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1. I didn't over eat at dinner ( even though it was so good) 2 I worked out today (first time since surgery) 3. And when I put on my workout shorts, they slid on AND there wasn't any thigh fat poking out around the seam! OMG...Yeah. I just had to share.

I still don't know what I will look like at goal weight, but I am pretty sure I'll have a bangin' ass in a few months, LOL! How funny is that... I love it... can't wait to see some booty photos Suzanne! This sort of NSV really keep me going... I LOVE IT!!

Wow, that has to be one of the top NSVs of all time -- congrats!!!

This is a fab NSV ... congrats on hitting your 'offical' goal too.... well done you!! =]

@Susanne - what an amazing NSV!!! LOL I bet you were just like... - at least that's how I do when I realize I'm doing something for the first time in a long time. Whoohooo!!!! Continue to rock that sleeve lady!!! @ Jane - that's so funny you mention a booty that you can rest a plate on. I was talking to a lady this weekend that mentioned a butt and called it a "shelf". OMG -- I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!! LOL!! Now, she's the nicest lady so I know she meant no harm, in fact she said it that way to avoid just saying "fat butt"... haaa!!!

That's awesome... a fun NSV! Congratulations.

Went out shopping with mom last night, to BJs of all places. Needed the necessities, bread, milk, eggs, cold cuts, you know the drill. So since it is totally freezing out in NJ and most of the country, i was walking past a stack of sweaters that were on clearance cause they have the spring clothes out. I picked one up on a whim, it was $12, and a medium, and cute. I said to mom, what do you think, she said it looks warm, I said it is $12 i think i deserve it. I put it on this morning and there is actually room in there!!! A FREAKING MEDIUM AND THERE IS ROOM!!!!! Thanks for letting me shout it out!! patti

My personal "goal" was not a weight, not really....it was a size....I wanted to wear a size 8! I went shopping last week because my size 8's are too big. That's right, now I'm wearing a size 6! Shocking. I'm 51, and I wasn't wearing a size 6 in highschool. I don't remember EVER wearing a size 6, I'm serious. I am certain I went from a 6x in elementary school to a size 12 in jr. high!!! It feels good, I look at them and am sure there is NO WAY I can actually slip into them, but lo' and behold, they fit. Of course, I thought the same thing about the size 8's, I didn't think I could really put them on!! I love my sleeve.

Good job! Each NSV is better than the next, it's the little thing that you have been missing out on for years that mean the most. I can touch my toes (and I do it often just to prove it to myself..lol) My jeans are hanging off my bottom and suprisingly my shoes are getting floppy. Enjoy each new victory! You work hard for them and you deserve each one!

So I went to my OB/Gyn yesterday for my annual (actually i hadn't been in 2 years) and he hadn't seen me since I weighed 350lbs. . . he wandered in, chart in hand, face in chart and said, "so Mrs. . . . how have you been?" I answered "just fine" . . . he looks up from the chart and literally yelled "LOOK AT YOU!" OH MY GOSH WOULD YOU LOOK AT YOU!!!!!!! YOU LOOK GREAT! then he calmed down and asked how I did it, I told him and he said "well good for you! I can't get over how good you look" . . . I must have been blushing cause he just smiled and said amazing. . . did the exam and actually talked to me. . . talked to me about my family, my work, how i was feeling etc. . . wow it was really a NSV. . . kinda embarrassing but nice. . . Then I went to the WLS nut and this was my last visit and I have hit the target weight! I was soo happy . . . NP and I both did the happy dance. . (she is so cool) I don't go now til 2012. . . wow can you believe it's been a year!

Ya - I guess our husbands could have a good chat, huh? But I see how he looks at me now, and I see how protective he is of me now. It was nice to say he misses me fat, but honestly, he is lying. Truth is he just loves me any whicha way. And I feel the same. I had a funny NSV at work. We have this young guy at work, maybe 20 years old. Kinda mental, cross-eyed. I'm serious, no joking. But he told my friend's husband that if he has a wife my age some day he hopes she looks as good as I do. Kinda a funny sorta-compliment from a very cross-eyed guy. But still, it was nice, right?

I know exactly how you feel!!! I have been able to cross my legs for the last month and I was amazed and shocked that I was able to after 15 years of not being able to cross my legs. Congratulations and to many more NSV's!!! Sara

I had to take my mom to the dr. today and while sitting in the waiting room I crossed my legs (as if I had been doing it all along LOL). I sat there a good 15 minutes reading a magazine and it was like BAM I looked down and I was actually swinging my leg and it had been crossed the whole time. I almost jumped up and shouted right there in the waiting room. I can't tell you how many many years it's been since I've been able to cross my legs. Something as simple as that can bring such joy. Thanks for letting me share.

