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Sometimes the NSVs feel so much better than the numbers on the scale. Great NSV!!!! What a great feeling when you can zip up a smaller size of jeans!!

Good Evening sleevers!!! Today I am exactly 4 months post op. I was sleeved by Dr. Alberto Aceves in Mexicali Mexico and he took my lap band out at the same time. (Yeahhh!!!) Well my averages are slowing down but ya know... I'm still losing. I went through a pretty long stall, and maybe partially it was my own fault. I was grazing too much now I realize, as I've taken back up to logging my intake 100% of the time. I even log my supplements. Yes, I do. Maybe that is a little neurotic - but I had to do something. I needed to find out where I was missing and I'm glad to know where I was going wrong. I'm now eating anywhere from 900-1200 calories per day and doing 50% Protein, 25% Fats and 25% GOOD Carbs. NO MORE SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS, and everything that hits my lips is completely healthy and good for my body. I will continue with this regimen until I hit goal. It's so easy to fall off the right track, BUT the main thing is to realize it, pick back up and keep it moving!! On my workout days I add in one extra EAS CarbAdvantage Protein shake, and I'll allow one handfull of peanuts in the evening but that's it. I tried the sunflower seeds but I was blown away to find out it's got a lot of calories... LOL!! Good thing I was low on calories for that day. I won't do that again though. I love peanuts and I might try some pistachios too - however I'm at my limit for today, so maybe tomorrow. Also, I've taken on a new eating plan which gets me more veggies, fruits and whole grain power foods. I feel so wholesome right now. I have more energy right now than I think I've felt in my entire life!!! That is NO JOKE!!! I've been able to rock out my workouts like no one's business and I feel so incredible when they are over. :D I can tell my stamina in increasing every single day. I'M A HAPPY GIRL!!!! Anyway, my stall I do believe is over now that I've gotten myself back on track and revving like a sports car. My metabolism is through the roof - and I can tell this because I just feel it all over my body. My clothes suddenly feel like they are swimming on me. Soon I will not have any clothes left to wear... LOL And THAT is not a bad thing!!! Ok so, to finish as this is long enough I want to type out some NSV's that I've noticed up to this point. Pre-surgery - these were not even Considered!!! When I wake up in the morning and I flip my legs over the side of my bed I'm startled every time that these are actually my legs!!! They look like someone else's... haaa!! When I'm on my Spinner I can actually see parts of the bike seat as I'm riding it. Now that one was pretty cool. It's funny how you don't even realize how much room you take up until you don't take up much anymore. My Wedding Rings can literally fall off my hand without my help! My Size 6 is starting to get a little too loose for my liking even. I have bones in my hands and on my collar. Who knew? I do not wake up sore in the morning anymore from being so heavy it's hard to maneuver in my sleep. When I'm getting dressed in the morning and I'm picking out my clothes, I can hardly even believe I can fit the smaller sizes that I'm wearing now. Some are even getting baggy! Speaking of this, I'm wearing a pair of pajama pants that I couldn't even fit before surgery. I think they are ready to hit the Goodwill bag now because I can't even keep them on anymore. I can jog on my treadmill and NOT have sore knees during or after!!! I can jog a 5K now. I can move around in areas that are tight and I fit quite easily. Before I'd be afraid of bumping into people or furniture! I see a woman's shape when I look in the mirror getting dressed. I love this one!!! Here's a really big one: I have not needed to take any Aleve daily as I used to. I probably have used it once a day for a total of 5 days in the LAST MONTH!!! Whoohooo!!! Pain is going away!! My shoes are feeling really loose too. Hopefully I can even go down a size one day! People at work are already telling me I'm looking "thin"!! Wow, I feel so jazzed!! I still have a bit to go, but THAT is a huge motivator... I am feeling more like being social. For a minute I just was feeling really introverted. Not anymore!! I think that's enough for now. I'm sure I could go on all day with so many things. Life's Good!!! (LG!!!) Sorry for the no body shots, didn't have time - but I did try to get one of them where you can see to my middle. The Blue dress is me right before pre-op diet, the pink shirt is around 300 Lbs and the brown sweater is me at my heaviest. It's the only known photo of me at that size.

Curtisj01, what a lovely NSV... I bet that felt really good...! Keep up the good work =]

So, the Goodwill thrift store is my favorite place to shop now. I wish I had thought to shop there years ago. You can find really good stuff, really cheap. I go every few weeks. I went this morning, because I wanted to find another pair or two of jeans. I need more pants that fit my smaller body!!!! I loaded up with tops to try on and then hunted the racks for jeans. Added a few pairs to try on and even one that is a size way lower than anything I've worn in 20 years. I only liked how two of the pairs fit, but that one pair, was a size 12 (Gloria Vanderbilt). I thought I'd try them just for giggles, but they were pulling up really nicely and then they actually pulled up over my butt and then I just about fell over when they buttoned and felt comfortable!!!!! The other size I got was a size 14 (Cato). The pair I was wearing when I went shopping were size 16 (Ralph Lauren). I am adding the brand names, just to show the way that different companies size things. All three pairs fit very, comfortably. All are sizes that I couldn't wear when I started my pre-op diet in August. I've also recently gotten tops that are in Large not X-Large. More and more people are noticing that I've lost a lot of weight. I am definitely glad I got the band. I am turning 40 this year and by the time the next holiday season (Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukah) rolls around, I'm going to be a 40 year old hottie!!!!!

great discovery!!!! as time moves on you will find other NSVs to help mark your progress. Cheers on your journey

Yes it is true and possible, however keep in mind - she is a woman and she weighs less (so her metabolism is going to be quite different). It's not going to be as easy to lose as it may have been for you. Regardless, Congratulations for you're really doing amazing!!! Lila, wow - I agree so much with feed's Dr. I follow that same guideline that I will find my successes in more ways than just the scale. I specifically look for NSV's every single day! My weight loss has been much lower than most others around here so that is what I do to keep positive and know I AM doing a good job. Though I do use my scale as a guide on whether I can try harder or not. However I am very content on my losses to date!! I do set mini goals but and I have set dates attached to try to work to get there. It is disappointing though when I don't make them. I just set the bar lower this time, to something I personally know I can do. Good luck to you!!

In 2004 I had back surgery for herniated and ruptured disk, as well as a spinal bone spur. The surgery helped but I struggled to lose the weight needed to really get the benefits of the surgery. One of the things I noticed after surgery was that when I would lay in bed on my right side, often I would feel pain. It felt as if my lower spine was in a "V" shape. I would have to change positions quickly or the pain would become really bad. It was the weight of my stomach pulling on my back. Since lapband surgery and weight loss I hadn't even given it a thought, but this morning I noticed that the pain was gone and that my back felt ... normal. For me, this is a really big NSV. Anyone else with back problems notice a difference? ~Fran

Today while I was getting ready for work, I put on a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for 6 months! I was very surprised & happy when I buttoned & zipped them up without any problem. Yay! Also - started the Lifestyle Challenge at work today and at the weigh-in it showed I have lost 5 lbs in the last week. That makes 9 since surgery and 28 since starting the pre-op diet. I also stepped up the diet today to include a little more quantity. Still eating pureed foods, but more at one meal. To be honest, I feel really full after eating 2 meals today that were bigger than what I've been used to. Oh well...guess I'll be a good kid & follow the directions

Congrats, its the little things that are really big. My NSV was I had to buy a belt today, my pants are getting too big.

