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Kewl NSV....don't let your hubby know you are toooo excited though!!! LOL. pssst: do u do windows? :confused:

That first week is tough! In fact, the first few weeks are a big adjustment. Having feelings like, "What did I do?"😱, came up a few times over those first few weeks. Recovery from the surgery was smooth for me, but drinking & eating weren't fun or easy. It gets easier & better as you move through the stages of the diet plan & can tolerate more foods & beverages. Seeing success on the scale or with NSVs will also help it all seem worth it. Right now, I am almost 2 months post op and slightly over 40 pounds down. My clothes are getting baggy. I am able to eat a variety of foods, but know when to stop. I feel like I am in control of my eating for the first time in my life. It is so much easier for me to make better choices & try to practice mindful eating. At this point, this seems to be effective for me & I would do it again. I hope it continues to be a helpful tool in successfully losing weight & maintaining it. I hope the surgery is successful in helping you achieve your weightloss goals & that you will be pleased with your decision. 😁

That’s a great NSV! Congrats!

That is amazing that you have gotten past the emotional side of food. That is such a hurdle to get past. That is something for you to be so proud of. A definite NSV!! My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

!?!?!?! What happened!?!? Two months after I was sleeved (in 2014), my dear hubby was diagnosed with cancer. It went into remission during his chemo treatments. Yea! But 6 weeks ago we learned that his cancer has come back and more aggressively this time. So his doctors decided (and hubby and I agreed) to treat it aggressively with more powerful chemotherapy. The first chemo treatment a few weeks ago knocked him on his ass -- so much so that he's been in big trouble. His white blood cells / platelets are in the basement -- barely any at all. He really could have died and still isn't out of the woods. Also this week at home, he passed out twice and hit the floor due to not following my instructions about staying seated when I am out of the room. So some of my additional NSVs for the week are that he didn't: (2) get a concussion, (3) have a stroke, (4) have a heart attack, or (5) break a hip. The good news is that he is slowly improving. But he's still weak as a kitten and negotiating hard with me to let him drive by himself. Men! Jesus!

WhooooHooooo! Simply AWESOME Shanda :thumbup:! Keep up the fabulous work! By the way, what is NSV :blushing:?

the best NSV there is (outside of health benefits)

I've had two nsv s in the last day. First, my underwear literally fell off my butt while I was walking. Awkward since I was in the parking lot at work, but nobody but me knew. LOL! Second, I put on yoga pants that I had previously outgrown and a fitted shirt. My six year old said, "Momma, you look different. You're smaller." We all know kids are honest! And ot, we survived a tornado today. Sacred us all to the core as we could see it and had to stop and go into a stranger's basement. Our poor babies are scarred. It was only 2.6 miles away.

Ok, I put aside my vanity and wore my baggy cool weather gear and went out for a ride. 47 degrees, but not a bad way to burn 672 calories in 50 minutes. The part that is really an NSV? While it isn't my fastest time, it is less than a 1/2 MPH off of my fastest and I haven't been on my bike since October of last year when I was 35 pounds heavier than I am now. I definitely noticed that the hills didn't seem as steep, and I didn't seem out of breath. Several weeks of spin class can take some credit, but the weight loss is the real champion. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/282936239

Can you kick up the exercize a bit? Since I have been going to the gym riding the bike, wow it is sure coming off fast. are you still losing inches? you need a nsv. Non scale victory. Think about it, have you had anything happen that was kinda cool? Pants big? Have to use a pin in your blouse to keep it on your sholders? Watched someone eat and not had any hunger for that item?

For those ladies who just found out what an NSV is.......for me, it's a much better measure of my efforts than the dreaded scale. I get so excited with the small realizations. Like when a normal size towel fit around me, when I could tie my shoes without being breathless, when I could fit in small chairs I otherwise would have avoided, etc. Make sure you are paying attention to the small stuff. The small stuff really gets you through the hurdles! Yay us!

