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I'm officially wearing a size 8!!! Picked up a pair yesterday and they fit with some room in the waist! This is a GREAT day, haven't worn this size since Jr high!!! I'm so amazed at how fast the sizes are going down!! I LOVE MY SLEEVE!!!! Patti

Here it is! The April 2011 NSV! A place to brag on yourself and share achievements that have nothing to do with the scale. Anything from ~ "I just walked a mile without sucking wind" to "I climbed Mt. Everest with 1 arm tied behind my back" or even "I no longer have to take medicine for diabetes" So Go on and share your victories!

How wonderful for you! That is an awesome NSV! When I lost weight before I loved kayaking- but have felt too big to do it the last few years. It is fun and peaceful too- can't wait to be doing it again- hopefully next year. Enjoy your kayaking time! I think that you should totally zipline! That is something I want to do too - and in Hawaii- what a beautiful place to zip line at! Anxious to hear about all you NSV's in Hawaii!

Awesome NSV! Who knew shopping could be so much fun

Wow this is soo awesome.. I haven't realized how much inches that I have lost. I went from 4x shirts to 2x shirts. I went from 54-56 inch jeans to 44-46. How freaking awesome is that.. I am so excited I have been singing from the roof tops for days. It just is soo awesome.. I went shopping saturday and I shopped in places that never had anything that I could wear.. I went in them store and bought from all of the stores, and it gave me such a high. Now I am truely dedicated to spend all of my money on clothes..lol It nsv's like this that keep you pushing on keeps you on the path that is worth staying on the rest of your life...

Awesome..It feels so wonderful to have nsv don't it..

I just noticed that a regular sized bath towel fits around me with no gaping!!!! In my 8 months since surgery, this is the one NSV I have been waiting on!!!! Doing a happy dance!!!!!! :Banane02:

Awesome NSV!!!! I too used to love kayaking and can not wait to get back into the water without sinking the darn thing. I love your photos looks like a fun time!

Hey Sarah, that is an awesome NSV!!! Sounds like you had an amazing time, so really seriously - CONGRATS on all you have accomplished so far. From, your cheering section!!!

Stalls are when you stop losing weight for a few weeks. It's usually due to your body readjusting and recomping. A lot of people stall when they move to normal foods, which is usually due to your body getting used to normal food intake again. Stalls can last a week or a few weeks. Your best bet is to wait it out, play around with your calories/exercise, and focus on the NSVs, such as losing inches. Nothing you can do to avoid it. It's all part of the weight loss journey. Weight loss is not and will never be linear nor constant. Some weeks you'll lose nothing, some you'll lose 1/2lb, some weeks you'll lose 3lbs; it is never the same.

I have been canoeing before, years ago, but never have been in a kayak. About 2-3 years ago, my sister and brother each bought a kayak. Over those years, it always depressed me that I could never enjoy it with them.... it looked like so much fun! Well, today, I DID IT!!!!!!!!! I went to the lake down the street from me, and Kayaked with my sister!!!!!! We were on the lake for probably 2 hours. I am SO fair skinned and white right now, I used 110SPF sunscreen, LOL! Anyway, it was so awesome!!!!! I still felt big in the kayak, but I could fit and not sink it!!!! WOOOHOOOO! This is one awesome NSV!!!! I am finally getting my life back! I am down 115 pounds now from my highest, so I can't imagine how it will feel at goal! I leave for Hawaii in like 3 weeks, so I am sure I will have many more fun experiences there! The zip line weight limit is 260 pounds... I am at 253 today..... not sure if I would do it because I am afraid of heights, and kinda too close to the limit, but at least I am under it! Maybe I will jump off this cliff with my brother and sister, who knows! We went around the lake, a few miles, and it was so windy that there were small waves. I got soaked, but thats ok! Oh man, it was a BLAST!!!! I have attached some pictures! In the first one I look like a HUGE dork, LOL. It was when we first got started and I was getting use to it, and it was so windy and making waves I thought I was going to tip or get soaked, LOL! Next time, my sister is going to take me to the river. She said the river is actually easier than what we did on the lake today, but we will see!!!

Erm, not sure... but... that sounds like a MASSIVE NSV from where I am standing, well sitting...lol!! Congrats on the new shrinking you! =]

I went to Orlando this week on a business trip and while I was on my trip I hit my 3 month surgiversary. I actually lost 1 lb. this week, which is awesome, considering I was eating out every meal (but on the other hand, I was doing a lot of walking around in the evenings, which I think helped offset the extra calories). I was really, really happy to be walking around with other people who are not obese and able to keep up with them pretty well -- something I could never do pre-surgery! As of today I am 188.8 lbs. I had set an ambitious Easter goal to be at 180 by Easter and I am sure I won't make it ... I am thinking I will be lucky to be below 185 by that date. But heck, that is still great! DH just went out for breakfast ... he is going to our local, amazing donut shop called Legendary Donuts (and they are incredibly great donuts). I passed on the trip (yay for me, little NSV right there!) -- I am having crackers with sunflower seed butter instead (not exactly the best breakfast, but way way better than a donut!). Fortunately, the idea of a donut is not nearly as tempting to me now as it used to be. My appetite for sweets still is nowhere near what it used to be prior to surgery. I do enjoy a bite or two of dessert on a periodic basis, but usually 2 bites is totally fine and I don't want or need any more. I saw a friend yesterday whom I hadn't seen since before surgery. The first thing she said to me was, "You've lost weight, haven't you? I can really notice! You look great!" That made me feel really great. I told her I had been sleeved and she surprised me and said her mom had the same procedure, and she was very supportive. I have been very open about telling people about getting sleeved and so far I have not had one negative comment. I know my friends and family were truly concerned about my weight before surgery, and they are really happy that I am losing weight. I figured if I ever get a snide comment about having surgery, I'll know that person really doesn't have my best interests at heart and I should be wary of them going forward. Other than that, there's not much to tell this week. Oh, one last thing ... I did splurge and spend $60 at Sephora yesterday and bought replacement Bare Escentuals makeup kit (the last time I bought some was at least 2 years ago and I was thinking it needed to be replaced). I do wear makeup now most days, and I have to admit it does make me feel like I look better. I don't mess with eye shadow but do use foundation, blush, and lipstick, and if I'm feeling very into it I'll put on eyeliner and a little mascara. I've been shopping a few times and am already coveting some of the really pretty spring dresses that are for sale. I think I may end up being a real girly-girl once I get into regular sizes again!

I have a lapband victory this week haha (not a NSV I guess). Random.. but I went to American Idol on Thursday. I had breakfast around 9, then i had a banana at around 12. Then I didn't eat anything till about 9pm (from waiting inline, and the taping and all that) and I wasn't hungry. it's so weird! I even said to my friend in the car, it's the strangest thing, I should be hungry! Oh yea I know mentally I think I'm eating this perfect diet. But I know I'm not. I know sometimes I go over my calories but I justify it. If the scale doesn't move I go back to journaling to see where I miss stepped.. Yea, I haven't had after care either. I could bother them.. haha but I don't feel the need. I really don't need another fill. 41 pounds is perfect! I'm at 48lbs. 1-2lbs is totally normal (if you average it out, that's 10lbs a month!). Maybe just check up on your diet and make sure you are eating 1000 calories and not you "think" you are eating 1000 calories... up the exercise.. vary your diet, eat a little more.. or a little less.. sometimes I think the body just gets stuck in a rut.

NSVs are the best aren't they? off blood pressure meds and anti-cholesterol meds down from size 32 to a size 16 (have not been in a 16 since the early 70's) needed to readjust my car seat so I could reach the steering wheel due to all the room that is there now Flew and did not require a seat belt extender, the tray came down without resting on my stomach my hip, knee, and ankle pain is gone! I can take 5 flights of stairs without thinking about it I have so much higher levels of energy the list goes on....

1. My engagement ring is much looser whereas it almost cut off my circulation before. 2. I can buckle my watch one notch tighter. 3. Jeans that used to be tight now button with ease. 4. I've kicked my coffee habit and don't even miss it! 5. GYN says my PCOS is clearing up with no meds! 6. No more heartburn! NSVs are the best!

My latest NSV was sending a pic of myself in 2 different dresses to my mom to see which looked better. When she showed it to my niece to get her honest 11 year old opinion, my niece replied "The black and white one looks better, besides who is that anyway?" That made my day. :woot:

So I'm now a little over three weeks since being sleeved. I actually typed this up once before but somehow lost it and was too tired to type again until now. My time in the hospital started off with a glitch and ended with a glitch. At first (after being at the hospital for over 5 hours- also had a vena cava filter put in) my bloodwork showed I had low potassium. If they couldn't get it raised by taking what I call potassium "shots", which were super nasty tasting, then my surgery would have to be post-poned. Yeah...I freaked, but my levels did raise about 40 minutes after the potassium shot- so yay surgery! Everything with surgery went fine. The surgeon said if I hadn't lost the 63 lbs. ahead of time she would've had to have done an open procedure because my liver was still pretty big but thank goodness that didn't happen! I was so happy to wake up alive and with the laproscopic option! My other glitch was one night I woke up with a nurse sitting by my side. Apparently my oxygen levels went really low and I stopped breathing. The nurse had to stay with me as I slept that night since it kept going low- scary! Anyways that led me to staying in the hospital another night and I was supposed to stay a fourth night but they decided to let me go home if I slept with oxygen at home and scheduled some heart tests and a sleep study. Whew- I was glad I could leave the hospital! I was so ready to be home! Finally after a couple days home I got on the scale- oh I so shouldn't have- I had gained 15 lbs!!!!! What... I thought I was supposed to lose weight! So I know it was due to receiving fluids for 4 days and the air they pump into your stomach during surgery but still it was depressing. I've since lost those lbs- thank goodness. Then came the appointments. Had an echocardiagram and bubble tests done on the heart, potassium checked, additional bloodwork done, follow- up with the surgeon and nutritionist, and more bloodwork done to see if I had infection (had some bad stomach pain). All of that came back good. And then I had the oh so fun sleep study last night. Wow- that was an experience! How weird to be hooked up to so many wires and to have someone watch you sleep. The strangest thing was waking up in a pitch dark room while someone was saying my name. Of course I woke up forgetting where I was and I kept looking around trying to see who was calling my name- well duh it was over the intercom. he he . I haven't received results yet but the technician said I definitely didn't have severe sleep apnea and she wasn't even sure I'd be diagnosed with sleep apnea/need a c-pap. Both she and my surgeon guess it may be because of the pain meds why I had issues in the hospital- but of course I won't know for sure until my follow-up with the doc. Whew- well there is my story. Overall things went well. It is definitely an adjustment but I continue to tell myself it will get better and better. I've really enjoyed reading all your stories and NSV's and can't wait to be there with you soon!

sorry.karen... what does NSVs stand for... still pretty new to this forum so i don't know all the abbreviations... yet.. lol THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS GANG...

I too am nervous...my surgery is Monday. I see that all posters in this thread are alive and well that is a comfort I have been following my liquid diet since last Monday and am hoping it will lead to positive results. I find myself waking up in the middle of the night in a panic. I have had surgery twice before but this one is anxiety provoking on so many levels. I am saying many prayers, and have the support of so many. VST has taught me a lot, and I look forward to posting about upcoming successes and NSVs

I agree with what everyone is saying! You are doing good, and you are down 35 lbs. I know the feeling, about seeing pics of yourself, and saying GROSS! But, imagine if you hadn't lost any of your weight! Take your NSV's as you can, and be proud of what you have lost. Karen

So I had to open up the office today, and was working with my GM. We were having a good time since things were slow, and killing a few hours watching glee on our laptops and just joking around since morning paperwork was finished. I stepped outside for a cigarette (bad Brandy!) and had some clients walk up. I didn't recognize them, but apparently they knew me. The gentleman in the group dropped his jaw and said "Brandy, is that you?! Oh my god girl I didn't even recognize you, how much weight have you dropped??" It's so nice to hear that from a stranger! It's one thing to hear it from your friends and family, but to hear it from a stranger really makes it real. I think we all need to appreciate these small things. They make the whole process seem real. Anyways, that's my NSV for the day!

"Ok I'm a loser...what does NSV stand for????" ________________ I was right there with you fatBgone! I had no idea what NSV stood for in this forum. I knew it probably was not: ----- Non Scalpel Vasectomy NullSoft Streaming Video - a popular codec in my geek world Net Sales Value The NSV 12.7mm a Soviet made heavy machine gun or Non Specific Vaginitis: which I suppose could be crazy (especially since I have no Vagina) but didn't seem to fit the message. Non scale Victory works for me... --- Speaking of scales, I have a GREAT scale I bought from Amazon that weighs accurately up to 500 lbs...I will post a link to it in another topic. Only problem is it will tell you (in a really loud voice) how much one weighs...

Think of all your NSV(non scale victories), make a list to refer and add to when the scale just won't budge or the number just won't drop fast enough. How much better do you feel? Has your mobility improved greatly? How many size pants have you dropped? How many inches have you lost? Your health has already improved a lot!! Have you been able to stop taking any meds? (diabetes, blood pressure). You're doing great and it's only gonna get better! Celebrate it all, not just #'s on a scale.

NSV 1.) Been able to slowly get off of my antidepressants 2.) Can finally cut my hair and don't have to wear it long to hide my fat face 3.) Closet full of clothes that I can't fit (To cheap to buy new ones) 4.) Daughters friends tell her your mom is mean instead of your mom is fat when they get into arguments 5.) Can walk up and down the steps without my knees hurting AND THE BIGGEST ONE OF ALL 6.) I was told that I looked to thin and need to slow my weight loss down YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEE