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Congratulation on starting your journey to a healthier you! Keep us updated on all your progress, NSV's and ups and down's. The people on here are very supportive and will give advice willlingly if you ask. Lily

This may sound silly, but I joined the gym 6 months ago but was too afraid to actually go. I dont want people looking at me and I am not familiar with the machines. I bought a 3 session personal training package to learn the equipment and get more comfortable with the gym enviroment. Today was session 1. I learned alot and also noticed that very few people actually looked at me. Like most of us I am ashamed of my body and feel like people are thinking to themselves "Why is this fat person even here?" I have one more day before I go back to work, but will do some time on the treadmill. I only made it 5 minutes today,even though I have been walking .8miles every day.

Well, I successfully (and easily) lost the weight I gained on last blog. Funny thing is, I don't really feel like I"m even trying. I do notice that I am eating less, but I don't have anything in my band yet. Which, I'm not complaining, at all! Today, I reached my first NSV. I tried on a shirt I was able to wear (and look good in) 3 years ago, but haven't been able to wear in at least 2 years. YES! It's actually exciting to look at the back of my closet now and see the clothes I will soon be able to wear again! Right now, I am only a couple pounds away from being under 300..I can't wait. 300 is such a gross number. I am READY for the 2's then the 1's! That was the good news I had to share. Now, comes the bad. Did you hear about this ridiculous article written by Maura Kelly in Marie Claire magazine? If not, I encourage you to read it and be completely outraged. I can't believe, in this society, we have people like this. I almost wish I had a subscription just so I could cancel it! WHAT A TOOL! Here is the link: http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television

Those sound like a ton of NSVs! Great job!

I'm lost...please fill me in as to what NSV means?

what is NSV. boy do I feel stupid.

Well I wad banded 2 weeks ago today. I returned to work today and I was already nervous about people asking me where I had been for 2 weeks. So as I was walking down the hall a co worker of mines screamed omg where is the rest of you??? I asked her what did she mean? She said I mean you look so different and you lost allot of weight what have you been doing? I just smiled and nodded and s as id oh working out. Then I said you know what I am lying I got the lap band! She was so suprised but then said how she wanted to get it but was scared. It made me feel really good because I knew that I lost over 20 pounds but I didnt think it made that much of a difference. My question is I dont feel like everyone should know my business but if someone ask me what have I been doing to loose the weight should I lie? I dont want to be like star jones. I am so confused and just want to sit a @ my desk all day so no one can see me.

Wow, this weight loss ride is a trip. So I have had some SV and NSV since my last blog post and I can hardly wrap my head around them! 1. SV - my scale said 219.8 this morning. WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY??? I can NOT remember the last time I weighed anything like that. 219.8??? I remember when my goal was 250. Then I got stuck at 238 for like...a year! Then my goal was 225. But 219 is a number I never even dared hope for. Crazy. HOWEVER...still have a lot of work to do. I need to start exercising in earnest. Long walks are nice but it's not where it needs to be yet. But I'll beat myself up over that some other time....219.8! 2. A guy in my office left on a months long business trip in June. Before he left, we had drinks and all he talked about was "hot chicks". Now....I'm not interested in this guy in a romantic way, but still...it was clear that I was NOT being included in that classification. I sort of vowed that I'd lose some weight while he was gone..."I'll show him!" At first, I wasn't doing the work and thought...this will be yet another time I DON'T lose weight. But then I recommitted. He's back now and we made plans for catch-up drinks. As we were finalizing, he said "have you changed your hair?" (that old saw ) I said no and then...he gave me the old up and down eye scan! This is a new one to me...I've seen guys do it to other women...the "ok, you've got a pretty face but what does the rest of you look like?" But I've rarely had it happen to me. But today, it happened! He said that he wasn't sure what was different (really?) but that it was "working for me". Doesn't exactly make me a "hot chick" but a step in the right direction! I'm not one to judge my all of my efforts by male reactions but darn it if I didn't feel a sense of accomplishment all the same! Speaking of male reaction, I think as my confidence has grown, my radar is much more attuned. I'm noticing more male attention. Not to say it's all due to 20 or so lbs...more likely, I wasn't paying attention before because of low self-confidence. But I'M reacting differently now...not averting my gaze, letting my own looks linger a bit. Great NSV there. I hope to get to the point where I don't bolt for the hills when some guy tries to make a connection. 3. Halloween hooray! I wore a cute costume for the first time ever with calf hugging boots for the first time ever. Nice! And I didn't hate myself in the pictures....even nicer! Not hating myself in pics is DEFINITELY an NSV. I aspire to actually like myself in pics someday! 4. Oh yeah, the title of my post! I went to Lane Bryant for some winter clothes and....their 1x shirts were looking a little big. :w00t: I skeptically took a pair of size 16 jeans, their lowest size into the dressing room...and they fit snugly, not tight, snug, the way jeans are supposed to fit. That was last week...now they are a bit loose in the thigh. I found a Venezia size 1 jeans on sale for $3.99 and I have no idea what size they are supposed to be but they looked *small*. This morning, I was able to button and zip. Not yet ready for primetime but maybe by end of year if all goes well? Now I know that Lane Bryant's vanity sizing has gotten out of hand but I am MORE than ready to leave that store behind. Now into Old Navy XXL which is AWESOME because it means that I can run into any Old Navy and buy some clothes just because I forgot to pack something (travel a lot for business) or because they have something I like. Yippee! Next comes a challenge...a business trip for 3 weeks to India and Thailand. My medical doctor has warned me....no veggies, salad, fruit...basically nothing that has been washed in water in India under any circumstances unless I want to get violently ill. He actually said..stick to curries and fried things. You would think I'd be looking forward to it but I'm not really. Not that I'm some vegetable lover all of a sudden but also not looking forward to going backwards. But I have learned a few tricks in the last few weeks...like only eating enough to stop hunger and not a bite more. Pushing the plate away with enough food for another 2 meals has gotten MUCH easier. I don't really care what others think about it anymore, and I don't feel guilty for "wasting" food. So hoping to at least "hold steady" by keeping portions small. Won't worry too much about not getting in enough calories or macronutrients, or eating "too much"...I'll live. Onward!

