Search the Community

Haha Leaky burrito! I totally relate to this!! Congratulations on your NSV, so cute!!

Loved this NSV - one of many more to come. Congrats!

So I've lost 13 lbs..decided to try on some older jeans in size 28. To my surprise they actually buttoned and zipped...still snug..but I could get them on! So I must have shrank some because I normally couldnt get them fastened and I wear a 30/32 jeans!!

Jenymac, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! What an amazing NSV. I totally understand what you are saying. You proved to me by posting this NSV that you are in control now not the food in control of you, this is a conversation I was having with someone at a party I went to last night. You had a margarita and it was loaded with calories? You incorporated it into your new lifestyle and you accounted for it, to me that says you indulged in something you don't always have and enjoyed but were still within your calories for your day, this is what developing a healthy relationship with food is about and you sound like you've nailed it. Living with the band IS a lifestyle change not a deprivation diet. You didn't sound to me like you were rewarding yourself with food you came across to me as a person who is finally in control of living with food. I've only been banded four months but with my preop diet included I've lost just over 70 pounds. As part of being banded I knew I had to change my relationship with food and I have done that, yes it's early days and who knows how I will be in 12 months time, but last night at the party I proved to myself that I can go to a party or a restaurant and not make food so important that it takes over me completely. Did I have some birthday cake? Hell yes but it was only a sliver, enough to satisfy my taste buds and still be within my portion controls ( I don't count calories). In the past I would have been so focused and drooling as soon as I laid eyes on that cake and couldn't wait to have a piece or two. Last night it was totally different, it was like that's a nice cake and I totally forgot about it till some was offered to me and when it was I was no thank you just had some from my sons plate and went back to my conversation without giving the cake another thought. Again I say well done!!

I went to my VERY FAVORITE mexican restaurant last night for the first time since the band and did well! I put all the food I allowed myself on a single plate and did not even eat it all! I had a margarita, too, which still kept me under my calories. I was feeling deprived, so I really needed this indulgence within my guidelines to kind of prove to myself that I can eat what I want and still reach my goal. Before, it was all or nothing. If I went to this restaurant, it meant I ate until I was so full I couldn't stand it or I just didn't go. I'm in hot pursuit of the ever-elusive gray area - life not mandated by rules OR complete overindulgence. I found it last night, but I know that it will be a constant pursuit until I incorporate it into the core of my being - my habits. For now, I'm happy with the little wins. Thanks!

Doddie, my approach to this project was quite different. I stopped weighing myself when I was 25 years old which was a long, long time ago. I knew that I was getting fat only by the fact that I was needing to buy bigger and bigger clothes and by looking at myself in the mirror. The first time I weighed myself after all these years was the morning of my band operation. I discovered that I weighed 200lbs. After I was banded I never did bother to buy a scale. I was still kinda phobic about the notion of weighing myself. But everytime I went in for a fill I did request an official weigh-in on TLBC's high-tech scale and I found that I was losing weight. At home I relied on NSVs and I had many positive NSVs throughout this journey. Dropping clothes sizes was a gas and having my mate telling me that I was losing weight in my face or on my stomach sure was nice. After awhile my weight loss became sufficiently noticeable that folks in the neighbourhood began to comment and that, too, was kind of cool. I am inclined to think that we should all understand that the healthiest weight loss is that which comes slowly; a weight loss of this nature permits our bodies to gradually readjust to lower setpoints. But the truth is that miracle weight loss is what we all want, do we not? For close to a year before I had myself banded I would find myself still awake at 3 AM, unable to fall asleep, grabbing up great handfuls of my belly flesh, and feeling choked by a dreadful sense of self-loathing and powerlessness to do anything about controlling the continuing creep of lard. In brief, I was very, very f/messed up about this biz of fattiness. It is always terrifying for us, is it not, for we are like everyone else - except that our bodies have gone spinning out of our control. The band has definitely saved my arse and it has shaved a bunch of inches of it, too. It occurs to me that too much weighing might be a bad thing. I have heard that many folks have experienced significant loss of inches during their plateau periods. This is an indication that the body is readjusting itself, I figure. And as for those of us who are hitting the gym biz in a big way, it is important to remember that muscle weighs much more than fat and yet it takes up way less space in your body. Of interest is the fact that muscles, even when they are at rest, burn up more energy (calories) than does anything else. This is why men tend to gain weight less easily than women and lose it with less trouble. And thus my advice: don't allow yourself to get overly hung up on the results of your scale; this may be counter productive. There are a raft of NSVs to which you might wish pay more attention, attach more significance.

Wow. I'm so glad the habit was gone for 2 1/2 years! Congrats on that NSV! And congrats on putting the chips away, hehe. Having fallen, I wouldn't be so quick to recover... you rock!! I'm excited to think that some of my current habits may soon be a distant memory. Thanks for the hope!

Those are awesome NSVs, Gman!! Kick the young kids' butts!

Yeah! Good NSV!

I am scheduled for my sleeve on July 5th. I have been reading for hours on this forum and it is encouraging. Two questions: 1) What is NSV? 2) Does anyone have extremely serious regrets for having the surgery? I have seen few if any negatives in these conversations. Thank you,

ive only been banded a month-i have sleep apnea too. i arrived at the hosp at 5;45am and left the hosp 5 hrs later- no overnighter needed. it was all so easy. mild discomfort on my left side for about 10 days- im down 14 lbs as of today and 1 pant size . woohoo !! wait until you get your 1st nsv ! (non scale victory) !! so worth it ! good luck to all !!

That is a wonderful NSV!!! Congrats on your success. Karen

that's awesome! it will work soon! Don't rely on what the scale says to measure how you are doing... yes the numbers going down are awesome but look for the NSV's (non scale victories) like your clothes fitting better, being able to tie your own shoe, crossing your legs, the double chin becoming just one chin lol.... i know we rely on numbers so much (me too) but try to look at the whole picture not just what the scale says

So I ran into a friend I have not seen in about a year and she told me she didn't recognize me because I was so tiny. I have never been called tiny!!!! I'm only 2 months post op and have lost 40 lbs, so I still have a long way to go, but this just made my day. The scale means nothing. It's about how you look and feel. Here's to many more victories!

Came home tonight and the Mrs. needed some hangers. So we got into my closet and started checking sizes. Anything shirts over XL and any pants over 50 were gone. I HAD THREE BAGS! Suits, sport coats, winter coats, they all went. Wow I have an empty closet and Honey has a s&%t load of hangers! This rocks!

ONEderful news! Love your NSV too CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!

Super NSV!!

Welcome to the forum yungshi. I am old enough to be your grandma, but started out at 235 pounds, also. You will be freaking amazed at how much better you will feel after the first thirty pounds come off - even if you don't look any different. At fifty pounds down, a pain specialist who had not seen me for several months, did not recognize me. He and his nurse did a double "time-out" before starting my procedure because he thought he had the wrong patient on the table. We call those kinds of things NSVs (non-surgical victories). Please let us know when you can cross your legs, trim your own toenails, shoes get too big, people who knew you don't know you now, you feel good three days in a row.......stuff like that. That is one way that we encourage each other to keep on keepin' on. If you take pictures and measurements now, it will give you a rference to see how you are doing. The scales can play horrible head games with you, especially as you exchange fat for muscle. You will notice that when you ask for advice, opinions and tact will vary. Please do not take anything personally....just take what you need and set the rest aside. I wish you good luck and good health.

Awesome NSV, for a wedding I was going to I found these 4 1/2 inch stiletto heels made by Carlos Santana's new line of shoes which I ab fab love. Well I was fine walking around the house, but got out the door and almost died going down the stairs so I had to switch to 3 inchers. I have those 4 1/2 inchers waiting until I get small enough not to want to cut off my feet after 30 minutes. 209 pounds on the toes is not easy. I can't wait!! that is so awesome. I think it's a short girl thing loving heels. I am 5'4'' also and love my heels. For now the 4 1/2 inch stilletos will stay in the bedroom only!!

I will be 9 weeks out on Monday and I've had two so far. The first one I hit at 10 days out and it lasted 2 1/2 weeks, the second was at about 6 or 7 weeks and lasted another 3 1/2 weeks. I think I am finally breaking it now. I count a lot of NSV's during a stall (I can now wear both of my wedding rings again and I haven't been able to do that since last June, I'm dropping in clothes size(s), stuff like that). Also you should measure yourself. My first stall I was able to drop a pant size and the second stall that I've been in has me almost in another size smaller too. I need to measure myself again but it seems like when I'm in a stall the inches are coming off more noticably but when the scale is moving my body doesn't change as much. Keep plugging along and it will break, it is just a matter of time. To break my first stall I seriously dropped my carbs. I had been staying between 50-70 a day and I dropped it back to less than 30 but closer to 20 or less a day. Or maybe my body got adjusted and it was just time for me to start losing again, who knows. This time I haven't really changed anything, I was losing, I stalled and then started losing again. I know some people will lower or increase carbs and/or protein and will change up their exercise regimen or really increase the exercise. You just have to find what works for you. Good luck! Don't lose hope, your sleeve isn't broken, your body just has to catch up!

@@lewjenet welcome to the group!!! secret handshake to follow!!! LOL 5 months PO better late than never we need as many guy cuties as possible two great NSV's that's wonderful you must be grinning ear to ear keep up the great job continued good luck kathy congrats

I was freaking out from the day before my surgery date, but lucky for me I was too embarrassed to show it. The morning of the Big Day, I arrived at the hospital with my best friend and got checked in. As we waited for the nurse to come and take me back, I so wanted to turn to my friend and say that I'd changed my mind and we should go home, but embarrassment kicked in again. How was I going to explain running out the door and blowing off the surgery when I'd spoken of nothing else for the last three months but getting that sleeve? So I stayed and I did it, and I'm so glad. Aside from a respectable beginning weight loss (I still have a long way to go), there have been many NSVs. It has already proven to be not only worth it, but one of the best and smartest things I've ever done. I'm glad you're rescheduling. Be brave and go for it!

What a fun NSV!

brmbrush413 gotta love those NSV's - keep 'em coming i'll pass a long mirror at Kohl's and do a double take thinking OMG - thats me??? lookin' good you are doing great congrats on losing 61 lbs just passed 1/2 way mark to goal betcha you look as great as you feel keep up the good job/work kathy

I had a HUGE NSV this weekend, I rode roller coasters without having to get off due to my size and without be smooshed into the restraints. I have worked at this park for several years and have only been able to ride a couple of the big coasters due to my size so I finally got to enjoy them for the first time since high school! Also, a fun perk of having gastric bypass, I don't get that stomach dropping feeling going down the big drops like before surgery! My daughter and I were running from coaster to coaster trying to get on as many as possible, I had so much fun!