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Coops, congrats on your boxing NSV! I think that's awesome! And congrats, Thin, on getting back to the gym. Escape, you are soooo close, that's really exciting! I did OK today. I'm trying to figure out the balance of getting back into the gym. I am still sore from my run on Sunday, so I think I overdid it. I've done pretty well with the food, but I find that my carbs are still a bit high. I feel good that i am re-focusing however. Day by day, getting better and healthier.

WOW... that is a brillaint NSV and something I would love to be able to do. Don't think I am strong enough yet, but who knows what is in the future...

So last night and the night before.... Both mornings I have awoken with my pjs bottoms below my butt because..... THEY'RE TOO BIG!!!

Ok so today my shoulders are KILLING me so I decided to take a hot bath in my jacuzzi bathtub. I hadn't taken a bath ( I'm a shower person) since before my surgery in june. When I finish a bath I always drain the water and get out after the tub is empty. I've always had to move my hinny to release the trapped water behind me. Most of you all know what I'm talking about. Well, tonight after the water drained, I did my shimmy and low and behold... NO WATER!! my butt has shrank so much that no longer trap water behind me! Woo hoo!!!

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I'm feeling fine and back on the program. Lots of bruises from the heart cath but doing fine. I started walking again daily on Monday and can feel it in my calves! Had not really exercised since early Nov. There are still a few little goodies here and my hubby is eating them so I will be glad when they are gone! They do call my name. I've also started tracking my food & exercise intake again, I've got to get some more weigh off. Like you Bobrocky, my knees and back are better but I need to do more. Glad you are still loosing, 2 lbs a month is better than gaining. I agree with you, seems like you would have gone down more size wise with all that weight you have lost. Wrinkly fingers is funny. Never thought about them loosing weight. Ms lady, get that 5 lbs off. Maybe it's Water weight! LOL I know you can do it. Healthywoman I am so jealous of your 179. Congratulations on that and an actual loss over the holidays. Kristen, sounds like you are doing great. 3 1/2 lbs is wonderful. Everyone give us updates on how you survived the holidays. Hopefully we are now all back on our programs and exercise and doing well. Any NSV out there? I need your encouragement to stay on my program so everyone speak up! You are my accountability group. Does anyone track their carbs and Protein? I had not been lately and when I did today I was shocked to see my Crystal Light has 12 carbs in each serving. I've been having 3 of them a day and maybe that's why I am not loosing. I think my Dr said we need about 80 grams of protein a day. What limits do you all do? I nearly died of embarrassment Sun after church. We went out to a deli, the only thing open, for lunch. I ordered a grilled turkey reuben thinking it would be grilled and I would eat half. It was sorta toasted, not grilled. After 2 bites I had to excuse myself to the rest room. Nothing would go down or come up so I went back out and a few minutes later had to go in there again. This time it came up and I slimed for the first time. Yuck! We were with one couple that knew I had surgery. The other one did not but they are pretty good friends so I told them why I kept leaving. No more toast for me. It just won't go down. We can do this! Have a great week. Blessings, GG

Today has been a good day re food... low carbs, high Protein and just under 900 cals... the xmas weight has come off now... just got to see the lower end of my 'bounce weight' .... then to get below 164lb! With the really low carb, I was hoping to see a little more movement...perhaps I am being impatient... yea, ok, I know I am being impatient! One thing that I have noticed is that I am getting headaches... now, this is probably hormone related with a little bit of low carb thing included... gotta push through this! I've been give HRT Patches to try again too... and put my first one on tonight, so this will be an interesting couple of week... let's hope that they won't affect my weight or moods too much... lol Glad to see you all adding your days, experiences to this thread... it really does help me to see others out there in the same boat. I still love reading success stories and when efforts are rewarded with either weight loss or NSV! Keep up the good work my sleeve friends...

LOL! funny NSV! I hope your 5K training goes well and that you do great during your 5k!!!

A loss is still a loss. If you only gain back 6 or 8 lbs., then you know what you have in a loss. Celebrate them, and celebrate the NSV's. I like those more then seeing weight loss on a scale. As long as you feel your winning that Battle ! Your doing just fine. So Congrats !

