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The only time I have struggled with emotions was for the two weeks immediately post-op. I was uncharcteristically emotional ( crying over little things that would not normally phase me). I was losing weight rapidly in those two weeks, plus my body was recuperating from surgery and anesthesia. One of the PA's told me something about hormones in fat cells and that when you are losing weight rapidly these hormones get released. Dont' remember the exact details of how it was explained to me. But no emotional issue since that time. I think having a realistic perspective about post-band weight loss helps not to get bogged down or too obsessive about slower weight loss and/or plateaus. I try to focus on NSV(s) and the fact that this is going to be a long-term process when things aren't moving as quickly as I would like. Best of luck to you!

i know that i haven't written in a while... i've had a lot going on with just LIFE in general... nothing bad, just busy with kids and family... :cool2: soooo.... according to my Wii Fit, i am down 34 lbs. YIPPPPEEEE! :thumbup: I've had another fill of 1 1/2 cc. 2 weeks ago and have really good restriction. :thumbup: i tend to be realllllllyyyy tight in the mornings and early afternoon... by the time i'm ready for dinner, i can tolerate my food better. :rolleyes2: i have experienced 'sliming' for the first time... mmmm, not pretty. who knew that could feel so weird. :sad: i mean, i need to burp, but it won't come up... and i can hear gurgling... and then if i just give up and let it out, no FOOOOODDDD, just slime. :crying: i used to have a problem with my esophogus being too tight... they dialated it and that was corrected... i THOUGHT being 'stuck' might feel like that did... a choking sensation, but the air still moves... NOPE, it's more than that... i still get the choking sensation, the air is moving, but i am salavating... i mean, like a dog. so i have to let it go. I assume this is what sliming is. So, now that i've been disgusting... i will share a NSV, well 2 NSV's. NSV #1- :thumbup: i have a pair of jeans that i could get into about a year ago, they were tight but i could wear them (with a muffin top of course!) i gained so much weight, i couldn't button them... well, i grabbed them out of the closet last week and BAM! they fit. i mean, they buttoned, zipped and NO MUFFIN TOP!!! Whoop Whoop!!! NSV #2-:thumbup: i have a gorgeous evening outfit, sequined top with palazzo pants that i couldn't wear last June on my cruise. I was pissed. So, i put it on Sat and guess what? YES! IT fits!!! we are going on a cruise in March, so i am SET! Maybe it will even be baggy by then! (one can hope!) I am really doing well on this journey. i am not dropping weight rapidly, but hey: i got the lap-band®®®®, i didn't have gastric. I figure i put it on here over 38 years... i need to take it off slowly. i wish i had done this years ago. :cursing: BUT, i am doing it now! i already feel soooo much better... my clothes are looking better on me & soon it will be time to go shopping for a new bra. This one is a little baggy in the cup (which is disappointing, but hey... i can always have plastic if i need it, later.) Maybe. Anyway, i hope that you are all doing well... I have lost from 306 day of surgery (DEC. 30, 2009) down to 283 (Feb. 20, 2010) That's 24 lbs. since the surgery!!! 7 weeks & 24 lbs. YYYYYIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! that my friends, is 3.428571 lbs a week. Average. YAYAYAY!!!:tt1: BANDLANDIA is AWESOME!!!

i know that i haven't written in a while... i've had a lot going on with just LIFE in general... nothing bad, just busy with kids and family... :eek: soooo.... according to my Wii Fit, i am down 34 lbs. YIPPPPEEEE! I've had another fill of 1 1/2 cc. 2 weeks ago and have really good restriction. i tend to be realllllllyyyy tight in the mornings and early afternoon... by the time i'm ready for dinner, i can tolerate my food better. i have experienced 'sliming' for the first time... mmmm, not pretty. who knew that could feel so weird. :sad: i mean, i need to burp, but it won't come up... and i can hear gurgling... and then if i just give up and let it out, no FOOOOODDDD, just slime. :mad2: i used to have a problem with my esophogus being too tight... they dialated it and that was corrected... i THOUGHT being 'stuck' might feel like that did... a choking sensation, but the air still moves... NOPE, it's more than that... i still get the choking sensation, the air is moving, but i am salavating... i mean, like a dog. so i have to let it go. I assume this is what sliming is. So, now that i've been disgusting... i will share a NSV, well 2 NSV's. NSV #1- :thumbup: i have a pair of jeans that i could get into about a year ago, they were tight but i could wear them (with a muffin top of course!) i gained so much weight, i couldn't button them... well, i grabbed them out of the closet last week and BAM! they fit. i mean, they buttoned, zipped and NO MUFFIN TOP!!! Whoop Whoop!!! NSV #2-:w00t: i have a gorgeous evening outfit, sequined top with palazzo pants that i couldn't wear last June on my cruise. I was pissed. So, i put it on Sat and guess what? YES! IT fits!!! we are going on a cruise in March, so i am SET! Maybe it will even be baggy by then! (one can hope!) I am really doing well on this journey. i am not dropping weight rapidly, but hey: i got the lap-band®®®®, i didn't have gastric. I figure i put it on here over 38 years... i need to take it off slowly. i wish i had done this years ago. :crying: BUT, i am doing it now! i already feel soooo much better... my clothes are looking better on me & soon it will be time to go shopping for a new bra. This one is a little baggy in the cup (which is disappointing, but hey... i can always have plastic if i need it, later.) Maybe. Anyway, i hope that you are all doing well... I have lost from 306 day of surgery (DEC. 30, 2009) down to 283 (Feb. 20, 2010) That's 24 lbs. since the surgery!!! 7 weeks & 24 lbs. YYYYYIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! that my friends, is 3.428571 lbs a week. Average. YAYAYAY!!!:tt1: BANDLANDIA is AWESOME!!!

YAY for all the NSV's!!! Send that warm weather my way....snow tonight...ugh.

Okay, I have a NSV (and finally a scale victory too). I bought a pair of capris at Sam's last night. Looking at the size 12, I was thinking, "looks like it might run a bit big so I will try the 10". Well I got home and guess what? The 10's are too BIG. I will be taking them back for the 8's this weekend. I realize that this particular brand probably run BIG, but I don't care - the label will say 8. I know I have been sitting right between 10-12 lately, maybe I am finally a real size 10. Woo Hoo!!!! My scale victory - I FINALLY broke my month long stall - down 2 lbs today. Yippee!!!!

Well here is a NSV for me. . . I'm out of 4X uniforms and 2X fit loosely, what do you think of that. . after my weigh in yesterday, I thought i'd fit the 3X's (i'd been wearing the 4X's cause they were really, really comfy) well the 3X's as the 4X's were too big, so lets try the 2X's they are comfy and just a wee bit big, but i'm not trying the 1X's just yet, I'll wait. . . I love this shrinking thing!

Hang in there...I thought I was just one a plateau (for more than two months!) but when I started writing down everything I ate I realized I was really eating way too much of the wrong stuff and even throwing up pretty regularly... Anyway I really got back on track and stopped eating to the point of any painful warning and have started losing easily again... Hang in there and of course be glad you didnt gain!!To me, not gaining is a whole new NSV!

I'm lookin like a fool with my pants on the ground! Hey, I was so excited about new found restriction after my second fill that I forgot to post about my first big NSV. Well, I knew my jeans were getting loose, but on Sunday I realized they were getting WAY too loose as I kept having to hike them up in public (which I'm sure looks ridiculous). I gave 'em a test to see if I could pull them on and off without unbuttoning them and sure enough I could so I figured it was time to start wearing the next size smaller jeans in my closet. And, let me tell you I feel so 'skinny' in these jeans. I have been wearing them every day since Sunday and plan on wearing them again today. :thumbup: The funny thing is that at some point, I had considered these now smaller jeans my 'fat jeans'. I remember I had gained weight and vowed not to gain anymore (yeah right!) so I only allowed myself to buy Target jeans. I mean why would I want to spend money on jeans I would only be wearing briefly? Ugh! So, now I get to wear them again. And, I have three pairs of these Target jeans (two medium wash, one dark dark wash) so how can I justify needing a different pair in this size??? I guess I better just speed through this size because I know I have at least one cute pair in the next size down. LOL Not that these are ugly, but they just aren't cute (going out) jeans. Sometimes I think I am the weirdest fat woman because it never bothered me to buy new fat clothes. So many people say they HAVE to throw out their fat clothes so they CAN'T gain weight again. But, for me, I love buying clothes so every time I have lost OR gained, I've bought more and more and more clothes. I am really trying hard not to purchase too many new things this time as I lose through the sizes again, though. I've got so many clothes (only 1-2 years old) in every size. I did splurge and buy two new tops from Lane Bryant online, though. They had some really pretty (dressy) tops from the Icon collection (normally $98) on clearance for $12. I ordered them on the small side so hopefully one of them will fit for my friend's wedding on 4/2. Normally I would not wear pants to a wedding, but I feel like such a cow in a dress right now. And, this is a second wedding and my friend is young and very casual. So, I'm thinking black dress pants (which I just happen to have in a smaller size right now) and one of these dressy tops might make for a pretty outfit without dropping a lot of $$$. OK, I am getting off on a tanget now, but gotta mention one other great NSV I had on Monday. My inlaws were on their way over so I was doing my normal run-around-and-try-to-straighten-the-house-as-quickly-as-possible routine. I've got a 4 and a 6 year old so this usually involves a lot of huffing and puffing and straining to pick all their stuff up off the floor. But, you know what I noticed???? Picking stuff up off the floor is getting a lot easier. I don't feel like my head is gonna pop off anymore when I'm doing this. And, I swept all my floors in just 15 minutes and usually that takes me a lot longer. Woohoo!!! This is the everyday stuff that really matters when it comes to feeling good.

I'm lookin like a fool with my pants on the ground! Hey, I was so excited about new found restriction after my second fill that I forgot to post about my first big NSV. Well, I knew my jeans were getting loose, but on Sunday I realized they were getting WAY too loose as I kept having to hike them up in public (which I'm sure looks ridiculous). I gave 'em a test to see if I could pull them on and off without unbuttoning them and sure enough I could so I figured it was time to start wearing the next size smaller jeans in my closet. And, let me tell you I feel so 'skinny' in these jeans. I have been wearing them every day since Sunday and plan on wearing them again today. :crying: The funny thing is that at some point, I had considered these now smaller jeans my 'fat jeans'. I remember I had gained weight and vowed not to gain anymore (yeah right!) so I only allowed myself to buy Target jeans. I mean why would I want to spend money on jeans I would only be wearing briefly? Ugh! So, now I get to wear them again. And, I have three pairs of these Target jeans (two medium wash, one dark dark wash) so how can I justify needing a different pair in this size??? I guess I better just speed through this size because I know I have at least one cute pair in the next size down. LOL Not that these are ugly, but they just aren't cute (going out) jeans. Sometimes I think I am the weirdest fat woman because it never bothered me to buy new fat clothes. So many people say they HAVE to throw out their fat clothes so they CAN'T gain weight again. But, for me, I love buying clothes so every time I have lost OR gained, I've bought more and more and more clothes. I am really trying hard not to purchase too many new things this time as I lose through the sizes again, though. I've got so many clothes (only 1-2 years old) in every size. I did splurge and buy two new tops from Lane Bryant online, though. They had some really pretty (dressy) tops from the Icon collection (normally $98) on clearance for $12. I ordered them on the small side so hopefully one of them will fit for my friend's wedding on 4/2. Normally I would not wear pants to a wedding, but I feel like such a cow in a dress right now. And, this is a second wedding and my friend is young and very casual. So, I'm thinking black dress pants (which I just happen to have in a smaller size right now) and one of these dressy tops might make for a pretty outfit without dropping a lot of $$$. OK, I am getting off on a tanget now, but gotta mention one other great NSV I had on Monday. My inlaws were on their way over so I was doing my normal run-around-and-try-to-straighten-the-house-as-quickly-as-possible routine. I've got a 4 and a 6 year old so this usually involves a lot of huffing and puffing and straining to pick all their stuff up off the floor. But, you know what I noticed???? Picking stuff up off the floor is getting a lot easier. I don't feel like my head is gonna pop off anymore when I'm doing this. And, I swept all my floors in just 15 minutes and usually that takes me a lot longer. Woohoo!!! This is the everyday stuff that really matters when it comes to feeling good.

