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Congrats Raine! NSVs are the best! I'm gonna go check and see if I have a triangle of light or not right now :-) Lynda

You gotta love a good NSV. You come to rely on them to a certain degree to help you get through this process. They don't validate what you are doing but they sure do make you feel good. Today, I had two, not one but two LOL. 1) I saw the light ... You know that ever evasive triangle of light at the top of your thighs. Well today, I saw it for the first time hehehe! I was just freaking giddy. and 2) I was talking to a co-worker, who knows about the surgery and here is how the coversation whent Co-worker: "OMG (she's young so she actually said the letters OMG lol ), what are you now a 4???" Me: "Uh, nope not yet but these pants I have been waiting to fit into for a while now, but they are a 9/10." Co-worker: "No way! Look at your legs, they are smaller than mine now and I am in a 4. Those pants have got to be sized wrong." Me: "Either way, THANKS! I appreciate that." Just made me smile.

I had to go to my local radiology office today to get an x-ray. Of course, I went to the same office where I had my pre-op chest x-ray and ct-scans and all my other pre-op radiology stuff. This radiology office is conveniently right across from my WLS surgeon's office, so they are familiar with us 'green binder people' (my surgeon's office and NUT give us all our pre-op info and RXs in a green 3 ring binder, which ends up getting carried to all kinds of appointments during our pre-op period.) It was the same office staff lady and the same x-ray tech lady as the previous times I have been there, both of whom know I am in the WLS program. BOTH of them noticed how much smaller I am looking and BOTH of them commented on it, saying that I am 'doing great' and how 'awesome' I am looking. Neither of them knew my surgery date, so the proof is in the pudding that my appearance has, indeed, changed since surgery. My roommate and husbeast have been telling me that my appearance has changed, as have my co-workers and employees. But for some reason it almost seems to mean more when relative strangers notice and comment. It's nice for it to be noticed! I've been smiling all morning!

I've been walking briskly most evenings . . . probably about 2 miles or so each time. Been feeling really good about it but I had my post-op visit with my surgeon today and he's released me for full exercise with no restrictions. I decided to do a longer walk on a local walking trail, did 3 miles. Kept a really good pace (probably between 3-4 mph most of the time) but in a few spots, I actually had enough energy to RUN! Now granted, it was a fairly slow jog and I was only able to do a tenth of a mile at a time or so, but it felt really good and I'm not in complete agony now. Now I just have to figure out how to run without my a$@ and belly jiggling all over the place. Dare I buy spandex?!?

It's time to stand up for yourself, remember why you started this journey and what you wanted to look or feel like when you reached your finish line. Think about how you felt when you were at your heaviest and then how you felt at your lightest. Which did you prefer? Why? Can you remember some of your NSV's and how great those moments make you felt? Take one step forwards and you are back on your road to success. Don't wait for tomorrow to start, do it right now. Decide to make a healthier food choice or take that first exercise step. You know you want to do it. After all, isn't that why you posted here?

Best. Nsv Ever!

I can see my collarbone clearly Fitting into smaller clothes, although the sizes are moving slowly Can cross my legs, I don't have to pull it up halfway with my hand I'm no longer overflowing into other peoples' seats at the movies or hockey games And not really NSVs, but....I'm much more energetic now, my overall mood and attitude have changed completely, I now dislike sitting around the house for hours on end, I have started on increasing my flexibility (as of right now I'm as flexible as a brick), and overall I just want to go out and try new things that I never did before because of the weight.

This morning my wife told me during the night she looked over at me & did not see me. She had to reach over & feel the covers to see I was still there asleep. She said she's use to seeing a large lump.

Now ... I know what you are thinking ... Did MINI lose more weight? Nope ... in fact I am gaining it (not on me, but keep reading to find out what I mean). So, why the NSV? Because it is a baby!!!!!! We are in the whirlwind process of adopting a newborn baby boy. I have wanted to adopt for years, but it never seemed to work out. Well, the Lord provides in very mysterious ways and suddenly we are adopting and have less than 3 weeks until his due date. We are so excited!!!! So, why is this a NSV? Because even though I will be an older mom (in my 40's), I probably have more strength and vitality than I did with my pregnancy 10 years ago. I'm sure there will be a lot of late nights & being worn out, but I know I am in much better physical shape and can keep up with this little guy. I'll share again when he is here!

This is a pic of my lap on the airplane last week. No more extentions for me. This is a pic of me in my "new" jeans (bought 6 months ago and never really thought I would be in them. I have NEVER had a "gap" before and about cried when I could see daylight. May be TMI, but had to share w/ people that can appreciate this type of NSV.

You already have NSVs! How great is that? I will be thinking of you on Monday and sending you lots of good vibes.

LOL!! I am hoping later down the road to be able to see my collarbones... I swear I have never seen them, ever. That is going to be a huge NSV for me if it happens.

So, one of my co-morbidities was blood clots and two pulmonary embolisms (emboli?) sitting in my lungs. Went to the pulmonologist today for a quick check up and he cleared me for the clots and the emboli, saying that they should not repeat (because they were caused by being sedentary after having pneumonia) AND, big whoop here, he took me off of coumadin!!! Between him and my surgeon, they told me that I also don't have to take lovinox injections when I go in the 20th to have my blood clot filter removed!!! So, I get to quit taking one med, and avoid taking 14 shots of a drug that leaves me bruised and hurting!! Yippee!! That, along with 33 pounds lost, made my day!!! Oh, and the pulmonologist cleared me for "any exercise the weight loss surgeon approves"!!! I'm a happy camper today. In one week, I get to start lifting weights and I can up my exercise to include the recumbent bike and the elliptical!!! I know, too many exclamation points and smiley faces, but I'm trying to convey how thrilled I am!!!

Congrats on the 45 lbs, that is phenomenal!! You're doing great! I have to agree, it is most definitely the simple things like tying my shoes, painting my toenails, shaving my legs, etc that remind me everyday that I made the right choice to be sleeved. Thanks for sharing the story, it's a great NSV!!

That's awesome, Em! Great NSV. Those bones keep showing up everywhere. It might be an epidemic!

Odd, I had the same NSV. I don't know why I've done it but I've done just that since I was a kid, just sit there and wrap my fingers around my wrist and see how far I could touch. I was able to just rub the tips of my thumb and middle finger together a few months ago, now I can just about reach the base of my thumbnail. Funny, I don't know anyone else that does this too.

So I haven't had surgery yet (Monday!) but the other day I realized that I could wrap my fingers around both of my wrists... I haven't been able to do that for years!! I should also mention that I have pretty small hands lol. A lot of people talk about not having "cankels" anymore, well I am just excited that my wrists are getting small again! So yeah, odd I know, but really made me smile and I thought I would share

Haven't been able to sleep much... Heading to the hospital in about an hour.... Gonna join the bandsters today!!! I can't wait to start really seeing & some NSVs & being a healthier person!!!!

And I’m down to 256lbs… I’ve lost a total of 10 pounds since my last doctor’s appointment back in August and he was very happy with my progress thus far. I went in today (9/12/11) and weighed in, chatted with him about what exactly I was doing to progress my weight loss. I told him I cut out carbs and still am cutting out carbs as best I can. Most meals only contain meat (protein) and vegetables. Everything that is processed/packaged I look at the contents and if there’s carbs I put it down. I am so proud of me, I should make this an NSV! People, or I should say non-dieters, don’t realize how hard it is to nix carbs all together. Especially since it’s been a part of your daily food intake for years! But I’m doing it. I can say I don’t eat something carby here and there, but not nearly enough to cause me any issues. I was off work for fiver days recently and I did so well not eating carbs. I did enjoy a bowl of cereal over the weekend, but that was it! No bread, no pasta, no rice, no sweets! I’m committed to sticking to this no carb diet because if I drop lbs like I’ve done these past two weeks CONTINUOUSLY then I could possibly make my mini goal come November 6th. I’m 36lbs away and I have 58 days to do so, which is roughly 8 weeks plus a few extra days… but that’s like 4.5lbs a week. I know I didn’t get RNY, and that’s asking a lot to lose that much weekly, but this is what I’m aiming for; 220lbs by November 6th! I Can Do It! J Other than dieting, I’ve been taking two hour Zumba classes (when offered), I’ve been walking, doing jogging/power walking intervals for 30 minutes at a time while on my breaks at work; I’ve also been doing the sedentary bike for 30 minutes at a time while at home… I plan to do a little more toning… my arms are slimming down, but I don’t want the flab… I hate to say this but I definitely see a TT, Brachioplasty, and Breast Lift in my future (hopefully covered by insurance)! It’s not all bad, I mean I love lifting and pulling my rolls aside and seeing my TRUE body frame and shape that’s being hidden underneath. It’s like shaking a wrapped gift before opening it. I’ve been trying to guess what’s inside for the longest! J Overall I’m SOOOOO HAPPY with my progress. Today I re-read my journal entries that I started writing when I started my PreOp diet, and I’m happy that I’ve progressed so much since then… I’m 256! In one of my entries I was saying how happy I was to be 278 because that meant I weighed less than my Dad… but now I’ve progressed so much it just blows my mind! I’m almost -50lbs down… just 1 more pound to go! I’m sure I’ll drop that in a day or two! WooHoo!!! I’ve gone from 305lbs (my highest) to 256lbs!... I’m so proud…

Awesome NSV!!!

So, I belong to a Meetup group for single people. I just changed my Meetup avatar to the same one I have for this site. I went to a pool party on Saturday night & this guy there starts asking when I changed the picture. He then spend the whole night referring to me as the "Hot Librarian". LOL. I think he must have called me that 20 times. He even made someone pull the picture up on their phone so he could show everyone. It was honestly the first time anyone has ever referred to me as 'Hot' in my entire life. Super flattering, even if he is 15 years older. It made my entire weekend. Krista

aren't those NSV's great! I love every one of them. . even the ones from our kids. . . I went to visit my 21 year old and when she opened her apartment door, the first thing out of her mouth wasn't "Hi MOM" . . . it was "God mom, you look like a starved orphan" . . .that made my day. . . .we laughed about that all day! NSV's are great!

I came in at lunch from a short walk around campus at work. I have to pass through another department to get to my office. As I turned the corner to go through the double doors toward my office, an aquantance called my name. I didnt hear her... she called again and I turned. She screamed "How much weight have you lost!!! you look amazing!" I was startled. I made the same old knee jerk reaction by telling her it was probably because my hair was pulled back that it looked like I had lost a lot of weight. Then I realized, Hey! I have lost 27 pounds so far! I told her it was 27 pounds and she was so excited for me! Then I was excited for me! I dont know why I try to play it off still, like I didnt really accomplish it. I need to get my head out of my butt and realize that I am doing this! This is really happening! Woohooo for people noticing your weight loss! I will take it!

Well, I still need the big cuff, but my NSV came when I was playing with my daughter the other day- My wedding band flew off my finger! It hit my other daughter in the face . Funny thing is, before my surgery 5 weeks ago, I couldn't wear it because it was too small- now it is too big! Waiting to have it resized

I was worried about you too! I am glad that everything went well and they were able to stitch it up for you. Sure beats having another surgery!!! Yeah! What a relief! Congrats on the NSV also! I will be glad to see a smaller cuff and lower bp as well. I am borderline high bp (no meds). I can not wait to go back to my family doctor for my physical next summer as a whole new person!