Search the Community

NSV this morning. I took off my "big girl" panties and threw them away, along with several other pair. It was weird because I was thinking (for the last 20lbs) that I could still get some use out of them. But there comes a point when you just have to let go. Thankfully I had others in a smaller size that I haven't been able to wear in a while. Yay for goodbye to huge panties!! haha

My hunger varies by day and I've asked other naturally thin people and they agree, this is quite normal. When I look at my calories on MFP I see not a flat line, but rather a sinusoidal curve. So I wouldn't worry about the odd days up because they seem to be followed by fewer calorie days. Very. Ew for me. Previously if I was on a diet,I was starving! And you can bet I ate very damn calorie I was allowed. Now, if seems more a function of true hunger rather than anything else. Wonderful NSV in some ways

Hair sheds when dry and there is a handful when wet. Ugh. I just had a big loss but pretty sure I'm now in a stall. No scale so my daily weighing habit is on hold (I'm on vacation). Loving all the NSV's though.

That's a NSV Janice and much more satisfying than the number on the scale. Please remember not to compare yourself to others. If you do, you will always find something lacking in your journey. It's your weight loss journey and it will come off however it comes off. Also...you did not get large overnight and you won't get small overnight either. Just follow your doctor's directions, eat healthy, exercise, and you will get there, I promise.

How about everyone share their latest NSV (non-scale victory) in one spot. I love reading about all the steps that make up the journey, so please share!

Working toward the day someone thinks I look too thin. A non-NSV loss, just awhile back little kid👦 looked at me and said "Are you fat or are you a 👩woman"? I will drop enough pounds that my girl-hood 🙆shows and I get a figure that just curves in and out. I'll settle for a glass coke bottle figure 👸instead of a salami🍤 one!

Checking in on everyone again. I’m 6 days post op! Started back to work yesterday and that’s gone well. Husband out of town so I’m taking care of our 6 year old daughter, 3 dogs, and 2 cats myself with no issues. Energy is pretty much back to 100%. The hardest thing for me right now is getting the carafate down. YUCK. The dieticians warned me that I may not tolerate protein shakes with whey concentrate after surgery, and unfortunately that is the case. No problems with whey isolate at all. My incisions are all healing well. No pain at all. My head is definitely playing some games. I know what they mean now when say how important it is to do the head work or you won’t be successful. Hope everyone is doing well, good luck to everyone having surgery in the coming days! oh I almost forgot. I had my first two NSVs. First, I’m already off all three of my blood pressure medicines. And I was able to put my wedding ring back on this morning! I haven’t been able to wear it in a couple years, I’ve just been wearing a band.

This is too cute!!!!! Even your parachute is smiling. I parasailed on my honeymoon at my lowest adult weight. That will be a great goal to have again. Congratulations on your anniversary and your NSV!!!!

Thinking of you, Julie. We have a joke in our house, Ice is our friend." Have no idea what plastics protocol involves but boy do I love ice packs for joint pain. You should see our freezer, lol. Did a little retail therapy today, at the local job lots. Coldwater Creek and JJill for ten bucks per. I now have three pair of pants as next NSVs -- two nice linen pants in a purple and a red. Fancy! And another pair of red dress pants. All size ten a and all too. I can zip 'em but that's it. Need to lose some more gut. But then my my, the pants I will have. So much fun to buy off the rack. It's been twenty years for me to be able to enjoy shopping again. Said goodbye to a loved one today -- I am so glad he got to see me lose weight, choose myself and get healthy. He was a doctor. My godfather. Never said a word but I watched his delight this last year as I slimmed down. He had some dementia but was always so delighted to see me. I will miss him but 90 years is a long time. Dying is hard. Glad to have extended my life by choosing to work on my physical body.

Love these posts! Arlene, let's go dancing! Gay clubs were such a a great dance outlet for me in the eighties. Fun times. In the last year we made friends with people who host monthly dance parties in a town not far from here. We've been to two and that's another NSV for me: dancing! We are definitely then oldest people but I can still tear it up. Thanks to my band and losing the two cinder blocks worth of fat.......

Checking in in everyone . August going so fast almost that dreaded back to school time. Life is happening so fast and enjoying every minute of it despite my slight weightloss stall /plateau. I know I'll get through it just cont to make the right choices first stall in 13 months can't complain . Despite what the scale says I had done funny NSV a friends mother in law stopped at my sisters house and I was not expected to be there. She never met my sis before but knew me and was. Picking something up for my friend. I answered the door she introduced herself and said you look so much like so-so. I said I sure hope so because I am her!!! After we all laughed she said I wasn't kidding I didn't recognize you. Then last night I went to a party and I thought it was odd my friends bro in law who rarely talks to people he doesn't know ( I have known the family for 4 years) was a little cold to me barely replied to my hello. The next day she said you know my bro in law had no idea who you are she said idk ur still the same person just a smaller size lol

NSV- came home from an out of town trip weighing less than when I left:)

No running :cursing:, at least a wk. Went to Dr. & had xrays *both knees* - looks to be Arthritis, but will know more on Thurs...Having an MRI tomorrow...Doc said take it easy w/weights and running for a wk because there is some inflamation.....No idea what the fix will be??? My mom has Rheumatoid Arthritis and didn't catch it till her late 50's, and now her little feet are held together w/pins. She's tiny = 4'11, 95lbs wet.....SO I get your fantastic NSV Wombat, having a tiny Mom!..Congrats to you.. So I'm not giving up - on a tad of a break, this wk only..HA!

