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I went to bed last night, I sleep on my side, and I had this pain, I thought ok, now what the heck, I turned over on the other side, same pain again. I thought ok, something under the sheet. So I start feeling under the sheet nothing. Tried to go back to sleep still this nagging pain, then I realized the pain was from my hip bone. Never felt that before.. It was funny to me just wanted to share, thought all would enjoy a laugh. Kind of a NSV for me.

This time 6 months ago I was waking up after my surgery in the ICU. After a moment on confusion and throwing up I started my road to recovery. Before surgery it scary and so hard to imagine what life would look like now, and now I dont know what I was scared of. The journey hasnt always been easy but it has been worth it. I spent alot of time working on myself, my relationship with food and with others. I still have a way to go to be where I want to be both in weight, the way I look and the way my life looks, but it all feels very achievable now. As far as stats go to to date I have lost 105 pounds, and about 5 pounds from my first major goal....i work in kilograms, so to be in double digits will be my first big celebration. From there I have another 60 pounds to go.I wear anything from a 20 to a 14 now depending on the make. It is hard to judge but have been splurging on some goal outfits as I go along....at times I have bought clothes that are already too big for *shrug* I still have some minor issues with reflux but control this with medication at the moment, still am hopeful I will get off these soon. I eat what I want, tho my body does crave healthier more nutrient rich food and am learning to control the binge urges more than I ever have. I have been working out intensely since 6 weeks out, now work out twice a day averaging 5 days a week. My fitness is getting better and better. There have been stalls and downs but I try take them with a grain of salt and keep working on the next goals, mix it up and keep moving forward. They can really do your head in if you let them. I had my follow up with my GP last week and he did not recognise me. I am getting alot of comments, positive feedback and endorsements of what is happening, alot of positive, some people have also decided to add their opinions about who I was before and how I ate without really knowing anything about what i have gone through and the mental changes I have had to make with the physical. Some highlights (NSV's if you like) from the last 6 months: - Being able to run for over 20 minutes straight and extending that - Fitting in and feeliing confident in my first little black dress - Not complaining and actually wanting my photo taken now - Last Friday night, being able to dance the night away in heels with only minimal pain after 7 hours - Walking the whole parade route (back and forth) while in New Orleans for Mardi Gras - No more extender belts on planes, feeling more comfy in those cattle class seats - Not sure if this related but feeling less stress in my life, being able to hand stressful situations better, think this is more to do with my mental health that i have been working on, before I was a major stresshead - Only taking pain killers twice since surgery, once because I drank way too much the night before, before I felt like I was always having some ache or pain - Feeling like I want to jump, dance on a regular basis Below are the before and todate pictures, the newest picture was from a work Ball I went to last Friday and we had our hair and make up done, I got so many comments and felt so good all night. I still have work to go and plan to keep on keeping on. At the end of the first year I am planning on taking a celebration road trip around the US...not celebrating with food.

I don't own a scale. I weighed at the doctors office only for the first 3 months. After that I Stepped on the scale at work 2-3 times/month just to have something I could put on my ticker. I've found using a scale much more helpful in maintenance than while I was losing. If you stick to your plan, you WILL lose weight, with or without a scale. But once at goal, weighing after a holiday binge or carby weekend has helped me keep things in check and nip any small regains in the bud. To weigh or not to weigh I think depends on your attitude towards the numbers. Some people have a disfunctional relationship with their scale. They fret over the numbers and make themselves miserable because they aren't "losing fast enough". (They need to stay off the scale). And others have a healthy relationship with their scale. They like to see the numbers but accept the fact there will be stalls and even gains along the way and they don't let the numbers upset them. In my case, I just didn't care. I had no relationship with my scale (kinda how I am with relationships in general). The fit of my clothes and NSVs were enough to tell me I was losing.

This thread is so inspiring, i have surgery on 06/01/09 and i can't wait to hav an NSV moment! Thanks

Love it! I have a huge "skinny cloths" section. I am currently in a size 22 now and my section goes down to 14 with a few 12's. I have not had a major scale victory so I can appreciate the NSV more! I am noticing a big difference in the way my cloths fit! My second chin is becoming a smaller chin indeed! You can see weight loss in my face -n- cheeks! So far I think I am loosing inches all over! Yay for inches lost - get out'a here! I was not expecting a miracle, but if you told me I was going to loose a couple lbs on the liquid diet, I would have been in disbelief. I really thought something different in my head.

KMCD: No victory is small! I underestimated how uplifting a NSV could be, but I had 2 this past week: One morning, I decided to wear a particular blouse to work, despite the fact that the last time I wore it, it was so tight in my belly that I was miserable all day...and alas! It was LOOSE and very comfortable. A couple of days later, I suddenly realized that my bra was more comfortable. Didn't feel as tight in the back, and the shoulder straps were really loose! Now I can't wait to have to buy new bras and panties!

