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I measure once a month. This morning, for the first time I can remember, my BELLY measurement (the biggest part of my lower abdomen) is not larger than my HIP meaurement (the biggest part of the hip area including my butt)! Yea! It measured the same. Maybe next month it will even get to be smaller than my hips (here's hoping!). No wonder my pants are fitting better. My belly measurement started out a whopping 49.5". Now it is 36" - not tiny by any means, but getting there. My hip measurement started out at 48". Now they are at the same 36". Since I am in my last 13 pounds, I am really starting to focus on doing toning / firming exercises, and will be trying to whittle my waist down. Since my ankle is stronger now after recovering from the bad sprain, I am going back to Zumba - that should get my waist smaller. For you new folks, take your measurements before you start losing. Sometimes, the measuring tape can really show your loss better than the scale does.

I recall a very sad time when I got on a roller coaster to find I didn't fit. This was before they had the special large passenger seats available. I was so embarrassed to be taken off the ride in front of everyone leaving my frightened kids to ride alone. I never tried again and had not been on a coaster in many years. Last week my son and I went to Busch Gardens in VA. I road every coaster! It was such a huge NSV for me. The odd thing is that I was still afraid I would get kicked off even though I knew I fit like everyone else. I don't think I will ever shake that feeling that I am still my old size.

Morning... I was thinking your surgery was on the 24th for some reason :-) I've been up looking at some youtube videos and saw you comment on one.. I was like wow she's all over the place too! lol... that's what it is all about research, research, research. I don't really think you can compare your pre-op experience to your post-op. You have so many different factors going into play after the VSG. The "no" hunger issue, restriction... the possibility of your body going into ketosis..etc. etc. And you know as women our weight fluctuates so much due to nature. I lost 8 pounds prior to surgery and then 10 lbs the first week after...but haven't lost anything in a week... BUT I'm due this week (if you know what I mean) and I always get bloated and/or gain a about 2-3 pounds during that time. It's just my two cents...but I don't think you should worry about it. Just focus on getting through the surgery and back home to recover. I am sure you will do just fine with your weight loss... just don't allow it to consume you. A watched pot never boils... I'm just focused on truly reaching deep within to resolve my love/hate relationship with food. Not using food for recreation but for sustenance and fuel. And don't always look to the scale for your victories... focus on NSV (non-scale victories) as well. Case in point... my scale hasn't moved in a week....BUT my size 18's are very loose/baggy and my 16's are fitting me very comfortably. Not to mention my jawline is more pronounced.. so I know I am losing inches for sure. Best wishes and a speedy recovery !

That's one of the NSVs I'm waiting for. For YEARS I've wanted a pair of brown leather, heeled, knee boots. They had some really cute ones (not leather tho) at Avenue 2 years ago. I went in one day and they had my size on clearance for $9, down from like $85. When does that ever happen?!? I bought them and could only zip them about 1/3 over my calf. DAMMIT. I couldn't even pretend to zip them up all the way, not unless I wanted to lose a lot of skin in the process. Before I got fat I used to love knee boots, wool skirts & cowl neck sweaters in the winter. Can't wait to wear such an outfit again. Super congrats to you on your awesome NSV!

I know this has been said before, but when it happens to you you just want to scream it to the hills! Went out for lunch with DH, and I slid in to the booth with room to spare. I used to be squished in there like a overstuffed sausage. My DH was sensitive enough to smile and notice before I said a word. No more tables for this lady anymore, I'll be chillin in a booth thank you. ps still freaks me out how little fills me i love my sleeve! sleeved 12-19-11

What does NSV mean???