HELLLLOOOOOO!!! I'm glad to see you two are doing well! Karly1: Are you using band-aids over your incision sites? Sometimes the adhesive can get irritating on your skin. If you're not using band-aids, is your clothing rubbing on your incisions? That can really irritate them and keep them from healing. You may to cover them (no ointment though unless your doctor says to) just to keep a padding between them and your clothes. Hope that helps! Leslie: Girl you are rockin'!!! Look at you...24 pounds lost??? Fantastic! I'm glad you got to advance...I can now have Peanut Butter and eggs! WOO HOO! I still don't feel full for long. Everything just slips right through the band. Can't wait for regular food! I am doing well. I don't have a scheduled exercise session on the days I work. I work 12 hour shifts and run my ass off the whole time. The other days I've been doing okay. I walk, but have been released to start riding my bike. YAY!!! I'd rather ride any day! I took my measurements today. I know I'm a little late, but couldn't find my measuring tape, so had to buy a new one! I want to use that as NSV down the line. I wrote down everything! Neck, ankles, knees, forearms, wrists and ring size!! Overkill???? LOL ~C

Aren't they great? I also have my first NSV. Last night I met a woman and I ended up telling her I had had weight loss surgery 6 weeks ago, and she said, with a look of shock on her face, "You don't even look like you need to lose weight!" I did have my coat on - but still that made me feel so good!

And as they say in those insipid infomercials...but, wait, there's more! This is just the beginning. And keep on the outlook for those NSVs...they are more precious to me than the actual weight loss can be.

I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEE the NSV'S!!!!! As Bob said, they're almost better than seeing the scale move...... and plenty more to come!!!

I've had some medical issues over the past two months (not surgery/sleeve complications), so I've been preoccupied and not paying close attention to my weight loss. I realized a few days ago that my clothes are falling off. I decided to get a few things at Target, which led to today's NSV: I bought my first non-plus size shirts and dresses! My shopping experience was surreal. I started in Target's extremely inadequate plus-size department, but then I decided to try on the largest misses size (XXL). I started with a striped maxi dress. I couldn't believe it when it actually went over my body. I really couldn't believe it when I didn't want to break the mirror. Sure, I'm still "fluffy," but for the first time in years, I felt like my curves were attractive. This is a EPIC accomplishment for me. Outside of the dressing room, I felt like a fraud, though. I'd already confirmed for myself that I could fit into misses XXL, but I felt like people were judging me for straying outside the plus-size section. I actually felt paranoid that someone was going to walk up to me and suggest I stop looking in the misses section. For years, shopping for clothes has been demoralizing and painful for me. I guess it's going to take some time to get over that history. It seems silly to get so emotional over shopping, but I couldn't help my feelings. How do you feel as you shop for smaller clothes?

Sorry I haven't been on much lately but I had a setback and have been really taking it easy. About my 5th post-op I kept getting really bad wrenching cramps in my abdomen under my incisions. They sent me for a CT scan with the blue contrast dye and all that fun stuff. Come to find out I had a gas bubble in my pouch. Plus they had given me heartburn medicine to take for a month, but the directions weren't clear so I had not been taking it. Come to find out that the omeprazole (sp) was there to help with any kind of gas and whether or not I had heartburn. Once I started taking that again, the cramps went away and I could heal. I was so scared I had done something wrong and messed up my surgery. Definitely not fun! But I'm down almost 40 pounds since I started this journey. I had a NSV yesterday - I was able to walk up the stairs in my home without feeling winded! What kind of non-scale victories have you had recently?

Doing well. Down 40 lbs already. From highest weight. 30 from day of surgery. Almost 2 months out. Feeling better every day! NSV yesterday, went to a football game and very comfortably fit in the seat. I was nervous the whole ride there!

