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Why Are You Losing Weight? It’s easy to remember why you want to lose weight when you are having trouble finding small-enough clothes or your weight is above the limit for a theme park ride. It’s harder to remember why you want to lose weight when you and a group of friends are at the dinner table with a large chocolate cake. Making a list of the reasons why you want to lose weight and looking at the list often can keep the reasons fresh in your mind and strengthen your resolve to resist temptation. These are some of the common reasons for getting weight loss surgery. Live longer. Be healthier – get off medications or manage your health conditions better. Participate in more activities with friends and family. Go shopping in regular stores with great clothes. Fit comfortably into car seats, restaurant booths, and movie theater and airplane seats. Feel better about yourself. Make It Personal Deepen your motivation even further and use it to help you stay on track if you think about some of the reasons why you are losing weight that have to do with people in your life. These might be some of your reasons. You want to be an active parent who is able to play with your children. You want to be alive and healthy when your children graduate from high school or give you grandchildren. Obesity is making you miss out on important moments like family hikes. You watched an overweight parent or aunt or uncle suffer from diabetes or heart disease at a young age, and know that you may be headed in the same direction. Your siblings also suffer from obesity and its consequences, and you want to break the pattern. Think About the Short, Medium, and Long Term The weight loss journey is a long and difficult process, to say the least. You need to spend months or years preparing for weight loss surgery by getting the payment sorted out, choosing a surgeon, and following the pre-surgery diet. Then there is the actual surgery, followed by months of recovery that can include pain, nausea, and complications. As you recover, you need to learn an entirely new way of eating and living, and may be hungry, cranky, and tired. Finally, there is the rest of your life, as you lose weight and stay on your new eating plan. Every day can be filled with challenges such as tempting but forbidden foods, the need to exercise, and how to deal with people who may not be supportive of your surgery. Goals give you something specific to work towards. The long-term goals are the big ones. They may be the ones that you have in mind when you get weight loss surgery or that you tell other people. Some long-term goals might be losing 100 pounds, or jogging five miles without stopping. Those long-term goals can take years to accomplish, and setting some short-term goals can keep you focused as you work toward the long-term goals. They can include losing 5 pounds this month or speed-walking for a mile. These are some other short-term goals that can keep you on track day-to-day. Lowering your blood pressure or cholesterol or blood sugar levels enough so that your doctor tells you to lower your dose of medications. Going for a month without going to a fast food restaurant. Hitting your protein and water goals every day for a week. Vary Your Goals Victories can be few and far between if your goals are too narrow, and this mistake can leave you feeling unmotivated. Consider what happens if the only goals that you have are to lost certain amounts of weight. What happens if you do not hit a certain weight loss goal? Does that mean that your hard work has been pointless? Of course not, but you might feel that way if that was the only goal that you were working towards. Learn to look for and recognize all kinds of progress by setting goals that go beyond your weight. When you achieve them, you have earned a non-scale victory (NSV). While a lower number on the scale is easy to see, NSVs are what make life worth living. They can include the following. Getting in good enough shape to be able to walk briskly with your husband. Making it through an entire dinner at your parents’ house without taking offense at any negative comments about your surgery. Going out with your friends and enjoying their company without giving in to the food. Celebrate! We’re all a work in progress. With weight loss surgery comes years of working on improving your health. The only way to keep up the effort, and the only way to make the effort worthwhile, is to celebrate! Celebrate the small victories to be sure that you realize how valuable your efforts are. Buy yourself a new kitchen scale, get your nails done, go out for coffee with a friend, or plan a hiking trip. You are worth working for, and your victories are worth celebrating. You can lose more weight and keep it off when you stay focused, but that can be challenged. Remind yourself of your motivations and celebrate all kinds of victories to keep yourself in the game.

I can relate! I was feeling exactly the way you were when my scale stalled for 3 weeks straight. I got sooo frustrated. But the stall broke and now I'm losing again. Hang in there, it will get better with time. Sometimes our bodies are just rearranging things/rebuilding glycogen stores. Butterthebean has a great article in his signature that talks about it if you look him up. For now - focus on the positives. What kind of awesome NSVs have you had so far? Are you measuring? You could still be losing inches. Do your pants fit better?

So true! That's a good NSV that I hadn't thought of, but you're right. I'm taking my first vacation post-op next week and already been packing and you're right!

NSV is a non-scale victory. So losing pants sizes, fitting into chairs easily, anything that you feel good about that wasn't present/you couldn't do before losing the weight.

Sleeved on 8/14 on been in a stall for 3 weeks. I stopped getting on the scale everyday. I'm keeping up with my exercise routines and my diet . I noticed when weighing everyday if I drank 60 ounces of water the next day I would weigh less. I'm trying to focus on non scale victories (NSV) like being able to keep up with a work out routine. Or playing with my children for an hour at the park. Fitting into a top that I couldn't wear prior to surgery to keep me from feeling discouraged. Stalls are really hard and can make you feel like a failure if you choose to give it all your attention!!!

I have learned to my dismay that my eyes are definitely bigger than my stomach. To solve this every thing I eat is measured BEFORE it goes on my plate which is 1/2 cup. I always cut up everything in very tiny pieces. I then gauge how fast I eat and my wait times between bites so that I finish the same time everyone else is finishing. That way I don't have to watch everyone still eating and I don't have anything. Mentally if I eat the last bite about the same time everyone else does, I don't feel as if I was deprived. Listen and try everything others suggest but you will have to find what little tricks work for you ... At work in our lunch room many times people bring in treats for everyone. I position myself away from and try to keep it out of sight. I am not to proud to ask for help from my co-workers by asking them to move it to the other end of the table...They have been great! I also try and focus on the non scale victories (NSV)! Just think YOU have made a conscious decision to make your life better--healthier! That is a NSV! Just keep trying different ideas and talk to yourself...(POSITIVELY)! Find things that you can side track you mind. I don't think I have ever or I haven't recognized the FULL feeling....but I do know that I don't get hungry between meals. I guess I'm lucky in that respect but there have been times ...like right now .... that I have to find something to do to keep me out of the kitchen. Good Luck and work to find what works for you. Deb Highest lifetime wt. 386 1st visit to doctor 376 Surgery date 342 Today's wt. 302

Lower clothes sizes are the best NSVs!!! Congrats!!!

I have read so many posts about nsvs and how good they make you feel....but today, it was my surprise. My daughter insisted on going shopping with me today because yesterday my jeans were literally sliding down my hips. Today she kept picking clothes for me to try on. I used to be a 22 and I kept telling her to pick out things close to that size. Instead, she insisted I try on 18's and guess what? They fit and I looked great in them! I was so surprised, I just couldn't believe it. I came home and began to empty out the 22's in my closet. Everything from winter in that size is now in a bag for the Salvation Army. It was so exciting and so motivating. Thanks to everyone for listening. I am just floating I am so happy!

I have one!! This week my NSV was wrapping a towel around myself with nothing showing!! Not a bath towel, but still an accomplishment to me!! And I upped my weights at the gym from 12.5 to 25.

Hi Mary, Don't lose faith - we didn't gain all the weight all at once, it took a long time to get on us, so be patient and pat yourself on the back for losing 30 pounds!! I would second the comments that you need to make sure you are getting enough calories - if not your body will go into starvation mode and hold onto weight...What is your fill history?? So here the answer to the question you asked!! (I'm 51): Breakfast: yogurt with nuts (that gets me 30+ grams of protein) (I really stay away from liquid Protein like shakes because they don't leave me feeling full like food does) Lunch: a salad w/dressing or 2 slices of turkey, or a hamburger patty (no bread), or a can of tuna with 1 T of mayo Dinner: Beef, pork or chicken breast (usually can only eat 1/2), 1 cup of salad with dressing. When I snack I will have nuts, chips, fruit, but at my current fill level I'm so restricted I seem to be eating my meals for 1-1.5 hours! I take 2-4 bites, get the feeling of being so full, I have to stop for 15 min. before I can eat more. I "cheat" with chocolate, chips, alcohol and carnitas (pork) tacos ! Again, I'm so restricted that even if I do "cheat" it's a very small amount. I exercise 5 days a week on average - on cardio days I do 30-50 min. on strength days I do the machines for 20 min. then cardio for 20 min. Hang in there :w00t:- NSV's and giving yourself credit for what you've accomplished can help put things in perspective. All the best,

Great NSV's - both the swimming in the jeans and the mouths of babes. Plus - the flirting from the loan officer! Wow - THREE NSV's in one post! You Rock!

Great NSVs! Love the little one noticing your shrinking butt! Too cute! I love the tips on what to eat at Disney--you are making some excellent choices! Keep up the good work, and enjoy your shrinking butt. As for me, my boobs are already shrinking and I'm only a few days out from surgery...why me? :think

doinit4me... Whats NSV?

Oh what a feeling! So happy for you Skye. Many more NSV's to come, isnt that awesome?! Woot!

Hi everyone! I've posted a couple times over the past few weeks, but have been reading posts on this site since july when I first began thinking about pursuing this surgery. I just want to thank you all for sharing your experiences here. I already feel I've learned a great deal from all the helpful posts here. With that being said, I finally have a couple of questions of my own to ask. 1). Does your pouch or your remainder stomach growl anymore after the surgery? The reason I ask is that I have a stomach legendary for it's growls. I teach English at anuniversity near Cleveland and students are amazed at how they can hear my stomach sometimes all the way in the back of the room. What a wonderful NSV that would be if that could go away lol. 2). I'm sure others have asked this before, but how much actual hunger have any of you experienced in the days/weeks/months following surgery? I've heard so many different answers to this, and I'd be interested in hearing yours as well. Thanks again! 😊

I'm an IT Support guy at a busy hospital. Yesterday I was working on a broken PC for a female employee who has always been pretty friendly to me. While I worked, she was telling me in great detail about her marital problems (something she shares pretty openly with anyone she feels she's friends with) and how her (soon to be EX) husband says rude things to her all the time, especially about her obesity. (She's quite heavy, and we've previously discussed my surgery and why I did it.) She was rattling along, explaining how his comments make her feel, and said, "...and as a formerly fat guy, you know what I'm talking about." Her comment struck me oddly at the time, but I didn't say anything. As I later thought about it, I realized she now sees me as NOT a "fat guy." That equals me being a "thin(ner) guy." And I got to thinking about how many other people who know me now see me as thin(ner) than I was. And that led me to thinking about how many other people I've recently met who have never met me before, so have no idea I was ever obese. And THAT put a great big wide smile on my face for the rest of the day. Dave

Congratulations on your awesome NSV!!! may you continue to be so blessed through out your future in all aspects of your Sexier, Healthier life!!! It is much deserved, with all your continued hard work!!! NSV's are great no matter how early in or farther out you are along your journey, we discover new things about ourselves all the time. Some are smaller then others but still just as important! Some we notice right away such as our clothes falling off of us & others take more time to click in our heads but are great suprises when we do finally notice them!!! Every step of this transformation/life journey deserves to be celebrated!!!!

That's the best NSV I've ever read! Extremely encouraging. Thanks so much for sharing. People at the gym can be so challenging however, you handled that situation like a pro! Sent from my SM-G900T using the BariatricPal App

I haven't had surgery yet, but I'm very close and have completed most of the pre-surgery homework... but I just wanted to share a pretty awesome moment I had recently! In my excitement to start my weight loss journey, I've tried to get in much more exercise in, since I'm feeling VERY gung-ho! I'm playing tennis more regularly, I went on a backpacking trip, and I just joined (again) a Cross Fit gym. ....A little backstory: I've gone up and down and up and down with my weight over the last 15+ years, yo-yo dieting and trying every exercise and eating trend in order to fight the obesity disease (sound familiar?) losing 20 or 30 pounds using these diets and workout trends, just to gain them back and more once I slip. And I don't think that people who haven't been overweight understand this, and assume that every challenge can be solved with white-knuckling the problem and often stigmatize and judge tools like weight loss surgery, rather than the traditional "just work out more"... So, anyway, back to me joining this new gym. I really liked the vibe, the trainer was totally not a "bro" trainer, he was very nice and encouraging, and the gym was filled with a variety of body types and ages. MUCH different than the last CF gym I'd gone to! I was excited! But then the trainer told me he was going to do everything in his power to convince me out of surgery (which I'd disclosed to him earlier, privately). It was like there was a spotlight on me and my choices and my weight and my seeming choice to take the "easy way out". And my social anxiety almost had me tucking back into my shell like a turtle. But here's where it gets good. OLD Sarah would have slunk down and maybe even quit the gym out of embarrassment, or worry that I'd be pressured into changing my mind on a very personal decision I've already committed to and gotten excited about and am completely ready for! OLD Sarah wouldn't have said a peep. This time, I spoke up for myself and told him that while I totally hear him, and appreciate the encouragement, I won't be changing my mind, but I WILL be trying my hardest to teach my body how to work harder and do better with his class. And then I asked, "Deal?" Right then and there I cut off the judgement and the opportunity for this (well intending) trainer to think he gets to decide for me what's best for me, instead of me! It doesn't seem like an enormous moment, probably, to most people. But I have such a confidence issue that it was a shining light into my future of even more confidence and I'm really really happy about that. So I thought I'd share it! Have any of you ever had people try and chime into your decision, try to talk you out of it, or make you feel bad for this decision? I've largely kept it pretty private, with the exception of my husband, my boss and a few close friends, because I don't want others to think they can proffer their opinion about it, when it's not their deal, it's mine! Ahhhh! Anyway, that's my pre-op non scale victory!!

Heck yeah for NSV!!!!! That had to be the best feeling!!!! Congrats!

Congratulations!! We refer to these as NSV or Non scale Victories. I think NSV are awesome and even better than the number changing on a scale. Perfect NSV is shrinking out of clothing. My latest was my wedding ring slipping off my finger and not staying on. My Wife wasn't as thrilled as I but we can adjust the ring as we go. But Laurie is certainly right there are so many ways to gauge success!! Congrats again, Jim

Goes to show how some of the local restaurants don't plan for bigger folks to eat at their places. Seriously, I'm sure you've all noticed...some of those booths barely fit a person with a normal BMI! Don't know what their thinking sometimes. It sure is nice to be able to sit and enjoy ourselves instead of constanting having to adjust so a breath can be taken when sitting in those. Congratulations to your wife on that NSV and to everyone else who has the same or is working towards. Have a great day!

That is a tremendous NSV! I remember the first day I realized that I could just slip right into a booth. It was like, "I'm a regular person." Sounds silly, but it really was huge for me. Congrats to your wife!

Awww, what a great NSV and a great day to have it on too! Happy anniversary!

Onederland is when you're weight gets into the 100's, like 199 NSV-non scale victory NUT-nutritionist