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I am 6 months and 1 week post op. I've upped protein upped cal upped exercise. Decreased cal and carbs. Switched to all natural its just not moving I hover between 199-196 gonna getting plenty of water. A bit concerned about labs they were all good except creatinine unexplainably high. I have swelling as well and wonder if that could attribute the weight variations. Nsv are continuing clothes loosening especially tops but hands legs and feet swelled.

16 weeks out and I am down 59lbs from my highest weight, and 51 lbs since surgery! That in and of itself is a huge accomplishment! I just wanted to share an NSV that I haven't seen anywhere else in this site yet. I went for my 6 month dental cleaning last night, and they had to do very little cleaning at all on my teeth. They said that I had very light plaque buildup since the last visit, and asked if I had changed anything significant. I explained that I completely cut out all caffeine, breads, pasta, rice (basically any non veggie carb) and SUGAR! They said that is contributing to a cleaner set of teeth, so YAY for an easy dental check up! I never expected for my teeth to benefit from this surgery! [emoji23]

@funinthesun00 When I first started this and a long time ago before I ever had surgery. I thought surgery was just for extremely large people. People that were larger than I was, just like 500, 600 pound people. I still think that is the mindset of most people. Surgery is only for really extreme cases. Now after being in the WLS world for long, my opinion is completely different. I think people with low BMIs that keep yo-yo dieting should have medical intervention if needed. I think that catching obesity early before letting it get out of hand is important. If I only had 100, 120 pounds to lose I could already be done. I realized answering someones question on another forum that my boredom is coming from the fact the NSV and SV at this point are far and few between (I'm a normal size now). So it is just a lot of the same thing. Picking up a size 8 in a store isn't more thrilling than picking up a 10. Also as I go further down in sizes the more problems I have. My arms are too big for a lot of things that fit everywhere else. My waist is small, my boobs are huge, etc. I don't have a lot of interest in being a size 4 or a size 6 and that is the direction I am headed in. I don't really desire to lose more weight, I'm happy with my physical size, but I know being at a healthy BMI is really important, so I am going to have to keep going.

@BocaRat ahhhhh, i remember it well wonderful, wonderful i posted a NSV a few years ago.......... said something like........ i sat down in the airplane seat and realized it was bigger! (referring to the fact i was 105 lbs smaller GOAL) a nice, serious response was that's great - i'll finally have some extra room to sit (something like that) kathy congrats

Oh, and keep a list of achieved NSVs (non scale victories). It will help ease the pain when you don't see the scale moving. It's also fun to have an incentive chart! I have varying weight loss goals that reflect low weight marks, scale numbers, total pounds lost, and personal goal pre surgery (which I've already met and then changed to a new goal). My goals range from 2 pounds to 25 pounds before an incentive is reached. THEN I MAKE SURE TO GET MY INCENTIVE!! Skipping something just makes the chart pointless. I've included pics of my personal "charts" including a monthly weight loss tracker and skinny bucket list (of things I want to achieve once I'm thin). I keep these in the back of my daily journal so I can reflect and update often. Hard to read - sorry - I didn't intend them for sharing. My sister and step dad are body builders/weight lifters (depending on their season). I worked out with them often as a teen and have been through every phase of diet/exercise/flabby/fit/muscular/sad there is during my life. I worked my enormous butt off in 2011 to lose weight after having my kids and being diagnosed with PCOS. I went from 287 to 218 in 2-3 years just on diet and exercise. Then, tada!, I got pregnant through 2 forms of birth control and gained over 100 pounds during pregnancy. Now, 2 years after birth, I'm back on diet and exercise while waiting for this tool that will help me stop the rollercoaster ride. I have only told my husband about surgery. No one else in my family would agree. But now that I'm older and been through these weigh ups and downs way too many times in my life, I'm ready to stop the routine and get help. HW: 328 (02/22/17) SW: TBD CW: 285 Pounds disowned to date: 43

I wish i kept a journal/blog pre & post op keeping tract of problems, NSV's, food's, water, etc do as i say not as i do kathy

It is hard. You have to want to be healthy more than you want fast food. I know you've heard that WLS is just a tool to help you lose weight. You've made a decision to alter your body for the rest of your life for better health. This is the time to use the tool your surgeon gave you and fight against cravings and head hunger. It's hard to do at your stage. He'll, its hard at my stage but it gets easier every day. Now I can turn away from junk because I want this. Yesterday I had a non-scale victory (nsv). A friend called me because she was broke down on the side of the road. I went to help her out. She gets in the car and says she was on her lunch hour and asked if I'd take her to McDonalds to get something. I took her to McDs drive thru, ordered her lunch and only had a fleeting thought about getting something but it passed quickly and I didn't get a single thing. My craving for that crap is gone! I was super thankful. There was a time I couldn't drive past fast food without stopping. Point is: fight your cravings and it will get easier to resist. Good luck!