This morning, getting ready for work, I put on a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear for 6 months and THEY FIT! Woo-hoo! This should open up the work wardrobe choices a bit

Well, I've crossed the overweight/normal weight barrier, so there have been quite a few NSVs lately. 1) Can fully cross my legs without getting uncomfortable at all. 2) Was in a clinical skills session where the doctor was using me to show the sternoclavicular joints and everybody in my group said, "WOW, you have such big clavicles, I can see everything!" 3) Running at 6.0 mph is too slow now - I used to struggle with 6.5 mph, but now it's my cruisin' speed! Haven't run any 5Ks or 10Ks since the surgery, but I suspect my time will improve quite a bit. I also walk way faster! 4) Went to an adult ballet class and was the fittest person there (not the skinniest, but definitely the strongest). The teacher said "You clearly have had some ballet training, so you should check out a higher level class." For someone who's always been fat and clumsy, that was huge! To top it all off, I placed in 4th level ballet even though I had only had the equivalent of 1 level of training. Now that the weight isn't getting in the way, my natural strength and flexibility are finally visible! 5) I don't even think about walking a couple of flights of stairs, I don't get out of breath at all. 6) My "skinny clothes" of yore are all at Goodwill or sold on Ebay now, because they were all way too big! 7) I can wear regular boots instead of special-ordering wide-calf ones and paying 3x the price.

This evening I did something I haven't been able to do for 3 years--I was able to put on my wedding rings! Not on my pinkie where they had been but on the ring finger! I took them off about 6 months into my pregnancy and hadn't got them back on until now. Makes me feel great. Now my husband can't tease me about not being married.

NSV for sure! Atta girl!

Well, I made it to my "goal" weight that I had set for when we went to Vegas last month. Yeah!! Plus, this was the first time in MANY years, that I did not need a seat belt extender for the flights! Yeah x 2!!! But, I have not done well since. With Vegas, Christmas, and a convention all last week, I haven't lost anything since then due to all the going and excellent restaurants we have eaten at. I HAVE NOT gained, but haven't lost either. I MUST get back on track, as we have moved up our South Africa trip from next year to this summer....so I desperately need to lose another 50 pounds (minimum) before then...that's my personal goal. So, starting today, I have gone back to drinking my shakes, and logging my intake....as I was pre-Vegas. I have also got to get back to exercising. We have one last deer hunt starting this Friday (which consumes ALOT of time), so I am hoping on Sunday/Monday, I will be back in full swing of things again. I have even thought about doing the liquid diet again for a week to get a jump start on things. I am now 3 months out and am noticing that I can consume a bit more than a month ago. Anyone else with the same??? I know that all the swelling and such is gone by this point...just wish I was that "tight" again!!! So, even though I was somewhat victorious, I need to be scolded to get back on track!!!!!

I posted on here a couple weeks ago about my worries with traveling. I'm back from my trip to California and pleased to say I didn't have any troubles at all! For the first time in my adult life, I didn't need seat belt extenders on any of the flights. We walked and hiked up mountains and I was able to do it. I look at pictures and am not appalled. This surgery is the best thing that could have happened to me. On the scale, I haven't lost since Christmas. But thinking more positively, I can't think of the last time I went throughout the holiday season and on a vacation without gaining a ton of weight. So here's to committing myself to exercise and eating better in the new year. But right now, I am pretty darn happy! )

Well, I made it to my "goal" weight that I had set for when we went to Vegas last month. Yeah!! Plus, this was the first time in MANY years, that I did not need a seat belt extender for the flights! Yeah x 2!!! But, I have not done well since. With Vegas, Christmas, and a convention all last week, I haven't lost anything since then due to all the going and excellent restaurants we have eaten at. I HAVE NOT gained, but haven't lost either. I MUST get back on track, as we have moved up our South Africa trip from next year to this summer....so I desperately need to lose another 50 pounds (minimum) before then...that's my personal goal. So, starting today, I have gone back to drinking my shakes, and logging my intake....as I was pre-Vegas. I have also got to get back to exercising. We have one last deer hunt starting this Friday (which consumes ALOT of time), so I am hoping on Sunday/Monday, I will be back in full swing of things again. I have even thought about doing the liquid diet again for a week to get a jump start on things. I am now 3 months out and am noticing that I can consume a bit more than a month ago. Anyone else with the same??? I know that all the swelling and such is gone by this point...just wish I was that "tight" again!!! So, even though I was somewhat victorious, I need to be scolded to get back on track!!!!!

Next week I will celebrate my 6 month surgiversary. Brassiere: 42G (and truthfully uncomfortable and spilling out) to a 38DD. Pants: 24 and uncomfortable, to 18 and perfectly loose (16s still too snug for real comfort). But the real NSV that I had recently, can only be appreciated by my peeps who have Been There: It was really cold the other day and I had left my jacket in the office. A colleague offered me her windbreaker. She's kinda chunky-fat and if I were to guess her pant size I might say ... near mine I guess, 16-18. But Before Surgery I just would have insisted through my blue chattering lips that I wasn't cold at all, just to avoid the embarrassment of a jacket that didn't fit. This time I accepted the jacket, put it on, and it engulfed me. Too big. =) =) =)

Brian, what an incredible moment that must have been for you!! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I do love reading NSV's like this. There is always SO MUCH to celebrate!!!!

Cheri, I've thought the same thing, I really think DD's MIL doesn't care if she weakens the marriage as she didn't want it in the first place. First and foremost the MIL wants to be proven right. Forgot to mention in my original post, she accused DD of faking the contractions and that it is just gas. AS for my MIL, DH has sat down with her in the past and drew some very good boundaries, since that time she has been good. However, am nervous to see how she responds this time and if she crosses that boundary, I know DH will pounce. I think she knows it to, but time has a way of making one forget or want to retest those boundaries. Thanks for your input, it's always so insightful. As for an update, lets see if I can remember. We've had some ill mothers, Phyl's mom is better and Arlenes mom went to rehab today. Meredith passed her math test and lost 9 lbs! WOO HOO Meredith. Apples left 2 days ago and checked in the first day from KS but didn't check in yesterday so not sure where she made it to. Phyl is trying to take some control back from Earl in the kitchen and jokes if her 46 yr marriage can make it to 50. LOL She also got in trouble for taking the cart and Zoey and visiting a neighbor and Earl not knowing where she was. Janet is probably at the gym. LOL Linda's DSD may be reported to the authorities as a drug user and lose custody of her child. LauraK, had a good time at a singles dance and we are wanting to know if Mr Filet Mignon was there. LOL Kelly checked in and is down 50 lbs. TX checked in and is doing well and getting ready for fill number 2, he also had a great NSV Eva, is doing yard work and got work at home work from her friend. She's also having a hard time with the senseless shooting in Tuscon. I know there's more but that's all I remember now. Someone else fill in the gaps??? oh and we have not heard from Julie and are missing her

Loving the fact that you can actually fit sweats under you 16's that's a NSV! I'm in a bad mood, very hormaonal (TOM) haven't lost anything w my lowcarb 5 day pouch(granted i cheated but still way less carbs than usual) Well i'm back to my higher carbs, that obviosly works for me!

Oh man,.. the Peanut Butter was gooooooood!!!! Only managed a slice and a half of the wholemeal toast, and that took me 20 mins or so... the pouch test might have done NSV though!!! x

Watched the KC Chiefs get slaughtered this afternoon. Oh well........ Light snow on the ground and much more coming - 4 to 8 inches overnight. Have consultation with trainer tomorrow to set up my plan. Knee is more comfortable when I do NOTHING. But, I can't let that stand in my way. Surgeon confirmed it is fine to work out. Chris - congrats on NSV. Arlene - I agree with Janet and Lori - one program that works for you. You are so dedicated. Nice to hear your mom realizes that it is time for assisted living Linda - sending hugs. Others have expressed how I feel too. You are a strong lady, and have faced challenges and shown love for Aylah, and will continue throughout her life - for your daughter, as well, but her demons are hers to chase away.