Today I took the kids to Busch Gardens (here in Tampa) as they are kicking off their summer vacation. I have not been here in about a year. The last time I was here, I no longer could fit in a rollercoaster and was mortified, appalled, and embarrassed. So were my children. This was my rock bottom! TODAY...I not only fit in the coasters....I had plenty of room to spare! We spent all day walking the park with very little effort or exhaustion. I hardly thought about food all day. I never had any anxiety about my knees hurting, my back aching, or my feet swelling up. I was having the time of my life! Last year, all I wanted to do was lose enough weight to fit in a rollercoaster...that's it...a simple request. If I go by this measure of success...I am there! I am a success story!! I still want to lose more weight....and I will set small goals along the way. But today...I am here....I am successful...and my kids think I am a rock star!!

My body is changing . I am currently down total 21.8 pounds from surgery date of dec 5( 44 lbs from pre op weight of 242 lbs). I feel my body changing daily. Scale isn't moving as fast as I would like but I am losing inches everywhere. New years I noticed my face looked different , even since surgery it has gotten a little more defined and smaller. I was like yayyyy, NSV. I have another great NSV. I bought an outfit from The Gap n baby I haven't been able to wear anything from there in like 16 years. I bought a large sweatshirt and size 14 pants ( I used to be a death grip 16 ????????) and the 14 had room and were baggy in waist as well as sweatshirt was very roomy... omg that was a victory for me.

Last summer I was able to wear 2 piece, but with a coverup. I was still conscious of my tummy and thighs. But after recovering from plastics and working HARD in the gym 5-6 days a week, I can officially say that I will be hitting the beach this spring without a coverup. When I put on my 2 piece and saw my pic, I think I cried and cried for a good 10 minutes. Cried for my experience as an obese person, cried for the struggles of life post-op, cried because I WORKED HARD for this dang it, and I have finally arrived. People...I have FINALLY arrived! Sorry for the crappy picture! My husband "cleaned it" with something that was not Windex...and I have yet to purchase a full length mirror! Isn't crazy how our past obesity still rules us even after we've shed the weight. Ugh! I am going to go and buy a full length mirror today!

Now that really IS an NSV!