Just yapping about the changes I've noticed since being sleeved. Some NSVs, some new revelations. My relationship with food is more enhanced. Since my portions have decreased so much, I really have to savor and enjoy the food that I’m eating. I used to scarf my food down like I was afraid someone was gonna take it away from me. Now I actually TASTE and appreciate the food I’m eating. I used to taste it before too, but dining is now an experience for me where as before it was a task. Does that make sense to you? For example, I’ve been making Spinach Lasagna for my family for years, and they all rant and rave about how good it is. Before I didn’t really eat it, but this past New Years, I had a spoonful, and actually tasted all the herbs and different flavors of the cheeses. That was a great EXPERIENCE for me and my tastebuds. I LOVE going to the gym. A year ago you couldn’t even pay me to step foot in a gym! I guess with the weight loss and the boost of confidence, I’m no longer worried about looking like a fat person trying to lose weight. I get to Planet Fitness, plug my headphones in and I become one with that treadmill, or bike, or ellipticall machine. I have never been this amped and motivated to get in shape. I think getting in shape is the key to this – I’m not focusing on losing weight because that is happening any way. I’m focusing on toning my body and getting my endurance up and seeing that progress makes going to the gym a very enjoyable experience. I don’t know how to shop for clothing anymore! It’s like I’m a stylist trying to give someone a makeover! I’m not complaining because it’s fun! I’m trying on clothes that I would never have considered in my pre-sleeved life. I got so accustomed to going right into Lane Bryant and the other big girl stores and settling for all the oversized blouses and tent like dresses they offer us. I’m not necessarily ready to shop in a skinny girl store for all my clothing yet, but it’s nice to be able to walk into a “regular” store and have the option to wear some of their clothing and not just the jewelry. I loved to shop before, but now that my options for stores to shop in have doubled, I’m in heaven!!! On another note, my ass and boobs have left the building. I wasn’t a Dolly Parton Kardashian candidate before, but now my profile looks like that of a door. You gotta see how I’m going after that glute machine in that gym. SMH. Been looking for “booty pop panties” on EBay and Amazon. New adventures in grocery shopping too! I was never a label reader up until about 2 years ago. Even then I was really only focusing on finding foods that had aspartame in them because I’m trying to stay away from it as much as I can. I would also glance at fiber content, as I like to know that my fam is eating foods rich in fiber. Now I find myself comparing everything to see what has the most protein in it. I am losing my hair. It’s coming out at the root. It’s my fault though because I’ve been neglecting my vitamin regimen as usual. I know, I know. Gotta get my vitamins in, it's essential to my well being. I can see my pubes. My stomach hung so low before that it covered my lady parts. I have gotten comfortable with telling people that I’ve changed my eating habits when they say “What are you doing to lose the weight?”. I tell them that my portions have gotten way smaller, and I’m more aware of what I’m putting in my mouth. I tell them that I’m also going to the gym, trying to get to a healthier place. Who says I have to mention the part about being sleeved? I sat in the movie theatre with my sons to watch the Chipmunks movie the other day. The seat was comfortable. Its usually to snug and I end up having to scooch my self forward to get out of the seat without bruising my hips. Now, no problem. Will definitely be going to the movies a lot more from now on. I have to brush my teeth several times a day. I guess since we have to chew our food so much that we’re more susceptible to plaque. I just know that I hate that feeling – the cheesy film that you feel when you run your tongue across your teeth. Instead of twice a day, I’m up to 4 to 5 times for toothbrushing. Flossing is becoming more frequent too. I have to get my wedding rings sized. They look like hula hoops when I put them on my finger now. Everytime I see someone who is obese I want to run and tell them about the sleeve. I’m realizing that since I’ve gotten more accustomed to my sleeve, the less I get on to VST and the less I have to vlog about on Youtube. I now understand why so many people are all in for months at a time, and then they just disappear and return a year later to announce their “surgiversary.” Once life with your sleeve becomes normal, there isn’t much to report.

Today, a lady at work said "here comes skinny minny." OMGoodness, I haven't been called that in......never!!! Yay!! I told them I still weighed 178 though (i know, I'm my own worst enemy) and still had another 28 pounds to lose. The woman said if I lost another 28 pounds, i'd blow away.