Yay! I so remember that day for me. And it also opens up exit rows as a possibility when you don't get upgraded. Definite NSV!

TMI for those sensitive to racy topics... [emoji6] Still preop but so far my favorite NSV happened yesterday while being intimate with my husband. My stomach wasn't squishing him in one position and I was able to be way more flexible in another. Also, there was air/space between "us" that has never been there in recent years. A non racy NSV that I realized yesterday was that I was able to do 10 minutes of stairclimber workout without needing a break or being winded. It was so crazy amazing that I did it again at the end of my weight training!! HW: 328 (02/22/17) SW: TBD CW: 288 Pounds disowned to date: 40

Here is a list of some of the abbreviations used on this website. ACL = Anterior cruciate ligament AGB = Adjustable gastric banding AMRAP = As Many Rounds As Possible (crossfit) BB = belly button bc = because BCBS = Blue Cross/Blue Shield BED = Binge Eating Disorder bf = best friend BM = bowel movement BMI = Body Mass Index bp = blood pressure BPD = Borderline Personality Disorder or Biliary Pancreatic Diversion bs = blood sugar btw = by the way CBT = cognitive-behavioral therapy CC = common channel c diff = clostridium difficile cos or cuz = because CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure CRNP = certified registered nurse practitioners cw = current weight CXR = Chest X-Ray DDD = degenerative disc disease Dr. = doctor DS = Dumping Syndrome or Duodenal Switch EGD = Esophagogastroduodenoscopy EKG = Electrocardiography ff = fat free GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease GI = gastrointestinal GNC = General Nutrition Corporation store GP = general practitioner or family doctor HBP = high blood pressure hr = heart rate hw = highest weight ICU = Intensive Care Unit Idk = I don’t know IMHO = in my humble (honest) opinion IMO = in my opinion IUI = Intrauterine insemination LAP Band = Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band lol = laughing out loud LSG = Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy med = medicine MFP = my fitness pal msg = message NASH = Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis nf = non fat NG = Nasogastric NP = nurse practitioner NSAIDS = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSV = non-Scale victory (“scale” means “weight scale”) NUT = nutritionist OA = Overeaters Anonymous omw = on my way Onederland = a magical place or destination for those trying to lose weight. It might correspond to attaining a weight in the hundreds or losing a hundred pounds. op = operation OSA = Obstructive Sleep Apnea Oz = Australia PB = Productive Burps PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCP = Primary Care Physician PICC= Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter PM = private message (email) PMS = premenstrual syndrome POSE = Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal postop or post–op = post-operation or post-surgery PPI = Proton Pump Inhibitors ppl = people preop or pre-op = pre-operation or pre-surgery PTSD = Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PVC = Premature ventricular contractions RA = Rheumatoid arthritis RH = reactive hypoglycemia RN = registered nurse RNY = Roux-en-Y RTD = ready to drink RYGB = Roux-en-Y gastric bypass SADI-S = single anastomosis duodeno–ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy s/f or sf = sugar free SG = Sleeve gastrectomy SIPS = stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery smh = shaking my head, scratching my head SO = significant other SOB = shortness of breath sw = weight at surgery tmi = too much information TPN = total parenteral nutrition TT = tummy tuck TTC = trying to conceive Ty = Thank you. [but according to the urban dictionary “Ty” is also an abbreviation for “a total stud with a massive carrot”.] u = You UGI = Upper Gastrointestinal VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vit = vitamin wks = weeks WLS = Weight Loss Surgery WOD = Workout of the Day w/o = without wt = weight or :-) = = smiley face or :-( = = sad face

Today is a crucial day for my preop timeline. The last two pieces of the puzzle are hopefully going to be in place today so my surgeon can submit for insurance authorization. I am having my last weigh in at my PCP and my final appointment at my sleep center to pick up my clearance. Upon submission for insurance auth, I also get to choose my surgery date, which they told me could be as early as late May! To top it ALL off, I finally fit back into my spanx!!! The last time I tried to get them on, I pulled a muscle in my neck. Today I got them on without a struggle and feel like I can finally breathe. The support of my flabby belly is much needed. HW: 328 (02/22/17) SW: TBD CW: 288 Pounds disowned to date: 40

This is great! I typed it up, as well, so it will show up in searches. WLS - Weight Loss Surgery RNY - Roux-en-Y (Gastric Bypass) VSG - Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (The Sleeve) DS - Duodenal Switch HW - Heaviest/Highest Weight SW - Starting/Surgery Weight LW - Lowest Weight CW - Current Weight NSV - Non-Scale Victory ASMBS - American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery PCOS - Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome TT - Tummy Tuck SF - Sugar Free PCP - Primary Care Physician OH - Obesity Help TMI - Too Much Information WTF - Way To Go TY - Thank You YW - You're Welcome Nut - Nutritionist glossary dictionary define abbreviations terms

24lbs is great! The energy will come back just takes a little time, its good to hear that you are happy with the rest of your recovery an nice to see a fellow ABQ sleever on here! I am coming along well I think lol. I have been dealing with some stall issues but that's normal. I am down 41lbs since surgery and 61 overall. The NSV are the best though clothes don't fit anymore an I'm wearing sizes I never would have imagined 6 months ago. Fixing to get into the gym in the next week or so hopefully so I can drop the rest an mainly tone up. Still lots of work to do but I'm looking forward to it now!

Thanks for the comments. Glad to know it's normal. I know I shouldn't sweat the stall but I was hitting my goals more often than not so I was concerned. As for weighing everyday I am working on getting better at not doing it. The NSV help me not want to run to the scale everyday burst here lately the stall junk has me doing it more often than not. I guess I will just keep doing what I'm doing an wait out the stalls. Thanks for reassuring me that these things happen!

My main goal is to remain healthy and avoid having any ailments due to the excess weight. In addition, one NSV I want it to have room left over on my seat belt while traveling on a plane. If I gain an extra 1" on my waistline I will need a seat belt extender. [emoji30]

I'm tracking my progress a variety of ways... weight, body fat percentage, measurement, pictures, and of course, how my clothes fit. I was stuck at 215 for about a week (technically a stall is longer than that) , I started feeling a little frustrated, so I pulled out a pair of "too small pants" that had been too tight on the tummy... And they fit!! Progress!!! Think about those NSV and all the little things. The other morning I got out of bed wearing a short nightie and noticed how much smaller my legs look. My rings are fitting looser. My bras need to be on the tightest hooks. I have big calfs and can't wear tall boots (not even my hubby barn boots) but today?? I was walking past them and though "maybe??" and low and behold, my leg slides in! Celebrate every single little moment!

I don't want to sound stupid, but what does NSV stand for?

Since you've started your journey, what has been your favorite NSV (Non-Scale Victory)? I am just starting my journey and a thread like this would be really encouraging at the moment. Surgery fear is starting to kick in, so I am trying to keep my mindset positive. For me, I can't wait to ditch the spandex underclothes & be able to run around the park with my kids & take them to the pool without hiding. Yesterday I realized how much time I spend every day tugging my clothes away from my body & sucking it in... I really can't wait to not worry about that all day anymore. It's hard to wrap my mind around how much different my life will be in a years time. It doesn't even seem possible!

Sooo one of my nsv is I can bend over and tie my shoes before I couldn't & needed help & could barely breathe while trying. Also my 2x shirts look like a sheet on me now! I'm so happy

my thighs have stopped spilling out of my office chair & car seat i'm no longer shopping in the plus size section i bought a mini skirt for the first time in my life and it actually covered everything! this one i guess is scale related but i still think it's a NSV: i weigh less than my boyfriend, who's pretty thin and only an inch taller than me and then also partner related, he's started pulling me completely on top of him to cuddle and he seems totally fine even if i'm not holding myself up at all which is pretty cool still makes me really nervous though lol

NSV- non-scale victory SV- scale victory [emoji5]️ Sent from my XT1585 using BariatricPal mobile app

Walking up a hill was a huge nsv for me. And i didn't realize i did it until my boyfriend bought it up after we walked up it. He said "you just walked up hill and didn't complain once. You are usually throwing a fit before we even get to it." But truth be told i didn't even notice. I wasn't even winded. It's a beautiful feeling isn't it? lol Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm still a little behind on abbreviations. What's nsv, and sv? Sent from my SCH-I545 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for sharing. I was feeling really old there for a minute. I am looking forward to many NSV's☺☺

It means non-scale victory.. for example 1 of my nsv was being able to cross my legs again! Take the time to appreciate those things