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That is totally cool! It's amazing what happens when we get, as Kathy calls it, a brain band. Everyone is doing so well with their NSVs! I just updated my main NSV thread.

Okay for this week: I wore a sweater that I haven't ever worn before. I think I got it last Christmas, or maybe the one before. It never fit, I didn't even dare try to pull it on. It fits great now! I even got a complement from a co-worker on it . I'm also re-branching out with my artwork. I got a job designing a book cover off of craigslist. Which is an NSV because I have the confidence again to even try, even if it's not weight related. I have to add this, it just happened; I was walking back from picking up lunch and someone whistled at me! I actually got whistled at by a passing car instead of some dirogitory (horrible spelling) remark!

Uuuuummmmmm........NSV? I'm loved just the way I am in all of my fatty gloriousness by my family and friends. Does that count?

NSV - I decided to wear jeans again instead of loose comfy cotton pants. Yes, they are a size 20, but they do not squeeze my belly fat and make an unsightly roll. This NSV has a lot to do with regaining some care for what I look like. I was on this whole thing of being fat and not caring about looking nice or dressing up. Now I actually care about how I look again and put makeup on and everything. Damn, I think I got my groove back!

Lets see. It probably counts as an NSV that I'm moving and I've been able to haul stuff around without getting winded (and there's even a flight of stairs in my new place!). I think that's good. In the process of moving I sorted through all of my clothes and threw out a bunch of stuff that was to big. It's fortunate that I saved a bunch of stuff as I grew out of it, so I have it to shrink back into, which is good. Oh! I tried on a dress that I wore to my friend's prom the other day and it fit. The last time I tried it on it squished my boobs together so bad I had a uniboob! haha.

Kim - I am sorry to hear about the UTI. Those are horrible. I get them a lot. Duckie - Great NSV! Keep up the good work! Drews - I am so proud of you not smoking! I can't wait to see how roller derby tryouts go! Missy - congrats on being ciggy free for so long! Marz - I am in a exercise slump too. We can do it!

I had a NSV this weekend that made me pretty happy. I went to a consignment store to check on some stuff we had for sale and decided to look at the clothes. I found a pair of size 14 levis that I liked but knew they wouldn't fit......yet. But I bought them anyway since the price was right. Then I looked at the 16's and found a pair of tan jeans that I liked and they were only 4 bucks, so I thought, what the heck......if they don't fit, they will in a while. So I took them home and put them on. I didn't have to lay down to zip them, I could breath, move, talk.......everything you should be able to do in jeans!!!!! They are a bit tighter than the jeans I've been wearing lately, but they fit! Yeah me! Size 10, here I come!

What a great NSV. I'm able to wear rings again that I haven't worn in years. So satisfying!

This is a cool idea for a thread. Thank you, Boo! What is your "Bandiversary" goal? To be recovered from my tummy tuck and breast lift (March 28th) enough to schedule my flight home (to actually be home is a stretch). What have you learned this past year? I've learned that it's better to head off a binge than to fight it. It's like turning a boat. You might not be able to turn on a dime, but if you plan, you can still get the boat turned. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? Flying without a seatbelt extender. Walking anywhere in the City just because and not worrying about breaking out in a sweat even in the cold. What is your biggest challenge? Learning how to not act like an adolescent in my new body. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Measure your food, at least some of the time. It keeps you accountable. Also, if you're not losing as quickly as you'd like, consider counting calories at least for a few days. It'll let you see where you can make adjustments to meet your goals. What is your greatest fear? Regaining the weight. I know it's not likely, but I still fear it. What goals do you have for the future? To figure out what goal weight is and reach it. To run a 10K. To run an average mile in under 10 minutes. How has your life changed? Oh my gosh, what a question! I fit into life again. I don't worry about finding the "right" seat on the bus or whether a folding chair will break under my weight. I can shop anywhere. I care about my appearance. People treat me with more respect, even just walking down the street -- it shouldn't be that way but it is. I got a new job making triple salary. Triple! Men hit on me. I'm excited about tomorrow. Has living with the band met up to your expectations? It's far exceeded my expectations. I expected to be about 250 or 275 now. Instead, I'm in the 190s. All I expected from the band was to get back to Twoterville. Actual day-to-day life, the band exceeds my expectations as well. I thought I'd have way more limitations on the types of food I'd be able to eat. If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? I'd say be kind to yourself. You're a pretty cool person and even though you don't like yourself a lot right now, you've got the potential to love yourself. I'd also say, self, since you've got this ability to talk to yourself a year ago, try to see if you can talk to yourself 5 years ago and get a band then. Don't waste time trying to find another option. You're going to exhaust them all and still wind up 350+ and banded. Save yourself the emotional and physical trauma.

It happened so gradually, I just noticed yesterday that my thighs no longer rub together! I can wear pants, stockings or go bare legged without making a sound or creating friction! I also have a "gap" between my legs...I've never seen space there before - LOL!

What is your "Bandiversary" goal? Honestly, I don't really have one. My original goal was to be 100 pounds down, but I know now I am not going to reach that, but am not at all discouraged by this either. What have you learned this past year? I have learned that I am worthy of good health, love and respect, no matter what I look like on the outside. I have also learned that food is not the most important thing in my life anymore. Food is merely fuel so I have the energy to spend time with and do things with my family. Could you share your most rewarding NSV (non-scale victory)? I have a couple. One is that my PCOS has improved with every pound lost. I am also no longer borderline diabetic, which was a huge NSV for me. In terms of really fun NSV's, about two months ago I cleaned out my closet. It was wonderful getting rid of all my old "fat" clothes and saying I am never going to wear these again because I will never be this size again. Then, I went to the mall and went shopping for new clothes at normal sized stores, not Lane Bryant. What is your biggest challenge? The main reason I got fat was because I just plain love the taste of food, especially salty, crunchy junk food. Unfortunately, that type of food goes down easy. So, my challenge has been staying away from those bad foods. I occassionally treat myself, but it is nice that my band doesn't let me get out of control when I do. Never again will I sit down and eat an entire bag of chips in one sitting and then sit there and cry afterwards because I am so humiliated with myself. What tips would you pass on to the April 2007 newbies? Be patient and remember that everyone loses at different rates. I was a bit frustrated by the fact that compared to most April 2006 bandsters, I am losing slowly. But then my doctor pointed out that I am averaging out at more that 1 pound a week, and the band is designed for me to lose 1-2 pounds a week. And, I have done that without feeling deprived. So be patient, accept how your body loses weight and the rate at which it does and do not compare yourself to others because everyone is different. What is your greatest fear? Losing my band, not succeeding. I What goals do you have for the future? By summer, 2008 I want to put on a bathing suit, go to the beach and not be embarrassed. I also want to go back to Tennessee on a vacation with my family. We went 4 years ago and there was supposed to be a very beautiful, natural waterfall. However, it was a 2 mile hike up a very extremely steep mountainside. I did not make it very far before I had to turn back because I was just too fat and too out of shape to make it. But I insisted my family go on ahead of me and enjoy it. I sat down in the car and cried. I am determined to go back there now and climb to the top of that mountainside with my family so I can see for myself how beautiful that waterfall is. How has your life changed? I am more confident, happier, have more energy, am able to do more, am healthier and just feel 100% better! Has living with the band met up to your expectations? I am not going to lie, I expected the weight to come off a lot faster and I expected everything to be a breeze. But, it does take personal commitment and you really have to want it. As they say, the band is a tool, not a miracle. But, once I realized I have to want it and work it, it most definitely did meet my expectations and I love my band. If you could talk to yourself a year ago, what would you say? Don't be nervous, this is the best decision you will ever make for yourself. You may feel fat and frumpy now, but this time next year, you will be feeling hot and sexy!

What a GREAT NSV!!!

Sonia, aren't NSVs fun! Congrats on your weight loss.

Would that classify as a NSV????????? WOOT WOOT!

TO THE CENTURY CLUB???!!!!!!!!!! I ranted on here a little bit the other day about not hitting 100 pounds before I went back to school... well it finally happened 2 days later! I waited out the 2+ week stall before taking pictures and now I attached some below. Before is February 2012, 4 1/2 months before surgery. I should be over the moon but it's just so surreal to me... I guess I'm just a pessimist and still see myself as fat (which I am). I had a bit of a breakdown this morning when I posted one of these pics on Facebook because I was embarrassed and humiliated of my before picture. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm gorgeous and I was quite confident 100 pounds ago but when I look at those pics now I think "how in the hell did I think I was attractive?" This milestone has made me feel guilty for what I had done to my body. I am disgusted now, even though I wasn't then. I haven't felt overly emotional through this journey but I think it's all hitting me now... all of the NSVs, no clothes that fit, announcing it on FB, etc. Anyway, I still have a long way to go... but I appreciate all of the knowledge and support I get here everyday. Next stop... twonderland!!!!!! (Did we ever come up with a better name for that?)

60 lbs down and my beloved Cacique bras just ride up my back... the straps don't even tighten enough to not fall off my shoulders, and the band is too loose. Got 2 new ones, just basic black and mocha.... Cant wait for better support! Better yet, I got the one for 50% off and an extra 20% off the total for using my e-mail! I miss my collection of pretty bras, but my niece has most of them now.... along with most of my prior wardrobe. It is a NSV that these huge things are shrinking along with my body!

Newbie here, looking for the meaning of NSV. Oh now I see it, non scale victory.... Congratulations, I look forward to a few myself.

This is so silly but maybe some of you remember my signature before my surgery that said "NSV I'm most looking forward to - being able to wrap a towel around me after the shower without 1/2 my fat belly and a boob hanging out." The reason I wrote that is because it was that sight that convinced me I needed surgical intervention. Well, just now, I got out of the shower, wrapped a towel around me, and looked in the mirror - no fat hanging out, no boob hanging out, the towel went ALL the way around me like a normal sized person. I know this sounds silly but it's the only NSV I've had so far that has brought tears to my eyes! So, at least for today I hopefully won't be too upset about being a slow loser, when at least I reached one goal! :clap2:

NSV= Non scale victory Thanks all of you! It might be a slightly oversized towel, but it's still one of my same towels that 1/2 my belly fat and one boob hung out of before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rock on girlie! That is awesome..... I am very proud of you and am so looking forward to my first NSV! Friday is the day! K

I've been telling my boss to order me new work pants as mine are getting looser and looser ( I work in a bakery- very close quarters). It was crazy busy yesterday and he went past me with a big tray of bread. He accidently hooked my pants and pulled them down to my knees!!!! Thank goodness my shirts are huge ( and long)!! We all were laughing til we cried ( so did the customers). Broke our stress from how busy and guess what? He ordered new uniforms!!!

Awesome NSV!!

I've had huge NSVs the past 3 months (no longer pre-diabetic, 104/64 BP, great labs, fitting into my husbands jeans!), but today is all about celebrating numbers. Some FAQs before the numbers... I track everything weekly on Thursday (my surgery day) including weight and all measurements. I also weigh on Monday to get an overall feel for how I'm doing that week to see if I need to have a few strict days. For me, I tend to obsess and think more about food if I'm tracking, so I don't track what I'm eating. I estimate my Protein amounts and drink at least 60 ounces of Fluid (at least 40 ou water) I do follow a plan of eating that has worked for me though. I eat from a selection of meals for all 3 meals of the day. If I have a higher % carb meal (like oatmeal), I balance it with higher % protein meal for the other 2. I eat 1 or 2 Snacks per day. If I'm losing slower I add a Protein shake (weird to add when weight loss slows, but it's worked for me) and another cup of Water or a smooth move tea at night (sometimes I'm just full of s&%#... literally . I choose from the following meals: cottage cheese, Colby-jack cheese snack and 4 multigrain crackers, Premier Protein shake, advantagEDGE shake, oatmeal (3/4 McD's or Chickfla usually), chicken Soup, chili, shrimp, Greek yogurt. My favorite meal out is at Tijuana Flats. I order one chicken taco and I eat the stuff inside the shell. I have a piece of cheese pizza once a month. I eat out with family and friends regularly. My favorite things to order are soup or a salad with chicken on it. I usually eat some of the chicken and a little bit of the other ingredients and share the rest with my husband. I think because I look at this as my new way of life, I don't feel deprived. I always felt like a failure on diets before, but haven't had that feeling since I started. Here are the numbers: Height: 5'11" HW: 273 Pre surgery diet W: 265 (1/3/13) SW: 255 (1/17/13) S BMI: 38 (Drumroll please!) CW: 215 C BMI: 30 (1 pound more to get out of obese category!) Loss since PreDiet: 50 pounds! Gone forever, never to return! Woohoo! Measurements (pre-surgery diet/now) Neck: 15.75 / 14 Waist: 43 / 36.5 Hips: 51.5 / 44.25 Arms: 18 / 14.25 Breast: 49 / 44 Ribs: 40.5 / 37.5 Thigh: 30.75 / 25 Calf: 19 / 16 Clothing size before: 20-22, 2x Clothing size now: 16W, XL Exercise: I started couch to 5k (I use Run 5K by Louis Kwok on iPhone) about 4 weeks ago. I run 3 times a week, but usually walk for about 15 min after, for a total of 45 min. Because I have felt so good, I've skipped a few days, so I'm on week 6 day 2. I sign up for 5Ks to keep me on a steady program of exercise. I'm thinking about starting crossfit when it gets too hot to run outside (I live in Florida and it's 85 even at 6am in the summer). My right knee is pretty bad (2 surgeries plus arthritis and chondromalacia), but Orthovisc injections in February really helped as well as taking Krill Oil /hylauric acid (Costco) every day.

Go you! That is so funny that we both just posted the same NSV. You look fantastic!

@@jersey0601 LOL. Thank God we have a sense of humor! I hear the belly is often the last to go! Getting into the Levi's is definitely an NSV! Congrats!