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This is a BIG victory. Celebrating with you and cheering you on to many more NSV.

Lissa - you look great! I agree with a cami - you could absolutely go out in it. I, too, love the Flexees brand. It is great to see you enjoying the sweet taste of an NSV. You give so much to everyone on this site, it is nice to see you having a victory and celebrating for yourself. Best of luck to you. Sharon

I am approaching my one year anniversary on February 12th. I have had a good first year, have lost all but 10 pounds of my excess weight, and have made many behavior changes. But I have always been worried (scared!) about being successful in maintenance, since that has been my lifelong pattern. I have lost close to 100 pounds 4 times previously, and haven’t successfully kept it of for more than a year or two after achieving goal. I did something positive to help me get into maintenance. It is another “tool” to help me be a healthy smaller person – just like the sleeve itself is a tool. (That’s my NSV – I did something positive for my maintenance). I enrolled in a class taught by the nurse that runs the WLS support group at the Baylor Carrolton (Texas) hospital. Baylor is a big medical system in the Dallas area, with hospitals in several suburbs of Dallas and the main facility in downtown Dallas. My surgeon, Dr. Nicholson was the head of the WLS program at Baylor Plano. I chose to attend the support group through the Carrolton office, since it was closest to my office. The class is “The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients”. The class is several sessions, with each session focusing on one of the Success Habits. The material in the class is based on material by Colleen M. Cook and developed by the Bariatric Support Centers International. The material includes a book, workbook, website membership and additional information given in the individual sessions. The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric support groups each month and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence (per the material – I haven’t verified this independently). It is great material for those in the losing phase and those that are going into maintenance. The premise behind the material and the class is a survey of patients who had WLS surgery, and what behaviors are in common for those that are successful versus those that are not successful. The average time from surgery for the patients was 7 years. The average amount of weight lost was 103 pounds The habits are follows: PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY: I recognize that I alone am responsible for my success and failures PORTION CONTROL: I understand the importance of satiety and understanding my body’s signals NUTRITION: I make good healthy food choices each day. FLUID INTAKE: I drink the right amount of the right kinds of fluid at the right times each day. EXERCISE: I have adopted the habit of exercise as a regular part of my lifestyle VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS: I take good quality vitamins each day to support my good health. Sounds simple, right? Well, I have taken classes on the first two classes and I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH – particularly about accountability. I am not scared like I was about maintenance – these classes are really setting things out for me in a clear way that I think I can successfully do going forward. And, if I hit a bump in the road in the future – I think I will be able to recover – rather than spiraling out of control. If there is interest, I will set up a sub-forum for the “Success Habits” and have threads for each habit, or each key learning I have from the classes. I am so pumped up about these classes; I am considering taking the classes to become a Support Coach for WLS patients. Let me know if you are interested in hearing more about this on this sight. Sharon

I am one month post-op today! Feeling absolutely fabulous, loving all the compliments about how great I am looking. Best of all is how I feel. DH told me he thought I wasn't breathing one night last week because he couldn't hear me. NSV! First fill Wednesday, thought maybe I didn't need it since I have been losing steadily. However, I can eat all my protein, 10oz. of veggies and 4oz. of fruit. I am eating healthy but worry about stretching my pouch trying to stay satisfied. This forum has been soooo much help. Thank You All!

Yep! It is a great NSV, I agree with a lil vest underneath and away you go! You're looking great! Congrats x

I can cross my legs!!!! I can cross my legs..like a WOMAN!! WHOOO-HOOOO! It does not look perfect,(as in.. back of knee is not, FLUSH against top of knee) BUT the fact that I'm capable to in any fashion, is AMAZING! Just had to share..Can't remember the last time I was able to <3

Hey everyone, went shopping yesterday for dress clothes for my new job that i start tomorrow (been wearing scrubs forever) my mom accidentally brought me a pair size 14 to try on, i was like there is no way this will fit but low and behold it did, can you say ALRIGHT!!! Just had to share my awesome NSV, thanks for reading. I am 6mons postop, have lost 40lbs, down 4 pants sizes, and feeling great :-)

So, when I first started my journey, I met a gal at the support group wearing a super cute dress. A few days later, I ran into her during my post op at the surgeon's office and she was wearing the same dress, so I told her it was cute. She offered me the dress and I said Thanks, but no thanks. I told her it would never fit me, but she told me to have faith that it would! At last week's support group meeting, she told me she had the dress in her car for me. I tried it on today, with absolutely no hope/thought that it would fit today. Well, it does!! LOL I think it's too young for me, and it's definitely too low cut, but I'm posting the picture here, among friends as proof that the dress fits! Nope, I'm not at goal, but I'm crying because I never in a million years thought this dress would fit me and it does. THIS is a true NSV!!! Maybe in another 20 or 30 pounds I'll feel differently, but right now, I will not be wearing this dress in public. I'm pumped, though, to see real, tangible results of all the treadmill, exercise, and recumbent bike time I've put into me! Happy Dancing Today!!

Cant wait for that NSV! I know it will be one of my first since I lose on the bottom first. Its kind of silly.. but its funny how the people who can already do this, like in the office or wherever don't even realize that I'm looking at them and are envious of crossing their legs. I hope to NEVER take for granted those little things.

Yee Haw!!! That's a great NSV! Congrats!!

I love that I can cross my legs now......and it's comfortable! Been wanting to tell someone that, but who else but my fellow Sleevers would understand such a victory!

I love that I can cross my legs now......and it's comfortable! Been wanting to tell someone that, but who else but my fellow Sleevers would understand such a victory!

im 6 weeks out and have only lost 14 lbs but i look upon it as any weight lost is good progress ! wait until you have your 1st nsv ! (non scale victory) . when my jeans were hanging off my hips and i could fit into some old clothes , that was a major "happy dance !" once you've gotten a few nice compliments you feel better. so when the scale slows down think of the nice nsv's you re getting ( Hot Mama ! was one compliment i got . what a hoot !!) best of luck !!

Great! That's an awsome NSV! Keep up the good work!

Congrats on your nsv and I love the positive attitude. Keep up the good work.

So, yes.. I know it's after 3am.. but, I just got in from karaoke...any who.. did a little shopping today.. bought some things.. including a pair of cute $60 jeans for $14... in a size 24... I know it still starts w/ a 2.. but... I was a 30 in November, a 28 on the day of surgery and been wearing my 1 pair of 26s.. so, I was like.. let me just try these on to see how far I have to go to be in a 24.. They came all the way up.. and I was like.. nah.. they won't button.. BUT they DID!!!! I'm so happy... The scale isn't moving much... but inches are falling off!!! Hallelujah!!! And, I finally went back to my therapist and she helped me work through some anxiety about not being successful w/ my sleeve and trying to be perfect patty all the time!! I've been so stressed about toeing the line that I've not been enjoying this journey.. WELL, that changed today.. I will not make any apologies for loving myself and my life, neither will I make excuses for the times I WILL fall and be less than perfect.. Each day is another opportunity to utilize everything I've been given to do what I need to do... No fear, just faith and motivation HERE on out!!!!

This past summer my job gave us new shirts to wear. I was unable to fit into mine cause I had accidently ordered a ladies XL instead of a Mens XL. I couldnt even get this shirt past my stomach. Today as I was dressing for work I decided to try it again. It fit perfectly! Then when I went to work I got complimented by my co workers about my weight loss. I guess its easier to see that a person has lost weight when they are not hiding behind such baggy clothing lol

Yahoo! For your scale-NSV!!!!

So I have noticed that my clothes were getting loose and things seemed to be getting smaller on my body but that dang scale was not budging. I was discouraged big time. Then came my gallbladder surgery last week Friday and I had all the fluids and swelling so I have been in the dumps for a while. I was wondering what gives. Then this morning I step on the scale and IT MOVED DOWN!!!! 155! I'm so happy!!! I know it's just one pound but that how it starts and by the end of 7 days I know I will be down at least 5!!

After my workout, in the men's locker room they have a real fancy scale, one with a digital display mounted on the wall with 8" tall digital number readout, a few feet above your head, for ALL to see. So, I get on the scale, Ok, not bad, not great, at least I'm moving in the right direction. Then, from a man waiting to get on after me, says..."Man, I'll take that!" WTH? I never would have expected that in my life. I turn and smile at him, and notice he's in pretty good shape! WTH is he talking about? I've had many people tell me that even though you are loosing weight, your mind is not programmed to think that way. And when people compliment you, they are seeing something your mind cannot comprehend. Oh, BTW, in the men's locker room we are all walk around with nothnig more than a towel!

This morning after I got out of the shower, I wrapped the towel around me, usually it comes undone the minute I move, oh, anywhere, but it stayed around me until I had to get ready, I guess this is some sort of a nsv (if it is than yay!!!) Which got me thinking about goals. Also it got me thinking about how oblivious men are. Before Christmas, my co-worker was telling me about these rings that she gave her son's girlfriend for Christmas, they're called stackable expressions (google it!) so I tell my boyfriend about them (and not for nothing they are not that expensive!) for a Christmas idea and sure enough, guess what I don't get?? But he did give me a nice necklace. Okay back to goals, so I've decided that with every ten pounds I lose I'm going to get one ring. Of course I'm not going to buy them every time I lose ten pounds, but for example, when I lose 50 I'll go to the jewelers and pick out five, cannot wait! If I look at another shrimp again I'm going to be sick. I'm all shrimped out and that is one of my favorite foods, oh well they always have it at the grocery store. Next week I'm getting a fill and the mds requirements are two days of liquids two days of mushies and then solids by Friday, I totally forgot about this, so I guess I'm going to have to freeze the meatballs I made last night and also the corned beef and cabbage I'm making this weekend, but hey it's always good to have meals on hand! Last night I went to the gym for 45 minutes on the elliptical. I like love to listen to music while working out, I have the iheartradio app on my phone, and I put it on to the spin cycle station, which is great club music and NO COMMERCIALS it keeps me motivated enough that I don't even realize that my time is almost up. By the time I got home I was too tired to pack a breakfast and lunch for work tomorrow, so I had to resort to the cafeteria here, which is okay. I had a veggie egg white omlette with a little cheese it definetly filled me up. I've realized I cannot be so obsessed about how many calories/protein I consume a day. If I eat something and I'm full, then I'm full. I'm going to try that for the next couple of weeks and see how that goes. Can't give up on my chobani though! Have a good day!

Today was a really good day. I'd been having a tough time of it so far...trying to get all the liquids in, certainely couldn't figure out anything to eat. My husband, who has been wonderful taking care of me, went back to work today (first day since my surgery) and my father came to spend the day with me. And he really helped me take the next step. I gave him the diet book that the hospital gave me and he helped me really rationalize how to get my protein in, and we went to the grocery store, got foods and he and I cooked, pureed, and came up with some great ways and realistic ways for me to actually do this. Today was a really turning point for me. I really feel empowered that I can do this. I really moved around today too. First day without a nap since surgery. May seem small, but that's a big thing for me. Still on painkillers for the stomach muscle that was stitched together during surgery, but other than that, I feel pretty darn good! Just wanted to share!

NSV = Non-scale victory!

Does Nsv stand for...new size victory? I've seen nsv every where, but just not certain what it stands for. :-)