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i'm can (and want!) to do this: P.S. no, not a "weird" NSV, just kinda cool...cant seem to find the old, just vanilla-NSV thread and got lazy to keep looking! so here we are 😂

So did I. I thought my life was over and destined to a life of slow decay. Thank God I pulled myself up out of that mindset and did something about it. Congrats on all you have overcome. @SleeveToBypass2023 I loved reading about all those NSVs. You should be very proud. And the best of luck to you moving forward and making your dream a reality.

I'm going to try and keep this from being too long, but there's so much to say!!! First I'll start with my newest NSVs. I'm officially in a size 18 clothes (from my original size 30), size 10 shoes (from my original size 11), size 6 1/2 ring (from my original size 10), 18" chain on a necklace (from my original 24" chain), and 2x jacket (from my original 4-5x). I can now comfortably fit on a massage table without fear of it creaking or breaking. I can now ride a bike because I'm within the weight limit. I now am able to hit my favorite thrift stores and walk out with seriously cute clothes that look nice, sit well on me, and actually fit comfortably!! My asthma is almost completely gone (I only have it when I get super sick now instead of all the time). My blood work came back and my hormone levels are almost in the normal range (I have PCOS) and my cysts that completely COVERED both ovaries are totally gone (without having taken any meds or done any hormone therapies!!) I did a 6 mile hike this past weekend with my son. I am completely pain free and am able to go full on beast mode with my workouts again. I can go up 5 flights of stairs before I need to stop and rest. Now for my new chapter in life and old dreams becoming new again. So years ago, I wanted to become a nurse. I completed all of the academics with a 4.0, aced all the labs, but couldn't do any of the clinicals because I couldn't do all the walking, I was 400 pounds, and my health/joints/back were way too bad. So I gave up on it. Then about 2 years later, I thought "well, maybe I can be a medical assistant. Surely THAT'S not as hard" and once again, I couldn't do the externship because I couldn't do the physical stuff. So I went into other areas for work, ballooned up to 421 pounds, worked remotely, and made good money. I loved what i did, but there was always a part of me that regretted not being able to go into the medical field. That was my heart's desire. So fast forward to now. I'm between jobs and miserable. I had to stop working because of all my complications from my first surgery. Now that I've been cleared, I can't get hired anywhere. So I decided that now is a great time to go back to my dream of working in the medical field. So on Sept 5th, I start school to become a certified pediatric oncology medical assistant. Most of my previous credits transfer over, so I only have about 6 months of academics to do and then the externship. Then I sit for my certification exam and then I get to finally FINALLY do what I've always wanted to do. By my 46th birthday next June, I should be right where I want to be, doing what I want to do, and hopefully at my goal weight. I'm sitting here in tears as I type this, because I thought this was something I would never see happen. I resigned myself to being morbidly obese, extremely unhealthy, and needing a cane to get around. I may not be at my goal weight (the weight comes off a lot slower with a revision, and also as your bmi gets smaller and you get closer to your goal) but I believe eventually I'll get there. But the things this surgery is giving to me, the dreams I can live out, the health and wellness and years of my life I'm getting back..... it was all worth it. The complications, the uncertainty, the pain and healing and stalls.... all completely worth it. We all start this journey wanting the numbers on the scale to go down. But there's SO MUCH MORE this surgery gives you. I will never, ever regret my decision. Never.

Thank you @Jeanne. I will. Today I’m better emotionally. I was just completely overwhelmed yesterday that the scale didn’t move again. It’s been a few weeks with no change. I’m trying to focus on NSV as someone told me yesterday. It’s been hard but I’m determined to stay positive and see it through.

Thank you @Jeanne. I will. Today I’m better emotionally. I was just completely overwhelmed yesterday that the scale didn’t move again. It’s been a few weeks with no change. I’m trying to focus on NSV as someone told me yesterday. It’s been hard but I’m determined to stay positive and see it through.

