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Congratulations on your weight loss! I had my bypass in May and I'm down 45 pounds from when I had the surgery. I just dug out a bunch of shorts in smaller sizes that I haven't fit into in years and was so excited that they fit. My own personal NSV was being able to get into a kayak without plopping down like Pooh Bear, ha, ha.

Congratulations on your loss so far. Awesome NSV and good excuse to enjoy more concerts and festivals. Gotta build up that wardrobe.

Here’s a no-brainer: You get weight loss surgery to lose weight. You qualify based on your BMI, and you watch the number on the scale decrease, sometimes by leaps and bounds, and sometimes painfully slowly. Any “successful” Weight Loss Surgery patient will tell you that weight loss is only one measure of success. There are many other ways to win, so keep your eyes out. Recognizing your non-scale victories (NSVs) will keep you motivated and let you get the most you can out of WLS. Here are just a few ways you know you are winning. 1. Your clothes fit (or don’t fit). You fit into clothes you “outgrew” on the way up, and your pre-WLS clothes are so big they are falling off. Better yet may be the feeling you have when your wedding ring fits again or you can slip into your high school prom dress again. 2. You are happy to go to the doctor. After years of bad news about your health, ranging from vague warnings (“You can get heart disease because of your weight.”) to scares (“You will be lucky if you live to see your children graduate from high school.”), things are different. You may get good news, such as being able to reduce your medications and seeing your numbers improve. 3. You like other activities besides eating. You will know success when you treasure your morning walk more than doughnuts, you want to focus on the movie without a tub of popcorn, and you are happy to talk to your friends instead of eating fast enough to serve yourself second helpings at dinner. It is a good feeling when you realize that the thing you will enjoy most about your granddaughter's birthday party is seeing her open her presents, not tasting her birthday cake. 4. Shopping is fun. You can go to regular stores, see a nice selection of fashionable clothes, and try them on without cringing when you look in the mirror. Plus, you have the energy to enjoy the experience. 5. It’s fun to focus on yourself. For some, getting a massage or going to the hairdresser can be a reminder of how unhappy you are in your body. You know WLS is working if you find yourself enjoying these activities again instead of avoiding them because of poor body image. Going to the doctor can also be embarrassing when you are overweight if you know that your health concerns are caused by your extra weight. 6. You do what you want to do. You make your plans based on your schedule and desire rather than which venue has the biggest seats and bathroom stalls. The size of booths at restaurants, the width of airplane seats, and weight limits at amusement parks become less important than the menu choices, the cost of the airfare, and who your favorite cartoon characters are. 7. You are bigger. You may be shrinking physically, but your personality is bigger. You no longer try to hide. You are confident in stating your opinions and being yourself, even if that means standing out a bit from the rest of the group. You have a voice, and you are prepared to use it.

I totally think this is true. I haven't lost weight in a few weeks now - and I'm not lying, my body feels like it has shrunk A LOT!!! Sometimes I'll look at myself (like my butt or whatever) and I don't even recognize it's me in the mirror (nice NSV!!) My pants (sizes 16M now) are getting saggy bottom, fitting very loose in the waist and my XL shirts are TOO BIG now. My Larges even getting a loose too. I'm actually smaller now than I ever was with my band. I weigh right now a few pounds more, but my body is definitely smaller. I just realize I'm not one of the ones who can focus so much on the scale. My sleeve IS WORKING!!! I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and play by a different set of rules. I just go with the flow though. I know I'm gonna have a good loss one of these weeks.

Only when I go to the doctor or once a month whichever comes first. My food diary and how my body feels is actually a better indication of how I am doing. This was especially true prior to my surgery. If I was eating properly, drinking Water and exercising I would lose no problem, so if I didn't have a doctor's appt I could stop by my GP and get weighed. Checking the scale even on a weekly basis just makes me crazy. Now that I have had been sleeved and I'm seeing the doctor monthly I practice the same philosophy. I focus on following the program, getting my exercise and drinking enough water. I'm 8 weeks and feel really, really good! I also look at other NSVs. My seatbelt in the car is looser. My bras are looser. My swimsuit is looser. Walking is easier.

