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Hello strangers..lol..Wow It's been a while since I've been on here. I've been crazy all week getting ready for Garry's surprise party. It went great! He was shocked!! We had over 90 people. I prayed and claimed perfect weather and of course we got it. I'm exhausted! Still cleaning up inlaws still here. Cat rean away yesterday but came home this morning. We had a tough time getting him back in the house but he's here safe and sound. NSV Went to hechts to buy a shirt and took a XLG and lg int the dressing room. The slaes lady told me I needed a medium! I brought it! My eyes filled up when she told me. I said to her are you sure, do you know your talking to me! I still go to the other department!! Everytime I go past the Women sizes now I just praise God for all he's done for me! Who, what is avatar? Clifford IS Aunt Flo's BIG RED DOG!!! LOL aND cLIFFORD has left!!! Thanks Kim, you look great too! I love my band! WTG Melissa thats awesome 50 pounds gone for GOOD and it feels so great to know that it really is for good! Jill- What a bummer about your D and H. Pylori When did you have your surgery? How often do you have your blood taken? gotta run. bye for now. miss you guys.

So, I had to share. More people are noticing my more recent weight loss and commenting to me that I'm looking good. Awesome. I've also had a guy friend (married, damn it) tell me I needed to eat a biscuit. I was like "I don't need to eat biscuits." You know it was a strange way to say 'you're looking skinny, but it felt good. Wow. I looked thin enough, that I looked like I needed to eat more? Ahmahzing! Anyhow, my loss is slow (a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing), but still headed in the right direction. And, I'm pretty much 29lbs from my official goal weight. Wahoo. I keep that in the back of my mind. I've not come this far, to give up. Go, me!

I had an nsv today! I tried on a pair of size 14 capris and they fit! Cute even! 3 months ago I wore a size 20! Tightly! I'm geeked! Hell yeah! Sent from my Nexus S 4G using RNYTalk

So I've been able to fit into some smaller size clothes, even if I can't fit into something of the same size by a different maker. am I making sense? For example, I have jeans in sizes 12 - 16 that fit, but yet I have a pair of size 14 pants that still don't fit. ...but the reason why I'm adding this NSV, is that I'm wearing a pair, sized large, of Victoria's Secret sleeping pants. I just am excited that I'm wearing something smaller that is from Victoria's Secret.

Woo-hoo! I'd say those are AWESOME NSVs. Keep up the good work.

Ok...so today I had to bring my car in for some body work. I'm pretty excited as it was beautiful for the first time in weeks. (no humidity, under 80!) I walked to the gym, worked out for 30 minutes, walked home (2.5 miles) and then used the treadmill for another 20 minutes after I got home. My real NSV isn't that I worked out as I do it regularly, it's that I actually JOGGED in public. I didn't do so for the entire way home, but in intervals, as I do on my treadmill. I have never felt comfortable doing it in public, which is why I bought my own treadmill. I know I still have a way to go with the weightloss, but I am finally feeling comfortable in my own skin---even if it hangs more than it should! :thumbup: Now, if only I could find clothes that I like for summer to take to Aruba in October, I'd be ecstatic!!! I'm still battling between plus sizes and misses sizes for pants. Any suggestions for good places to buy a few skorts? The Avenue is too short (I'm 5'10") and Lane Bryant doesn't have any more.....(Why is it that everything seems short on me NOW? I never had this issue at size 22 or 24!) I'm worried this trip will be ruined, not from feeling lazy and like I don't want to participate, but because I don't have anything to wear! I don't mind spending money. I just want it to be worth it!!!! Ideas? Suggestions??

Before getting sleeved I was having a lot of pain in my feet, especially in my heels. I haven't had any foot pain since my surgery!!! Since surgery I haven't had a headache, which I usually got one at least twice a week. And lastly, I painted my own toenails )). Yayy for a small victory!!!!!

What does nsv stand for?

Awesome NSVs! I love these posts!

I'm impressed! Those are some great NSVs!

OH!! I want to see a picture of your new Hairdo! You're doing great Sarah!! Congrats on all the NSVs! I like NSVs best. You can really tell you've made progress when the NSVs start & just keep coming.

New NSV I have this blue silk suit, its really nice Ive always wanted to wear it but couldnt. I Wore it today and buttoned it all the way up without the Gapping ( between buttons) YEA it looks great, Now Im Really sad because soon it will be to big!

