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My six month surgiversary was yesterday and I’m feeling great. I’m losing at a pretty consistent 14 lb a month rate right now and I think that is terrific. I don’t lose every day – in fact I often go up a pound or two and stall out for a few days and then lose for the next few. Here is a roundup of my NSVs since I started losing weight pre-surgery last June: Now wear large t-shirts and polos down from 3-4x before 2x dress shirt as opposed to 5x before Pants size 46 down from a tight 62 before Walking has become very easy and I’m not intimidated by distance any longer One night I jogged to my car (parked in the far end of the lot) in the rain I’m doing deep Water aerobics 2x a week and regular water aerobics 1-2x a week Every physical aspect of my life is so much better and I have a tremendous boost in energy So far, I’ve not had any issues with food worth mentioning. I’m finding it pretty easy to stick to the 600-800 daily calorie intake with 60-80g Protein and 30g net carbs or less. This site and others have proven to be very valuable to me because when I get the urge to splurge I look for something to inspire my inner chef and stay on track. My diet is as varied as fish tacos with low carb lavosh to slow cooked bbq pork with a no calorie bbq sauce. My restriction is very good and I only eat 2-4 oz of protein depending on the density. I’m working to add more fruits and veggies to my diet now but protein is first and the king of my plate. When eating at home, my wife and I make our own meals about 75% of the time. Prior to surgery I would have found this unacceptable. I think that was a symptom of my obsession with food. Now I see it as we both get what we want. When we do share a dish it fits my meal plan and she has lost about 20 pounds too. She also exercises with me very often. This has benefited us both. Going out to eat with my wife and/or friends has been fun too. I’ve learned to order whatever I want – and I want food that fits my plan. I don’t worry about wasting food. I order by taste so that I don’t feel deprived. Sometimes just an appetizer. Sometimes a full entrée with left overs. Sometimes a shared app and entrée. Taking food home is an option and because I ordered food I liked, I often have the leftovers for 2-3 meals. Most of my fears before surgery have not been realized. I’m pretty comfortable with myself right now. I get impatient and want to lose faster but then I consult my logs and see how far I’ve come and that really helps. I’m now preparing myself for the possibility of plastic surgery at the end of my journey. I wish everyone as much success as I’ve had so far.

I have had a very long stall too. I seem to be stuck at 204 lbs. At first I panicked because I felt the old "here I go again" and the inevitable gain. But a week passed and another and then a second week and a third I lost 2 lbs. and agian I stall. It seems different to me now, somewhere along the line I realized it isn't the same. I won't regain it and if I have hit the weight I will be so be it. It isn't where I wanted but it sure isn't where I was. I am no longer hungry, I am no longer worried about wiping out a hip on a downward slope on my bike. I eat well and carefully and I have not lost much hair at all. I enjoyed an NSV the other day when I was finally prodded into shopping and I went into Old Navy and bought two "L" tops...They fit. The size 16 pants will be very loose soon. I am somehow, at least for right now, content with the loss I am experiencing. If I loose 2-3 lbs a month that is fine by me. I want more and I am working on it. Onderland is where I plan to reside. For now I am content to coast along after some very hard fought for victories. Keep my new good habits and stay active. Hope this helps!

I feel amazing today! I am 3 weeks postop today and am down 35 lbs. from my highest weight (287), 21 since surgery day (273). I had a stall of sorts for almost a week but the scale is moving again now (252). My incisions are completely healed and really feel like I never had surgery, except for the lack of hunger and the tiny amounts I can eat I am still on purees for another week and am doing great - everything has really gone down quite well, I just get full really fast. I am getting in liquids just fine and still struggling to get enough calories and Protein, but working on it every day. I've been hitting the gym since last week and doing just cardio for now - elliptical and treadmill. I am still able to wear most of the same clothes I started in (mostly size 20) but they are getting really baggy and feel way different and TODAY I put on a top (size 14/16!!) I bought quite a while back to "shrink into" and it fits! It is just a stretchy knit top and isn't super loose but with my shapewear (ha!) I feel comfortable and confident in it and that hasn't happened to me for AGES! I am by no means in a 14/16 in pants (I think I am solidly in an 18 now) but I will take what I can get, considering I am only a fraction of the way to my goal weight I think this is just one of many wonderful days to come and I just cannot say how happy I am that I took this huge step for myself and my family - I would recommend the sleeve to anyone contemplating WLS!

So, I went in today for my six month check up with my doc...even though I'm already 7 months plus post-op. He gave me a graph of my BMI and weight loss since my first visit with him. The graph was eye-opening! I think I'm stalled, but his graph shows that I'm losing steadily. After I asked my questions, including for a copy of the video of my surgery, he asked me a few questions. He gave me some samples of different brands of bariatric Vitamins for me to review for him and asked that I let his office know if I like them. I'll do that over the next month. Then he asked me if I'd mind answering a few questions online for him. I thought he was asking me to take some kind of online survey at first, but as he went on I realized that he wants me to answer questions for visitors to his website! WOW! I'm so flattered to be asked and, of course, I am more than willing to do that! From what he said today, I've already exceeded his expectations for my weight loss and fitness level and he mentioned that I'm staring 100 pounds in the eye. He expects that I will be well over 100 pounds lost when I go back at the end of July for my 1 year check up. My anniversary isn't until the end of August, but to accomodate both or our schedules, I have an appt nearly a month early. I've mentioned before that I think my surgeon is the bomb and he proved it to me again today! In just that short appointment, he managed to make me feel wonderful about my progress insteadof the frustration I've been feeling for a few weeks. He also explained a few different things to me about what to expect going forward. That really made me feel better about the next stage of my journey. I was worried that I am out of the "losing" stage and now am into the "have to work really hard at it" stage. I want to be his poster child for the sleeve and he assured me that I already AM a poster child for the sleeve because of the loss I've had so far and how hard I am working at my weight loss. He also told me to expect big losses over the next few months, both because of the sleeve and because of my newly formed exercise habits. I'm feeling pretty awesome tonight, especially for a sleever who went in fully expecting to find out that my results are disappointing. I'm actually pretty far ahead of the curve!