Wow so many great NSVs, let me share some of mine. I am 60 days out. 1. No more a diabetic - no medication at all. Free from medicines after 6 years. 2. No more BP medication - BP normal. 3. Belt moved from 2nd notch to the last and since yesterday even the last one is loose. 4. Joined a gym and go 4 days/week, can actually run on the treadmill for a few minutes and walk for 30 minutes. 5. Walked into a store and picked up a polo shirt from the shelf - first time in my life this was not a Big&Tall store. Same over 5 inches lost in the waist.

Good Evening everyone! Thanks so much to all of you who were in Florida for sharing-- like some of the others have mentioned, I too feel like I was there -- and yes, I believe I would have felt the same --I alreay know you all anyway. I still do want to meet in person soon though -- so we'll have to work out the details of our next trip. I found out today I didn't accrue any vacation for either Dec. or Jan. as I missed more than 15 days each of those months - so I BARELy have enough vacation time to take 5 days off in July for my neice's wedding. I didn't realize I wasn't accruing vacation those two months so that really hurts. I just have to hope I don't have to take any time off between now and then (we don't have sick leave so I have to use vacation/personal time for that). So it makes it tough. Judy, excellent synopsis -- great sense of humor -- you and I would get along great -- so glad you were able to make it. Apples, sounds like you were wonderful as always with the hostessing duties. Lori, hope you didn't think I was being critical of you on your venting post -- I was just saying that "of course you were feeling depressed cause everything was not in your control" I didn't mean to imply that you were a controlling person -- I hope you didn't take it that way. I just meant it would be tough for anyone to go though that many changes and undecided plans all at once. WTG on the Valentine's Day presents -- your DH sounds just great. We don't do presents either really -- we tend to go out and buy what we want/need at that time -- sometimes we wrap up stuff we buy just to put it under the tree for "show" so the kids dont' feel sorry for us -- but honestly, like most of you, I'd rather save the money for a nice vacation. My DH and I bought each other fifty cent cards at the dollar store and wrote nice things in them -- he told me how "beautiful I have always been to him and how proud he is of me for getting healthy." That meant more than a present anyway. We did go out to dinner Sat. nigiht -- just our usual place up the street -- but it was nice -- I put on a top he particularly liked when I bought it -- he commented on it at the time. But no heart teddy for me -- LOL. Apples I LOVE it!! WTG girl - I'm sure you had a great time. Julie, so glad you went and also glad you found some nice things to buy and yes, congrats on the seat belt extension and tray table - it was a thrill for me last year when I got to put the tray table down all the way -- I do believe that was one of the better NSV to date. Also glad you didn't have any problems with your flights. Eva, so glad you were there for Janet and she there for you so you weren't alone in your long travel day. Hope you're enjoying Ft. Myers. I checked the weather there today and saw it was pretty chilly -- 60 = sorry you're having such crappy weather. I cooked a big valentine dinner for kids and DH and the dog's b-day -- including a cake -- also went to see Lovely Bones this weekend and shopped for DGD's new comforter/sheet set for her bedroom here at my house.So although busy, a good weekend. Got all my exercise in. Laura, hope Nelson is better -- I could tell before what a great kid he is -- plus you are such a great Mom -- so I KNEW he was a great kid. Hugs on the snow in Indiana! We just are having small flurries and wind and very cold here. Jessica, so glad you went - I'm sure this will help you in your journey -- so glad you found our group on the LBT -- I know you'll be a smashign success in both your weight loss journey, nursing and being a Mom!! Your pic is great - you look so diifferent from your first picture. Charlene, I haven't gotten much of the Beck Diet book read -- really love what it says in the little I've had time to read -- but I do think it will be very helpful. Phyll, I saw the pictures of your new Grandpuppy -- she is adorable -- I think you should have snuck her on the plane with you -- why not get a little one to keep you adn DH company? I think you should go and get one this week. You won't regret it. My little sweetie just cheers me up every day. NY, hope all is well with you and you get that surgery done soon. Let us know when you get a date. To the newbie having surgery on 2-20 or thereabouts, congrats and you will be fine on the 7 day liquid diet -- I had to do 2 weeks before surgery and it was no problem -- by the time I started I was really ready to tackle my obesity and I was sick of food at that point. You'll do just fine, trust me. LauraK hope everything is okay -- how's your dog getting along. Sorry I can't remember the name. Cheri, glad you had a great time with your grandkids -- they really brighten our lives -- wish I could have a few more. Love my little GD so much. Meredith, congratulations on the house and the move -- you'll love it!!! Well, I must close -- not intentional if I left someone out - I'm rushing cause I just got home from work. LBT was down part of the day and I couldn't read anything until tonight. Glad it is fixed now -- loved seeing the pictures and hearing about the weekend. Love and hugs to all. Linda

I have been doing the couch to 5K training in preparation for a 5K run in May. It will be my first ever. I had a HUGH NSV this morning. I was able to run 0.3 miles before I had to take a walking break. It felt darn good. Julie – Doesn’t it feel great to travel alone and have everything go well? Such a confidence booster. Apples – It sounds like you are a wonderful organizer and because of your organizational skills, a good time was had by all. Phyl - Congrats on the new camera. I am a bit of a amateur photographer and love taking pictures. Have fun with your new toy. Jewel – Hope you are feeling better soon. My daughter is in nursing school too. Charlene – I am on day 5 of the Beck book. It seems to make sence to make new habits. I could use some work on the “give myself credit” part. Even when I achieve, I always says or think negative things. I put a post it on my car radio that simply says credit as my reminder. 1 day at a time - best of luck with the new job!

You look great, I love NSV's..... Keep up the good work!

As with many people, I do not like to take pictures--to do so is like a broadway production because I have to do several takes just to get one I can tolerate to look at. Well, I went on my Valentine Weekend getaway and took a look at the picture on the right--my body has changed--people have been saying it, but the picture is really worth a 1000 words after 4 1/2 week post-op. My victory--I have a neck!!! ( I'm the first one in the picture to the left) As for the scale--after being stalled for 2wks, the scale moved--down 3lbs since last week.

My newest and favorite NSV is that I can finally attend my best friend's Yoga class and do many of the poses! My tummy is no longer a giant thing in the way.. it's still there.. but it's much smaller and it's mushier (which we don't like sometimes) but in this case it allows me to bend better! Great NSV's you guys!!!

I had a couple today. Shopping related because y'all know how much I love shopping. Okay, first one ran by Kmart because it's Saturday, BLUE LIGHT Special every 20 minutes in different departments. JOE BOXER PANTIES 5 for $15 While I was digging through the bin looking for my size and the "hipsters". This lady said "oh goodness those are adorable, but you definitely do not need a large size." Boy did that make me grin from ear to ear. I still bought the large because my tummy fat is not the cooperative and I didn't want these super adorable panties to sit in my drawer until I could wear a medium. 2nd NSV - KMart again, had major clearance on some "wintery" apparel. I decided to venture into the little knit sweaters that look kind of clingy and tapered at the ribcage. Not only did a medium fit, but they (I bought 2 normally 19.99, got each for 9bucks) are HORIZONTAL striped and guess what, for the first time in my life I realize that horizontal stripes don't make me look fatter. If anything, these particular stripes around 2 inches wide, make my waist look super tiny ! ! ! We also went to a store called Cato. I bought this super cute casual jacket/casual blazer to wear with jeans and tank top, and 4 other tops. Total shopping damage for the day, 5 pairs of panties, jacket, and 6 tops for $60! ! ! Total overall mood for the day = ELATED.

I had four NSVs just this past week... 1) I had to buy a ring guard for my wedding ring. 2) A person whom I haven't seen since the end of last summer did not recognize me. 3) I was asked to be a model in a fashion show at the local mall representing CJ Banks. 4) I found a pair of really nice pants on the clearance rack (75% off) which I thought would be a size too small, but would give me some incentive. I went home and tried them on. Not only did they fit, but I had room to spare! :thumbdown: I only get weighed when I go for my fill or some other doctor appt. so I have no idea what the scale is doing. I have found NSVs to be more rewarding (ie. loose rings, baggy clothing, comments from others, etc.).

Ok time to revive the NSV thread. On Monday my supervisor told me I was looking particulary thiner, I gave my low self esteem beating and made some comment. Didn't think much about it then today one of my co-workers said I lookd good today. Then while walking through the building I ran into someone I hadn't seen for awhile and she commented that we hadn't ran into each other and that she was seeing "Less" of me...... But wait there's more...at lunch someone who used to work next to my group walked by and commented on how much thinner I was looking.

Hey guys! Good grief! Peace! I'm rolling my eyes (just a little). I like posting about our daily lives. I love the connections we've made. I'm happy to hear about plans for the trip and all the excitement and anticipation. I'm also so sad for those who couldn't go at the last minute. I'm just responding to a suggestion by a newbie to this thread and trying to see things from her viewpoint. Trying to jump in in the midst of all the planning and trying to find parts of posts that aren't details about the trip is a little overwhelming. I've noticed that the people not attending haven't been posting as much. I'm a problem solving people pleaser so I suggested a compromise. So shoot me! I'll just nurse my wounds while all of you who made it to Florida have a great time. I can pack some of this foot of snow we have on the wounds to stop the bleeding. LOL. Good news! I had a skittle and chocolate free day (so far). Yesterday, I had a second-grader that I was teaching how to read and I was making up funny little rhymes to connect similar words for her when she looked up and asked me, "Mrs. Flory, did someone teach you how to teach like that?" Made me feel so good. Hey Jewel! Wait till you can look down and see your feet without having to bend over! That's an NSV (non-scale victory, or no small victory). Duluth or Apple's summer place sound great. Fall would not work for me. Only summer. Or between Christmas and over New Years. Unless I have no job next fall which seems less and less likely to happen. My school is doing so much better. And I don't think they're going to be changing my NCLB program and putting it in the hands of a private vendor. So, I'm relaxing a little on that score. Those of you in Florida have a great time and stay safe. Cheri

Howdy! I thought I was the only one having "issues" with my breasts. I was told that when you lose a significant amount of weight (50+ lbs), you will really notice a decrease in your bustline. I've lost almost 70lbs since 6/8/09 and have gone from a 44D to a 40DD. I was seriously concerned what size my breasts would be if I lost another 75lbs! :rolleyes2: I'm hoping to end up around a 36-38D and around 175lbs. I'm almost 5'10 w/ a broad build. I think I will look great at this size! Sorry, if that sounds a bit stuck on myself, but I am really working to see myself in a more positive light. PS~ I had a NSV 2 days ago. I had to get a guard for my ring. I almost threw it away while washing my hands after using the restroom at a restaurant. :thumbup:

Forgot to mention......Be sure to take your measurements so you know how many inches you lose. This knowledge is really important for NSV moments :rolleyes2:

Hi Bree.... NSV stands for Non scale Victory....meaning something awesome that happens as a result of losing weight that has nothing to do with the numbers!!! :rolleyes2: Hope that helps!

Elfiepoo, I've seen "NSV" on other posts. What does it mean? Rather what does it stand for. I get the meaning.

This is too funny! I don't own any sweatshirts and needed something warm to wear outside this morning to shovel snow. So I raided my husband's closet hoping he'd have an oversized sweatshirt I could squeeze into. Not only did I find a sweatshirt but I didn't have to 'squeeze'! It fits me 'perfectly' (but it is a bit big on him). Ten or 15 more pounds and I can fit in his heavy flannel shirts. Woohoo! The look on his face when he finally 'noticed' I was wearing his shirt was priceless! .

...getting to know all about you! So, I was wondering where everyone was at in their Lapband journey?? then I was thinking it'd be great to get to know more about my peers who are on the same journey that I am! Sooooo... I go for my consultation with the surgeon next thursday. I already attended the information session, and will be attending my first support group next wednesday. Very excited, already got my referral from my PCP to go see the surgeon. No medically supervised diet necessary (woot!). A little about me...I'm Lizz from Philly. I am a mom to an awesome little boy, and me and his father have been together for 6 years now. I love tattoos, piercing, heavy metal, and hard rock! I work in criminal law and i love my job! i've always been a big girl but was active and athletic. My weight is at its highest since I was injured back in December and I feel now is the time to try to do something for my health and myself. ok enuff said! let's here from some of you! :thumbup: My goal NSV....fitting into my old size 12 levi silver tabs! :thumbup: