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Another positive NSV... I had a bath tonight... ok so that isn't unusual... well, for me it is cos I don't normally have a bath, I tend to shower... less time to see my self naked...lol Anyway, the last time I had a bath was way before my sleeve... I couldn't believe how much room was in there!!! I have definately shrunk in width... and my tummy was almost all under the water too....yey!!! Love this NSV!!! As Irene said you lost a pound even though it's that TOM, I'm sure a few pounds will come off in the next couple of days, can't wait to see pics!!

Evening all, OMG I don't remember the last time I was this tired and sore. Debbie and I worked the National Cheerleader Association thing today at the Dallas Convention Center. We worked a food stand. We are doing this as part of a group we belong to called No Walker Left Behind. This is the group we are doing the Susan G. Koman 3 day breast cancer walk with. The company that handles all the food service for the center is paying us a portion of proceeds for our voulenteer work. This is the first real strenuous thing I have done post surgery. We got there at 8 am and didn't leave there till 8pm. This was the first time we have done this. We used this as a training period before we do the NFL experience the end of the month. The convention center is hosting a 9 day Superbowl party. We will be working our butts off those days. I am actually not that physically tired as much as my feet hurt. BUT before you think I am just hitching I have some good news about it. Not sure if this would be called a NSV or not but I spent 12 hrs standing running a cash drawer and my back never got tired or starting hurting. B4 Lapband I would have been hurting by noon with all that standing and my knees would have been aching. Not so today Sorry about the post last night. Just have alot on my plate right now. This being off this long has caused some problems. Nothing we won't be able to get through just need to go back to work full time. This 1/3 pay sucks. Shoulder is getting better though. Been able to sleep in the bed since Christmas, not sleeping through the night but am getting more rest than I was. Physical therapy is moving along great. Finally started adding some weight to my workouts. It's been a slow process as there have been some movements that were restricted till last week. My PT thinks mid feb. I hlpe so. Dad is doing good. He started his treetments this week. Right know he is doing them manually which meens 4 treTments a day. He will start the machine treatments next week. We are going up there on thursday evening for the weekind. As far as the band goes, it's progressing slow. I have cut back on my portions a lot. Still eating more than I like but it is getting better. I go for another fill this week so hopefully that will help some. Karen, Be careful through OK and TX panhandle. We are supposed to be getting winter storm as far south as Dallas. I know the winter crap you ate used too is not near as bad as generally get here but the panhandle can get bad. Have a safe trip and if you guys decide to come a more southerly route than let me know. As fas as the Chicago get together. I don't think there is anyway Debbie and I could do it this year. Maybe, better yet more than likely, meeting somewhere next year would be great. Hugs and Love to you all Chris

Congratulations, Tracy! That is so great to hear. And not bragging at all. Hell fire, girl, you EARNED it! I can totally relate. One of my personal goals with all this has been a desire to be able to buy clothes in the regular stores, not places like Casual Male XL, the male version of Lane Bryant. The other day I was walking through costco, and saw a sale on lightweight jackets. As usual, Costco's sizes run from Small to 2XL. I've been a 3XL or more for as long as I can remember, and have had to pass things up in so many stores because I was just too big. Just for the heck of it, I picked up a 2XL jacket and tried it on. Not only did it fit, but it fit RIGHT. I was able to easily zip it up without anything being "forced." I about did a backflip (there's a visual for you...) right there in the store. I wore the jacket to visit a friend today, and I got a "Nice jacket!" compliment. I don't need to tell you how good that felt. It's been years since anyone complimented me on my clothes. Keep celebrating those NSVs! They're sometimes more rewarding that a pound or two off the scale. Well, maybe... Dave

NSV = Non scale Victory

I've probably had close to a dozen fills (and one unfill, same process, just in reverse) in the 22 months I've been banded. The only one that was really uncomfortable was the first one. And that was likely due to that I was still rather tender over my port area.. and the tenderness due to my being stubborn enough to try to continue to sleep on that side, even while still healing. Even though it was really uncomfy, it wasn't bad at all. I don't get a numbing shot (I don't see the point.. it's an extra needle and the fill doesn't hurt that much). The doctor or nurse uses ultrasound to locate the port, they do a quick stick, pull back to see how much saline is in the band (this is good practice to check Fluid level each time) and then push it all back in with the additional of what they planned to add. Then the needle removed and bandaid applied. All this is done while lying down. Then they sit me up and give me Water to drink. If it goes down OK, then I'm free to continue on my merry way. Water has always gone down fine, but if it didn't, they'd probably want to remove some of the saline just installed. My post fill diet is liquids till that evening, soft or mushie foods (the one time I let myself have mashed potatoes) and back to regular as tolerated the next day. If anything gives me trouble to back down to liquids and advance diet a little more slowly. I've had the nurse not be able to find the port right off the bat a time or two. It's not a stick over and over, they move the needle just a tad while still in your skin. It doesn't hurt, just feels strange. If they use ultrasound or fluoro, it shouldn't be an issue at all. They don't use either on me now as I've lost so much. a NSV for sure!! And I totally understand being anxious. I was asking everyone and everybody about skin numbing preparations.. lol. I was plain out scared! It will likely be a lot easier than you can imagine. Hope this helps a little. P.S. I LOVE answering questions from newbs, oldsters & inbetweens. I learn from everyone and every question.

