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For all those of us who long to see smaller sizes I had one other NSV while on vacation. We did lots and lots of shopping and I am still trying to be good about not spending good money on nice clothes with the hopes that as I keep losing, I will just need some smaller things. Anyway, there was a neat clearance rack at this store in Florida called Bells and there was a cute red, black and white jacket with about 3/4 length sleeves and the size 16 fit me, buttoned all the way down. I chased my mother and sister down in the store to model it for them. Ha! Ha! They said buy it! I resisted because it was the first day of vacation shopping but by the end of the week it was still there and even marked down a little more so I did splurge and buy it. It was about $20 on sale and even if I can't wear it a long time (if I keep on working out and eating right!) it will always give me the pleasure of knowing it was the first size 16 I have been able to fit into in a very very long time. Actually size 16 was the smallest size in the Plus Size section. That alone is a victory because I used to have to go to the highest or largest plus size they offered on the racks and hope it fit. Just for the fun of it, I tried on something in a 14 (getting greedy on my hopes and dreams) and I could get my arms in it but not button it!

Here is a positive vacation posting about my NSV flying. It is posted over on the Columbus thread on page 33 approximately. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f56/columbus-area-42327/index33.html

I've got 2 NSVs! First, at my surgeon's support group last Tuesday, I spontaneously crossed my legs! We sit in nice office chairs around a conference table, and I just shifted my weight to the side a bit and, before I knew it, I had crossed my legs. Of course, I had to crow about it to my group, and they cheered for me! It's great to be able to share things like that with people who understand what an accomplishment it is. 2nd, today I went shopping for a dress to wear to my father's retirement ceremony. I picked out some 18s at Dress Barn, not sure if they would be big enough. I tried them on, and they were actually a bit big in places. There were some size 16 dresses left in the dressing room from an earlier shopper, and my sister convinced me to try them on. Long story short, I bought a dress in size 16!! I was in a 26 before I had surgery last August! I was so excited and happy. I think my sister was almost as excited as I was!:scared2:

Hi Shamrocks! Hard to believe it has been almost 2 weeks since I posted. Scrappy - how fabulous! I don't expect to get rid of the tummy flap for another year or more. The doctor says I can do it now, but I have lots more to loose and I am not interested in doing it twice. You love beautiful, btw! NSV - I'm getting a lot of comments that I have lost "lots" of weight, but the dumb number on the scale won't move no matter how hard I kick the scale. It truly is frustrating. UGH! Well, the good news is that I should be in a size 18 soon. It's been a few years since I have seen that size. Acutally probably about 5.

273.2 for me That is 2 1/2 weeks now the scale has hardley moved. I have had a bit of a NSV, was a size 28 jeans,I went to Walmart and bought 2 pairs of jeans one a size 26 and the other size 24. The Size 26 fit good but a bit big in the waist, The size 24's fit and I can zip them without lying on the bed but just a bit to tight in the waist. Quess that means I am a size 25 *G*.

wow Suzanne! sounds like a great running partner very encouraging...but he had awesome material to work with!!! i'm very psyched for you! well i did w7d1 lst nite. my distance was shorter for some reason. i did feel my feet dragging a bit during the run. it was kinda weird though. I felt more competant with the run ...less winded and definitely not as lightheaded at the end. so mixed results i guess. im actually looking forward to the next run on Sat i hope. Or, should i take 1 additional day to rest, wondering if i need a little extra time to recover??? anyway had a revelation of sorts last nite too. after i run i have a hard time with my band when i eat. it seems that every time i run i get stuck badly very soon after i start eating. and yes, i was following the band rules for eating. i called my bari nurse ths morning and she said that since the stomach/esophagus are muscles, i should drink something warm before eating, again following my doc's band instructions regarding drinking/eating. she said the warm liquid can help relax the esophagus in particular. then she gave me a very nice NSV. she really complimented me on running and gave me lots of encouragement! tc, Carol

I totally agree with you on food being a day to day thing. I think it could be hour by hour for some. From what I've read, if you have a band problem you would know it. It sounds like it's very painful and NOTHING stays down. NSV for me- my jeans are baggy!! Now mind you they are the largest size I have worn. But who cares, because they are loose!!

passive aggressive. i'd let her re-do ALL the work, let her start making mistakes and sit back silently & smile or grin (well you know what).... i hate that style, i'd rather a full on bitch than play around games. love the suit & congrats all on the NSV's. it's not raining - so i'm going to be a full on country chick today and put my ipod on and ride my tractor & mow , and mow & mow some more. hope i don't run into any snakes:) happy hump day!