This week I walked my dog down to the small public beach along the beautiful St. Croix river. Kids are back in school so it was a very peaceful morning down there. I sat down on a half buried log to enjoy the view. I was watching some fishing boats go by when I realized that I was hugging my knees to my chest. What? I was astounded that I just naturally did that without thinking about it and that it was comfortable. Six months ago I couldn't/wouldn't have done that. Hurrah for that NSV! I was tickled pink as they say.

Hi Maysters, Marci – Dancing is a great NSV! I also will automatically tell people how much I have left to lose when they compliment me too. Marz – that is really cool about the shadow – I hadn’t even thought about that. Missy – a loss is better than a gain! 37 lbs down is great! Linda – Glad to have you back! Kim – I completely understand about the water. It’s hard for me to get it all in now. I also find that I usually have a good drop the first week or two after a fill and then plateau for the rest of the month. You are doing great though! Drews- Great weightloss since your port replacement! Good luck on the interview. I, like you, am amazed at how little the patients at my doctor’s office know about their band. I am running into people that are 1 year post op and have only lost half the weight I have. I have also gotten the impression that these folks expected the band to do all the work and they also do not exercise. I may go to a support group soon too. I have a little bit of a rough time lately. I have been feeling icky for several weeks now. I have not felt like working out and I have been going to bed really early. Starting the end of last week I starting running a fever around 5pm and it would break around 10pm. Well, me being stubborn, just dealt with it. Since I had no symptoms other than fatigue, I just ignored it. I got my 3rd adjustment last week so I thought my fatigue might be due to my liquid diet. Finally, on Monday I went to the doctor and I have bronchitis, which my son actually got diagnosed with last week too. I found it odd because I always thought some of the main symptoms of bronchitis are coughing and chest rattling. My doctor told me my lungs sounded like a smokers and I do not and never have smoked. So I got some meds and now I am trying to fight this infection. I am back at work today. I am feeling better but I get winded just getting up to use the restroom. I plan on getting some pics on here this week. I am 3.4 lbs away from my next goal – I’d like to be there by Turkey Day! On a different note, have any of you had to handle people saying, you took the easy way out? Here recently a few friends/coworkers have made comments about the lap-band being the easy way out. I really had to bite my tongue and rather than going off or preaching a sermon. I just said it wasn’t the easy way out because I work far more now than I ever have to lose weight but that the band has been a tool to help me. Sorry for the lengthy post!

Sleeve, I personally went out of my way to go find a cheap pair of pants in size 28W. I bought them to take them home. They were only 15 Dollars so not that much really... Well I tried them on and... O...M...G... WOW!!! I literally had to hold them up because they would fall straight to the ground. I honestly can't believe I was ever that big. How embarrassing. I only Thank God I'm not that large anymore. I do have a long ways to go, but by golly I'm about half-way there. NSV's rule the scale ANY DAY!!!

Jouselle as others have said...... after 20 years, i am now off diabetes meds/insulin - no more high blood pressure meds or CPAP my unexpected NSV - my epilepsy dosage was cut in 1/2!!!! all co-morbities might not disappear - but they will definitely improve energy, happiness and confidence/self-esteem have shot through the roof good luck with WLS speedy recovery kathy

@@OKCPirate Love your NSV ideas. You have to tell us how it all worked out. Starting weight..oh yes staying afloat would be an issue Current weight I had to lift my butt out of the middle of the innertube lay flat on my back to reach the Water. It was the only way I could paddle and navigate down the river. Maybe I shrunk in height with my WLS.

Definitely a NSV. Congrats

Looks like everyone is doing well. Saw the Dr today. He put .25cc in my band So I'm up to 2.75. I had gained 3 lbs in 4 weeks. It had everything to do with my exercise routine, or should I say, lack of one. My restiction had gone way down and he said it was because the fat around my stomach and band was disappearing, making the band looser. Well, whatever reason I need to get back on the bandwagon. My DH has said pretty much nothing about my band for the last 9 months, perhaps an occasional "should you be eating that?" comment. Yesterday he hugged me and said your getting skinny! It really made my day, he never gives compliments or makes comments about stuff like that. Congrads to all the NSV"S It's great to start shopping and finding clothes that fit...no more baggy tunic tops for me! Have a great day

Tell me what's on your mind! Got a question you need answered? Ask! Got something you want to talk about? Talk! Got an NSV you wanna share? Share! Sleeve related or not, I wanna know what you have to say! What's on my mind today is a tiny NSV from this morning... So, I've decided not to buy clothes until I hit onederland (35lbs to go!) so this morning I put on my size 24 work pants and had to pin them in two separate places! Holy crap batman! Also, the shirt I'm wearing today was too small two months ago. I've gone from a tight 24 in the waist to a comfortable 18, and a 2Xl to an XL in the top Oh, and my stall has finally ended! Halelujah praise the Lord!

There was many times I thought I was in the green zone along the way only to have it subside days or even a week and half later. It took me about 6 almost 7 months post op before I was finally in a spot that worked for me. Those 6+ months were some frustrating times back in forth. I have to admit now that I am in the green zone the head hunger is more controllable and at times I wonder if my band has more to do with it then my state of mind. As a friend on here told me I do tend to over analyze things. Bandster hell was rough and the only way I got through it was by not having the tempting foods around me. I was a severe junk food addict and I simply could not keep it in the house. I still do not keep in the house even now but now that I am in the green zone I feel I have more control. Urge just isn't there but I cannot tell you for sure if it is just me embracing my new lifestyle, will power or the band or just a combination of all of it. I have not had a fill since January 29, 2012. April 16 will be my two year anniversary. My most challenging part of this journey has been my patience. I went through periods of up and down frustrations with the scale. I slowly started recognizing that there are other factors to consider when losing weight. Look for NSV's AKA non scale victories. Watching and feeling myself go from a size 62 waist to a 36 was more rewarding than any number on a scale.

Tonight I went to thd gym intending to do a routine workout (35 min elliptical & some resistance machines) when one of the girls who works there kept badgering me about Zumba class. So I was all 'I'll think about it while Im on the elliptical.' I didn't want to go because I was scared I wouldnt be able to finish the whole hour. After my 35 min on the elliptical were up I grudgingly went to look at the Zumba class. Not only did I look, I participated and FINISHED the class!!! Wouldnt have been able to do that 55 + pounds ago!!! Loving my sleeve!!!!

It turns out that I look forward to giving myself the blood-thinner shot each day. I feel like such a bad-a$$ when I face my fear of sticking myself with the needle each day and am able to overcome it and plunge it in It's such a confidence booster knowing I can do it!

~hugs~ Lisa thanks for sharing that ...them NSV are the sweetest !!!

It's amazing how the sleeve has changed my life!!! A year ago, I was 100 pounds heavier and was completely out of breath when climing a flight of stairs. I had my surgery 7 months ago and a week from Sunday I will be competing in my first triathlon (1/2 mile ocean swim, 13 mile bike ride and a 5K). Becoming a triathlete has been something I've aspired to do for about the past 5 years....but something that seemed so unattainable because I had such a hard time losing the weight and because I was so worried about what other people thought of me. I'm super excited but anxious and nervous at the same time!! I just want to let everyone know that you CAN do anything you set your heart and mind to do!!! And for those of you that are just starting out on this journey....don't be afraid to jump!!! I have spent way too much of my life standing on the sidelines because of fear. My sleeve surgery has never really been about the number on the scale....of course I still weigh myself more than I probably should and of course I'd still like to lose about 60 more pounds but if I didn't I would still be happy because I AM HAPPY. I'm happy not because of how much weight I've lost or what size clothing I wear, but because I'm living my life the way I've always envisioned it!!! YAY me!!!

That is a great NSV and made me smile!! good job! Kelly

32lbs off and 31 inches all over. From a start on op-day of 249, I'm delighted. Favourite NSVs so far... I can do up my DMs properly I bought clothes off the peg in a vintage shop I fit a supermarket bra I got 11 miles worth of 1:1 time with my 12 year old today

in onederland and size 16.

In the past, when I went to amusement parks, I typically didn't go on rides out of embarrassment that I felt people were looking at how I barely squeezed into a seat for a ride or even worse, being told I can't ride a particular ride because of my weight or the restraint system won't properly close (that happened twice, I was more embarrassed for my children to have people looking a their Dad like that). Well, not yesterday. I went to the amusement park with my children and went on many rides including ones in the past I would never have been able to fit properly into the seats or weighed too much to ride. For the first time in many years, I did not feel like people were staring at me because of my weight. Although to be honest, I was nervous on some of the rides before I went on them that the restraint system may not close all the way and I will need to get off the ride. This is only one of many NSVs I have experienced since losing weight. I look forward to the new ones every week. Please share yours.

Way to go! I am so glad you were able to do this and could participate in almost everything! This is a major NSV for you!

Everyone one loses at different rates but looked at your eating plan my first reaction is that it's too high in carbs and not enough protein. It could be your are just in a stall too. That happens from time to time. How are cloths fitting and have your measurements changed? When the scale isn't moving you have to look for those NSVs!