Congratulations!! How great it must feel to receive those compliments AND to get a new pair of jeans! I can't wait! By the way what is NSV?

Now that really IS an NSV!

awesome NSV! Keep it coming off!

I went to Dress Barn today for some Yoga/Sweat pants. I was on the "Woman" side of the store, where I always go and picked up a pair of 1x. Tried them on Way too big! Standing there puzzled as to what to do and then I dared wander on the "Normal" size side. I picked a pair of XL and L. The L fits perfectly... I almost started screaming aloud. THEN I tried on 14W jeans and the skinny minnie sales girl said those are too big and brought me a regular 14. The fit like glove. I was so excited....... I really am excited by this. I have not been a 14 in about 20 years........WOO HOO Then the guy who does my lawn came to collect the money. It was the father of the company, who speaks very little English. I paid him and wished him aHappy New Year. He said you too and then said, "You look....." and made a motion holding his hands close together. . "Bery, Bery nice." LOL LOL He is about 65, but it was definitely a male "bery nice"...LOL

Ok so, this is the end of day 5 of the pouch test. I weighed this morning - (desperate and therefore almost naked!) - my offical weigh day.... and I am.... *drum roll* down a POUND!!! All that for a pound...oh and my monthly visitor turned up... hmph! OK, positive slant... a pound is a pound is a pound... that is better than nothing or a gain ... new slow losers mantra!!! I really want to get 186lb -now currently at 190 - as this would be my half way goal... grrrrr C'mon body, work with me here!!! Another positive NSV... I had a bath tonight... ok so that isn't unusual... well, for me it is cos I don't normally have a bath, I tend to shower... less time to see my self naked...lol Anyway, the last time I had a bath was way before my sleeve... I couldn't believe how much room was in there!!! I have definately shrunk in width... and my tummy was almost all under the Water too....yey!!!

Hi FLORIDAYS... I was banded on 12/3 and went in for my first fill this past Wednesday. On my pre-op visit on 11/20 I weighed 269. By 12/3 on Surgery day I was 258. When I went in for my fill I was 243. 2 days later I weighed in today at 241. My doctor was very pleased with my progress so far. I was a little disheartened that he didn't want to give me a fill because I am losing at a good pace. But he was very encouraging and really made me feel like I am doing well without the fill. So far I haven't gotten sick at all and am having no problems with any foods. I am not having any heartburn or nausea. The doctor said that if he acts too aggresively and gives me a fill he is afraid that I will start having some of those problems. He said that he felt that I would just be back next week asking him to take it out. But he did say that when I return next month he thought I would be ready for a fill. But even still...only a little. I had alot of mixed feelings at first. I was kinda excited about getting the fill...I guess just ready to move on to the next phase and possibly loose more. But by the time I left the Doctor's office I felt good about it. The doctor was so very encouraging and really acted enthusiatic about my achievement so far. The recommended weight loss by Allergan - the makers of the band - is 2.0 - 2.5 pounds per week. Since 11/20 I have lost a total of 28 pounds. I had lost 10 pounds in the previous month. For a total of 38 pounds lost since October. I am estatic! I had a great NSV victory this week. All of my clothes are getting pretty baggy. I went to get just one outfit to reward myself. I had to go down 2 sizes in both my jeans and sweater. After I got home and tried it on for my husband and kids their remarks nearly brought me to happy tears. My daughter said that it was hard to tell just how much I had lost because my clothes were so big. My sons were like "Wow mom - you look so much smaller". And my husband was VERY encouraging! I hope and pray that I can continue on this well. And I wish the best of luck everyone else too. We are all on this journey together!

I totally think this is true. I haven't lost weight in a few weeks now - and I'm not lying, my body feels like it has shrunk A LOT!!! Sometimes I'll look at myself (like my butt or whatever) and I don't even recognize it's me in the mirror (nice NSV!!) My pants (sizes 16M now) are getting saggy bottom, fitting very loose in the waist and my XL shirts are TOO BIG now. My Larges even getting a loose too. I'm actually smaller now than I ever was with my band. I weigh right now a few pounds more, but my body is definitely smaller. I just realize I'm not one of the ones who can focus so much on the scale. My sleeve IS WORKING!!! I just have to keep doing what I'm doing and play by a different set of rules. I just go with the flow though. I know I'm gonna have a good loss one of these weeks.

Please don't get me wrong, this is not meant to be mean, and I am only 9 weeks out so maybe I can't understand how long-term sleevers feel, but I don't understand how people complain about "only" losing 8 pounds a month - that is about 2 pounds a week and I believe that is right on target and anything much faster (at least after the first few weeks) would be seriously unhealthy - sleeve or not!! My surgeon said at my 6 week post-op eval, that they consider everything over 25 pounds a success - this is for my range, starting at a BMI of 43 and of course it includes the immediate post-op weight loss. On one hand, people acknowledge that the sleeve is just a tool, but I have the feeling that many still expect miracle weight-loss. I know, I am disappointed if I post no loss for a week or so, but in the end I know this is better than anything I could have ever done myself or that I have done myself in the past. Globetrotter, you are doing awesome - you shared your wonderful NSVs a little bit ago. Be proud, not down on yourself considering yourself a slow loser!

Thanks for getting this thread pinned LilMissDiva. It's my favorite read and I'm sure others feel the same way! GO NSVs!!! :cheer2:

Globetrotter... this is MEGA, MEGA. MEGA exciting... wow 70lb+ in just 5 mths in NOT slow... you are doing an amazing job and an inspiration to me, as I am sure to all of us! I love your NSV, they give me that happy feeling!!! keep up the good work and well done! Looking forward to the pictures =]

Wwell no one has posted here for awhile, so I thought that I would in hopes to drag some new people here. Ive been banded since 11/10/10, but Ive had some nsv's before and after the band. Here are a few post band: my rings slide around my fingers, and Im gonna need sizers soon the watch that I bought 2 weeks after my surgery left imprints on my wrist. Now it slides around, and I might have to take a link out. my calves dont get stuck when I put my feet into rubber boots! I dropped down 2, almost 3, pant sizes!

Love you NSV! I have one ... lately I keep checking to see if I have my seatbelt on. The seatbelt indicator light is not on, but I can't feel the seatbelt so I start to panic thinking I don't have it on. Low and behold, it's on ... it just fits differently now that I have lost weight. YAY for us!! LOL Have you tried cauliflower? I don't particularly care for it but it is similar in texture to broccoli, so if you can stand the taste ... Good luck. ~Fran

We went to an old favorite restaurant for lunch yesterday.. haven't been since before surgery in August... I fit in the booth with a couple of inches between me and the table! I used to squeeze in and be embarassed that my stomach was smashed against the table. Definetly gave me a much needed boost of encouragement. I was pretty loose with my eating over the holidays with the kids home from school all day everyday... definetly put on 5 lbs since Thanksgiving, but seeing the booth yesterday really made me feel like I was making progress. I'm meeting my DH's extended family at a reunion at the end of March for his grandfather's 90th bday... he hasn't seen the extended family in almost 7 years either, so we're both trying to drop a size before we go. I'm still having trouble not drinking with meals, and chewing enough. I find that when I chew as much as we're supposed to I start to gag on the gross mushy saliva filled food and have a hard time making myself swallow. I'm also the saliva freak who has to dump the milk if I catch DH drinking out of it because the backwash possibilities in milk are the worst. It's an issue I'm working on, but the consistency has always been a problem for me. The feel of fish when I bite into it makes me gag, squeaky green Beans on my teeth make me shudder and gag. I have a hard time swallowing bananas Jello or yogurt if they've been in my mouth for more than a second or two. Veggies that are slimy I can't do for the same reasons... tomatoes when they are raw (I can handle cooked), cucumbers I can't do either. The only veggie that I can almost always eat is Broccoli- but I eat it so often I get to the point that it's just hard to make myself swallow it. I need to find some veggie recipes that I can eat without gagging. Consistency of food is my big issue. I can swallow it if it's gross, but not if it's slimy or too jiggly feeling. I've found myself eating the same 3 dinners, lunches, and breakfasts for months and I'm bored! anyone else with these type of issues? how do you train yourself to eat food that your reflexes think you shouldn't?

Thanks guys!!! My laptop decided to give up the ghost so my ability to post anything to the internet is temporarily suspended, but once everything gets figured out I will definitely post a Then&Now. Another NSV this morning - a year before my surgery I had bought a cute t-shirt in the biggest size available from a grocery store in my hometown, it had the store logo and dancing vegetables and I thought it was cute. The biggest size in the women's style was an XL and when I tried it on I could barely get it over my breasts, it felt exactly like a corset, and forget about pulling it down any further. Fellow sleevers, as I write this, I am wearing that shirt with a pair of jeans. In public. =) =) Oh, and I'm down another 2 pounds - I am now officially half way to my surgeon's goal, and 10 lbs from halfway to my personal goal. =) =) =)

I am sooo thrilled for you -- those NSVs are not small, but huge!! And 70 pounds is not losing slowly!! You've lost almost 15 pounds a month!! That's an enormous amount of weight!! I say CONGRATULATIONS and keep up the good work -- and I second that we need pics!

I am sooo happy for you and all your NSV's. Each one is a may seem like a small accomplishment but when you actually look at it, they are HUGE accomplishments. And losing 70lbs is AWESOME!!!! Congrats to you!!!