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Today I had my routine visit with my PCP..... After the usual Q&A, he said I looked good, I'm going in the opposite direction of most people my age. He then started to reminisce about our visits before I had WLS...(He referred me) He asked me what was my highest weight...I told him I didn't have a clue, it got to the point where I was too embarrassed to step on the scale, didn't want to face the music. He then went way back in my very thick chart and said "I have it right here, want to know?....would you believe you where in the 80's? As in 280?" (I'm only 5'8") WOW! I really didn't know! Right now it is blowing my mind just thinking about it.... Second thing that happened, during our conversation I said something to the effect that my Cardiologist does this or that way with me "because I'm a Diabetic" He stopped me right there and said "You mean you USED to be a Diabetic" Those two simple things are having a profound impact on me right now....I can't believe I was actually that heavy, and I USED to be a Diabetic.... His words, not mine.

NSV Means that Lissa is gonna open the thread. See my signature below! LOL

I have been a little depressed due to slow weight loss since Surgery (19 lbs) 4/18. However this morning I went to get dressed and grabbed a pair of 16 jeans my sister gave me (not 16w) and they fit perfect! I went into surgery wearing 20W pants! I have not worn non plus sized clothes in 20 years. Made me realize that the scale does not show all of the loss experienced by VSG. Perked me up. Today is a GOOD day! 😀

I wanted to fit comfortably in an airline seat - I now can with room to spare. Like you, I wanted to wear high heels - on Christmas Day, I wore 5" sparkly heels! And I wanted to go dancing and shake my thang without being stared at - and I have now done that on a few occasions and LOVED it! I am sure you will have many NSVs this year - enjoy every one!

CONGRATS on your great news!!! What a great NSV!

Ok, so after a fairly dramatic fall down the stairs back in December (skinned knees, 1 broken toe and torn rotator cuff - ouch!), I FINALLY got my 1st physio appointment yesterday. I arrive, and to my horror the physio is like an adonis (who I have to be undressed in front of - eek!). So I'm blushing away, and he starts to run through the standard questions; ethnicity, religion, allergies, height, WEIGHT! Immediately I think, oh no, what should I round it down to (I've never answered that question without knocking at least a stone off the real answer)??? Then after a moment of hesitation, I realised I didn't have to lie. The truth is fine!!! This NSV felt quite daunting, but I loved it! x

I'm so looking forward to being the weight that's on my driver's license!!! LOL... Awesome NSV... Congrats!!!!

For the past couple of months, I have came on here; whined, complained, bitc##d, begged for advice, and most importantly vented about my lack luster and disappointing weight-loss. I've had to laugh when the nutritionist and doc told me I have to eat more calories then most VSG patients because my body was starving, because I'm so big. And I'm talking like double what most VSG patients eat. Clearly there's no room for that in my "Baby Belly". But today I decided, I'm effing over it, maybe not the venting, lol, but most definitely the bitc##ng and complaining part. What led me to this amazing moment of clarity and enlightenment? It's when I finally start realizing that I have had Non-Scale-Victories happening all around me, but I was to engulfed in my self pity to recognize them. For starters, I have lost 2 shirt sizes, I've only lost 65lbs SINCE SURGERY, but I have lost 2 shirt sizes, down from a 6xlt, sometimes 7xlt to a 4xlt. I also have lost 6-8 pant sizes (depending on the pants...lol). I no longer have to sit 5ft away from the wheel to accommodate my super super super sized belly, while driving. I don't spill over in every chair I sit in anymore. I no longer force feed myself and allow myself to cover up stress with 6000+ calories a day. Although the wieght-loss isn't coming to me as fast as it is for some of my VSG buddies, it's okay, because it's still coming off. Walking from my basement to my second story is not nearly as laboring as it use to be. I don't need 101 medication to regulate and counter regulate my bodies comorbidities. I have achieved a new found level of mental clarity in my life. I can shop at Macy's. I can jog at 4.9mph on the treadmill, up from a 2.7mph walk. And today, I had the NSV that is more important than all of them combined, that is; I FLIPPING love who I'm becoming! So here it is, my Declaration of Independence from the Scale! In my household it's officially, No-Scale-November, meaning no weighing myself for the whole month of November. Victory for Me! Because it's all going to work itself out. Fidem Servare!!! Latin for "Keep the Faith"

Today was my 9 month bandiversary. I've had many NSV's along the way but none as good as the one I experienced today. You see, 1 year ago this weekend, I participated in my very first 5K race. My teenage son talked me into doing it. I reluctantly agreed. I walked the entire race and it took me almost an hour to finish it. And I was walking as fast as I could. The race is held annually so we decided after last year's race that we would return this year. So today, we did the same race that took me almost an hour to finish and I was able to finish it in about 31 minutes. Not only that, I placed 3rd in my age division! I've been doing 5K races about once a month since spring and I run 3-4 days a week but I've never been able to finish a 5k in 31 minutes and I've never placed in any of them. Needless to say, I got all teary-eyed when I was walking up to get my medal! I have an appt. with my surgeon on Wednesday and I intend to take my medal with me so I can show him what he's done for me and thank him for helping me to get my life back

I am feeling really good about myself this morning. I have had more energy in the past two weeks than anytime I can remember. I have been able to do yard work, clean my house and go to the gym. Also, I went clothes shopping for the first time since my banding. My shirts were getting way too big. I am in a XL shirt and size 16 pants and they are a little loose. I went to a discount store --no sense in buying high price clothes. Really feeling good....what a nice treat!!!

That is a cool NSV. I can't wait to get there.

Great NSV. My recent favorite is sitting in my desk chair and crossing my legs! It has been so, so, so long since I was able to do that. Thought I might scream, but thought my employees would be alarmed. Today's NSV was going to Stein Mart and buying a size L skirt at 75% off. It feels so good to be an L!!!

Just got back from vacation and can say its the best one I have ever had. We went to Williamsburg, VA and Washington D.C. I didn't have to worry about not keeping up when walking from place to place. Most the time I was the one least winded after hiking up the hill! I fit in all the rides at Busch Gardens (with room to spare). And Iost 1.5 lbs while on vacation and really didn't eat that great just didn't snack any and got my Water in. Got to say the sleeve is the best thing I have ever did for myself.

Now that I've lost over 43 lbs I hear all the time how much I look like my daughter. Best compliment ever! The other day someone asked if we were sisters! (Yeah right) lol... [ATTACH]39151[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]39151[/ATTACH]

Awesome NSV. Congratulations. I can relate to the wheelchair part. I broke my ankle 2 1/2 years ago and I was in a wheelchair for 3 months. Although I'm not glad I broke my ankle, I can say the being in a wheelchair gave me an appreciation for so many things. As part of my wheelchair experience, I flew to Las Vegas with some friends (we had booked the trip about a month before I broke my ankle). I know it will sound really strange, but I'm glad that I had the chance to experience being in a wheelchair. And unlike you, I did not have any lingering complications after I healed and had physical therapy. I'm glad to hear about your cave experience. I guess that it didn't have any really tight spots. I've been in "Mark Twain's Cave" in Missouri, which is big, but I don't think I would like going into a small cave.

Deep breaths! I had my surgery a day before you and I went through a 3 week long stall. It felt like FOREVER. But, it wasn't. Eventually the scale started moving again and when it did, it ran! I have been going well since then. Your body is adjusting. It's normal. During my stall I freaked - is this all I'm going to lose? Did I fail this weight loss too? Was this small of weight even worth it? Hormones were going crazy. The bottom line is I tried just about everything. Switching up calories, working out more, eating more, eating less, increasing Protein, decreasing carbs, increasing Water. Nothing worked because what my body really needed was just time. It's probably what yours needs too. You're rebuilding your glycogen stores, holding water, and whatever other reorganizing it feels like doing. This is what helped me get through it: 1. Put the scale away for as long as possible. The days I brought myself to not peek, I felt much better. 2. Try not to stress. There is some research that says stress increases cortisol, which can cause weight retention. 3. Rant, rave, etc in your blog/journal/to your friends whenever you need to get it out. Sometimes just getting the frustration off your chest helps...at least it helps me 4. Read through every stall post on here - You are not alone! Most of us stall and freak at some point. 100% normal 5. Log your eating on MFP or a similar website - Helps keep you accountable so that you don't slip up because of frustration 6. Keep yourself busy. The more you're doing other things, the more calories you burn, the less you think about the scale 7. Assume that you are still on the stall. If you're pretty sure you're still on it, it will cause less frustration/loss of expectation if you step on the scale and you are. If you step on and you're not, what an excited surprise 8. Measure yourself. You are probably still losing inches. 9. Take pictures. Do you look any thinner than pre-op? Yes? Something to feel good about 10. Write down all your NSVs. You are kicking butt! The scale is not the only way to show progress Hang in there. It's hard. It sucks. But it ends eventually!

I hiked in a cave today. For an hour. And then I swam in it. And then I walked 2 miles wearing a wetsuit and the heaviest life jacket ever. And then I walked another mile. YESSSS!!! This was not any old flat cave. This was a very uneven cave floor in a very dark cave, with some of it under Water and the rest above and I hiked through it for an hour. I haven't shared this before but two years ago, I ended up in a wheelchair due to a very incompetent doctor. I was in it and bed-ridden for three months and it took me 3 months to learn how to walk again, by which time I had significant damage to the cartilage in my knees. For all of last year, I wasn't able to do stairs at all, and was reduced to using handicapped elevators if there were a ton of stairs. I couldn't sit on the floor comfortably and couldn't fold my legs in half and it took me months before I could climb in and out of a bath tub. But today, I did all that. I hiked up and down some very rough terrain, I fell, I scraped my knee, I used a big stick to balance myself. I stepped sideways, forward, back, up, and down big ledges. I had to fold myself in half as I walked, and I had to fold my knees in half. And I enjoyed every freaking minute of it. I was probably the least well-balanced person of our group. As I said, I had to learn how to walk again, and I don't think I'm as well-balanced as I used to be. I can no longer stand on one foot for any length of time. My husband made me take a walking stick and took me to keep me company (because on my own I'm too damn macho to admit I need help). I was so worried about today. I was sure I would peter out before everyone. I was worried I wasn't a strong enough swimmer. i was concerned I"d hold everyone up. Well, everyone else there was much younger than us, but I'm happy to see we did not bring up the rear. Yes I struggled, but I finished it. I love my sleeve, and I love the October Challenge on this forum that got me to the point I could do this today. And btw, my husband is freaking stud muffin. The very-fit instructor dropped his flashlight under water. He tried to dive for it, couldn't get it. The younger guys are standing around half-heartedly offering to go get it. My 60-year old man says, here, I'll do it. Off comes his helmet and his life jacket, he dives down and gets it with no fuss. I almost jumped his bones right there I also now know beyond a shadow of a doubt what I want in my life. If it's a choice between being skinny and lying by the pool looking gorgeous vs. hiking in a dark, dusty cave, I'm choosing hiking. VERY LONG post! Thank you for reading. I'm just very excited about all of it

I was sleeved on 9/28. I am down to 244. My biggest NSV so far is that my wife and I went to Old Navy the day after Christmas and we hit the clearance sale. I got a pair of size 36 wool dress pants for $5. That was so amazing to get new clothes and pay so little. I got like a whole new wardrobe for the cost of what 2 or 3 pairs of pants use to cost the old me. My wife and I are working with a personal trainer 2 days a week and we do yoga 1 day a week. We are doing really good. Hopefully soon we will be in good enough shape to join the group exercise classes.

Yep.. children can be brutal reality checkers at times. God bless them of course, but it still hurts. OP... This is just NSV #1 with many to come! Yippee!

Great story. Thanks for the reminder. I walked out of my pants two days ago! Hubby said I Had to go shopping and get some pants! I am laughing so hard at that statement. HE never wants me to go shopping. I think pants falling off by themselves is a great NSV. Not one I ever thought I would experience. Amazing journey!

@@livvsmum so many NSV's, so little time LOL vacation, great place to have new experiences,accomplishments (NSV's) for many/you/me, you gain confidence post op while you lose weight 2nd honeymoon, closing in on 3rd year surgiversary you look so happy 140 lbs gone! gone! and still gone you are aces!! keep up the good work i know you will kathy congrats

I can't believe I'm coming up on 3 years post op in just a couple of months! Time flies! I just wanted to share some "non-scale victories" as I have more of those these days as the numbers get smaller. I'm not where I would love to be ideally. I have loose skin that I've come to terms with, and another 15 or so pounds to lose, but my husband and I recently went to Mexico for a vacation that I have been planning for what feels like forever and it was just crazy to me what a different experience it was for me to go 140 pounds lighter. I did things I never would have done like snorkeling, paddle boarding in front of strangers, Water zumba, etc. I got rid of all of those bathing suits with the skirts that I hated wearing so much & walked around in a bikini all week without feeling terribly self-conscious. I broke out of my comfort zone for sure, and had the most amazing time. I finally just felt "normal".... Just another experience to cross off my post-surgery bucket list. Here are a couple of sneak-peeks, but I posted my full "Top-10" list with a bunch more photos here if you are interested! http://themeiamnow.blogspot.com/

Tell me... what is on your bucket list now that you have reached a non-scale victory (NSV) or ultimate goal? Is there something you want to do that you've never dreamed of doing? Spill it!

Congrats! My very first NSV was that my rings fit. Funny I lost finger fat before anywhere else. Too bad they are all too big for me now.

Today I tried on a ring that I was given when I was about 12. I have no idea what size it is, I just know that once I was in high school it no longer fit. It's a gold claddagh and I have always loved it. IT FIT! On both hands I can get it on my ring finger and it's not even tight. I never in a million years thought I could wear it again. This is amazing. I'm so glad I had my sleeve!!!! ????