Ok so, this is the end of day 5 of the pouch test. I weighed this morning - (desperate and therefore almost naked!) - my offical weigh day.... and I am.... *drum roll* down a POUND!!! All that for a pound...oh and my monthly visitor turned up... hmph! OK, positive slant... a pound is a pound is a pound... that is better than nothing or a gain ... new slow losers mantra!!! I really want to get 186lb -now currently at 190 - as this would be my half way goal... grrrrr C'mon body, work with me here!!! Another positive NSV... I had a bath tonight... ok so that isn't unusual... well, for me it is cos I don't normally have a bath, I tend to shower... less time to see my self naked...lol Anyway, the last time I had a bath was way before my sleeve... I couldn't believe how much room was in there!!! I have definately shrunk in width... and my tummy was almost all under the Water too....yey!!!

Loving the fact that you can actually fit sweats under you 16's that's a NSV! I'm in a bad mood, very hormaonal (TOM) haven't lost anything w my lowcarb 5 day pouch(granted i cheated but still way less carbs than usual) Well i'm back to my higher carbs, that obviosly works for me!

Thanks everyone!!! Yes Green....relying on NSVs is the way to go, I think! Dame J: exercise has never been a big problem for me....much to everyone's surprise I've always been quite active. These days, I do an hour and a half routine. One hour consists of cardio (ie. elliptical and/or recumbent bike) and this is followed by 30 mins of strength training (weights) and matt work (ie. leg work, ab work). I try and do this 5 times a week. In April I plan on doing aquafit as well....(I'm waiting until Apr because my schedule will allow it at that time). So, yes....the weight work (and I find the biking) has really toned the muscles.

I'm gonna have to pluck up the courage to go into the Gap. Maybe there's an NSV there waiting for moi.

Mrs. Yoda told me about these NSVs, (non scale victories) and I thought that today I have had one and I should share...:horn: About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with Hypertension (high BP) :boom:and in a course of one month went from no pills to 2 pills in the AM and 5 pills in the PM to control it and I think it is controled quite well... ONE week after joining the Banded side (You all might remember) my BP fell through the floor and I was dangerously close to hospital time to get it back up. :faint: That day May 10th, I stopped the pills (all of them) for fear of bottoming out and causing real damage to myself. Today, 20 days after banding, my GP told me to throw the pills out as I NO LONGER HAVE HYPERTENSION! :whoo: I have been taken off the 7 pills I was on for 5 years that's 1826 days. and it only took 20 days since banding to get off them. I think that qualifies as a NSV!!! :thumb:

Yay Audree for getting to the gym! I can't wait to get back to the gym. today is my 10 month Band anniversary! I am down to 167 now. So Excited! I've got to share a NSV for me. I ordered these size 11 Jr. jeans off Ebay, Well, they come in and my DH opened them before I got home, and he mumbled out loud to my daughter, "There is no way she can fit into these jeans, they look like little girls jeans". So, I come home and he showed me the jeans, and I agreed with him, that there was no way I could fit into those jeans. Anyhow, to amuse myself, I decided to try them on to see how far it would take to fit into them. Guess what, THEY FIT. I couldn't believe it. My DH was clapping his hands and saying you do not need to lose any more weight, you are skinny! LOL. It just felt good to see how small the jeans were and to actually fit into them. I also tried on a size 10 slack at the store, and they fit. I didn't buy them, I wanted to buy them, however, I'm holding off to go on a big shopping spree in January for my 1 year Band B-day. Anyhow, hope everyone has a great week and enjoy your family & friends.

Looking great! I should do side by sides too. I have had a NSV (size 18 to 14 squee!) but I feel like its not that noticable. Not a single person has commented!

Now is a good time to measure all over body, record numbers, and have those available for NSV in future!

Great idea for a thread! Gee, for me simply allowing my picture to be taken is a huge NSV in itself!

ok, so here's MY NSV picture. Me and the 2 little ones AND the dog - on the 4 wheeler. Marcus snapped the pic then jumped on. What a zoo. Only thing that wouldve made it better... if we wouldve been in a mud field! yeehaw!

Yes, that's my Swavarski (sp?) Crystal Slumber shirt! Look at 'er go! My next NSV picture will be a picture auditioning with Paula, Randy and Simon for next year's American Idol. Yep, I'm too old. Nope, can't carry a tune either. But that's my next goal.

Oh yeah, and stay off the scale. Take note of your progress by how your clothes fit and other NSV's. I actually dropped a whole pant size during the month I was "stalled". I don't even own a scale, so The only reason I even knew I was stalled was because I went to the doctor 6 times between weeks 6 and 14 and they weighed me each time.

This may be a dumb question, but what does NSV stand for? I know what it means, but the closest I can guess is "No Small Victories"

Sorry no pics to post, first of all I don't know how to do it, and I don't take many pics of myself. I do have alot of before pics none after having lost over 100 lbs.:omg: Anywayz here are some nsv off the top of my head. This is from going from over 400 lbs to 297. I still have a ways to go. face is not fat anymore no double chin I look younger and prettier went from a sz 34w to 24w (for now) more confident better outlook for my future that I will succeed shoe sz 11w to 9w (so far) wedding ring falls off (I wear a sz 7 gold band in front of my sz 11 ring) clothes too big some people don't recognize me from 1st glance I get more attention Get hit on by men and women:eek: I take care of myself better I pay more attention to my hair and makeup Just paid 2,500 for a great smile:biggrin1: I feel I'm worth it now. That's just from the top of my head!!

So yesterday I went ahead an joined Lifetime Fitness! Best decision I've made this week! I will be starting a T.E.A.M. Training bootcamp class next week for a couple months @ 3x's a week with a personal trainer with a small group of other members who have some of the same fitness goals as myself. I will also be attending Aqua-Zumba on Sunday mornings. So excited about Aqua-Zumba!!! I can't wait. The best part about Lifetime Fitness is that it's 24/7 & it's literally less than 7mins from my house. U can't be that!!! They have rock climbing, aquatics, aerobics, hip-hop, volleyball, sauna, full beauty spa, yoga, & open swim with water slides and many activities for kids. Also a healthy restaurant inside the gym. And the best part of it all is it was not too expensive & I got a couple discounts because they have open house going on right now. Yay!!! I'm also excited about the fact that they are 24/7, so by me working nights I can go to the gym right afterwork instead of going home first and having to wait for other exercise options. ♥ So this morning I went to Aqua-Zumba... 60mins of Aqua-Zumba, 20mins in the hot-tub, 20mins of walking laps in the pool & 5mins in the steam room = over 700calories burned & a relaxed body ready for a LONG NAP!!! I enjoyed my first day at Lifetime Fitness!!! ♥ Back tomorrow morning for another 8am aquatic class!!! I have done pretty good the past few weeks. I gained 2#'s after Thanksgiving but the turned around and lost 4.8#'s and the another 4.9#'s this past Friday. Before I joined Lifetime Fitness, I was simply playing games on the Wii, attending Jazzercise, and walking away the pounds with Leslie Sansone. I plan on switching things up in my exercise routine to keep my body guessing. Hopefully this helps. I have had a couple NSV, first fitting a jacket I couldn't even close about 3months ago... My work pants are literally falling off me without a belt... I can see my collarbones... I have some restriction. I am staying under 1400 calories a day and I am satisfied for 3-4hours after eating. So as long as I continue to drop weight, I'm not going in for a fill. I hope everyone else is doing pretty good. Hope everyone has a great Christmas & New Year!!! 2012 is our year!!!

Had a NSV today (and officially, down 70 lbs!) Went to take my first flying lesson today, and part of the drill is setting the weight and balance for the plane. I tell the instructor I'm at 205 (throwing in clothes etc), and he just kinda stops for a second. He asks me if I'm sure, and I said "yes" (thinking -- damn, I'm still a fatass). He looks again and says "Ok, but I had you pegged at 185" Hurrah!

i was having a crappy (already at work day) and just thinking of what is to be done and i was getting pissy and dreading the long day UNTIL i read this post...made my heart soften and made me smile.......what a wonderful thread and a excellent NSV. seems little things like this are actually HUGE nsv's and inspires us to keep doing what we are doing as it is working......well done ....well done

Sorry...newbie here...what is NSV??

My coworker who has known me for 10 years (he's seen me at all my weights, especially my heaviest) saw me walking across the lobby to my office and he said, "I just saw you walking across the lobby and I didn't recognize you." ???? Nice NSV.

------------------------------------------------ Now that's an awesome NSV!!! :thumbup: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Anne... I am so glad you back home & up and going again!:drool: