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My husband never, ever compliments me. He supported and continues to do so me in me weight loss surgery, helped me research spoke with the surgeon (he is a surgeon himself), supports me 100% in everything on this weight loss journey. Even when I used to be thin young and good looking he would never ever say anything, that's just the way he is and I love him regardless. He was concerned when I started putting on loads of weight, went with me to see the Psychologist who specializes in obesity but never pushed me about losing weight just because of the way I looked. Now that I'm near goal everybody says something about how happy and healthy I'm looking, he just says that he's happy thatI'm happy and that yeah, he can tell that I've lost a lot of weight and that sex is better now. Today I was asking what other drinks I needed to get for New Year's Eve, and he said something about "too much" I thought he was gonna say don't get too much or we've already got too much. He actually said (and it's a bad translation from spanish) that I have "too much of a nice figure now" He actually complimented me, I am wearing a new pair of jeans and a fitted top and was putting my coat on, and he actually said that I have a nice figure, I'm still in shock!!!!!!!!!

What a great NSV!!! I bet you are just in heaven right now!!!

I am more of a lurker here, but thought I'd post some of my NSV's and weight loss. I was banded on 9/30/05, I have two fills and I've lost 41 lbs. A big NSV I had today was I went to Sam's Club and bought a size 16 capri pant without trying them on. Got home and they are too big, I have to take them back for a 14, woo hoo. I am noticing more size loss than poundage loss. I have a hard time mentally with the fact that I am not losing more pounds, but when I try clothes on, that mental struggle goes away. I like to hear all the positive stories from everyone.

Good morning all my beautiful sleevers! So I had an amazing NSV Saturday I had to share. I was out on the town with friends in a very hip spot of Dallas. I was out with my gorgeous leggy model looking friend who's a showstopper. I felt good and happy I wasn't insecure but by no means thinking anyone would give me a second look. But I love to dance so I went out on the dance floor and was shaking my moneymaker just in my element. I open my eyes and all eyes are on ME. I was so into the music I hadn't noticed sooner. All of a sudden a tall lean young guy comes up and starts dancing with me. He grabs me by my waist and picks me up! (jaw drop....heart racing....no time to process) he just tossed me in the air effortlessly. I seriously felt like Baby from Dirty Dancing. Hahaha. I've never ever felt so small, sexy and exhilarated. Best night ever!!! I attached a pic of me and of my beautiful friends who were with me that night.

For a long time I was at a size US11 women's shoe, but in the two years leading up to my surgery, I often bought size 12s or even 13s just so I could fit them width-wise. Because of this, I am not EXACTLY sure how big my foot actually was at my highest weight. About 4 months after surgery (last March) I was measured for a new pair of running shoes for a 5k I was doing. By that point I'd already lost over 100 lbs from my starting weight and was measured at an 11 (10.5 on one foot, even 11 on the other). I recently needed shoes for a new job (second job) and realized I'd bought shoes that were just too big. I asked the clerk at payless if I could be measured and she measured me at a 10, (9.5 on one foot, 10 on the other). So I've dropped a whole shoe size in both feet AT THE VERY LEAST, possibly more. I'm still about 100 lbs from goal weight, so it may be possible that I could drop to a 9.5 or even a 9 before all of this is through. I am just curious -- how many shoe sizes have other people lost?? It is really nice not to be in an 11 anymore because it is really hard to find shoes that are bigger than a 10, but even 10s can be challenging depending on the store! Definitely one of my favorite shopping related NSVs.

Me too! It happened for the first time on Friday while I was in my therapists office. I looked down and said, " Hey, I'm crossing my legs!" Then I started bawling. I hadn't crossed my legs in....I don't even know how long. This was the best NSV yet.

Luv this post! Never even noticed, but I just went to check my size 8 pockets. They do seem awfully small. I don't have any of the 22's I used to wear so I can't compare. Not every NSV is positve! Thanx for pointing that out! Congrats on the fantastic loss!

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery, and still losing in drips and dribbles, I've loved almost every aspect of having WLS. I've loved the smaller clothes, the CUTER clothes, the stares, the compliments, ALL of it!! EXCEPT! I would like to write a memo to the designers of pants, blue jeans in particular. Dear Blue Jean Designer People, I love your product! It is roomy, durable, comfy, can withstand multiple uses without washing, it truly is the universal napkin! My only complaint (and it really is quite a serious and big one) is pockets. I have gone from a 24 to a 4. My legs have shrunk, my thighs have shrunk, all of the junk in my trunk...has shrunk. HOWEVER, the items that I like to carry in my pockets...HAS NOT SHRUNK!! When I was a 24, I could happily carry my cell phone, my keys, chap stick, I'm convinced I could have even smuggled small animals and children in my jeans pockets. I loved it!! If I didn't want to carry it, I popped it in my pocket! My HANDS even fit in my pocket!! Now, I'm lucky if I can squeeze a toothpick and half a penny in the pockets that you make for the size of jeans I wear now. I am thouroughly disguisted! Yes, I AM SERIOUS! I cannot tell you how many times since wearing size 10 jeans and under I have left my cell phone somewhere, been left with parched dry lips because I didn't have/couldn't fit my chapstick in the tiny fold of fabric that you try to pass off as a 'pocket'. I have wasted at least 16 hours of my life digging for keys that are lost somewhere in the bottom of my gigantic purse while juggling groceries, and simotaniously sweating/freezing the death. I am convinced that you are now in cahoots with the purse industry. Since I have been able to buy smaller jeans, instead of being able to cherish the extra funds, I've had to spend it on Much. Larger. Purses. I'm onto you, and your shenannigans! Don't think that everyone is complacent about your lack of design and the sham that you are pulling! I have almost enough mind to cut out your 'pockets' and sew in my own!! I'm watching, I know, and I am spreading the word!! Give me my pockets back!! Sincerely, One Pocket Lovin' Lady

Ok, I went to a dept store to try on bras. That in itself is a NSV (non scale victory) for me, because they never had those 38DDDDs in there. Well, I’ve dropped down to a 34DD, exciting. I can shop anywhere. Nope, NOTHING fits. All those beautiful bras, but my girls are so EMPTY that they just look like melted ice cream cones in everything. At least in my too big 36DDDs they are kind of hidden even though they aren’t supported. I am planning once at goal to have a lift and augmentation, but until then, is there any kind of bra that looks great when your boobs are super deflated? Thanks.

Farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Out! You look GREAT! What a wonderful NSV! Does this make you our poster child?

I went on vacation and eat out all week and even though I couldn’t (Thank God) go overboard I did eat things that I would normally avoid, (ice cream, sausage, bread) and I eat to my maximum full felling every time. Now I’m home and all I can think about is food, I even went so far as to have a 2 slices of pizza and 1 ½ pop tarts one day!!! This is crazy stuff that I haven’t had since the surgery. I’m focusing on getting back into my post op strategy H20, Protein shake, planned meals but it’s hard…just posting this for moral support…Thanks everyone! PS I also had a NSV with the plane seat... I fit with plenty of room and no fear of spilling over to the seat next to me and I wore shorts which I haven’t done in decades!

Yay!! Welcome back! Was just wondering about how you were doing a few days back. Congrats on the house and a huge congrats for every NSV and pound lost!

1. What made you choose the Sleeve over the Lap Band? Lap bands have a lot of long term complications 2. Have you had Hair loss with the Sleeve? Yes. 3. What can you absolutely NOT eat now with the Sleeve? Salmon, Tuna 4. At what point did you know you made the right decision with the Sleeve surgery? Less than 4 months out, so no verdict yet, but I am down 66 pounds already since surgery. 5. What as been the best tool you've used in keeping your weight loss progressing? The sleeve itself. Not so much the limiting capacity because you can still graze--but most of the time, I am just not hungry, And a scale. People love their NSV and more power to them--but numbers don't lie. The scale will always keep you honest.

I threw my 4 year old daughter a birthday party at a trampoline park yesterday. OMG it was soooooooooo much fun. I was able to jump quite a bit and get myself up when I fell, lol. Being able to do that reminded me of the whole reason I chose the sleeve. It's allowing me the life I want to have with my family. On the other hand, while so much fun and very good exercise, I am completely wiped out! My legs, knees, shoulders, ankles (whole body) hurt. Here's to more fun!!!

@@her1981 - you are so right. Exercise, able to enjoy your daughters birthday physically and feeling good about your decision to do WLS is a TRIPLE NSV! So happy you shared this good news.

oh ceradad - that makes much more sense. i had an appt as well w/my PA this am, and well i need to eat more...so i had .2ccs taken out. i ate more yesterday than i had in a while, and todays workout went well w/out me feeling like a SLUG. today - 1 1/2hr trainer sesssion: 40 min run/walk (5min run/1min walk - so on) plus ladder drills & sprints afterwards back/shoulder weight training - apparently i have bad posture; so "we're fixing that"....:smile2: ab routine PS - ceradad - great year, really!!! & for me ...i dig the NSV's just as much as scale victories...congrats!

You are doing excellent. You are supposed to be loosing 1-2 lbs per week... that is what we signed up for, slow and steady so that it can be maintained and not gained back. And as far as the inches... some people wish they could hit a NSV (Non-Scale Victory) like that. Look at it all girl... you are doing wonderfully.

Today, I realized that I could reach to snap and unsnap my bra. I've been pulling them over my head already done up! That was a surprise. So is the ease with which I can tie my shoelaces now. I think the NSV's are the best!

I can only fit in normal, knee-high boots when I am under 140. I started at 237 and I had mailman calves- thick, muscled, calves. As I dropped weight, I did a lot of running so I still had big calves, but they were slightly leaner. They still didn't fit into boots. It was only when I dropped beneath 140 that regular boots fit me and I tend to wonder if part of the reason for that is I was doing a lot of walking (recovering from plastics) as opposed to running and the muscle size was reduced. Some of us just have annoyingly thick calves, but at least for me they did eventually drop in size to a point where I can wear boots. As an NSV, this year when Target put all of their boots on clearance, I ended up getting about 8 pair. Part of the reason involved the fact that I was totally stoked that they all fit me, lol.

Can someone recommend something I could wear that would help me get accurate calorie burned numbers while working out. I want one that is accurate but not to expensive. I worked out on my WII today with the biggest loser game and did a 20 minute moderate level full body work out as well as a warm up and cool down and it said I burned less than 100 calories (measured I guess by me holding wii remote). The work out consisted of lunges, push ups, jumping jacks, planking, etc and my heart rate was up and I was sweating so I find it hard to believe I burned less than 100 calories..... Thanks in advance for any suggestions. and I am LOVING my sleeve! Oh... one more thing... an NSV... I measured today and I have lost 18 inches in the last month and a half... that makes the stall I have been at for over a week ok

Y'all did it......made me jealous, I wanna go to the pool party!! It just isn't fair!! Although I did have a good time last night. We have the county fair going on, and all the local, or at least local branches of the oilfield companies have a big BBQ cook off. With my DH, and our kids we had ties to 5 different groups!!! And of course Dad was competing hot & heavy against the kids and heaven help them if they called him for cooking advice or the girls wanted something for decorating, he gave them such grief!!! We had lots of fun, and ate lots of good food, you buy your plate, then you can sample any and all you want from all the different companies. They judge for bbq pork, bbq beef, ribs, side dishes, and booth decoration. Then they had the Fair Queens and her group polling to get a peoples choice as well. We did that, had lots of fun, then I took my grandson Connor to the carnival! The NSV here, is that not only did I fit into my adult size rides--and DID--I rode the Zipper again a first in 25 years! BUT I also fit to take Connor on the kiddie rides, he was so small he had to have an adult take him----and I fit! On these little planes, we were on, there were 2 girls in front of us, about 7ish. Into being the center of attention etc. So when the ride began they started screaming, and putting their hands in the air---like you do on a roller coaster. Well Connor thought that was the way to do---so he screamed and threw his hands in the air-------on everything!! Including the carousel!!! People laughed at him all night long, I had the best time!!! At one point, the kids were tearing down their booth, and my inlaws had left, and so Rick and I took Connor to the carnival by ourselves, was sooooooo nice, he behaved so much differently without his parents!!! Tomorrow night we are taking Kinsey----they had another work related thing to attend last night. Then she is spending the night, because I have to take my Dad to Albq. on Tuesday and our back up plan fell through last night as for a babysitter for her! Then on Wed. my son has hernia surgery. So it will be a busy week, if you don't hear from me. Trish, glad to hear Mom is improving. Hope your Dad decides to go, but places with lots of people can be really overwhelming to older people---and the thought of the bleachers might make him uneasy too, fear of falling. We just hosted the Connie Mack (HS age) World Series in our town, and we had an older man fall in the bleachers one night, and when I took the ice over, waiting for them to transport him--he kept saying, "I was afraid I was gonna fall, I am always afraid I am gonna fall" --- so your Dad isn't alone if he backs out of going. Betty, do you have an idea of a time frame now for surgery?? Sherry---we are going for a late afternoon, early evening ride today---we won't make 200 miles, no time for that. BUT Rick is off beginning on Tuesday, and I get to choose activity for the weekend (my birthday---MY choice!!) so I might choose to go somewhere cool-----into the mountains for my day!!!! Everyone else take care---Eileen it is the weekend---where ya at? Jessica, keep up the good work---Diane---take another nap & go back to Pats and have fun for ME!!!!! Y'all take care, I'll check in later!! Hugs~~ Kat

