who are in the same position they are, or others that have already been through it (and we know there not as many ‘old-timers’ here…maybe this is why some disappear even?). Don’t we all give great sympathy to those going through ‘Bandster Hell’? It’s because we’ve all been there. I kept thinking…heck, when I was going through that period after banding and before restriction and I was feeling down and needed support all I had to say was ‘I’m going through Bandster Hell’ and I’d get all kinds of support…‘Oh, I’ve been there too’… ‘This is normal’ … ‘Don’t worry it will end soon’ … ‘Try this…’ Mention just two words ‘Bandster Hell’ and you need not have to explain any further…we get it…we sympathize. Here’s the thing…I’ve decided I’ll need an acronym or at least a term for this period in my Band journey. If I can say PB, Slime, Stuck, or Bandster Hell and I don’t need to explain or justify these terms and my being there, then why isn’t there one for this tough, usually longest phase in the Band journey? I looked on several sites and there isn’t one. I need a term so that I can talk about this without having to give a lengthy explanation and justification each time…something like ‘Bandster Hell’. I figure the best time to come up with this is even before I start into this phase. I don’t need your support yet for this, because I’m not there yet, but I will be soon. I looked at words and I found one that really struck home…LIMBO, in limbo: a state of uncertainty or of being kept waiting; a state of oblivion or neglect; a condition of uneasiness or aprehension; a state or place of profound anxiety brought on by the unknown; indeterminate state; a condition of unknowable outcome. Well that works. So I’m coining a new phrase for myself (and anyone else) here so I won’t have to explain or justify why I need support. I’ll soon be 30 lbs. or less from goal and I’m sure I’ll need to continue getting support here. You’ll read this phase name and you’ll just nod your head and know exactly what I’m talking about and hopefully give me the support I’ll still need (because if your not there yet, you know you soon will be). You’ll understand that I have the right to be frustrated or upset because this phase of the journey brings its own set of challenges and it’s own set of emotional issues. I’ll need the same support you give all of us at any point in this journey. You see, I’m headed into that last phase of Weight Loss…and I may be there a LOOONG time so I’ll need your patience and understanding. I’m headed into ‘Goal Limbo’.

The weight loss surgery journey is all about chasing and achieving goals for weight loss, healthy eating, new activities, and tons of other NSVs at every stage of the journey. When you set new goals, do you share them with other people? With whom? And do you update them on your progress so you can get support? Or do you prefer to keep your goals personal until you hit them so you can focus on the goal?

Some but not all. There are ones that I will share with family/friends like wanting to run a 5K, and I've even asked them to help me think up some NSVs. There are others that I feel are too embarrassing/personal that I would keep to myself, I mean at least until it happens maybe.

My latest NSV was really a Negative NSV! :-P I found a shirt I really wanted BAD! It was the only one in purple they had. And it was 3 sizes too BIG! I was too thin to wear it. :-) Get my free eBook - The Top 10 WLS Fears and How to Kick Their Butt!