Hey bandsters! It is so exciting to see that people are getting banded and losing weight. I was banded 2/22/08 and got my first fill on 4/3/08. I have lost 23 lbs so far (without a pre-op diet). The doctors seem pleased but I know I need to up my workouts. I am going on a cruise in 3 weeks and haven't met my first goal. I wanted to hit onederland by that date. I have only lost 2 pounds in the last 3 1/2 weeks. I have been told to come back in for another fill asap so I will do that soon. Hopefully that will get me back on track. Anyway, I wanted to share something. I have been a major choco-holic for years. Yesterday I was cleaning out my pantry and found some Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I ate a couple and they just didn't taste the same!!! Yippee!! I have been praying for this! I know chocolate goes down just fine and that concerned me so you can imagine my elation when it was no big deal. Normally, I would have eaten half a bag or the whole thing. I would definitely call that a non-scale victory. Also, I seem to be motivated by the fact that word got out about my WLS and I feel that I need to prove to everyone that this was worth it and the most wonderful thing I could have ever done. I don't want to disappoint my husband or myself either. My carpel tunnel has already gotten better, hey, so have my knees! Now if I can just get to my sweet spot, I will be even more in love with my band. I don't know about you but I could use a Phx Bandsters Meeting soon. I can't wait to hear your motivation or NSV's. Thanks!

how have the last two and a half weeks treated you? I know that Jack has provided us with a wonderful and inspriational running commentary about that week's NSV. How are the other members of the 12/21 posse fairling? How is your weight journy going? Have you hit any unexpect things in your way? I know there are several of us going in the next few days/week, and I know it would be benificail to see how you as a group are doing.

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

That's really a super duper bittersweet NSV!! My surgery is just under 3 weeks away.....I will definitely remember to wear correctly sized undies and pants that have elastic as well as a drawstring!!

Love it! Hubbies can say the most wonderful things!!!! NSV are the best! Congrats!! :-)

Hey Everyone...Great NSV's! I hired a personal trainer and started with her on Saturday. I made it 40 minutes through the workout, then all of a sudden blacked out! I have no idea what happened. The trainer asked how many calories I'm consuming, so I told her about 1400-1600 per day, and she thinks that is not enough. She wanted me up to 1800 per day, which I think is a little high. I think I was slightly dehydrated from being filled so tightly that I couldn't keep anything down for a couple days, until I got an unfill on thursday afternoon. Maybe I just didn't have enough liquids in my body. Anyways, I was so sore on Sunday that I couldn't even get out of bed. BF had to rub ben gay all over my legs. It was so bad. Must have done some sort of good though, considering I was so sore! Even my arms were sore and I didn't even work my arms!

NSV More like a surprise observation. I typically wear old 4X tank tops to sleep in. They are huge at this point...and all were dirty so I dug into my sleep shirt drawer and pulled out a black, stretchy cami with a built in shelf bra and put it on. I must have bought it years ago when my weight edged down a bit, but it never fit, it was always too small. So woo hoo, it fit. But it gets better. I go about my evening...and just before bed I bush my teeth in the half dark bathroom only to catch my reflection and I got a, "damn, you look nearly normal sized." reaction from myself. I have a neck and collar bones and my shoulders are squaring up a little...I had to pause and think, "wow". Sometimes we don't see the changes in our selves like other people see them. Last night was a first for me. Cool huh?

I know we love all these NSV's! I discovered I had lost one of my rings. My DH had got it for me last Christmas, it has the kids names engraved on it with their birthstones.....very special to me. I did find it after a few hours on my hands and knees in the yard. Time to take my rings in and get them resized. I'm sure my wedding ring can go down at least 1 size. I have nothing to wear! I shopped at goodwill for my summer clothes, today it's 60 degrees in MI and I have no fall/winter clothes at all. My boss told me yesterday that my pants were too big. (So I snooped and found a pair of pants in my older son's dresser...they are 32x32 and fit, rolled up of course)...Yee Haw! Have a great day everyone! Keep up the good work

@@dre1375 - try on some new "old" clothes and see how they fit! that's the best NSV ever!

Thank you for the support!!! It's nice to share with others that get it. I think I'm boring my family with my excitement. :-( I have another NSV to share... I am sitting here now wearing a size 18 pair of jeans that a friend had given me a few months ago. When she gave them to me, I couldn't even get them over my butt! LOL This is a good day and I plan to revel in it!

I don't know what my biggest NSV is, but this week, I noticed that I have collar bones again

it's all the nsv's that keep me motivated. the other day my jeans I have been wearing all winter were so big. I could pull them on without unbuttoning them. I started going through my husbands jeans. he is about 4 sizes smaller. but I knew he had to wear a back brace a few years ago so I grabbed a pair of jeans and pulled them on a omg they fit with a little room. all I had to do was roll them up a bit. this makes me happy and I feel thin. the scale make not rock and roll but nsv's do.

Thank you all so very much!! It's so nice to have a place to Celebrate the little things I too have had jacked up knees for awhile now. With my gains from my band, it was getting worse and worse. I felt so worthless! Gah! They really wanted to give me surgery on my knees too. In fact I was already up and scheduled to have it in this September. However I think that is what pushed me over the edge to make that final decision to get the sleeve. So, it was exciting for me to just fly up that flight. Not even a house flight, this was at work, so it's more like a flight and a half compared to a house. Last night too, I was at a basketball game and I was able to move around the stairs quite easily. Not only that I fit in the seat very comfy too. Ahhhh life's good!!! ;o) Oh and here's another fun NSV. I have a pair of 22's I'm holding on to, because they still fit okay. Well yesterday I was able to pull them up and down without unbuttoning and doing the zipper... LMAO!!!