Well, I have to say, the post op doctor's visit was ...... well, it was different. Since I had my surgery in Mexico, and paid for it myself, there have been NO post op visits with the surgeon. His office did call me once, and I talked with his staff person about my exercising, but haven't seen a doctor since the week after my surgery. (I was running a fever for a few days starting on day 4 after my surgery. So went to see my PCP at home, and get on an antibiotic. He couldn't find the source of the infection, but after $500 worth of lab and x-ray put me on an antibiotic, and the problem was resolved. Then I flew back to California to go back to work, and haven't see any physician since.) My PCP told me when I saw him at four days post op that I should have a cholesterol level done in 2-3 months, to determine if I needed to go back on my anti-cholesterol medication. So I finally found a physician I felt comfortable with and made an appointment. (BTW, WHO KNEW IT WOULD TAKE ME 2 MONTHS TO GET IN TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR A NON EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT?) But this past Tuesday morning I hauled my rear end out of bed at 6:00 AM (I am NOT a morning person!!!), showered, did the hair and makeup thing and took my fasting body to the doctor. I came prepared with a list of my current medications (all two of them!), a copy of my op report for her to put in my chart, a copy of my weight loss chart to show that I have been losing, a list of questions, etc. And guess what I forgot? MY INSURANCE CARD!!! How stupid can I be, I mean, REALLY! Since they wouldn't see me without it, or without my offering to pay for the entire appointment IN CASH, I turned around and drove the 15 miles back to my apartment and rumaged around and found the card. Drive back to the doctor's office, and wait. Finally got past the waiting room, got weighed (OH HAPPY DAY! 170 lbs!) and in to see the doctor. After all the BP and Temperature, pulse, talk about the surgery, etc, she asked me "now what is your plan when you reach your goal, especially if you can't stop losing weght?" Wow! Talk about a profound question!!! I hadn't even thought about that scenario! I mean, I have always, Always, ALWAYS been the fat girl, never the one who was TOO skinny! What do I do if I am at goal and still loosing? I didn't have an answer for her, and thought about it all day after the appointment. I finally came up with the answer. I will switch from Venti SKINNY Iced Carmel Machiatos at Starbucks to Regulars! I know, it's not that funny, but hey, like I said, that has NEVER been the problem before! I simply can't wrap my mind around the problem of what if I lose to much, or can't quit losing. I guess I will have to start eating empty calories again if that happens. No, really, I guess I will add another protein drink to my diet, or something, or something like that. But hey, that would be a wonderful problem in my book! Anyway, after the appointment concluded, I went to the lab and had 9, Yep that's right, NINE tubes of blood drawn, and went on my merry way. Am still mulling over her question. I am 20 pounds from goal, so I guess it is one that I need to give some thought to, and maybe make a plan in case to much weight loss is a problem. (Again, five days after the appointment, I STILL can't wrap my head around loosing to much weight!) For years, whenever my (fat) friends and I would talk about somebody who had an eating disorder (loosing too much, Not to little) we would jokingly say "I just want to be bulimic (or anorexic) till I get down to 20 or 30 pounds BELOW my ideal weight, then I will eat my way back up to perfect!" And we would laugh and laugh, as we sat there eating our calorie laden munchies! But now, comtemplating it as a REAL problem blows my mind. So anyway, that is my post op visit in a nutshell. I am still waiting to get my blood work results. But am thankful every day for my sleeve and the wonderful results I have had so far post op! Thanks to each of you who have posted problems, fears, joys, NSVs etc, as you encourage me daily, help me to continue on this path, and light the way with your experiences for those of us who are right behind you in our journey! Have a GREAT weekend. Later.......

~claps~ so happy for you...and when ever I see a NSV i open that post first...I so love reading milestones everyone is celebrating .... GREAT JOB

I'm sorry... I've seen the term "NSV" used several times lately, and I kinda get the gist of what it might mean, but what exactly is it? (A good thing either way, so congratulations on it! )

NSV-- I rode bike with my kids today!!!! I RODE A BICYCLE!!!! Haven't done that in over 20 years(I'm 37) I felt so alive! So grateful, so good! My son (14) is ecstatic that "ma" can do fun stuff with him, and my daughter (9)feels like she can't keep up with me!!! The nice, unexpected "Miami cold front" made for perfect weather to try it. At a bone chilling 61 degrees, I was cruising along, breeze in my hair and a smile from ear to ear. I'm finally an active parent, thank you God, my ultimate goal has been checked off my list. No more watching from the sidelines. Mommy's kicking ass and taking names SW-348 CW-230

I wanted to share a NSV that I had last night...I attended a pre-conference event at our church and decided that I wanted to take notes...for the first time I think EVER I was able to lay the book on my "lap" and write..then amazingly I did not have to move the book when finished I just left it there and when i needed to write again could...that was an amazing feeling. I am feeling so blessed and thankful!

I hit the gym today. I lasted about 35 minutes on the treadmill and lived to tell about it. I hadn't been there in a long time, but the lady at the check in desk remembered me and commented on my weight loss! I was so surprised because so few people have noticed. I also went through my closet again and now there is nothing too small in there. That is the first time I can say that because i have always had stuff in there that was too small. NSV Woo Hoo! I'm on new ground...

I guess I could say I took Brad's advice or it was most likely the fact that I showed up for Yoga and it was cancelled so the cute young guy at the gym said ...since yer here try one of the machines. I did; I went back, I used to use them religously then just stopped for some reason, on the Precor step machine for 38 minutes and WOW am I feeling it today! Those machines really firm up the gluts and thighs. I'm gaining weight after one fill but at least this is a NSV and I will go again today! Sometimes it really isn't about the weight ....it's the head and I need to get back into the healthy mind set. I need to get more light too since the winter here has been brutal. Here's to effort and not giving up......best to all!

I was leaving work yesterday after a long day. Tired. Ready to get to my vehicle and make the interstate commute home. Was already thinking about my playlist for the ride home. I am a production supervisor in a large manufacturing plant. At one time, I seemed to know everyone there....and know them fairly well. The place has expanded and grown significantly over the years. Lots of new faces. So, I'm walking down the main aisle with my tired mind lost in my thoughts about my music and a couple phone calls I needed to make to arrange some schedule changes. Waving at and speaking briefly with some folks as I walked on by. Nearing the main plant entrance I hear a horn blow and look back and see a dude riding up on his material handling cart. He's a big guy, too. Appears to be fairly tall, young and really, really heavy. He's taking off his work gloves and extending his hand. We introduce ourselves and he said he's seen me around the plant and I'd been losing a large amount of weight and he was simply hoping I'd share how with him. I was straight up with him and gave him a fast rundown of the my sleeve surgery process and how, where, why it unfolded like it did. I was 100% honest with him and broke down the costs and how our insurance was not so great.....covering only 50% of the actual surgery cost, but not the related tests and things that are required. I told him how it was actually significantly cheaper for me to have self funded the deal. Crazy scenario, but true. I urged him to pursue a couple different avenues for finding out further information on how to fund the surgery. He had very specific questions as to what I could eat, what I could take for meds and what I could drink. He wanted to know what days off were like and what working days felt like. We talked for at least 30 minutes and I tried to think of the the things he'd not asked that I could answer, too. He thanked me profusely and I can say that I instantly felt like the last 14 hour workday was erased.....I had recharged my batteries. I felt absolutely great. I can only hope that he'll be able to sort things out and find out the information that he needs to find out to better make his battle plan. So....I'm almost out the main entrance....but then veer on a new course. I stopped off at the nice gym we have at work and spent 30 mins working out before refilling my 30 oz Water bottle and getting in the car for the well hydrated ride home. Life is good. I am grateful for each day....but yesterday was really cool. I looked at this guy and could see in him the same desire to change that I had......the same confusion as to how......and I'm hoping that things will line up for him. I know that our HR department and our benefits are lacking in regards to wls. I need to study up on the various financing options and have this information readily available....contact info and such so I can be better prepared for the next such conversation I have with potential wls candidates. Thanks for reading my ramblings. I hope that today brings another such conversation with someone like this young guy. I hope that each of you have this experience and can feel a sense of calm and relief in the person you are talking to. It is a powerful moment and one that is very rewarding. To date, it's one of the very best NSV's I've had.

Here's the obvious ones: VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy VST = Vertical Sleeve Talk MFP = My Fitness Pal GB = Gastric Bypass DS = Doudenal Switch LB = Lap Band LBT = Lap Band Talk NSV = Non scale Victory (Nice moments of weight loss not including the number on the scale)

Hope you all don't mind my posting something that might not fall under a "success story" or "NSV"... but I just can't help but want to share! I have been with my significant other, Mike, for nearly a year now. He is the most wonderful man, and we've talked about getting married some time in the near future. The other night, Mike, and I took his four young boys on a Polar Express train. I don't know if you all are familiar with the story, but it's one of my favorites. They have an old train near Flagstaff, AZ, that you can take. All the children wear their pj's and bathrobes and they serve hot cocoa and Cookies. Well, as we're chugging along, Santa makes his way down the train giving the children sleigh bells. After he passes us, we have the four boys curled on our laps and Mike brings out a tiny box and says Santa left this for me. He opens the box and says "My dearest Sara, will you marry me?" I asked each boy what I should say and they yelled "YES!". So... I'm officially engaged! And the thought of wearing a wedding dress and not being embarrassed by my weight or pictures is just icing on the cake!