Hi Ebony The suit looks beautiful...I'm sure you will be too when wearing it! Andcongrats on the NSV! Glad to hear you are keeping your worklife together - and relegated to its proper spot -- it's just work; it isn't my life; etc.

PJTP... It's a beautiful sunny morning and I feel great!:smile2: Poor lizard - and I almost said poor snake! Reminds me of how I used to feel after a pig-out session (pre-band, of course)...I bet it's going to take him / her / it quite a while to digest all of that!:eek: Work is...work. Still experiencing minor sniping here and there, nothing I can't handle. I'm determined to hold out - in June I cross a 2-year mark and get extra vacation days! Nothing is going to stop me from making that mark...nothing! School starts up for me again today - Finance class, and the last one before my degree :ohmy: Wonderful NSV - wearing a size 18 dress today for the first time in a very long time. The last time I think I could wear one like this was definately over 10 years ago. I think I may have mentioned the size thing before, but I'm so excited I couldn't help but mention it again! I got the swimsuit I ordered yesterday - I bought it a little small because I KNOW I'll lose more by July - isn't in wonderful that we can say that and know it will be true? The suit fits okay now, but will be even better when I lose some additional pounds and tighten up the old bod with some additional workouts. The suit is white, halter-style, with ruching throughout the body. It looks kind of old-Hollywood. DH suggested I get a white denim cropped jacket and some heels and wear it to the club...NOT! :eek: Here's a pic of the suit (I think - if this works): I'm not quite shaped like this yet, but getting there! :tt2: Have a wonderful day, everyone!:wub:

oh YES, that is a perfect NSV (non scale victory) for me. To be able to use the tray for my laptop or water. Also I can't wait to be able to find clothes that look age appropriate on me! So may of the plus sizes make me look older than I am:-(

Congratulations! I share your feeling of accomplishment. I, too, hit the 100 lb mark and reached my goal weight, too. I lost 10 whole lbs on the 6 month diet my insurance required, 25 on the pre-op liquid diet (I ended up on it for 3 weeks instead of 2 because I caught a slight cold and my surgery was bumped a week), and the rest after surgery. My favorite NSV is when buying scrub pants for work (I work in a doctor's office) I can say "I take a size small, thanks." Used to be 2X.:mad2:

Hi JMS! Thanks! and we actually leave a week from tomorrow! I can't wait! AND a NSV i just had on Saturday was GETTING INTO A SIZE 12!!!!!! It's a bit snug, but definitely wearable!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!! Thanks Ebony!! I'm so glad of the support from you and everyone on here! I was not on for a while as I hurt myself, but i'm back in the game and loving it!!!! Alls' well! mlj - Thats Fantastic! Woo Hoo!!! Congrats Congrats!!!!!! The posts here are always so encouraging!

Love it! I have a huge "skinny cloths" section. I am currently in a size 22 now and my section goes down to 14 with a few 12's. I have not had a major scale victory so I can appreciate the NSV more! I am noticing a big difference in the way my cloths fit! My second chin is becoming a smaller chin indeed! You can see weight loss in my face -n- cheeks! So far I think I am loosing inches all over! Yay for inches lost - get out'a here! I was not expecting a miracle, but if you told me I was going to loose a couple lbs on the liquid diet, I would have been in disbelief. I really thought something different in my head.

Ex-scale addict here. I used to weigh daily - in fact a year ago when I was "dieting" (yet again) I would weigh several times a day. Now I weigh on Wednesdays (my official weigh in day), and step on for a quick peek on Saturdays just to make sure I'm heading the right direction for the week. I'm 2 months out from surgery and about 3 weeks out from my first fill. I'm finally beginning to trust the band and the process and think I'll be able to skip the Saturday check in soon. If I remember correctly, it takes consuming 3500 additional calories to gain a pound, so anytime I stepped on the scale and was up 1-3 pounds in the past I would get frustrated thinking I had "gained" when most of the time it was just my body fluctuating. But, not knowing that would lead me to a cycle of, "We'll I've gained anyway, I might as well REALLY enjoy it" and lead to me stress eating. Now that I know that I just don't have the desire to put myself through seeing those fluctuations anymore! While I'm enjoying seeing the scale numbers go down I'm trying to enjoy NSV's such as seeing how different my clothes fit, looking down and seeing my feet - not my stomach, enjoying the compliments I'm getting, and buying smaller sizes. I really want the lapband process to be a different mindset for me, not a diet mentality - so for me it works best to keep off the scale as much as possible. But we are all different!!

[quote name='heartfire; I'm glad you're feeling better! Thank you Little scary tho! I haven't been on a horse in 20 years! And she was a bitch mare and hard to ride! I fully understand. It has been 32 yrs for me. Gotta love the belly shots! NOT!!! I agree. The one I seen this A.M. had her belly hanging over the top of her panties. Sorry hon if your reading this' date=' but I don't like to look at my hanging tummy. Why would I want to look at someone elses?[/color']:wub: Well, I found a cute one, skirted tankini, 40% off and it was a size 16!!!! Last year's suit was a 20 or 22, can't remember now. Huge NSV! That is a great NSV. I don't know when I will get up the nerve to put my tail in a bathing suit. I haven't owned one in yrs. Wait a cotten picken minute! I might have one a freind gave me last yr. I might had put it up. I'll have to check. [quote name=EbonyRose;in anticipation of my July trip to Florida' date=' Are you driving or flying to Florida? Either way you could make a pit stop In Huntsville, Al. on your way there!:frown: Gotta love those NSV's It's so nice to have reasonable goals and KNOW that you can make them because you've got the band to help you...this is SO much nicer than what I used to put myself through! I :thumbup: my band!:thumbup: I agree with you Ebony. It is so much better and Love NSV's:wub:

Heartfire - I'm not even going to TRY and beat that multi-quote - dang, girl!:thumbup: Congrats on the swimsuit...I had to buy a new one in anticipation of my July trip to Florida, because I have no idea what size I will be and I KNOW that if I wait until then, there will only be wool in the stores, cause they remove all the swimsuits after June 30th! :wub: Hopefully it will fit me for a while - also skirted, kinda in the old-style suits (full body - no cutouts or anything) - think hollywood glamour - and really cute in the ad. We'll see what happens - it will arrive this week, though I won't be wearing it for a while. Gotta love those NSV's - I live on them right now while my weight is fluctuating a bit. I just went under 230, so I've got nothing to complain about. Shooting for 220 by the end of the month - I've got about 3 weeks to make it there, and I KNOW I can make that... It's so nice to have reasonable goals and KNOW that you can make them because you've got the band to help you...this is SO much nicer than what I used to put myself through! I :thumbup: my band!:frown:

Last week: 183.4 This week: 183.2 And had a sucky eating weekend so figured I'd be up this AM. No, down a lb! UGH! Hate when that happens! Hopefully I'll get to keep it but we'll see what happens by Friday! LOL! NSV Alert! Had to go swimsuit shopping this weekend. Bought a cute skirted tankini, 40% off and in a size 16! Last year's suit was a 20 or 22, can't remember for sure. So exciting! It's a little snug but not bad and will be even better as the summer goes along! Have a great week All Stars!!

I'm so sorry! How are you feeling after the weekend? Hang in there. She's going in tomorrow AM. I'll let y'all know. I'm pretty sure it's arthritis. She's about 40lbs and we think 1/2 chow and 1/2 spitz. Having been abused as a pup, we also don't know what that might've done to her physically while she was in her growing stage. I know! But I HAD to get some stuff done that day. I was trying to get us out of town at a decent time on Friday! Whoo Hoo! Nice bike!! Love all of the above! The only one I have is a big truck! '99 Chevy, full-size, 3/4 ton, 454, crew cab, 4 wheel drive, 6 inch lift, 35 inch tires on 16.5 inch rims. I had to put sissy steps on it so I could get into it! LOL! Oh and it's dark blue, my fav color! Rant away. I don't understand it either. I'm pretty sure she's better off tho. Good kid. His birth father didn't deserve him! I'm glad you're feeling better! I'm planning on going this year. I'm finally feeling like I won't hurt the horse! My mom rides at a stable near her and DD's been begging to ride so I think we're going to try to do it this summer. Little scary tho! I haven't been on a horse in 20 years! And she was a bitch mare and hard to ride! Good for you!! WTG Fanny! Oh no! I've had chicken pox twice and have been told that I'm now MORE susceptible to Shingles!! I'm so sorry and I sure hope you're feeling better soon! Totally agree! I've got almost 2 acres that Tap can come play in if she wants! LOL! I agree, you end up losing the entire family, not just the parent. UGH! Hate packing! Best wishes on getting that done as quickly and easily as possible! Sounds like you had a nice break on the bike tho! Keep taking those times as often as you can! Great that her sister stays in contact. That's wonderful! I think the trip sounds great and DD would enjoy it! What a great story! Glad he decided to go and ended up connecting with y'all again! I'm sure it's great for him too. UGH! I hate those stories too! So Wrong!! I sure hope DD decides to get in, and stay in, touch with you guys. I hate organizing! I like to BE organized but hate making it happen! LOL! Life IS good! Glad you had such a nice weekend! Good for DD! I don't understand those commercials for the armed forces that have the parents and kids "talking" about it but the parents are hesitant. I know it can be dangerous, there are wars but I guess I just don't get it. 'Course, I'm married to a fireman, he was Air Guard when we met, I've been involved in the Sheriff's Dept and thought about becoming a deputy, involved in EMS, dad served in the Navy, etc. so maybe I just look at things differently. I guess I'm used to the serving country/community, etc thing. How was the movie? I had a sitter all lined up for this afternoon so we could go see Wolverine but DH is down in Santa Barbara on the fire so alas, no movie today! Gotta love the belly shots! NOT!!! PJTP: Went to my mom's again this weekend. Came home completely exhausted! I went to sleep last night and didn't wake up once! That NEVER happens! I usually have to visit the potty at least once a night! Or DD wakes up or dreams or whatever but she was totally out too! Saturday we went to Kohl's b/c I needed to look for a new swimsuit. Yuck! Well, I found a cute one, skirted tankini, 40% off and it was a size 16!!!! Last year's suit was a 20 or 22, can't remember now. Huge NSV! It's really cute too. Before surgery I normally would've gone right up to an 18 b/c it is a little snug but it's fine and will be even better as the summer goes along. My mom bought this: BOB Sport Utility Stroller at REI.com for me for Mother's Day! They were having an anniversary sale that ended yesterday and I needed a new/better stroller for my walks but just couldn't swing even the sale price right now. I was just going to save money til I could buy it but now don't have too! I couldn't believe she did that! Such a surprise! It's wonderful too! So nice on my walks now! Easy to maneuver and goes great over our gravel driveway and rough dirt roads, etc! Well, I gotta get. Gonna lose battery power soon and it's time for lunch! TTFN!

I have aNSV... I grabbed a pair of jeans in my closet that I thought were a 16 and pulled them on and they fit nicely... I then took them off to see if I accedently took the 18's instead, i did a double take when I saw that they were a 16 lol... granted they have stretch to them , but I was so excited seeing as if 7 weeks ago I couldn't even get them close to buttoned!!! so I can offically say I am a 16/18 wooohooo from a very tight 20!! And the other day I went into New York and Co and I saw a pretty shirt... It was a large and I figured hey I might as well buy it... it will fit eventually... well I got home and tried it on and OMGoodness IT FIT, and it wasn't even tight or awful looking.. it looked NICE WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! so exciting lol. Love this thread!! can't wait to hear all of your NSV and I'll post more as they come up! amy

Ling, Tere & Thin- Congrats!! Thanks so much for sharing your NSVs. I'm so happy for all of us! My NSV is that I can see the weight loss in my face. My clothes are looser but unfortunately they were really tight to begin with. I don't expect to change sizes for another 20lbs or more. But that is ok because I don't have money to spend on clothes. Though I am looking forward to shopping in my own closet in my "skinny clothes" section.

Way to go Pete! you should be very proud of yourself! I bet you look great and feel even better! I am a little over 8 weeks out and have lost 23 pounds- 11 of that was pre-op but I have had many NSV-non scale victories! keep up the hard work! Blondie2

OH MY GOSH lingling I totally was writing this post in my head last night as I went to bed!!!! I have been getting up the past couple nights and changing out of my pj pants into a pair of panties. I just couldnt get comfortable with the pj pants on and last night the reason WHY clicked, THEY ARE TOO BIG! they ride up ALL the way to my thighs and get bunched up and are not comfy. I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out but it definately made me feel a little more successful as the scale didnt budge at all this week. This morning I was getting dressed and put my belt on and when I started this journey *IF* I wore a belt it was merely for decoration and I used the very largest hole on the belt. Today I was fastening it and realized that I am on the SMALLEST hole! I am almost too little for my belt, and i NEED it now! Okay final NSV for me and I'll hush. I haven't gotten on the scale since yesterday. I have resolved to NOT get on it until Friday morning. I need to get out of the mindset that it will determine my success. My success will be defined by ME everytime I make positive choices. Everytime I get in my exercise I am successful. Everytime I put my health ahead of my petulant inner foodchild I am successful. I feel good about myself and then step on the scale and feel myself deflate, this isn't the way I want to live my life and I am doing something about it. Congratulations on your NSV's Lingling! I am proud of you and your successes!!

Our normal monthly lap band support group meeting in New Haven was a good one this month...two new people who were looking for information, one lady who was newly post-op (about 2 weeks out from her surgery), one lady who is scheduled for surgery within the next 2 weeks, plus our session leader and myself. We stayed past the regular 8 pm stop time, we were having so much fun talking. :cursing: It's really cool to meet new people who haven't yet been banded and help them through their journey. The band is so individual and everyone's experience is a bit different, but having that support is so valuable. I really like sharing the ups and downs (mostly ups) with others...I learn something every time I go to the support group. I've told everyone who I meet there about LBT - hoping that they too will find their way here and get additional information that will help them on their banded journey. Some wonderful NSV's have been happening for me lately...I'm a fan of Lane Bryant's clothing, and my sizes keep dropping. I'm sitting here right now wearing a pair of Right Fit Jeans (taking advantage of Casual Friday) in a size Red 2. When I started my weight loss journey, I was wearing size Yellow 5's. That means not only am I down three clothing sizes, my body is reshaping and my waistline is gaining definition. Beyond the obvious aesthetic benefit, it also means that one of the determining factors in heart disease - carrying excess weight in the midsection - is going away for me. I've read articles that say the "apple" shaped body is one that has a higher potential for heart disease because the excess fat surrounds your vital organs and can affect your heart and lungs more than when you carry your weight in your hips and thighs. It is mostly men who carry their weight in the "apple" shape - more women are shaped like "pears" - at least that's the theory. I have noticed over the years that I am seeing more and more women with apple-shaped bodies rather than pear-shaped bodies and it scares me. I did not want to become a statistic, hence my becoming banded. Losing weight in my waist also means that I can experiment with belts more...I just bought a dress at Lane Bryant (on sale - I try never to pay retail!) that has an elastic belt that goes along with it. In the past (my pre-banded life) I would have just snipped off the belt loops and worn the dress without a belt - they never looked good on me.:thumbdown: Now that I've lost 37 pounds, however, and because I am active and working out, I can wear that dress with the belt and it looks good -at least that's what my hubby has said! I'm thrilled that I think I look good in the dress as well - we are always harder on ourselves than anyone else in our lives. I'm just finishing up my lunch - one half of a turkey sandwich on wheat, with lettuce, tomatoes and provolone cheese. In my pre-banded life, I would have scarfed down that sandwich and been looking for seconds. It was an exercise in patience to finish half of the sandwich. I'm so happy I could just scream! :cursing: I am looking forward to summer for the first time in a LOT of years - because I know I'll be in better physical shape and be able to enjoy it more. I'm looking forward to traveling and having fun this summer without food being the major emphasis. It's funny in a way - I referred to my relationship with food in the past as an obsessive (and abusive) love affair. No matter how badly the food I ate treated me, I kept going back for more - I couldn't stand for someone else to get more of it than I did. I equated food with love - that started in my early teens, and funnily enough, so did my weight gain. Now that I must truly make choices with food that allow me to "eat to live, not live to eat", I am making better choices. I do sometimes mourn the comfort I used to be able to find in food - now I have to find it within myself. I am looking forward to finding out more about ME - all the things I wouldn't allow myself to experience because I was afraid I might stand out too much because of my weight and size...how much life have I missed? I can't get that lost time back, but I can commit to never hiding from life again! For those of you on this banded journey, take time to reflect on who you are becoming...your interactions with others, the "inner voice" you use to talk to yourself, and what you truly see when you look in the mirror. If you're not yet banded, I encourage you to keep up your search for information, but realize there will never be a perfect time to be banded - LIFE will always get in the way. Don't wait so long that your options are limited - do something for YOU, for your health NOW. As always, email me if you have questions, or just want to talk...I'm here for ya!