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I love this story, B-52. GREAT NSV!

@KateBruin no more chafing/inner thighs?!!! huge NSV 102 lb weight loss!! keep up the good job kathy congrats

Awesome! Congratulations. Hope more NSV's in your future!!!

The last month has been a pretty long plateau and I've been getting down on myself about the scale not moving. Today I reminded myself that it isn't always the scale that tells the picture. I did a little shopping and not only was I able to shop in the Misses department, but I bought a dress I would never have touched before. Completely out of my comfort zone, or so I thought. Couldn't wait to get home to try it on for the boyfriend. Big success. Can't wait to wear it. I feel a nice evening out in my future. I find that I enjoy shopping now, trying on clothes and pushing my own boundaries. I have painted toes, that I can see, and feel more feminine than ever before. I don't know if it makes sense, but instead of trying to 'blend in' and not be noticed, I want to say "look at me here I am". Looking forward to the next stage in my journey. I will reach goal that is a promise I've made to myself that I don't plan to break.

As I type I can see my hand veins and the finger tendons on the backs of my hands stretching back and forth! Seems so odd to look at my thin wrists and long hands- I was always told I was big boned and never dreamed those pudgy, short-fingered hands would ever look long and graceful! Boy Im lovin all these changes! PS..The caved in arm pits are are also very weird! MGT

WTF, just noticed my armpits look concave and isn't puffy like before. What an odd place to lose weight. Haha very unexpected NSV

Hi Folks, In my job, I put on a number of tradeshows and events. I have been thinking about holding a new event called…LAPCON. Is there a LapBand Convention or National Meeting? I am kind of surprised, but I not heard of one yet in reading all the boards. My car clubs do it all the time, we can get some vendors to sponsor the event, provide some prizes and have some fun at the same time. So I was thinking… • Friday night - Welcome Reception, Bizarre/SwapMeet and Vendor Fair • Saturday – Seminars, Group Exercise Classes, Bizarre/SwapMeet, Vendor Fair and a Gala dinner with an awards ceremony • Sunday – Breakfast, Classes and a Group Exercise session, Close at noon. For key events I was thinking: • Pre-op and Post-op Seminars (Get the WLS vendors to present) • Best WLS Doctor Award (voted on by members of LBT.com) • Good Cooking Seminars (invite some of the authors of books) • Exercise Equipment demos, trainers and classes (Vendor Sponsors) • Success stories • Video (YouTube) and Photography courses • Online Posting and Blogging Classes • Clothes Exchange Bizarre/Swap Meet • Contests for the “Best” Stories • NSV seminars • Some Dinner and Dancing Evenings Who would be up for such an event (or think I am nuts...) or maybe 3 spread across the states (East, Central and West) maybe DC, Chicago, Vegas ? Shaun

Congratulations on those wonderful NSVs!!

Well, I've lost fast enough to ensure that I'm not allowed entry into the slow loser club lol, but that doesn't mean I'm completely satisfied with the speed of my weight loss. Are any of us? lol ..its definitely slowed in the past few months anyway. In any event, I love the idea of keeping a NSV post, just to remind myself of what I've accomplished to date, so here goes. Hope this isn't stepping on any toes :/ I've went from a tight size 22 to a tight size 16. I put clothes on lay by, in sizes too small to fit me and when I pick them up 3 months later, they fit or are too big! heh (I used to buy stuff I liked that was too small, promising myself I'd get into it soon and it never happened) When flying, I had a good 6 - 8 inches left on the end of the seatbelt, in economy. I can keep up with my 7 year old - even out walk her on some days. I'm fitter than I've ever been. I can walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I'm going to pass out. My sleep apnea is completely gone!!! My cholesterol is perfect. My blood pressure is perfect, perhaps even a little low. I weeded my garden for 4 hours straight, with no knee or back pain (or laziness kicking in). I can walk into a regular clothing shop and fit into the largest size they have (16, although its still tight)!!! I can walk with my head held high, down the street and I don't hear voices in my head, making me think people are talking about me. For the first time in my life, I weigh less than my husband. I've always been at least 5kgs heavier than him. Now I'm 27kgs lighter than him!! My wedding dress is too big for me. My wedding ring is too big for me. My daughter constantly tells me how great I'm looking now and how proud of me she is. My mom brags to her friends and family about my weight loss (something she would have never done in the past). My self confidence is at an all time high. And last but not least .. I now have more good days, than bad days The past three days, its been warm so I've worn my comfy long flowing summer skirts. My thighs didn't rub together and chafe!!! They didn't even tough a lil bit. This is a first, for my entire life!!! Gonna go stock up on more of these lil beauties lol.

Wow! What a great list of NSVs! Keep em coming! Oh & I saw your after picture! Girl you are a knock out!! My husbands tongue was hanging out too! LOL!

Thanks all! I think i was so focused on the big waist and fat face that the other things went unnoticed for awhile. The floppy shoes, collar bones, leg crossing ability, and rib cage existence just came on the radar! I wish all some great nsvs as well! This is such an amazing trip! Cant wipe the cat-**** grin off my face!

WOOHOO great NSV thank you for sharing with us!

Congrats on your NSV! I too rely more on how my clothes fit than the scale.

okay guys, not the most flattering pic because I was concentrating, but this is a very basic Acro Yoga pose. The bottom is a "base" and the top is a "flyer". I had based many time, and sorta flew, but that day, evan if it doesn't show it, I took my hands away and completed the posture. I held it for about a minute, supported by her feet on my pelvic bones. This is a NSV all its own. I can’t buy this. I can’t “afford” surgery for this. I didn’t get this because of anything other than my persistence. The classes are at Blue Tree Yoga in Houston, and they are donation. So you can’t not “afford” it…I did it…it just keeps going in my mind like that. “I did it”. For the first time, I think, I feel very deep down like there is no going back. :’)

I am a little over three weeks post op.. Today I made 1/2 cup of soup... and STOPPED with 3 tsp left... Since being allowed soft foods, it has really been hard for me to leave 2-3 tsp in the bowl... I would eat the "serving" and realize belatedly that it was the last bite or two that caused the pain and/or vomiting. I stopped... I feel fine (weird leaving only 2-3 bites) but feel physically fine! Definitely a none scale victory!

This morning I woke with a tiny bit of annoying shoulder pain but only because I slept wrong. Today I am able to lay on my side and my tummy without any gas pain at all!! I coughed this morning and it wasn't very bad and I'm able to laugh without a pillow over my stomach/port area. I am walking faster and feel great! These may seem little but they are HUGE to me. :-)

Love the NSVs! New belt for me last night - ran out of notches. Integrity of the pants was in danger!

Oh!!! I didn't think of that!! Jewelry!!! Fingers shrink...necks...wrists!! Thank you so much for sharing this NSV and Major Congrats! You've just opened a new door for me to look forward to

I am 5'4 and I started at 332. I am currently 256lbs. I would love to be down to 140-150, but ultimately somewhere in the 1's would be great! My greats NSV so far has been having more energy and not having to blink an eyelash when I go to pick out an outfit in my closet. It all fits, most of it too big now!

This might seem a little weird, however, it made me feel so good so I believe it is a NSV. I was sitting at the red light yesterday, and I could feel someone looking at me, and I turned to the left, and there are these 2 young boys hitting on me. The driver was practically hanging out the pasenger window trying to get my attention. Now, I'm a very happily married woman for 19 years, but let me tell you, it felt good to have these 19 yr old boys flirting with me. I know they would have just crapped thier pants had they known I was 40! LOL. I smiled back and drove away..............

sounds like the third week stall - Read embrace the stall below. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/#comment-3952027 Posted September 18, 2015 It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall? I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea. Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds. For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response: What can you do to "break" a stall? 1) STAY OFF THE SCALE Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale. 2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck. 3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do. If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall). 4) EXERCISE If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle. 5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall). 6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics. 7) JOURNAL One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil. -- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general. -- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place. -- Write about what life was like before surgery. -- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future. -- Write about your fears. -- Write about your NSVs. -- Make a gratitude list. -- Make a bucket list. -- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self. Just write. 8) SEEK HELP Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous. The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them. The last, and most important thing you can DO is: 9) EMBRACE THE STALL Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process. Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines. Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss. If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.

Fiddleman i totally get what you mean some time ago i flew, couldn't buckle my seatbelt - so i tried to fake it - acted like the belt was closed couldn't fool the attendent - she discreetly put her hand on the seat by me, she was giving me an extender!!! that never happened to me before - somehow i was always able to buckle briefly (then unbuckle as soon as i could) i was very upset over the situation i wanted to cry (i did inside ) i know how great you are now feeling excited to ride on the plane soon for family vaca!!!! how wonderful is that I also can related to OP that are heavy, i feel bad cuz i remember being in there situation i sometimes wish i could shake some "heavier" people up and say, hey - listen to me - you can improve your life by having WLS - you don't have to continue life like "this" you can get healthy et al - but of course i never say anything gotta throw in my NSV - hope thats ok i went to GA about 6 weeks ago - i was assigned that middle seat between "2 strangers" you should have seen me "hop" into that seat, my tush felt so good with all that space on each side of me i didn't exactly do the happy dance - but you should have seen me grinning all the way to GA and back Fiddleman - sounds like all continues to be well BTW - I would love to go to Hawaii with you and DW et al if you have a small suitcase - i can now fit in it I'll even fly coach take care guy

That is a wonderful NSV! My family tends to feel sorry for me because I don't eat the amounts that I used to, but I'm thrilled. I always felt like I was being held hostage by my hunger and cravings. I feel like I'm free. It's one of my favorite things about the band. Cindy

I've always had a huge weakness for sweets especially birthday cake. We had ds's bday party yesterday and guess what? I had one small piece of cake. I still have leftovers and I'm not even tempted by them:) I never thought I'd see a day where I didn't pig out on sweets!!

WOW! Now that's a great NSV! Congrats!