And NSVs. Had my first till about an hour ago, they put 5cc in my 11cc band, it is really weird, I'm trying to drink a Protein shake and it is slow going. After 2 weeks of being able to eat and drink what ever I want this is new. I hope its good, I've been starving this last week. The NSVs, I had to buy a belt the other day, first time in 20 years. My boss has these chairs in her office that I HATED to sit it because it was such a tight squeeze and the metal sides would dig into my upper thighs, I sat in it this morning and while I still touch the sides, I wasn't crammed into the chair I fit. It turns out I'm down 28 lbs not 23, bad news I was heavier than I thought when I started. LOL, but its all good.

congratulations! nsv's are so great.

Congrats! I love it when things like that happen. My own unexpected NSV: I have the clothing I wear to work hanging in a separate section of my closet. This morning without turning on the light I grabbed a pair of Dockers cords off the hangar and pulled them on. They fit snug, not tight, but they definitely fit. Then I realized they were a pair I'd purchased online a few months ago before being banded, "in anticipation" of the day I'd need smaller pants. Kind of cool to wear them before I expected to. Dave

Congrats on your NSV!!!!!!! I love NSV's.. mine today was I put on an old pair of jeans just to see how big they were on me. I couldn't believe that at one time they were too tight and now I was able to pull them out about 6 inches!!!! Once again congrats!!!!!

I flew to Fl this weekend. #1- On the plane I had about 3-4 inches of seat belt to take up!!! #2- I started getting a blister on my heel. I took off my shoe and sock sitting in the car and put on the band aid! #3- We sat out side at several cafe's and I was not afraid to sit in those plastic chairs with the arms and I fit comfortably! #4- I STAYED ON MY EATING SCHEDULE! I only ate 3/4 to 1 cup of food. And beleive you me I wanted to eat more! Fresh broiled scallops and shrimp! :bananapartyhat:

I am keeping to my training commitment for the 1/2 marathon this spring. Today it was 13 degrees. I ran 5 miles (also a very hilly route) with my friend and we finished feeling very good about ourselves. When I got back home, the hair that was hanging out of my polar fleece hat was all wet with sweat...then I realized I also had ice chunks in there! Too funny! Not bad for someone who has been a couch potato at various times of my life!

I got out of the shower this morning and decided to try on all my swimsuits from the past 4 years. Every single one of them fit and look somewhat great! Whoo, hoo!

