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I am SO Excited. I went shopping for jeans today for the first time since wls and I am down 4 sizes!!! I cannot believe it!! I don't normally toot my own horn, but today I can't blow it loud enough!! Toot, toot, beep, beep

Back into a size 5 on wedding ring finger!!!

I am feeling really good about myself this morning. I have had more energy in the past two weeks than anytime I can remember. I have been able to do yard work, clean my house and go to the gym. Also, I went clothes shopping for the first time since my banding. My shirts were getting way too big. I am in a XL shirt and size 16 pants and they are a little loose. I went to a discount store --no sense in buying high price clothes. Really feeling good....what a nice treat!!!

Let me start this thread by first apologizing if it is too straight forward. I know we all need support including myself and we are all here for support, to get to know one another, and to be there to pick one another up when we fall. Gastric Surgery is a life changing surgery! It will change the rest of your life for the rest of your life. It is a physical change to your inner workings of your body.. and ONLY your body. It does not change how we deal with food. It does not change how we choose to eat. A choice is a choice that solely rests on our shoulders. Our stomach was changed on the inside to restrict the amount of food we can consume at one time. That is it!! The rest is up to us. Please do your research before having the surgery. I have seen so many posts on here where people think because the stomach was altered the weight is going to magically drop off over night. Magic is found at Disney Only :). The hard work,exercise, controlled eating, limiting carbs avoiding junk food. Making the right choices when it comes to fueling our bodies is solely our responsibility! Let me add here.. i am far from perfect! I have struggled time and time again, hence why i am a part of these boards! Read the boards before surgery from newbies! And what they have experienced immediately following surgery. Every experience is different but you will know what you can expect, and if it does not happen to you.. Guess what? You are one of the Lucky ones!!! Count your blessings! Each and every one of them! Each day is a new day and a chance to put in a little extra effort to meet your end goals. Speaking of Goals! Have some! NSV ones, Scale Ones, Measurement Ones... We all have something we look forward to on this journey. Make lemonade out of lemons! Have fun with your new tool. Take advantage of it and baby it at the same time. Follow your doctors orders! We are not all doctors here! This is a major procedure. There are reasons the doctor puts us on the food plan that he does. It is not to punish us. It is to make sure we don't put a whole in the new stomach that is still stapled and healing. Seek out a therapist if you are struggling with emotional eating. The folks on the boards can give tips, but you really need to get to the root of that, and that may require a doctor visit. Yes Accountability is a great factor to have on the boards, and it is great to vent, but if you are truly struggling with emotional eating, then you truly need to seek a provider in your area to help you get through it. There is so much information, tips, and advice on the boards! Take advantage of it. Take time to read them! Be a part of the community and respond to others that may be having a down day.. It is expected! But please please before you take the plunge on this life changing surgery know what to expect. Know what might happen and be prepared for it along the way. Rant over! If you made it this far.. Thanks for reading. I just wish some folks would read up on something they are investing in and all the pros and complication possibilities so they know exactly how things may play out. With all my love and a Merry Christmas to all.. Jazzy

BG,I know what PBing is but I can't figure out is NSV!! I had my first fill last Fri. I feel no restriction, if anything I am eating more! I keep reading the blogs and they are reassuring to me that sometimes you don't feel restriction right away. I look forward to your first fill and to hear in your cleaver blog writings. Barbara

Happy Birthday! I want to play tennis! One of my nsv goals is to play with my dad again. I am 50 and I lettered in tennis in high school. The last time I played was in college. My dad who is over 70 still plays 3 times a week.

Congrats on such a great NSV!!! Had one myself last week. I tried on an old leather jacket that my dad couldn't wear AND it fit! Size large - I haven't fit into a size large since junior high.

Congrats, on all NSV's, Karen

These are the kinds of NSVs I love so much. Real life. Daily living abilities. Things that "normal" people take for granted. But we do not. Congratulations.

Kipper - sounds like you are doing AWESOME!!! 34 pounds down, is a HUGE accomplishment.... Congratulations!!!... NSV victories are huge also - good for you.... 5-11 are hard - have you thought of starting a hobbie or going to the gym? I'm sewing like crazy and loving it... Try picking up a new skill... Keep on track, you are doing super great!!!