You all are on such a great journey and are going to feel better and better! I began losing weight mid-January this year. My surgery was the end of July. So far this year I have: Lost over 100 lbs Went from size 46 pants to size 36 (and still dropping!) Quit smoking Quit sodas Quit caffeine Quit most processed foods Started exercising (cardio + strength training) 4-5 days a week Cured sleep apnea Cholesterol normalized Cured diabetes (I was pre-diabetic) pre-surgery Blood pressure normalized Bought a fantastic new wardrobe Let me tell you all...I just went on vacation and I sat in the airplane seat and I cold cinch the belt halfway now. I needed an extender before. If any of you have been in that embarrassing situation, let me tell you...cinching an airplane belt is a huge validation! I could've cried. I could cross my legs too! While on vacation I walked for HOURS without problem. I even went hiking for several hours. Not a pain in my back or legs. I felt HEALTHY. food still tastes delicious, but it only takes a small amount to get that full feeling that I could never seem to get before surgery. Food doesn't rule my life now. Eating is actually sort of nuisance at times...I'd rather be doing something else, but I haven't eaten in four hours lol! I can't believe that. I bought some chili while on vacation and I had to throw half of it away because I was full. I don't think I've ever thrown food away in my life. I'm still laughing at that. Keep those positive attitudes folks! You will still have to do the work, but the sleeve is the most incredible tool I could've hoped for! Don't forget that there will be many great victories along the way to your goal weight...those are the non-scale victories (NSV) you'll see so many of us talking about. Best of luck to you all!

I hate how those out there in the world think that just because we are big girls that we are automatically stronger than other's in shape. I get this all the time. When I go to Costcoe and buy big items that are too heavy for me to lift I get the sarcastic attitudes that say, " You are a big girl so of course you can maneuver this 60 pound bad of dog food all by yourself. I have never understood why folks think we big woman are also very strong woman because of our size!! To hell with those people. It is hard moving around this store hauling really heavy items. The attitude we are treated with is, "She is a big girl so she can lift that 85 pound bag of dog food all by herself" Fat doesn't mean strong. We walk around all day with various amounts of weight on us. Walking is harder, Carrying heavy items is harder. So to hell with others preconceived ideas that we big girls are also strong as an ox. I find the opposite true. Sure I am staring to exercise by walking but I need to do weight lifting at the gym. We overweight people have more difficulty moving around and carrying heavy items. But the population doesn't see it that way!!! Fat people are often treated as invisible. Like we don't exist. But all that will change as our program goes along and the weight starts coming off. People are going to treat us differently once we are thin. That will be a real good NSV. Being noticed and having doors opened for you will be more NSV's. This is a life changing endeavor. I am going to make it. How about you others out there? What do you think?

What does NSv mean?!

Hi there..... Let's see..... I now fit into XL shirts! No more plus sized shirts for me...... and I no longer fit into the plus sized underwear LOL and I wore a non-plus size 18 pair of pants....... I do not know what I am going to do when I can shop anywhere and have a good selection. Jackie