Good morning everyone. No, Janet, computer thermometer says it's 9 degrees (above zero) right now. But, I didn't sit around afterall yesterday. Have a clothing store in our little mall that had a 75% off sale that I had stopped in one night and got a few things. So after I got my house cleaned yesterday I decided to check it out. Well, parking was full and I had to park by Penny's so went in through Penny's and was stopped dead by signs of $2.97 shirts -- and 80% off sale signs. Never did make it out of that store!! They had long sleeved thin cotton tee (my favorites) for $2.97 -- originally $38.00 -- so guess who bought a ton of those? Then they had some sweaters at 80% off, I got 4 at $6.95 I think. Then I went over to the Jr. dept. and found a pair of size 11 junior black denim for $7.50!!! Tried them on -- fit perfectly -- I haven't lost weight, but have lost inches this year and that's my proof!! My receipt showed I saved $440 and only spent $120. I ended up with 3 pairs of jeans, 4 sweaters and 8 tees. Even my DH said he wouldn't have passed up those bargains either. So that's my NSV for this month -- being able to take advantage of those types of sales. So I was soooo glad I ventured out in the cold -- I arrived there shortly after they opened, and they had just put everything out, so I had a great selection of colors, etc. Katie returned home yesterday -- she said they released her which I don't believe -- I think she probably signed herself out -- she claims she's had no "food" for a week -- only intravenous Fluid -- so why would they ever let her out? Anyway, her brother was staying with her and Aylah so we took advantage of that and ended up driving to our casino for crab/prime rib dinner. DH needed his cigarettes too. So I ate crab and a few bites of prime rib. Played quarter poker machines and I hit 4 of a kind twice and DH hit four 2's so we ended up coming home with all the money we took plus a few extra bucks after paying for dinner, gas and 4 cartons of DH's cigarettes. We got there at 3:30 -- gambled until 4:15 -- had dinner and drove the hour and 10 mins. home and were back by 7:30 -- that's the secret to gambling -- just play until you hit and then walk away with $$. LOL. It works for us. With my lapband card my meal was only $8 -- DH paid $20 so I'm also a cheap date. Laura, good going on throwing away the cupcakes -- it's tough with a little one around. Of course you don't want to deny him - so that's a great plan. Do they still sell Jiffy cake mixes? They would make a lot fewer cupcakes I think - I remember they used to be like 39 cents. LOL. Haven't priced them recently. I saw a woman on Paula Deen one day who owns a cupcake bakery in Savannah -- and she made some cupcakes and then scooped out the middle and filled it with whipped cream and topped with berries. Those looked good -- we could make those for a special "treat" and that way we wouldn't have as much "cake" to eat. We could use greek yogurt/cream cheese pudding to fill ours - yum. Never did work out yesterday - -between the house cleaning and shopping I figured it was enough. Getting ready to go to the gym now. Sandy, I tend to agree with the ones telling you to wait until you lose the rest of your weight because I think if you have it done and then lose 20 more pounds it will sag again. Maybe not - see what the expert says -- will be interesting to hear. I'm going to work on that this week too -- I need to go get a consult - someone referred some names to me so I need to check them out. I didn't do it the first time I lost 100 pounds (over 20 years ago) and I truly feel like if I had done it I might not have gained the weight back. I think like our bands, if we are desparate enough to undergo a knife I think it makes a big impact on our minds. Yesterday as I was zipping around that store grabbing all these cheap clothes I kept hearing myself saying "I LOVE being skinny" lol, seriously, it was like my brain was sending me independent thoughts to inspire me. Cheri, the article will be hard to write, but I know it will also be quite theraputic for you -- it may be helpful for you as well as way to help your healing process. It will also help everyone who reads it. It's wonderful for you to volunteer to do that -- it's a tough job. Eva hugs on the drains and doggie illness issues -- hope it's all better by now. Apples, so happy you are in good weather and enjoying yourself -- if anyone deserves it you do!!! I'm sure your FIL is very happy to have you so close -- especially if you are cooking him food and sending it home with him!! He probably hopes you never leave!! Janet, can't wait to see the pics on FB - sounds like you had a great evening with Jodi, Dassi, Phyl and Earl - bet the doggies enjoyed having someone paying attention to them also! Well, gotta get moving -- need to go do a good workout this morning. We will probably get Aylah this afternoon -- as Katie is probably not going to be well enough to care for her and get her off to school in the morning. Julie, hugs on the pain. Arlene, you are a fabulous daughter -- your DM is so lucky!! Tell your sister she can't have the stuff -- she doesn't need it. LOL. Sell it and give the $$ to your mom instead. Or better yet, use it to buy her something she does need. Later, Linda Have a great day everyone!

Congrats!!! What a great NSV!!!

Hey Gang! Well it's been a year. Hard to believe. I'm feeling great. I've lost 109 lbs from my top weight and 87lbs since surgery. I was hoping to have lost another 10 to 20 lbs but I don't think that is going to happen. Once I hit the weight I'm at now, I just totally stopped losing weight. I think our bodies know where we are suppose to be and just stop there. I'm ok if I don't lose anymore. I'm in a size 7/8 or 9/10 depending on the clothes. I pretty much eat whatever I want now but just try to be mindful of what I'm putting in my mouth. I can definitely eat more than I used to right after surgery. Right after surgery and up until about 5 or 6 months after I could eat about 1/3 cup of chili. I now can eat 1 cup. I still try to make protein my first choice and try to keep my carbs down to a minimum. I rarely eat bread now, so sandwhiches/burgers etc aren't part of my diet. Bread is one of the things I don't digest well now and I'm glad because it used to be one of my weaknesses. My tastes have definitely changed. I don't care for fried food at all. I used to love fried chicken or anything fried. Now, I hate the taste. Not because I can't eat it, but my tastes have honestly changed. I love salads and Dr. Aceves gave me the ok to eat them. For all of you contemplating or just beginning your journey. Life does become very normal again. Actually for the first time in 30 years I feel normal. I don't constnatly think about eating, I don't eat until I feel like I'm going to explode. I told my doc..."This must be what normal people feel like"! I've had some great NSV's over the last year. One that comes to mind is not being recognized more than once. A casual aquaintance asked me if I was "Barbara's" sister because I looked just like her. lol I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. I explained that I was "Barbara" just a smaller version. lol In all honestly, this surgery changed my life. I couldn't be happier. I would do it over in a heart beat. Best wishes to all my sleeve sisters and brothers! Barb

I can't wait for my NSVs! I refuse to buy anything other than sweats until summer. I have my goal set for a new suit/dress for my sons high school graduation in June. I'm excited and anxious to see where I will be at!

About 7 mos ago before I was banded I bought about $100 worth of bras from Lane Bryant....Now that I have been banded for about 6 mos none of them fit! That is a wonderful NSV but really expensive too boot....