I went to my first Zumba class tonight and I was SO excited. Ive seen all the ads on TV for it and have heard how much a lot of people LOVE it. Well, I felt like a complete fool. 1st of all, going by myself kinda sucked. 2nd, I didnt realize quite how UN-coordinated I am, lol. I had absolutely NO idea what was going on 90% of the time. It totally kicked my ass though, which is good. I was going to do some extra cardio after the class, but had to go home because I was sooo whipped. For Zumba lovers, will this get better for me? How long did it take you to get all the steps down? Also, a kind of NSV, I was able to beat the helliptical yesterday by doing 10 minutes, lol. Before my best time was 6 mins

While I was driving my daughter to school today, she was being a bit weird and became silent. I asked her what was wrong and she said, " Ok, I am just gonna say it. You look weird to me". I asked her what she meant by that and she replied, "I am used to seeing my big, fat, old, cheery mom and not this skinnier old cheery mom." So, I instantly retorted that I was not old, just old-ER than her. I also thanked her for the compliment on my weight loss and reminded her that I was still the same cheery person. She said it was gonna take some time to get used to seeing me shrink. HAHAHA! That made my day and I hope it lasts all week.

I love that encounter, sounds like the ultimate NSV! good for you!... SIlence is golden!..

Well today is casual day at work (only have one a month) and I had a very special NSV this morning indeed. I really haven't tried on any of my jeans, just feeling I would just have to get used to not ever beable to wear them. I do wear liquid knit pants and have gone down in sizes in them and they feel good that I am down 2 to 3 sizes in them. So I decided I would try on my jeans in the larger size 20's, but something told me to take out the 18's as well. So instead of trying the 20's on at first I tried the 18's and low and behold they fit and not even too tightly!!! I am losing slowly...and don't see a lot of it-in the mirror...but this helped me realize that it is coming off...just very slowly!!! But I am a very happy person this morning. Got into my 18's and an XL (not a plus size either) hospital t-shirt. So happy...thanks WLS!!! It is working!

I LOVE reading stuff like this! and yes, I think it's a huge NSV. Really, isn't it the real goal, to be able to eat like "normal" people? All my life, even before I got fat, I have not understood how others could look at a plate of chocolate chip Cookies and just have 1 or 2 and then walk away. Even as a child I wanted it all! I am really looking forward to this - hope I feel the same way!

I'm on vacation this week, and when we were walking through Sea World today, I was carrying my 31 pound 2-year-old nephew. He was getting very heavy and didn't want me to put him down and didn't want anyone else to carry him. Suddenly I had the thought that I used to be carrying around that much weight plus about 20 pounds. That made me very happy about my progress and reminded me of how much better I feel without that extra weight. That was a great NSV moment! And, it gave me the momentum to keep going. So, what analogy can you use to really make your weight loss come to life?

Can someone please tell me what NSV means?

After losing over 150 pounds from my highest weight, I finally broke down and bought two new bras and underwear. I was planning to buy the next two sizes down of underwear all summer but kept putting it off. Since bra sizes are harder to predict I just ignored the decision. I finally ordered the next three lower sizes of underwear so I will be prepared. It feels so good to wear underwear that fits!

There s a similar thread started in 2009, that now has 1,122 responses. It is a very encouraging thread. http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/173306-nsv-shout-outs/page-113?hl=%2Bnsv#entry3818692

Oh my goodness I have collar bones, shoulder blades and 1 yes 1 chin...I will let you all come and count the chin if needed...thats how excited I am about that! :tt2: I have seen these things creeping up for sometime now but since I have not seen them since I was like maybe 10 - I was on my way up the scale at that point so I dont think that really counts - Im super excited. the next thing someone is going to tell me is that I have ribs!!! :thumbup: thanks for letting me share :eek:

Fantastic NSVs, Crystal! Yeah, it's strange to find yourself seeking out ice cream so that your calorie count doesn't get too low -- I went through the same thing. As for the symbiant, Jack has written some great posts about exactly that; I don't have the links, but a quick search should reveal them. Congratulations on your weight loss, NSVs, and attitude: All pretty damn impressive for five weeks post-op.

I had to fly to NY this past weekend for baby sister's wedding ... haven't flown since 2002 ... Never liked it because of my size ... But this time ... it was non-issue !!! Enjoyed it sooooo much!!! Wahooooooo hooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Sky's the limit everyone!!!