Oh no, I think Janet just called me a pig! LOL I love costco samples. LOL Don't get them often but love to try the new things. DH and I always cruise through when there to check them all out, I only partake if it's something I am interested in though. But have been known to get one anyway to give to DH LOL We have sunshine today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's even melting a little of the snow. They say we may even get above freezing tomorrow I think it is. We've not been above freezing since Dec 29th they said. I don't care so much about that, but we have sun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta watch my Packers play this afternoon. They have to win so maybe they can play PHyl's Seahawks next and Phyl and I can cheer our teams on and have a little rivalry. LOL Phyl, I love Angry Birds. i completed all levels on my ITouch but have it now on my Droid Phone and this time I am not advancing levels until I get all 3 stars, much harder that way! I also downloaded the holiday version. TX, congrats on the NSV!!! It's amazing how many things we notice getting easier. Linda, so sorry about your struggles with you DSD I pray she gets the help she needs for real this time. It's one thing when we do things to mess up our own lives but when it affects others especially children so hard to take. Arlene, how was your DH able to eat the muffin? I thought with bypass they dumped on things like that? Does he not have problems with the dumping? Congrats to him on losing 100 lbs!!

Good Morning Gang... Linda sounds like you had a good day - OMG I don't think I could live in that cold ;0) - Trader Joe's are always crowded -we have 3 one in Palm Springs (20 miles) Palm Desert (10 miles) La Quinta (5 miles) I have never been to Palm Springs store Palm Desert Store in a strip mall - not super big and neither is the LQ store - they are out of my way - I rarely go.. I get some of my dog/cat food at Petco (halo) but the little ceazer I get at Target cuz it's cheaper - Ya unfortunate that SD is an addict - That's a tough one - So Sad - Hugs & Love and glad you are seeing some one... That she's lost one child and can lose another - so very sad and the damage that she did by using while p.g. - but that's an addict - So very hard to understand - we understand addiction - but ours (food) only hurt us.. Your dinner sounds good... Yep it was me and costco - OMG the pigs in those stores act like they have never eaten - let us know how it is - it's always nice to have something on hand when you haven't taken anything out - That happens every now and then - mostly on the weekends when I am busy doing something (out and about) come home and nothing to fix for dinner - Chris - WTG on your NSV (being on your feet) Once you get back to work - things will get better - too much togetherness ;0) Charlene - GF this is what I have been preaching since day one - find what works for you that you can live with for the rest of your life - quit treating this as a diet - it's not - it's about eating healthy - smaller portions - exercise.. 0h ya - next time you go out to bf don't take the muffin home - leave it on the plate no one needs it - Well Not much to report - Had dinner - Fish - Spinach - Rice - SF Ice Cream - Took my vitimans & Calcium (omg that stuff is like alli to my system in the morning tmi :0) Watched tv that I recorded... Up at 6:30 - on 2nd cup of coffee - gym at 10 the normal Sunday Target shopping home -- That's my exciting day :0) CBL

Janet, your right! I went off the rails in October when I started following too many plans at one time. I am going to continue to do pts/calories. I have been through so many plans over my life I need to do what is best for me. TX, Awesome about the NSV! I know what you are talking about. If I get up your way I would like to meet you and your DW. My DH has had gastric bypass so he can relate to weight struggles. He lost 100lb and has remained the same weight for almost a year. Even the weight training has not changed his weight, but he is getting muscles back. He really feels great. I am glad you dad is doing well.....keep us posted. Lori, Thanks for affirming Janet's suggestion. No matter what, I will weigh on Tuesday. I am going to try to get my mother into the nursing home tomorrow. She told me this morning that she thinks she will be ready for assisted living. Staying in the hospital this time has been her A-ha moment. I haven't even talked to her about the oncologist. We will deal with that when she is stronger. Eva.....Prayers and Hugs for you today. Everyone in your city is connected in one way or another, and we are connected to you. This tragedy brought back memories of JFK (I was 11 then), Bobby Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan. We come together in these times as a nation and look to God for healing. I am not going to church this morning. The front is blowing in with thunderstorms. Today we are honoring our state champion 5A football team. The coach goes to our church. There will be about 200 extra people there so I know I won't be missed. When the rain clears I am going to the hospital. Julie......where are you????