Search the Community

NSV... PB... I'm so confused! I'm new to this site and I need an abbreviations guide. Someone help me with all of the board lingo.

got a couple NSV's Well I'm short so I have to have the seat pulled up in my car, well my stomach has always pressed against the wheel, not any more!! At valentine's day, a co-worker was giving the ladies in the office watches. Well I picked mine out knowning that wouldn't be able to wear it because it would not fit around my wrist, well now it does. This weekend I pulled out a pair of pants I haven't been able to wear in 2 years. They fit!! I loved these pants too.

My cat likes to curl up on my lap and use my soft belly as a pillow (and to knead). Lately I've noticed he's been having trouble getting comfortable because there is less of a belly! He's kind of a runt but can put his arms around my waist now, lol. Even my mom noticed when she visited last week. This was not something I thought about 50 pounds ago, but I'm not complaining!

So, I went out with some co-workers last night to a bar for a drink or two then to a haunted house. AND...and random strange man bought me a drink at the bar AND I got invited out to club afterwards...(didn't go, but hey, it's the hitting on me that counts!). I feel like such a GIRL!!!! I'm 37 and it's the first time a guy has tried to pick me up. Woohoo!

Welcome all newly banded, soon to be banded, or bandsters new to the site. I was thinking this morning, now that I am a little over 3 months out, I could share some information with those of you just beginning your journey. Some of this is kinda common sense, and some of it is info I wish I had understood better before the band. 1. before get very far into your journey, take some measurements. I forgot to do this and now I wish I had my beginning measurements. This is good, bc sometimes when the scale is not moving...you are still losing inches! SO MEASURE YOURSELF! 2. Take some before pictures. I take pictures all the time, but I know some people hate the way they look presurg. But you will wish you had some before pictures after you start losing :thumbsup: It's only going to get better afterall! 3. This is really important. And I didnt have a clear grasp on it before surgery. After surgery, and after you heal...you will still be hungry. AND most likely, you will still be able to eat whatever whenever you want. The period after banding and before you first fill is referred to as BANDSTER HELL. It's hell because you have to rely on willpower. What's that you say? I know I know...if we were good at "dieting" then we wouldnt need the band. But for a few weeks at least, prepare yourself to practice restraint. Just bc you can eat it...don't. 4. Know that after surgery, and when you start to eat mushies and real food. Your weight loss will probably stop for a week or so. Your body is going from a really low calorie liquid diet to actual food. It needs time to adjust. So dont get discouraged or give up. Hold on, watch what you eat...and more importantly...start moving. 5. Which brings me to this one. Exercise. It doesnt have to be anything huge! I started walking and I HATE walking. But I set a goal for myself. I wanted to do a 5k. I started walking 1 mile. The next week I added 1/2 a mile and so on. In March, 2 months after my surgery I did my first 5k. Is was a nonscale victory (NSV). Exercising will help your scale start moving again, and even when it appears you arent dropping pounds, you are changing the shape of your body. 6. Start a blog. It's pretty easy. Blogger is one great one. The link to my blog is in my signature. If you go check it out, you will see all of the other ladies that blog. Blogging or reading blogs lets you get to know fellow bandsters on a more personal level and see progress and share experiences. 7. When you go to your doctor ASK QUESTIONS! That's what they are there for...and that's what we (or our insurance) is paying them for. 8. Realize that all doctors are different. You will learn that really quickly on this site. We all have different instructions. 9. Dont be afraid to call and ask your doc if you can change something, move to the next phase sooner..etc. All they can do is tell you know. 10. FILLS! Most of us dont feel any restriction after our first fill. I didnt feel anything until my 3rd fill. My doc is pretty aggressive with fills, if that's what his patients want. I had 4ccs my first fill. I called back bc it didnt do anything for me and went in 2 weeks later for my second fill. He gave me 1.5cc's. Still didnt feel much so I called and went back in one week later and got .5cc's. That has held me for over a month now. And finally. 11. Love yourself! Dont be ashamed of the band. It is a TOOL. You DO have to work at it. You CAN cheat it. IT IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT! Be proud of who you are and who you are becoming! Hope some of this helps! --Amy

My first NSV was being brave enough to travel to Mexico by myself to get this band put in. I say it counts as an NSV.:smile:

AS of today I am off all of my diabetes and Blood Pressure meds! WOOOOHOOOO... almost more exciting than the weight loss... i did this for health...and its working!

I just hit a 50 lb loss a few days ago and NO ONE has said a word about it! My mom notices and congratulates me, but not one of my friends has said a word!! 50 effing pounds and NOTHING?? I feel so selfish and vain for needing the support and encouragement, but really! (my mom says it's because your friends see you so often, they don't see the gradual change) You're doing great!!! don't let this small stuff get you down; enjoy those NSVs!!!:tongue_smilie:

That was pretty cool K@t. Le'ts see a positive experience....hummmm mine are normally personal so they would be considered NSV's. Anyhow, I have 2 jackets that were too small when I bought them and guess what ......I wear them proudly now because they fit and are even a bit baggy.:confused: ....I can't find a smiley face big enough.

Next month you should be the first one to the meeting...an leave the armless chair for someone else!! Congrats on your NSV!!!!!

Awesome NSV!!! I have had the same issue in our conference room in the past. I always try and get there early to get a comfortable one. I have not been in there for a year now so I don't know if the chairs with arms are still uncomfortable or not, but I hope they aren't I might just need to sneak in try them out. Way to GO!!!!!!

Congrats on the NSV!! The chairs in our lunch room have arms on them and I can't wait to see what they feel like when I go back to school in the fall!

The woman who sat in your chair is a real bitch! Thankfully, you don't need it anymore. Congrats on the wonderful NSV!!!

Congrats, sounds like you've had your 1st NSV... even before surgery. Good luck on your surgery.

Wheetsin, when I was breast feeing my Spudboy, my girls were a MM cup, and that doesn't stand for yuMMy. Having the girls shrink is an excellent victory for some of us. Congrats P'nut, I too hope some day to have that sort of NSV.

I'm 8 weeks post-op tomorrow. I've lost 50 pounds from my highest weight last November (right after Thanksgving!). And in the last 24 hours I've had 3 NSVs. 1. I have an important job interview tomorrow so went looking for a new outfit. I was able to purchase off the rack in the regular ladies department...not plus sizes. That was huge...haven't done that in years. 2. I'm wearing a belt that didn't fit around my waist in January...and I'm already adjusting it to the 4th hole. So even though I can't always see a difference in my appearance...it's happening! 3. And my last NSV...I'm getting my neck back!!! You ladies know what I mean. I put on a necklace today that I have avoided wearing because it just felt too tight. Today it is laying perfectly around my much slender neck and falls to the perfect position on my chest. Loving life after my sleeve. Just wanted to share.

I just saw another post that was about Drivers license and she said it was the first time she actually weighed less than what was on her drivers license, and I realized oh man me too alot less and the picture on my license looks like it could be my Mom, my birthday is next month and (I have to get a new one) I could keep my picture but no way, I have worked hard to get it I am gonna smile for the camera!! Congrats on your NSV, the difference is amazing!

Well I passed the 3 months mark now losing another pound this week. Not a big loss this week but still a loss. Some times it surprises me that I continue to lose from week to week to week. I have never experience continual weight loss like this. It's great to be putting on clothes that I haven't worn in several years. A big exciting thing too is pretty soon I will be in sizes that I can shop at Walmart for clothes. Yeah I know it's Walmart but hey it's not shopping at the Big & Tall store. For the last 10 plus year that's the ONLY place I have been able to shop and so if I can buy clothes at a normal store that will be a huge change for me. I think I am only about 10 to 20 lbs away from being able to accomplish that NSV Milestone. I have got to say I directly see the difference between the weeks I work really hard at exercising and the weight loss. I wasn't as stringent this last week and it has shown with only a 1 pound weight loss. So I have got to kick myself in the butt again and get back on track. It's often times hard when other things around you aren't going as well but that can't be used as an excuse for changing your life in a way that will make you live longer and healthier with your family. Today I am heading out to do some photography and I know I will be able to walk around without getting wore out easily. Just months ago that would have really taken it's toll on me but now I see it in that I can actually enjoy being outside without sweating up a storm and getting short winded. Well onto another week and continued weight loss. Current Weight - 390 lbs Loss Since Surgery - 52 lbs (13 weeks) Total Weight Loss - 95 lbs (1yr 1mo)

My pants won't stay up. They are a 34, I was in a 54 at my heaviest an a 48/50 at surgery 5 months ago. I have a pair of 33's that are a perfect fit. And buttoned a 32 the oter day. Can't wear them yet but I will. :-). Though I did notice that if I had a tummy tuck right now it would most likely remove several more inches!!! Yeah I'm loving it. Oh and yestarday I got the full body scan and smile from a hottie! Yeah I smile right back and for the rest of the day.

WHen you're right out of making the most enormous change of your life and it doesn't go like you thought it would, it's scary and nerve wracking. Holy Hell, have some patience isn't the most supportive response I've ever seen. Here's what I know: The sleeve works, first of all. You may not lose fast and you may not lose like you want to lose, but the sleeve works. Patience is absolutely key. Tell us about where you started-- Highest weight, start weight, current weight. How about inches? I lost TONS of inches but very little scale weight. I STILL lose slowly on the scale but the inches are where it's at. Are your clothes loose/baggy? Seeing any changes in your body that don't translate to scale numbers? Remember your NSV's - non scale victories- What doesn't hurt that used to hurt? what can you do that you couldn't? What's your post op plan been like? I know this is VERY hard but everyone else is EVERYONE ELSE. Not YOU. So don't worry about them....you have to focus on YOUR plan and YOUR body. You can't go back, so keep moving forward. Have a talk with your nutritionist about your food needs... at a month out I was jUST starting to eat solids, and I had lost maybe 12 lbs.

Wow! Imagine real doggy-style without acting like I need the pillows for impact support (when they are really there to hold my hanging belly)! You go girl!!!!! Great NSV!!!

You look awesome! Great NSV!

Clothes falling off, yes one of the best kind of NSV's! There's a song about Tequila makes her clothes fall off. Well we got a new one, The Sleeve makes our clothes fall off!!! lol. Congrats!!

0. What type of weight loss surgery have you had? Lap-band 1. How long have you been in maintenance mode? Maintaining below my goal weight for 1 1/2 years 2. What's your current height and weight? 5' 1.5":-) 130-135 3. How many calories do you eat daily (on average) to maintain your weight? 1,000-1,300 4. What kind of focus do you put on Protein -- number of grams or anything else you want to say? I always eat my protein first. My goal is 60-80+g per day- aim towards 80+ 5. What kind of focus do you put on carbs - number of grams or anything else you want to say? I try not to exceed 40 net carbs per day. 6. What other nutritional tips / tricks are working for you that help you maintain? Staying focused mentally 7. Which foods, if any, do you avoid altogether? Potatoes, pizza, Pasta, Rice, Bread, chips 8. What exercise regimen (exercise types and frequency) do you follow? This is my down fall for sure! No regiment. I realize this is something I have to be diligent about adding for long-term maintenance and overall health. 9. What role, if any, has counseling or therapy played in your WLS success? N/A 10. What advice would you offer WLS patients to help them be successful? Believe in yourself and never give up! Throw the scale away; stay positive; stay focused on why you made the decision to have WLS in the first place, remember that every NSV and every # and every " is a victory; remember how far you've come; remember the place you were in prior to WLS; love yourself where you are RIGHT NOW don't start until you're X amount of lbs. down or in a size ???? enjoy the here and now it will be this attitude and approach that will allow you to keep going!!!!

@@jrquinter you weren't specific with any other question are you referring to your meds???? i spoke with my neurologist a month before surgery other docs too here is my story drum role please............. i was told to continue with my meds before WLS in the morning take with the least amount of Water as possible my doc told me how to take the meds before surgery check with YOUR doc After surgery i took meds with applesauce that night i was able to swallow as normal little difficulty, not much all went well with surgery and PO in the hospital little heads up though............ about 4 months PO i had orthopedic surgery at this point i had lost about 50 lbs a day after surgery (still in hospital) i had a bad seizure after blood was drawn/checked they realized i was very toxic from taking too much lamectil its like a baby taking same dosage as an adult, and vice versa dosage was cut in half!!!! all was well in a couple of days dosage being decreased was a BIG NSV that i wasn't expecting my advice is to talk with your neurologist about dosage of meds as weight loss occurs listen to your docs directions good luck with surgery kathy