That's awesome! One of the best NSVs I've heard

I'm going to put this here, because everyone I've told today is like 'yea.. that's good'. You know the 'we're tired of hearing about this stuff' kind of reaction. LOL!! Well, went shopping this weekend and I'm in the regular woman's section! YES!! no more Woman's sizes or W's behind the number I wanted to go all out, but restricted myself to three pairs of pants and 4 shirts (only one was an XL!!) It's been since I was in the Air Force 20 years ago that I was able to do that.. I'm just so freaking excited!! J.

Last night I decided to go to Victoria's Secret. I've never been able to shop there, and was intimidated, feeling like they'd laugh me out of the store. Total opposite experience. I truly felt catered to. I was whisked off to a fitting room, where they measured me, and brought me samples to try on/ recommended things based on my body type. I found two styles I loved and bought them. (I was too nervous to ask about matching panties, lol.) I was so appreciative of the attention, information and professionalism. They are too pricey to make a habit, but definitely worth a splurge. Btw, I think I'm one of the few *not* losing my boobs... Still holding steady @ DD's.

hello fellow sleevers, Well a little bit of happiness, nothing to do with eating, maybe a NSV after my surgery 12/15/11 i came home, mixed feeling on how i felt. Pretty good though, my side was just hurting a lot. I couldn't rest or anything cuz it hurt so much, really hard sleeping. DH helped with my shower.....hmmm - seriously folks!!! i took my 1rst shower this morning all by myself. it was a cool feelingBTW feeling great now, sleeping away kathy

So, I bought a house today. It's mine, mine, mine...all mine!!! My DH can kiss my bootay goodbye because I don't need his stupid arse for anything!!! I'm happy dancing and looking forward to getting skinnier in my new house.

This past weekend my daughter and I went to camp (she as a camper, me as a counselor). It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. This camp is situated on a small river as well as a couple of man-made lakes. At some point, they built a huge cross on the top of a pretty steep mountain. Now I say mountain because I live in Texas and it's bigger than a hill, but not as big as the mountains in say Colorado. But still high and steep. One of the really cool things they do is offer a hike up this "mountain" to the cross which has a phenominal view of the valley and river below. I really wanted the experience and my DD decided she wanted to go as well. She's only 8 and I wanted to share this experience with her. I was fairly confident I could make the hike as I've been jogging almost everyday for the past month on an incline, but you have to climb up this rock shelf (about 6 feet high) from the river which means it's slick and very smooth from past flooding. There were two big guys standing at the top pulling people up. Now my first thought was "OMG, what if I jerk them off that shelf?" But I figured they both weighed more than me or at least that was what I was praying. Turns out I didn't jerk them into the river and I climbed up just fine. The hike was very steep, muddy, and rocky. I'm only 5'4" and have very short legs. Some of the rock ledges along the trail were up to my chest which means pulling myself up on more than one occasion. I made it to the top, winded, but I made it just the same!! I would not have even tried that a couple of months ago. It would have been something that my DD would have missed out on as well because she wouldn't have gone if I didn't. I said a prayer of thanks at the top for beng able to experience something that was so beautiful. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and I finally felt like I could live my life the way I wanted. I still have a long way to go, but at least I'm trying new things with less fear. I also went down the infamous "Wet Willie". This is a huge slide that you have climb up several flights of stairs to get to and slide down into the lake. I'm terrified of heights, but again my DD wanted me to do it. Once you get to the top you can feel it swaying in the wind and it took all of my power not to panic. There was a very large group from my church and all the adults went up. No way I would have done that before. I had no problems getting into a life jacket and no problems swinging into the slide. Yes, you have to swing from a bar to get into it. I screamed like a girl all the way down!! :thumbup: I probably wouldn't do it again, but at least I can say I've done it once!! I didn't particularly care for the atomic wedgy that I received when I hit the water either. I feel like I'm finally living my life again. I can be the fun person I am and hold my head high because I'm more confident and feel good about myself. That alone was worth having surgery! My journey may be long, but I'll finally get to where I want to be. I feel great and am looking better each day! What an amazing gift I've been given.

Yay Libby!!! That's a super NSV! Love it!!