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I am almost 5 weeks post op. The scale hasn't moved for me since my 2nd week out. Luckily with pre-diet and a week post op I lost 30 lbs. This week I wore a pair of jeans and all day I was tugging and pulling them up! I came home and wiggled my hips and they fell to the floor. I couldn't believe it. Today I wore a pair of khaki capri pants. Once again I was pulling them up ALL DAY! I came home again and wiggled my hips and to the floor they fell!! I showed my husband my new trick both times. It is pretty funny. Not ready to buy new clothes yet, so I guess it is time to invest in a belt! My family likes to tease me with the song, "Pants on the ground, pants on the ground. Looking like a fool with your pants on the ground!" Tracy

I know we talk a lot about NSV's that concern ourselves and our own self esteem, but I need to hear about our kids. I need to hear about YOUR kids. The truth is, I did this for my 2-year-old daughter. I don't want to be successful at this, I MUST be successful... for her. I sometimes feel guilty about the extra time I spend not playing with her because I'm in the kitchen preparing nutritious and healthy homemade food (as opposed to opening a can and slopping it on a plate for her consumption). But then I think about the extra time I WILL be spending with her if I don't die young. I know it's for her that I'm putting in the extra effort. I want to model good healthy choices and behavior for her to follow. If it were for myself, well, I'm sexy at whatever weight I'm at (in my own mind), but to die young and leave my daughter to someday raise her children without the help and guidance of her mother... no "fat but sexy" is worth that. I'm still young (27), and I don't know much, but I do know that a daughter never stops needing her mother. Especially when she's grown and has children of her own. So I'm asking all you mommies out there to tell me about the victories you've had with your children. How getting banded has changed them as well as you. Do they dance more often because you do? Do they walk outdoors and enjoy the fresh air because you do? Do they laugh more because you can now pick them up by their ankles and hang them upside down while you spin in circles and you both crash on the floor, not because you're out of breath, but because you're laughing so hard your sides hurt? If my daughter grows up and is chunky, I won't mind. That's her body and her choice. But I don't want to be the one who never gave her a choice or a chance to be healthy.

I'm an IT Support guy at a busy hospital. Yesterday I was working on a broken PC for a female employee who has always been pretty friendly to me. While I worked, she was telling me in great detail about her marital problems (something she shares pretty openly with anyone she feels she's friends with) and how her (soon to be EX) husband says rude things to her all the time, especially about her obesity. (She's quite heavy, and we've previously discussed my surgery and why I did it.) She was rattling along, explaining how his comments make her feel, and said, "...and as a formerly fat guy, you know what I'm talking about." Her comment struck me oddly at the time, but I didn't say anything. As I later thought about it, I realized she now sees me as NOT a "fat guy." That equals me being a "thin(ner) guy." And I got to thinking about how many other people who know me now see me as thin(ner) than I was. And that led me to thinking about how many other people I've recently met who have never met me before, so have no idea I was ever obese. And THAT put a great big wide smile on my face for the rest of the day. Dave

Congrats on your NSV's!!! I just had 2 of my own...... I just bought size 10 pants ( I skipped the 12's somehow) Also, I just got my rings resized to a 6.5 from a 8.25!!!

I'm already "there" but this is such an exciting thread, I hope y'all don't mind if I post!!! "My favorite things" (as Oprah would say) during this journey we've all chosen to take are these: Shopping, shopping, shopping!!! Going down a size is so stinkin' exciting! I just bought jeans in a size 4, a FOUR again yesterday, this is the third time, but every single time it makes me smile inside!! Never, ever did I dare dream this was possible. NEVER! One day I woke up and I had a collar bone, that was probably my first NSV. I would say other than when I slipped into my first pair of size 6 jeans, this was the single most exciting thing. A collar bone, who knew I really had one!!!???? Now I have shoulder bones and hip bones. It's really amazing to me!!! Someone saying I'm 'thin', 'small', 'little' or 'skinny'. The first few times, you'll want to look around to make sure they are really talking about you.....then you'll want to giggle!!! These are a few of my favorite things! I'm sooooo glad I didn't have anything "re-routed" and so glad I didn't get "banded" - I almost got the lapband, I considered it. Luckily I'm obsessive about research, and decided against it. I love my sleeve, forced portion control, it's just what I needed!!

Hurrah, great NSV,isn't it! I, also, giv ethem to Goodwill, or Salvation Army. My church has a 2nd hand clothing store, too. So, I hardly ever have any that don't fit in my closet. I don't want to ever have them fit again!!!!Karen

I just love unexpected NSVs!! I found out yesterday that I have to go out of town for business on Sunday. Now, my daily work wardrobe is jeans (we are very casual) but obviously I can't wear jeans on a business trip...I bought some new pants at the end of February for my last trip and I was thinking that I could just have the waist taken up and they would be fine...umm, not so much...they were so big on me that I had to rush out this afternoon and buy new pants and rush them to the tailor to be altered (I am a classic pear shape and ALWAYS have to have the waist taken up in my pants). It was all a giant pain because I really didn't have time to go shopping but it was a great feeling to see how big those pants were!

I am wearing dress pants today that I bought a couple of years ago, but never felt comfortable in (always too tight) -- and right now they are loose! My biggest size pre-band was a 20/22, and right now I'm probably a 16 fitted and 18 comfortable. My question to you fellow bandsters -- are you buying new clothes as you lose? I haven't yet (trying to be economical)...plus, and this might sound crazy, a part of me is always worried that I'll gain again.

Yay for NSV!!!!Karen

All of the above. Every single day I have a new nsv. Yesterday I was waiting for my daughter to finish her ballett class. She later told me that when she walked out the studio, she thought to herself who is that women she is pretty. And then she said to herself " Oh wow thats my MOM." How cool is that.

I can repeat several of the others NSV's! 1. Went shopping this weekend and bought several things in the regular women's department, not 'woman'. Wearing XL shirts now, all the dresses in the plus sizes were too big. 2. Clothes are cheaper in the regular department - saved $4 at Kohl's on the same exact shrug, only in a smaller size (and it fits better!) 3. Feel better all around. 4. Haven't had soda since surgery and feel most proud of that. 5. Smile a lot more, because I know I look better. 6. Easier to make good food choices when it doesn't look so hopeless. Kristen

That is awesome Shelley. Keep up the good work. With numbers improving like they are not only do you look 10 years younger, but you probably added to years to your life. I love NSV's like this. I am also 3 months out and was thinking this morning how funny it is that I no longer even unbutton/unzip my pants. They are big enough that I just slip them on and put on a belt to keep them up. These are pants that came out of storage because they were too small to wear for the past several years.

Aww!! thanks for the Temaki Tip! never knew it! I am glad I have had the chance to speak to u!! u are an info guru when it comes to my favorite food!! which I become addictive to after my band!! I was glad I found it too! it was my only way out! with the band "No chicken, meat or veggies can pass through!" so yeah I am glad to have great news about the sleeve and sashimi!! It is a great deal of losing weight! when u stay away from the fried stuff ofcourse:) Thanks again for ur detailed explaination!! it is a great insights to what I should expect in less than 4 days!! my surgery is on the 16th .. BEST OF LUCK on ur journey and glad ur ex wife saw u! and stared!! ) I cant wait for someone who called me a "cow" after he broke up with me years ago to see me after my sleeve! one of the NSV I am looking forward too! have a great week!! and one last question.. is the hunger really fading?

I am 3 months out from my lap band surgery. I am only down about 20-25 lbs which is a bit frustrating BUT my I literally can't wear any of my old clothes. I wore at 18w-20w pants and a 2x top before. This past weekend I bought a pair of 14w jeans at Macy's and 2 pairs of regular, not womens, size 16 dress pants! I was able to fit into a 14/16 blouse which is technically smaller than a 1x! I went to my primary care doctor this morning and she said I looked 10 years younger. I'm nearing my 47th birthday so that was awesome to hear. My fasting blood sugar is down from 176 to 134, my cholesterol is down from 286 to 226 and my triglycerides are down from 461 to 263. I still have work to do on those numbers but everything is going in the right direction. On top of all that, I feel great!!! Thanks for letting me share.....Shelley

Great NSV, and great attitude about getting back on track.The last RN I had before I was discharged looked like she could be your little sister.

The other day I went to Lane Bryant in search of a new pair of shorts for summer. The smallest size I owned previously was a 20, which I've been wearing in my last couple of progress photos, but of course they are much too big now. I grabbed an 18 and a 16 to take into the dressing room with me. I felt optimistic so I tried the 16's first.To my shock and amazement, they were too big. I changed and went to grab a size 14, figuring they would be too tight and I'd be in between the two sizes. To my even greater shock and amazement, they fit perfectly. Size 14. Fit. Perfectly. I cried in the dressing room. After collecting myself I decided to buy some new jeans too. The 14's seemed a bit snug so I bought 16, but they are actually kind of baggy so with those I think I'm right in between. But still... walking out with a 16 and a 14, I felt like I was walking on air. Even though LB sizes run generous, the important thing is when I started, I was wearing size 28 from that store. I've gone from their biggest size to their smallest size!!!!!!!! It still amazes me how much has changed. Today, I went grocery shopping and I had to pick up some items we were asked to bring to a party this weekend. chips and soda... two things I haven't bought in almost a year. Just walking down those two aisles of the store was a strangely foreign experience. They were so unfamiliar and I couldn't believe how weird it felt. That was a good reminder... things HAVE changed, so much. That even though lately I have struggled with some of my food choices... I have still come a very long way and there are TONS of things I do not even TOUCH anymore such as chips, soda, most fried foods and most fast food, that pretty much used to make up my ENTIRE diet. This makes me feel good. However, that's the bright side and I do need to look at the not so bright side also. My eating in Chicago wasn't great... I did as well as I could for the most part, but I had way too many sweets and Desserts. When I got home I had gained 3 lbs... not too shabby for a vacation. Since I did a 5K while I was there and got a great workout at the waterpark, I'm sure that helped me not to gain even more. But then I was only home 1 day and went up to our timeshare with my husband. We took all kinds of good food with us, planning only to eat out for our favorite sushi a couple times and eat everything else at home. Unfortunately we both went into pig-out vacation mode and we ate candy, popcorn and sweets. Night before last as we were going to bed, I exploded, telling him how awful I felt about how we were eating. He felt the same way. We realize there are both ups and downs when it comes to going through this together - we like to be bad together. But we can also talk about it and pull ourselves out of it together. When we got up the next morning, we threw away all the remaining candy, popcorn and junk (hello s'mores!) that we still had. I told him what scares me the most is not gaining a couple pounds - I know that is temporary and easy to get rid of. What scares me is the lack of control I have been feeling over this behavior. It's wayyyy to familiar, and i know exactly where it will take me. I swore I'd never say no to anything... but I think at least for a while, I have to say no to sweets. I need to get them out of my system. Other than my Starbucks twice per week, no other sweets. No candy, no chocolate, no desserts, no Cookies, etc. And also watching my carbs more again. I am planning to be very strict about this at least until our one year appointment (which we are moving to June, at Ian's one year). Once I have all the junk out of my system, then I can decide when and IF to bring any back in. I used to be okay with a little here and there and I hope I can do that again. But right now, I can't... so I need to abstain. I never thought I would do this... but for now it is necessary. If I have it around I go nuts with it and can't stop myself. Somewhere along the way I have lost that. I think part of it is physical - when it's in your system you want more more more. Part of it is mental, and I had that part good so I think the physical of having it in my system is what is making it a lot harder. So for now... out of my system. I've now been eating "right" for two days and I already feel so much better. This is how it SHOULD be. This is how it WILL be. I'm not beating myself up, but rather picking myself up and moving forward to live the life I want to live I have more changes to make, more pounds to lose and more life to live! Whoo!

Love this post! Here are my NSV's so far: 1. I fit into an xl in the ladies department. No more plus size for me! 2. I feel more confident and comfortable in my own skin. I finally am starting to look on the outside the way I feel on the inside 3. My bedroom life with hubby is much better because I am more confident and more willing. 4. I don't eat fast food on a daily basis 5. My rings and watch are too big now! 6. I can tie my shoes, cross my legs and clip my toenails without a big belly in the way 7. Have not had soda, bread or Pasta in 2 months; and I don't miss it at all!

I think I was so unhappy with myself that it did put a strain on my marrige. Like most couples we still have all the same issues IE money , teenager, hard work evrey day on and on. But I feel so much better about myself now that I am much happier in my marrige and life style. One of my main reason for getting the Lap Band, was to be able to participate more in my own life. I can now walk with my hubby and daughter and keep up and go ahead sometimes intead of sitting on the couch with a glass of wine I go to Zumba. I love that every day is a new NSV. I still have a long ways to go but I know I will make it in time. So I think it has made my relationship with my husband and daughter soooo much better. When the times get hard I can handle it so much better now. I have a new inner strength. This helps me deal and cope so much better than before. On that note I will say it aint easy LOL. Good luck on the 15th.

Woo Hoo! That's a fantabulous NSV! Size 4- jees that must feel wonderful- I can't imagine putting on a size that small. Enjoy wearing your 4's!

Mine just happened today... I finally got to exercising and did the treadmill for over and hour today...AND did 100 crunches. Just so psyched that I got myself to do it!

I have had this box of clothes in the bottom of my closet since before surgery (June 21 2010) I couldnt even get the pants in this box over my hips then.... Well since I hit 199 this week I said what the hey lets try these clothes on.... and THEY FIT!!!! not to mention some of them are toooooooooo big!!!!! Guess I should have tried them on earlier!!!!!!!!!! Now I have a nice "new" outfit to wear to work tomorrow that actually fits instead of having my clothes fall off of me!!!! I love this band!!!

How is everyone doing? And NSV? Are you more excited about this summer coming up? I love the sun and I'm super happy to see it. Already got a sun burn on my chest from one day. I've been getting some great deals on smaller sizes and need to get rid of larger clothes. Post an update on how your doing.

That is a really AWESOME NSV!!!!!!!! Good for you.

That really is a great NSV!!! Congratulations!

I love this thread; I'm glad you started it. These are just as important as any other victory that can come out of this process. My NSV: I know that I'm an emotional eater. I know that I'll need long-term counselling to work my way through it. Yesterday, I had a bit of a meltdown. Just a small one, but my go-to solution would have been to eat until the bad feeling would have been replaced by a full feeling, to be replaced later on by a bad feeling again (for the emotional upheaval AND for having overeaten). So I was feeling anxioud about a bunch of things, and feeling blue too - the weather outside was dismal, and it was just one of those days. And I felt lost because I couldn't turn to food. My husband and I sat together, and I talked it out. For a while I actually grieved that food wouldn't be my best friend anymore. And then my wonderful husband helped me make some intelligent food choices (I ate some cut fruit) and I felt just fine after. So I guess that at the end, this WILL affect the scale in a positive way, but at the time, the victoria was all about my head and my support system.