I was putting together a digital photo album from a trip I took to Ireland in October. I started to get frustrated because my friend had taken this great picture, but some skinny woman was standing in the middle of it, ruining the shot. I looked at the picture at least five times before I realized the skinny woman ruining my picture was ME! LOL.

That is so cool! But I'm such a NEWBIE!... What is NSV?

Yay! What a great NSV for you!

Great NSV!! I am always looking for NSVs! They keep me motivated!

I was driving around today in the car and looked down. I suddenly realized my stomach no longer touches the steering wheel. It was far, far, far away and I mean far away. I couldn't believe. Losing 53 lbs really is something. Surgery was December 7th 2011 and I feel so awesome. WhooHoo. Keep rocking your sleeves everyone.

Love it! And the others are right, that's not a small NSV. Congratulations!!

NSV...I managed to go all Easter weekend and didn't even eat one piece of candy!! Whoot-Whoot and I got the Scale Victory this morning...Had my first official weight check at Kaiser and I am officially down 10 of the 25# I have to lose before I can schedule my sleeve surgery!! Happy Monday!!

That is a great NSV! I too hate taking pictures and can't wait to feel comfortable again doing that. Congrats!

That's not a small NSV. It's HUGE!! I find myself taking pictures of myself now and I've never done that before. I take pics because I really like the outfit I have on, or because I like my hair that day. NEVER would have happened before. I'm thrilled that you're now in the family pictures! That's terrific for you and for them!!

Hi guys - Just wanted to share because I thought many of you could relate. Over the Easter weekend we wanted to take pictures of the family. There are literally years and years of photos in our family albums WITHOUT me in the pictures (I always offer to take the pictures) because I didn't want to ever be photographed. Too painful to see those pictures. Well, this weekend, I found myself jumping in and asking my daughter to take a picture of me and the hubby. First time in soooo long I've found myself OK with that! I have a long way to go until I feel entirely comfortable on film, but I thought it was a good sign that my mind is changing and I'm liking myself a little bit more these days.

As of yesterday, I am down 25 lbs and could get into some cute capris that were way too tight before surgery (3/27). Today I put on my pants for church and they are loose now too. Makes not having the Easter candy so worth it!

My surgery was 02/29 and I'm down 46 lbs. In my 26 years I have never lost this amount of weight. I am so exited and it is amazing to see results. Everyone is telling me that they can tell I'm losing. At this point I still do not see it. My start weight was 356 so 46 lbs is small in the grand scheme of things, but huge at the same time! I can feel that my clothes are a little looser. Also I have reached my very first NSV goal. My wedding ring fits!!! I was so excited to be able to put it on. I can eat more than I thought I would be able to, but still NOWHERE near what I used to. I'm so happy that I got the surgery. Sometimes I want to walk up to overweight people and tell them that they can change their life. I know if someone did that to me though I would probably knock them out lol. I love when people ask me questions. My grandmother has someone at her work that I'm meeting with for dinner on Wednesday to discuss the sleeve and answer any questions she has. I guess she will get a first hand look at what eating after the sleeve is like. I am so excited to be able to share the info about the surgery with her, it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. Still quite a ways from goal, but each day brings me closer.

Just put on a dress I bought 2 years ago and never wore. It fit, was even a little too big, I dare say...BUT, the NSV is that I put on a pair of pantyhose, without having to lay on the bed or put a nail through them because I was pulling so hard to get them over my thighs!!!! :) :)

HUGE NSV!! Congrats!!

I'm walking 4 to 5 miles but was able to get in a .25 mile jog with my son running beside me. He's an athlete in great shape it felt so great to run with him. My goal is a mile just one step at a time. Sleeved 2/29 starting weight 242 current weight 215

Just got out of the shower and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I was able to wrap my towel around myself, secure it (like a dress, kind of), and be completely covered!!! So stinkin' excited!!

Thanks everyone for posting after surgery. I'm getting a little nervous my surgery is on the 10th. I can't wait to have my first NSV. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Tried on cute winter boots this year and couldn't buy ANY except super short ones because my short fat legs would not fit into any of them. I was mortified and my husband felt terrible for me! I am 10 weeks from being sleeved in Mexico and I'm focusing on positive things like this. I want to be able to fit my calves into some cute boots this coming winter!!

I had to share because weight wise I've been holding steady around 225, but inches wise... I found my box of pre-pregnancy clothes (198 and a size 14/16 before I got prego 1/2010) - Just for shots and giggles I tried on what *used* to be my favorite bra... It fit! Then I pulled out a pair of pants... THEY FIT! Lastly I pulled out a shirt and IT FIT! I haven't been able to wear these clothes in 2 years and they freaking fit! I'm doing a little happy dance right now

I was in a stall for a week and down 2lbs this morning..shopped got new jeans 2-3 sizes smaller than the ones I had been wearing..in the closet I went..thee out a stack of too big items and found the size 16 kaki pants I bought by mistake..I had the same pants in a 24 and wanted another pair and grabbed wo.g size...I put them on today and they button and zip!!! A little tight..but stop...the new jeans r 18 and just right..last week got new shirts and underthings in14/16..goodbye 20s hello teens!!..not too long and I can shop in regulastoresr..36 lbs down...52 days post op..go to see my surgeon on tues.