As I sit here and try to say what the last six months has been for me it is really hard to formulate into words. A few years ago I remember watching shows where people had WLS and feeling like they took the easy way out. Mind you I would watch these shows at 200 then 250 then 300 lbs. Telling myself all along that when I was ready I would be able to buckle down and lose weight. I have since learned that weight loss surgery is not the easy way out. Many talk about this being effortless for them and that has not been my experience. I am doing it, my mind and heart and body are changing every day, but this has not been easy. It is hard to go from a life where you are able to find peace or pacify your feelings with a soda, a treat, or with the feeling of being so full that you are distracted from all other feelings. After surgery I was confronted with all new feelings. I was forced to feel discomfort, and I have realized that without discomfort we don't grow. I feel like I was a generally happy person preop. I had a healthy outlook on life. I thought I was attractive, always had friends, had a man in my life who I loved and who loved me. Now I feel like a fog has been lifted. Every aspect of my life is better and it was already good. Six months ago when I headed to Mexico to get surgery I felt like I was going in my own rebellion. Those around me loved me and wanted to support me, but many didn't understand, had seen me struggle to lose weight in other areas, or were afraid that I didn't understand what this would mean in my life. I listened to all those opinions and then trusted myself. I knew what I needed and that it was time. I went alone to get my surgery and my days there are a strange fog. I remember staying in the hotel the night before surgery with a strange excitement knowing that my life would never and could never be the same. Those who were worried and struggled to support me have been my biggest cheerleaders. I have since had 2 other friends get surgery and we are all on this weird journey together. I don't want to sugar coat this whole experience, I have dreams about drinking soda (something that in my waking life I have chosen not to do) I have had mini tantrums in my head when I can't eat the volume that I was accustomed to. I still have to be very mindful of why I am eating. I have discovered that if I am not careful I can still be eating out of boredom, or other emotions. I used to tell myself that was okay as long as I was eating healthy foods, but I have experienced what it is to trust myself and be in control of my actions and know that it isn't about what I am eating, but why. I have learned to enjoy food more. I eat such small quantities that I refuse to eat things I won't enjoy. I still have treats, but I am aware of myself when I do and I savor them. To those of you considering having this surgery, it is not easy, and I know that in my case I will always have some of the same struggles mentally about keeping a healthy relationship with food. But, I will also say this, my knowledge of myself has increased. I feel like as my booty shrinks I grow. I have enjoyed loads of NSV's. I have collar bones, my cholestorol is down 70 points, my feet don't hurt, I am energetic, I have no need to take antidepressants because my hormones are in check, the jeans I buy don't have to come just from Lane Bryant or online. I can walk into Old Navy and grab jeans off the shelf. I am happier and more at peace than I have been in years. The first pic is preop/The second is from my recent trip back to Mexico with my friend who also had surgery. I had just gotten out of the pool and was jumping on a hotel bed so please excuse the crazy, but please note the happy! Anna

Thanksgiving was amazing. Sat between my little grandsons which was great by itself. But by the time I finished cutting up their food, the platter passing was over and everyone was eating so my smaller portion of turkey seemed ok even to me. And then, the drama! My wedding and engagement rings just slipped off my finger. Found fortunately but everyone be careful. Also know the hotel robe that never fit. Well it does now. Since I can't see the weight loss In the mirror or in my head, I love these NSVs.

You look great and have made fantastic progress. You have nothing to worry about. What you want to look at are your NSVs (Non Scale Victories). Here are a few of mine: I was able to fit in normal sized chairs at doctor's offices and the movies I was finally able to properly cross my legs when sitting My clothes were getting looser and not fitting as snugly I was able to wear 18" necklaces and they didn't fir like a choker My ring size went from a 10 to a 6 I could sit at a booth in a restaurant and there is plenty of space between my stomach and the table and I wasn't squished up against it I can wear bracelets and anklets now I am no longer diabetic, no longer have painful joints, no longer have high blood pressure, and am off all the meds for those issues When the scale isn't doing what we think it should be doing, look to your NSVs. That's what REALLY tells the tale with what your body is doing. Now, having said that, you gotta get back on your bariatric diet and re-dedicate yourself to it. The trick is to not undo all the progress you made. For me PERSONALLY, I can't let things like holidays and birthdays and special occasions be an excuse to go off my diet. I know that if I do, it'll be 10x harder to get back on track. So I make sure ahead of time that I have things I can eat that are compliant with my diet and still taste really good and allow me to be included with everyone else. Just keep that in mind going forward and you should do great.

My highest wt was 368, consult wt 350, and 8 weeks post-op have been stalled at 314 for two weeks. Very demoralizing. In some respects I still feel I'm at 368. Stalls create feeling of O boy, here it comes -- another Epic Fail at losing weight, like its something in my DNA I can never overcome. But I don't feel ashamed anymore after learning obesity is a disease -- a chronic disease -- a chronic, deadly disease. And we don't know a singular cause of it. Yet. I am working on this, and realize it is very much a mental game element we must overcome. My best self tells me to look at the NSVs (non-scale victories), to look how far I've come, look for small goals in terms of more exercise, and journal. I do track protein, and get 60-90g per day, but it's not enough to quell cravings and there's not enough variety to provide the satisfactin of a tasty meal. I'll try to make tomorrow a better day. I really need my body to end this stall. I am glad for this site, and glad we can lean on one another and share our journey with others who understand.