My size 10 Aeropostle skinny jeans!!! I don't ever remember wearing size 10 clothes. Down from size 22 [ATTACH]3617[/ATTACH]

I had an amazing NSV this weekend! I ran my first 5k since my surgery 11/14/11 and shaved 4 minutes and 52 seconds off my last 5k time (before surgery)! And...my race T-shirt was a medium instead of a (very tight) Extra large! I even ran it in barefoot shoes! I love feeling so strong and healthy! I've already signed up for four more! If you've never done a 5k...I highly recommend it...most of them have a walkers division, and, like me, I had to walk every so often to catch my breath. But, its a great way to commit yourself to training....like holding your own feet to the fire!

Good Morning Everyone, I woke up this morning and weighed myself.....I have lost a total of 50lbs since starting this journey. My heaviest weight =289 lbs Nov. 2012 Prior to pre-op diet =266 lbs Aug. 12th Day of Surgery =251 lbs Aug. 23rd After Surgery =259 lbs Aug. 25th 22 days post-op =239 lbs Sept. 17th Woohoo for me.......happy dance, happy dance. Oh, I also had a NSV yesterday.......I fit comfortably in a size 18 jeans.

Finally! After the last month floating right at 380 I have broke it! Today's weigh in was 378!!! It feels great to finally break into the 370's and continue working my way down that ladder. Another week of continuous walks at night and some additional exercise. One thing I have started new this week is getting up at 5am and heading out for a power walk. I am doing the same walk we normally do but by myself I am able to power walk it and it feels great too! It's a great way to start my day actually. I can still feel a decent amount of restriction. I eat less then what I used too. Breakfast is still the toughest to get down but I do make sure to have a high protein breakfast as directed by my doctor. Pretty much every day I make breakfast for Karen and I and I think it's really helped us both think more about our eating and making better food choices. Still a lot more work but we're getting there. A big NSV I have experienced this last week has been fitting into some old size 50 jeans that I had. I honestly can't remember when I bought them. They have got to be at least 6 years old. It's amazing to think it's been 6 years since I was this size. I am still very large and a big guy and that's what amazes me is that I am this size after loosing over a 100 pounds! Well I am working to get the next 100 off now! Ok so the totals for this week.... This week 2 pound lost Current Weight - 378 lbs Loss Since Surgery - 64 lbs (21 weeks) Total Weight Loss - 107 lbs

Finally! After the last month floating right at 380 I have broke it! Today's weigh in was 378!!! It feels great to finally break into the 370's and continue working my way down that ladder. Another week of continuous walks at night and some additional exercise. One thing I have started new this week is getting up at 5am and heading out for a power walk. I am doing the same walk we normally do but by myself I am able to power walk it and it feels great too! It's a great way to start my day actually. I can still feel a decent amount of restriction. I eat less then what I used too. Breakfast is still the toughest to get down but I do make sure to have a high protein breakfast as directed by my doctor. Pretty much every day I make breakfast for Karen and I and I think it's really helped us both think more about our eating and making better food choices. Still a lot more work but we're getting there. A big NSV I have experienced this last week has been fitting into some old size 50 jeans that I had. I honestly can't remember when I bought them. They have got to be at least 6 years old. It's amazing to think it's been 6 years since I was this size. I am still very large and a big guy and that's what amazes me is that I am this size after loosing over a 100 pounds! Well I am working to get the next 100 off now! Ok so the totals for this week.... This week 2 pound lost Current Weight - 378 lbs Loss Since Surgery - 64 lbs (21 weeks) Total Weight Loss - 107 lbs

It's hard as women to take care of ourselves...we're all so used to nuturing and putting others first. I got my mammo reminder a few weeks ago and threw it on my desk. Thanks for reminding me. Glad the food issues are going well for you...and Kathy's right, those NSV's will come when you least expect them, that's what makes them so great. -BG

I know, I'm a day late with this week's entry. I just didn't feel up to it yesterday, or now for that matter. edit (10-29-06): I feel up to it now. I'll be going for another (my 3rd.) fill very soon, hopefully some time next week. I need to call & schedule, I keep forgetting to do that. I can tell I have more restriction than after my first fill, but I can also tell it still isn't enough. I think I'll need a fill to help me cope with the Thanksgiving turkey. Man, I love making sandwiches with the leftover turkey. Oooh, and chocolate cream pie and biscuits with mayhaw jelly. Oh jeez, stop me now. On a "happy,happy,joy,joy" note-I have an NSV. I was an hour early to work today.(darn time change, screws me up every time) Since I had some time to kill, I went into the nearby Avenue store. I figured I'd try on a pair of 20s just for fun. I wanted to see how close I was to being able to zip them. I could zip them, I could even zip (and button) the SIZE 18s that I tried on next! Of course I still had a "muffin top" but hey the important thing is that I actually had a pair of 18s on my body and I could still breathe, sit down and walk normally. WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!:clap2:

Loose shorts, loose t-shirt and a looser golf shirt over that so no bra required. Flip-flops for shoes. I wore the same basic outfit yesterday for my port revision surgery too. Funny, one of the nurses called me 'Slim' and suggested that I buy some better-fitting shorts. That was definitely a NSV. Pretty sure the bracelets can be purchased on eBay.

So I was banded on March 5th 2012 at a size 18/20. Well on Sunday I tore a tag off of a 14/16 dress for church and YEP it was TOO BIG..... YAAYYYYY. Now I have only lost 24 pounds which does not seem like a lot to me, but I am happy with my success so far. I am only 7 weeks out and down in sizes so hay... I guess that is my first NSV..... its the small things that count and keep you motivated and I am ecstatic I still have 58 pounds to go and I am ready for the remainder of my journey and to get to where I want to be....... Loving my lap band....

If anyone had told me I would actually enjoy fish (not fried catfish) for supper I would have laughed, 12 weeks ago. However, now I find I really do enjoy it. Made baked greek tilapia (breadcrumbs, greek seasoning, black olive, feta, tomatoe topping) tonight and it was yummy. I have been fighting the same 2 lbs over and over the past 4 weeks and am determined to beat it this week. I hit 275 last week but was 277 today. CRAP! Next Monday I want to see 274!!! I know part of it is because I have almost no restriction with only 1 cc after 2 fills and I can eat pretty much what I want, when I want and however I want. Not good things for me. That's ok. We're going slow on the fills and I'm ok with that. Will get another fill next week and hope that will give me some restriction. At least enough that I have to stop and think about what and how I'm eating. Again, I want 274! I also need to journal my eating. My computer has been down so couldn't do it and that's another bad thing for me. It's fixed now so no more goofing off. As a matter of fact, I'm going to sign off, journal for today and get ready for bed. I'm going to dream of 274 Oh, before I go, a NSV .... put on a bra Saturday night that was WAY WAY too tight this summer. It was snug but fit!! 3 sizes smaller:thumbup:

"As I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can truly say that I've been blessed" I'm headed in to get my labs drawn for my one year appointment that is coming up very soon! I am just in shock over the fact that I was able to take this journey. I am so happy with the decision I made over a year ago to pursue WLS. I would have to say, without a doubt, that is the best and hardest decision I have ever made. There were days when I wanted to give up and had eaten badly, but I got back on the saddle and rode this one out! This morning I stepped on the scale to discover that I have lost 98lbs! That is 4 additional lbs to the last time I checked. I now completely understand that this is life-changing. I will never stop maintaining what I have worked so hard for. I have spent $$$ on vitamins, co-pays, supplements, medicines, etc. I am invested and I want to protect this investment of good health with living healthy. I feel like a different person when I step into public places. I am no longer as insecure and ashamed as I walked around feeling for years. I feel like I might cry through my entire appt this week. They have a picture of me the day before surgery. I have not seen it, but I know I am bigger than my license picture. As a reward to myself (and getting tired of people focusing and questioning that I am the person on my license) I am going to the Secretary of State to get a new picture and new license mailed to me. This will be another little happy gift to myself. It truly is the NSV that make me so content. Congratulations to the people that are celebrating their one year surgery anniversaries with me this month! I know I was on this site 24/7 as I rested after surgery. I am so appreciative for all the great advice on the blogs and chat rooms here. I couldn't have made it so well through my first month without this site. I started back when this site was verticalsleevetalk.com. Thank you everyone for the encouragement when I needed it, and the advice to give me discipline. I am emotional now just writing this. We have all made it over hurdles that we didn't know we had the strength to do.

@@jjmcrash218 " great feeling to be a loser!!! "If i wear my fat clothes i look like a pile of laundry.....lol" clothes NSV's are the best being successful learning and doing all the food "rules" only eating when hungry eating smaller/proper portions walking lots listening to your tummy you are aces keep up the good work kathy congrats @@OneDollarBill I didn't forget about you congrats on losing 50 lbs too you are pretty great yourself keep up the good work kathy congrats

Oh congratulations Alex...what a wonderful NSV!!! Reading your story, makes me determined that I am going to get out on the skating rink the next time I take the kids skating. I love skating and didn't do it the last time, because I was just too afraid. Never again...I am going to do it!!! Life is not going to pass me by!