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My surgery is tomorrow and so far in the last 3 months on the dr monitored diet I have lost 53 pounds. I was feeling different and seeing some NSVs, but then when I took my preop photos, I was disappointed because I didn't see a difference from my starting photos. Until I put them side by side. The starting photos were after I had already lost 11 pounds, but were when I finally decided to proceed with this option. I have never let anyone but my husband and kids see this much of my body and I wasn't planning on sharing at this point, but then I realized that we are all here together for support. And dang do I need the constant reminder that I am doing this for a reason and I can't only show the good photos or else I'll still be hiding and denying. So here they are. Top line is starting photos 42 pounds heavier than the preop photos on the bottom line. PS all those bruises on my legs are just from having to inject heparin three times daily HW: 328 (02/21/17) CW: 275 (preop 53# disowned)

Hows it going everyone? I am traveling these days. Appetite is not even half of what it used to be. a few bites and I'm full!! I havent stepped on the scale for 2 weeks now almost, but my clothes are fitting better and I actually wore an outfit I had made 4 yrs ago last week that wouldn't fit. So the NSV's are definitely there!

I'll start with the good news! I went into Dress Barn the other day and the store is basically separated by "regular sizes" on the left and "plus sizes" on the right. For the first time in years, I didn't have to stay on the right side! I'm pretty sure I still could have fit into the smaller stuff in the plus sized section, but being able to fit into the "regular sizes" was too darn crazy for me to walk away from! Bad news is I haven't lost an ounce in the last couple of weeks. I consistently wonder if my calorie intake is too low (between 700-800, I'm 3.5 months post-op) but every time I try to see if I can increase it, I find I simply can't ingest any more food. The only thing I can think of to have more calories in the same volume of intake would be to up the fat content, but my NUT has me scared away from eating over 30 g of that a day. I'm frightened of carbs all on my own, so that never goes over 50 g (some will still say that's too high, I know.) I really should up the exercise a bit, but I doubt that's the main contributing factor--it's not like I've been sitting around doing nothing! Sigh, I wish I had more guidance, since they only seemed to give me any in the liquid and smushie stages. I just hope this snaps soon. Oh well, at least I have 3 cute new dresses, a cute new shirt, and cute new black skinny jeans!

So I cleaned out my closet of clothes that are too big for me for the third time. One of the items was a fancy skirt I had worn to my Bat Mitzvah. It then hit me that I was about to be smaller than I was when I was 13 years old. I am now 30 years old. This was a happy and sad feeling. It was happy because I have worked so hard to lose these over than 260 pounds. It was sad though because I let myself stay so heavy for most of my life and it stopped me from being the person I always wanted and knew I could be. I know I can't change the past and can only look towards the future but I started to mourn for my past struggles again and it made me tear up a bit thinking about all the time I spent trapped in my heavy body. I know many of you can relate, though maybe not all of you can to the extent that I was trapped when I was 540 pounds. This is not only a physical struggle but an emotional one. I'm glad I finally got motivated and am taking my life back. I am even less weight than I was when I had gotten the lapband in 2008. As they say, this is the first step in the rest of my life. I'm excited to see what else I can accomplish. I am only 78 pounds away from goal now and it seems like nothing with how much I've already lost. I just wanted to share these thoughts with you all because I know out of anyone, you can relate.

I had 188 to lose. I'm still only preop and have only lost 53 pounds so far and only 1 person has noticed. She said "it looks like you lost a little weight??" So I said yeah and told her how much and THEN she complimented me lol. Anyway my motivation has only been from non scale victories (NSV), goal NSV and incentives I gave myself for weight loss numbers. I posted my charts on another thread and I believe my profile but I'll also include them here just to give you an idea of what I mean. Sorry for low quality and poor handwriting lol. I didn't initially intend to share. The last pic is of my "skinny bucket list" / goal NSV HW: 328 (02/21/17) CW: 275 (preop 53# disowned)

I don't know all abbreviations but here are some: HW = high weight SW = surgery weight CW= current weight GW= goal weight DS = duodenal switch RNY = Roux-En-Y = gastric bypass GS = gastric sleeve NSV = non scale victory I'm having a blank trying to think of what other abbreviations you'll see. Do you have any that you've seen and want to know what it means? HW: 328 (02/21/17) CW: 278 (preop 50# disowned)

Today I was able to pick some clothes out and just buy them without trying them on. This was really huge for me, but I have a really hard time accepting I am an 8/10 and I always have to try things on first to convince myself they will really fit. Well today I took a leap, believed I am the size that I am, and they fit! Logically I know they should fit but it has been a really hard thing for me to accept. Being able to accept that I am really this size and it isn't a dream or a delusion is a massive NSV for me (even though I have been this size for a couple months now).

We will all get there. This journey is crazy and our bodies are still healing and adjusting. Stay positive, look for NSVs, and trust the process! We got this!! Sent from my SM-G928T using BariatricPal mobile app

I was just sleeved 4/17/17 no told a handful of family & friends. There are some people that I know will ask how I lost the weight and I plan on telling them that I have been working very hard watching what I eat and exercising. That is it! It really is none of their business and it is those that will think I took the easy way out. It is definitely not easy and I don't feel I have to defend my decision to them. My family & friend's that I did tell have been very supportive. A few are constantly wanting updates and I may have to just say "enough" when they ask how much I have lost this week. The reflection on the scale does not accurately represent the NSV I see in the mirror.

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!