<p style="margin-left: 40px"><strong><span style="color: #0000ff">LOL!! Thats a fun interesting NSV!!! Good things come in small packages?</span></strong></p>

I went for a physical today with my pcp because I am training for a 5K. They did the whole workup, blood, urine, pap smear and later today a mammogram. During the pelvic exam, my doctor said to me, "its a lot easier to check your ovaries now that you are so much thinner"... LOL I never thought about that.. what an nsv for me! Makes even my doctors life easier. My blood pressure was 80/60... really low. He wasnt concerned though. He said it was good. I was dehydrated but they didnt give me an IV, just told me to get to drinking. I am cleared to keep running now that I have my asthma inhaler. I just feel so much healthier.

As others have said, take the word only out of your vocabulary. This is not a race, but a lifestyle change. As long as you follow the "rules", you will lose weight. When the scale isn't moving, you should be looking for the NSVs. For me the weeks I don't lose pounds are the weeks where I see the most difference in how my clothes fit. I walked out of my first size lost during a stall!! I actively look for those Nsc changes now. My car seat is much more comfy now, I am down two sizes, I am getting rid of my bi-pap in a couple of weeks, and I am able to walk more and longer distances than before!! I love those changes, even when the scale is being stubborn. The best part is that I may get up tomorrow and see another 2.6 pound loss like this morning! Our bodies do what they want, but the weight that is gone now STAYS gone!! Yay!! Lissa

My husband and I have been going to the gym on and off for about a year... mostly off...lol. We started the 5k training together last week. Its going great. On days we dont walk\run, we do the weight training on the machines. He likes to take turns on the machine so he can compete with me. He is 6'2" tall and about 210. He is not muscular really so we lift pretty close the each other. Anyway, we were on this thigh machine that works your outer thighs. The two pads are against your outer thighs and your legs are together when you start. You swing your thighs apart to lift the weight. He started first and his inner thighs were touching and his knees very nearly. Then it was my turn to do a set. I started and there was this huge gap when my legs were together, he said, hey! your cheating... you dont have it set where your legs are all the way together! I said, yes I did! We checked it and sure enough, and to my great surprise, it was as close at the machine allows and there was at least 5 inches of room between my legs! LOL.. it was the greatest feeling to know my thighs have shrunk that much! They look little now! So much smaller then our earlier visits to the gym this year that he thought I was cheating! Woohooo! Just thought I would share in my excitement. My hubby couldnt stop talking about it at the gym... I love my sleeve

This is great! I really enjoy reading everyone's NSVs. I went from a 42DD to a 38DD and now I'm having to be fitted again. I love it. And Leslie - you're doing fantastic for just having had your surgery a few weeks ago. Wait until it's been a few months and you can hardly believe how small you've gotten

Yes. A NSV like that on New Years Day is a great way to be motivated for what's to come! No need for resolutions to diet and loose weight.

Hope you all don't mind my posting something that might not fall under a "success story" or "NSV"... but I just can't help but want to share! I have been with my significant other, Mike, for nearly a year now. He is the most wonderful man, and we've talked about getting married some time in the near future. The other night, Mike, and I took his four young boys on a Polar Express train. I don't know if you all are familiar with the story, but it's one of my favorites. They have an old train near Flagstaff, AZ, that you can take. All the children wear their pj's and bathrobes and they serve hot cocoa and Cookies. Well, as we're chugging along, Santa makes his way down the train giving the children sleigh bells. After he passes us, we have the four boys curled on our laps and Mike brings out a tiny box and says Santa left this for me. He opens the box and says "My dearest Sara, will you marry me?" I asked each boy what I should say and they yelled "YES!". So... I'm officially engaged! And the thought of wearing a wedding dress and not being embarrassed by my weight or pictures is just icing on the cake!

YAY! And Happy New Year to us all!! NSV on New Years day is great!!! What an exciting way to start the year! Karen

A couple NSVs I wanted to share 1. Removed the ol' bra extender! 2. Rings are too loose. They are spinning on my fingers. 3. Watch is too big, need to remove a link...or 2! 4. Officially in an XL! No more plus size section for tops!! 5. Need to buy some new undies!! I am constantly pulling them up! 6. Last and my FAVE... I can CROSS MY LEGS!! I told my husband: "I'm just gonna sit here, with my legs crossed....forever!"

Julie-I feel the same way. I thought that since I started with a much higher BMI that I would lose faster. Doesn't seem to be the case. It's hard not to get discouraged. People will say "Every loses at their own rate", which, while true doesn't make me feel any better. For once couldn't I be the one who loses faster!! I lost 24 pounds in my two weeks liquid pre-op. Then only like 22 my first month!! I lost that much doing WW and i got to eat all day everyday. I just try to keep telling myself- at least the weight is going in the right direction Down! for a change. And I keep telling myself that it will happen, even if i lose slower than others (especially the men!!!) It's especially hard for me- because I know from past experience that even when I lose 100# you can barely tell. Because I have so much to lose I don't get the NSV's that others do short term. When I lost the 100# before I didn't even go down a bra size or a clothes size! Yes, I felt better and was able to do more physical activity, but I didn't have anyone coming up to me and telling me how great I looked-whereas some people exhibit noticeable changes after only 30 or 50 lbs. So just try and think it doesn't matter how slow it's coming off-at least it's coming off. And we really can't compare ourselves to others-metabolisms vary-what we eat varies-amount of physical activity-even age plays a big part. Hang in there and keep working the plan and we will both get there on our own time. Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Awesome NSV with the pants! Luck being wished for you!

So, I had all last week off, part holidays, part vacation time I had to burn up or loose. I have been noticing the past few weeks that the "smaller" clothes I was wearing were now starting to look too big. I'm not really a clothes hoarder in the traditional sense (some may disagree), but I have been UP and DOWN for sooooo many years that I started keeping all these various sizes. No, I don't have infinite closets. I actually put up closet dollies down in the basement held up from the ceiling. I actually have 3 of them. One dolly is 12' long, another about 6' and another about 4'. It's a combination of work clothes, everyday clothes, jackets and then my show outfits when I compete at horseshows. Anyhoooo, I decided it was time to shed my bedroom closet and go "shopping" downstairs. I actually have some pretty nice things in the smaller sizes, so there wasn't really a need to pay money at the store. Then, yesterday a very good friend of mine who retired a couple of years ago offered to let me come raid her closet today for her work clothes since she doesn't need them anymore. I had to go to the store to buy some more hangers- LOTS of hangers. Some of the fun was some of her clothes were too big, but like me she had different sizes from times when she was thinner. How cool to be able to say, "I'm sorry but this is too big". Some really nice blazers, blouses, sweater sets, dress shoes (we wear the same size shoe!). Also, when I was "shopping" in my basement, i was trying on some skirts and such and to my amazement several fit. I have not worn a skirt in several years because I didn't want people to actually "SEE" my legs and see the roundness of my fat calves. They are still bigger than I like, but I'm not one to wear short skirts anyways. But, I'm to the point where I am now willing to wear skirts again. I actually got some panty hose today, something I haven't bought or worn in many many years (no need if I didn't wear skirts or dresses). I had no idea what size I would need to buy and so I looked at the sizing chart on the back and it said I should wear a size "B" pantyhose, not Q, not 1x, 2x, etc... Wow, talk about an amazing feeling!!! After I got home from the store and my friends house, hanging up all my new clothes, I decided I should try on the new panty hose because I was still in a little disbelief that I could wear a size "B". Sure enough they fit.... I hadn't seen my friend in a couple of months and when she saw me her mouth just dropped. She was like WOW, you look amazing. Her young adult daughter was there and she says, "wow, you are so skinny". Of course, I'm not skinny, but compared to where I was, I'm a lot thinner. Talk about ego boosters!!! It will be funny when I go back to work Tuesday and people start seeing me dressing so different. I have had a tendency to wear bigger clothes and didn't really spend a lot of time trying to dress super nice- just felt like it was a lost cause when I was so big. What a way to start out 2012!!! 102# down in 6 months, and 10 days!!! wooot!! wooot!!!! Final goal, here I come!

I had to share my excitement with folks who would understand...I kinda felt like the Progresso Soup commercial where the woman calls about her old jeans fitting and the man just doesn't get it when I tried to share my excitement with my shopping friend today. I went shopping today with some of my Christmas gift cards and just for grins I tried on a size 18 jean and they FIT!! When I had my surgery on April 22, 2011 I was wearing a size 26 so this absolutely made the first day of the New Year great for me. I can't wait to see where I might be on my 1 year anniversary after the success my band has helped me with so far. I am hoping that all my fellow bandsters have a blessed and skinny 2012!!