congrats on the NSV. Hope the bronchitis leaves you soon.

I've seen you guys post about NSV's and it took me a bit to figure out what this was, but I had my first one today. A little bitter sweet, but that's okay... I'm 14 days post op and had to go to the Dr. today. I have bronchitis and feel pretty rough, but while I was sitting in the Dr.'s office, very miserable and could not get comfortable, I crossed my legs without even thinking about it. This is the first time I have been able to do this in about 15 years. Woot, woot! :thumbup: Now, if I can just start feeling better and get back to walking.

I am almost four months post-op and I have never posted a topic in the Success Stories tab. My Mom says I am my harshest critic but I really haven't felt any noticeable successes though I know they are there. I have lost 53 pounds. Never in my life have I lost that much, I think the most I ever lost was 25lbs. The pants I couldn't begin to pour myself into before surgery are now comfortable. The bras that dug into my back and shoulders now fit nicely. I am wearing the same shirts as before surgery but now they hang as they are meant to. In photos my smile is more prominent than my chins, of which I am down to only 1. Yet, I look in the mirror and only see vague changes. Over 50 pounds gone and I feel like I look the same. When I look at a photo of my face from a year ago and a photo now the contrast is obvious, but a photo of my face taken within days after surgery and taken now, to me looks no different. I know I am impatient, I know it can't happen fast enough for me, I'm sure most of us feel that way. I try to be cognitively aware of the progress, of being appreciative for the now, but I just can't seem to stop myself from counting ahead, doing the sums in my head, trying to gauge when I will hit a certain weight. When will I realize that I am making progress? I try to notice if I fit in office chairs better, but I can't remember what they felt like before anymore. I know that when I am able to fit into an airplane seat and use just the actual seatbelt, and bring the tray down fully, those will be concrete signs of progress, as I was not able to do either of those things prior to surgery. When will I feel/comprehend/recognize the progress? I know some of you long-timer/maintenence achievers have mentioned automatically reaching for larger sizes long after you've stopped wearing them, so clearly the acceptance isn't an overnight thing. I remember, 30 pounds ago, saying to myself that I wouldn't feel like I was progressing until I had lost 50 pounds because that sounded like a legitimate serious amount. I think I knew then though, that I would lose that 50, and come up with another further out number that would instead be legitimate. I must sound like a headcase. People say to document your measurements, that this will show changes even when the scale and mirror do not. So far there has only been maybe an inch change in my hips and no change in my waist or ribcage. Maybe I will see/feel a difference at 75 pounds? Does it make any sense to anybody that I am only now truly beginning to grasp how enormous I was, now that I am losing weight? A photo was taken of me recently and I was startled/saddened to see how really big I still am. Anyway, I've lost 50 pounds so far, looking forward to 115 more.

So, I went out with some co-workers last night to a bar for a drink or two then to a haunted house. AND...and random strange man bought me a drink at the bar AND I got invited out to club afterwards...(didn't go, but hey, it's the hitting on me that counts!). I feel like such a GIRL!!!! I'm 37 and it's the first time a guy has tried to pick me up. Woohoo!

At what point do you not feel like you have to dress like your old fat self? Or look in the mirror and see your old body? Halloween costume last night was MaryAnn from True Blood, so that required sleeveless. It took a LOT to get to suck it up and go without the jacket. Of course on the outside I showed confidence because it's what I do but on the inside I was thinking, these people are looking at my arms. They are wondering why the fat girl wondered why it was ok to wear sleeveless. What is she thinking? I did have a NSV today though - one of my friends posted pics from the party and a young rather cute guy said "whos the raven haired hottie? I am married and SO not looking, but it totally was a big NSV!!

So the only reason I'm posting this is because I have to tell someone and who better than strangers. Right? I'm an EMT for a very rural ambulance service and this morning we received a call. So I threw on the same size 20 jeans I've been wearing for a couple years when we get a call. Grabbed my gear and ran out of the house. Mind you I've only lost about 23lbs including the pre-op diet. On the way to my vehicle my jeans literally fell off. I knew they were getting a little loose but I wouldve ran right out of them if I hadn't had shoes on. Thank god no one was around, the neighbors would have had a very eye opening moment. Haha. I just pulled them back up and was very cautious of my jeans while on the call. Thank goodness I didn't lose them again. Came close a couple times but it didn't happen. Got home and immediatly put a belt on. TIGHT! So now I'm LMAO but happy for my first VERY noticeable NSV!

wow! that's fantastic! Congratulations -- I too have not participated in Halloween in ages, but am looking forward to it next year -- Buying off the rack has to be up there in great NSVs! Congratulations!

What a wonderful NSV!!! Congratulations . . . I've had a wonderful journey as well. . . I've lost tons of weight, feel so much better and get A LOT of compliments from folks who haven't seen me in years! It's so great to be able to fit into small spaces, fit comfortably into a plane seat, and walk up a flight of stairs without dying! Once again, congratulations and keep up that fabulous work!!!!

I am so excited about Halloween this year. I have not dressed up or attended a costume party since I was 20 years old. I have not been able to buy a costume because of my size, which none of the costume stores carried. However, thanks to my sleeve, I am down from a 34 to a size 10 and was able to go to our local Halloween store and buy a costume off the rack, in a medium! I was so excited. And last night, I went to my first Halloween party in 24 years. I had a blast and it was so much fun to participate in the costume contests, etc. I love my sleeve and consider this a major NSV. I am living and enjoying life again. And for those of you just starting this wonderful journey, you will too! And we are all here to support you. Have a safe and happy Halloween everyone!

KristyKreem, Sleevesearch is right! I haven't been sleeved yet but I've read as many post on this website as I can and I've decided I am NOT getting on the scale everyday after I have my surgery. I told my Therapist this and she said OH YOU WILL WANT TO and I said NO I've let my weight control me most of my life. I refuse to let the SCALE take control. If you want to read some WONDERFUL SUCCESS stories to get you motivated there is a forum on your NSV= NON SCALE VICTORY!!! As for me I'm going to save ONE pair of my favorite capris and when I have a bad day I will try them on to SEE THE RESULTS!!! GOOD LUCK girl and HANG IN THERE!! It sounds like everyone goes through this and YES as soon as the second week!!! Just know it WILL come off!!! Your body is adjusting!

I love it! Good for you! what a great feeling! Mine involves jeans too. I bought a new pair of jeans and was so thrilled with the smaller size I wore them for an entire weekend. After I washed and dried them I pulled them out of the dryer and thought, "OMG they shrank! Look at the teeny tiny little jeans! I will never be able to wear them again." I figured I would try them on and see just how much more I would have to lose before I could even think about wearing them. They fit! I zipped them up with no problem! My brain has not caught up with my shrinking size. I learned a lesson that day. Do not just hold up clothes to figure out if they will fit. I must try them on. As you get farther along in your journey you will find that most of the time, these NSVs mean so much more than what the scale says.

Charlene .... WTG on your NSV !!!!! You have a band for a reason - go get a fill !!! Stay away from the starches and sugar period !!!! Muscle doesn't weigh more than fat - a pound is a pound - a pound of feathers is large in size than a pound of muscle - but its still a pound.. I takes a while to build muscles - so I am going to say that it's a weight gain and not that muscles weight more than fat - cuz again they don't.. If you are gaining you are eating more calories than you are burning.. Go get a fill - and be accountable with Sandy & Phyl and Great.. You can do this gf - just quit allowing yourself to make all the excuses you have been making about your eating... 3 days no sugar or starches - do a cleanse I hope to have my Peanut Butter when I get home - tonite Ya Great - feel so sorry for you with all your jet setting... Lucky Girl !!! .

Aren't NSV's nice? You guys are getting me excitws about getting back on track and I'm not even involved in it all. I can't wait to follow all of you though and cheer you on. GO TEAM!!! RAH!!!! RAH!!!! RAH!!!!:huh2:

Well, I guess this is a NSV......I tried on all my Christmas shirts and they are way too big. I will just have to go with a red tee shirt. I don't want to buy a Christmas shirt yet. I am holding out for going down one more size.

I was so excited when I discovered that a regular bath towel wrapped around me with inches to spare--that was a great day! I also love being all the way submerged in the bathtub. But the size 8 petite jeans I bought yesterday were probably the best NSV to date.