Try to focus on NSV (non scale victories). That helps me when I'm in a stall, or I'm not losing as much as I think I should be. So for example... with my first surgery (I had the sleeve in May 2022) I lost 30 pounds in 30 days. It was insane. Then I hit the mother of all stalls. Each time I hit one, I would gain 3-5 pounds and sit there for WEEKS. I would come on here nearly in tears. Then I learned to look for things other than the numbers on a scale. I saw that I was off some of my meds. My clothes were starting to get a little looser. I dropped a ring size pretty quick. I was able to walk around more with less stops. As time went on and I was further out from my surgery, the weight loss slowed a lot. I was still losing, but at a much slower rate. But I paid attention to the NSVs and I was thrilled. I was able to work out longer, do more intense workouts, dropped another 2 sizes in clothes, ring and necklace sizes went way down, I could go up and down stairs, I was off all blood pressure, anti-inflammatory, and diabetes meds, I could sit in normal chairs with arms on them COMFORTABLY, I could cross my legs..... So many things to look at when the scale is being stubborn. I ended up having several complications from the sleeve around month 8 or so post op, and had to have a revision to bypass in June of this year. Right from the jump, the weight loss has been soooo slooooow. But my bmi and weight were a LOT lower than when I had my initial surgery (when I had the sleeve, I was 388 pounds, 5'6", bmi 63). When I had the revision, I was 275 with a bmi of 43). Also, weight loss is lower and slower with revisions. But I mostly wanted my life back because I couldn't do ANYTHING with the complications (I had 6 surgeries in 6 months). Now I'm back to working out BEAST MODE, I can live my life, properly stick to my diet, and watch my NSVs (the scale creeps along at a snail's pace, but I'm still seeing NSVs so I'm happy). Things will happen for you in the time, and in the way, they are supposed to. Just know that even when the scale isn't cooperating, other things in your body are. Just look for those, keep doing what you're doing, and you'll get there in the end.

A few NSV, I can finally close the towel around me, my hubby folded my tank top and put in his drawer thinking it was his, and my digital scale kept giving me a warning to have the app open when weighing in because people were within same range, I thought it was me because I was trying to see how much my weight fluctuated and how that affected my body fat % but turns out I'm 8 lbs lighter than my husband.

I have a new NSV... I can comfortably cross my legs when I sit. AND they stay on their own without having to hold them. It really is the little things that feel good

Before I lost the weight, I cringed any time I saw a camera and lived in fear of photos being posted online. Now, I'm like, take all the pictures you want. I'm constantly posting selfies and pictures of myself with others online. It's so much fun. One of my favorite NSV.

I second that NSV!

A future NSV for me will be when I lift the ban of no pictures posted of me on Facebook. At my heaviest, I had family taking pics at get togethers and posting online. I hated it and told them not to and yes, it's a pride thing. I don't know at what point I will feel comfortable with it again but I can't be the only one here who doesn't want their overweight photos online for everyone to see??? I'm looking forward to the day that I'll be OK with it.

Thank you all so much for your replies, gives me quite a bit to think about- wrestling with the issue. I love that NSV are very life changing, and I dont think im wrong picking a number either- just trying to wrap my mind around the difference between advisors and what is sustainable. i too am very short- and have lived most of my life overweight. Im motivated by the numbers, but just as an indicator on how im doing - and i do feel really good. Still no labs pulled, but have plans for them to be pulled in August, prior to the Bariatric nutritionist. At 4.5 months post op, i know i still have a bit to go, but am trying to shift my thinking towards the maintenance phases. Not there yet, but i could accept it if I my body decided this is my stable weight.

I've had several NSV's, such as comfortably fitting in a normal size chair, using a regular stall in the bathroom, fitting in the movie theater seats. But today is, without a doubt, my happiest. Today, after I did a 1 hr workout early in the morning, I spent the day with my son and we unexpectedly ended up doing a 4 mile hike!!!! I didn't have to stop and rest, I wasn't out of breath, and we were chatting the whole time without me struggling. He mentioned it a few times, and said he was so proud of me, and I was shocked. I literally didn't even notice how easy it was for me!!! I just got on with it and walked. It was AMAZING!!!!!

I totally agree that the NSV are MORE important, and that i cant tie myself to a number— and I KNOW that the benefits have SIGNIFICANTLY outweighed what the number on the scale is, but am wondering how do you know what a healthy weight for you is? Im getting conflicting numbers from my dietician and my GP— I was self pay in Mexico and have had to assemble a team on my own, and am wondering what other people have done. I have an appointment with Bariatric dietician (not just a regular one) but can’t get in until mid September. Currently, I am 4.5 months out and already at the target on the outcomes link provided above, and understand that the number chooses you— my number on my ticker is what i was comfortable at years ago, and think it will be achievable. My dietician thinks it’s too low, and my GP advises an even lower number— and ideal weight/BMI calculators seem stupid. I know i started with a much lower BMI, but am trying to find that “healthy place” where i can keep the weight under control over time as well.

Just came back from a short trip to Langkawi Island here in Malaysia with my wife and kids. This is my wife and I second visit after going there in 2013 for our honeymoon (time flies!). We all had a great time there specially my kids. The weather was nice and the island was not very crowded. I got to try a lot of things that I've never dared or was able to do before WLS. The trip was full of NSVs so I wanted to share some of those with you guys. 1. I didn't need a seat belt extension this time and had plenty of room in my seat! I was able to use the food tray without it pushing against my belly. 2. I tried parasailing (parachute on a boat), banana boat and even jet skiing for the first time in my life 3. I joined my wife and kids in playing all the rides and games in the water theme park. I was always the guy standing out of the pool cheering while my wife and kids were having fun. Not this time. My son was so happy that daddy was with him on the big water slide. Some of the rides had a weight limit of 80 kg (they even have a scale to weigh people who are close to that weight - I was not asked to hop on the scale haha). Climbing the stairs to the ride starting point would have given me a heart attack before WLS let alone sliding down. 4. We took a speed boat for island hopping which was awesome. In one of the islands we had to climb the stairs up to a beautiful lake (Unlike my first visit I was fine and not out of breath while carrying my bag and my daughter). We rented pedal boats and circled around the lake for 30 mins which was awesome. 5. We took some photos at the resort that we stayed in during our honeymoon 10 years ago. Left photo was taken in August 2013 and right one three days ago. This was also my first time ever wearing shorts in public and being at ease with it. Guess who bought 4 more shorts haha. The cherry on the cake was weighing myself after returning home to find that I've lost half of my weight on surgery day. A total of 74.5 kg lost which is my wife and daughter's weight combined!

Thanks buddy! Likewise. I also enjoy seeing your progress photos. I will be posting about my recent island trip so stay tuned for that. Lots of NSVs

Hi surgery buddy! Glad to hear that you are feeling good and loving the way you look. Well done and I hope you reach you goal. I'm also having the best time of my life and this past year and half has been filled with lots of NSV and proud moments. I'm now half the man I used to be. I weighed 74.5 kg this morning compared to 149 kg before WLS (74.5 kg or 164 lbs lost so far). My goal is 70 Kg so I have to lose 4 more kilos but I'm not in a hurry. I just came back from a short holiday with my family and I was able to do and try a lot of things that were impossible before. I'll post about it soon.

You're absolutely right! The first week I lost a lb andwas pretty disappointed. Since then I've stayed off the scale and don't plan to get back on until my follow up appointment. I'm going to do a monthly weigh in going forward and trust the process. I do think I'm losing inches though, my scrub top feels looser so that's a nice nsv!

Newest nsv.......Walking out of my swimming shorts! Luckily i was at home. While walking through my hallway with items in both hands, my swim shorts fell down to my ankles! I almost also walked out of my pants at work! Great NSV's if you ask me!!!

Another NSV, I recently got the opportunity to travel through Europe. I could find clothes everywhere. Old me would've been worried about finding clothes. I got to go dress shopping in Europe and could buy and try on normal sizes. I am now sitting between a L/M dress size, coming from an XXXXL. I bought myself a summer dress as a little reward for the weight loss.

Weird NSV. I know I've slimmed down a lot but I still feel like my heaviest self some days, especially in social situations. I have my days. I was at a work conference meeting a bunch of new people and I was having some appetizers with a new coworker. We were talking about food and I was telling her how I was super hungry because I hadn't eaten much that day. She laughed and said "Are you one of those people that eats like crazy amounts of food but still stays skinny???" I was so taken back by the comment I didn't even know how to respond in the moment. I still see myself as a big person but then stuff like that happens and I need to take a second and enjoy how far I've come. Coming from being super morbidly obese I was shocked to hear that. I kind of laughed when I got myself together and said no, and that I watched what I ate because I had recently lost a lot of weight.

I can’t believe I haven’t really thought about this NSV until now, but now that you mention it, I remember that I used to go through so many pants because of wearing out the inner thighs. I haven’t worn out a single pair of pants since I’ve been my current size (about 2 years)!

I just said this today to one of my coworkers!!!! Its a great NSV!

I so agree with you!!! its an awesome NSV!