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:thumbup:Hey everyone! Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated on here. Of course, I didn't really have much to update, since I hit a lovely 3 month plateau:scared2: I was stuck at 240 for the longest time. I did figure out taht there was a couple different reasons for my plateau-1. I was expecting one after 50lbs down and 2. I had to stop taking my thyroid meds because I couldn't afford them. I started back on my meds a couple weeks ago, and lo aand behold, the scale started moving again. I hit my 70lb mark which had me ecstatic a couple days ago:party: I also just did my measurments for the first time since January 25:eek: I totally have been slacking on that; I planned to do them once a month. But I got some great NSV's from doing them today. I've gone from a solid size 26 to a comfortable 18(in most brands), and since I've been banded I have lost: 1 1/2 inches off my arms 5 inches off my thighs 9 inches off my waist!! 5 1/2 inches off my bust 3 inches off my chest 6 1/2 inches off my stomach 2 3/4 inches of my calves 6 1/2 inches off my hips and i've brought my bra size from a 44G to a 38DDD which means 6 inches that is a grand total of.......45 3/4 inches lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbup: :tongue2::thumbup:

Hi All, Bron glad to hear you are feeling better. Mez, thanks for the link. I have worked out I could claim about $400 back just off the medical expenses rebate alone, which is good. Chickie, how are you finding running in winter? Is it harder to get motivated? I may buy a treadmill with my tax return money. Jacqui I saw the pic of your daughter in the before and after pic section of the board. She is a blond bombshell! Mark, I hear you regarding the port. Hope nothing is wrong with yours. Forgot to report to you all that my latest NSV is that I can now feel my port easily!!!:biggrin1::clap2: Other NSV'S to report for me are that I now fit in chairs with arms easily. I can get up off the floor like greased lightening, and I can run up a flight of stairs without puffing. Loving the band! What are all your NSV'S people? Would love to hear them. Susannah

Kim - I am sorry to hear about the UTI. Those are horrible. I get them a lot. Duckie - Great NSV! Keep up the good work! Drews - I am so proud of you not smoking! I can't wait to see how roller derby tryouts go! Missy - congrats on being ciggy free for so long! Marz - I am in a exercise slump too. We can do it!

There have been many many many! But I'd have to say my very best NSV was when I actually completed running my first real 5K event. I never stopped to walk any of it. That was the best feeling I've ever experienced. Especially since barely one year ago I was scheduled for my first of two knee surgeries. I love my sleeve!!!

My biggest NSV is finally feeling some confidence. I'm 5'1" and was weighing in at 263. I was miserable. I hated the way I felt physically all the time. It was difficult to get out of bed and I absolutely hated looking in a mirror. This morning I was down to 201 and wonderland is so close but in the past couple of weeks, the weight loss has slowed to a crawl but I am toning my muscles and realized that I feel good when I pass a mirror and when I am out in public, I don't feel so out of place and want to hide. I also finally got into a pair of 16's. All of this is wonderful. I also have a few friends who have been inspired by my success, and are wanting to have surgery. I'm giving them all of the knowledge I have and cheering them on. So for me, having some confidence and allowing myself to realize how far I have come just feels good. Now, I am pushing myself harder to make it the rest of the way but I'm not beating myself up anymore for being a failure.

I have a lot of tricker treaters, plus my 3 grandkids come over. My house smells like chocolate. Grandkids, daughter & son in law stuffing their faces with chocolate. Good thing, I send all leftovers home with them. None for me! Also made hubby a pizza, next fave after chocolate and none of that either. So Halloween turned out as a NSV for me. PS put on a pair if 18 pants too, yay!

Most of my NSV's have happened...I have 30 to go to goal. However, AND NOT THAT I NEED OR DESIRE TO, I would like to have my tummy, apron, abdomen, whatever you want to call it.....get smaller so that I can actually look down and see my hootchie (as Carlene likes to call it). Don't know why....I think because if I could see my hootchie (LOL) I would know for sure that I have reached great weight loss success! OMG.....I am laughing so hard at myself....I have to go before I pee my pants. Carol

Congrats! That's definitely a NSV...saying no at those types of events is really difficult. I had a family event last weekend and it was really hard for me to say no and set limits. I'm not looking forward to having to do the same thing again at the 4th of July! My workplace does pizza and beer every Friday for lunch, and so far, I've resisted it, thank god. They also do some salads and other items, but nothing that is too healthy.

Carol...I had to laugh because I was just telling one of my friends that I need to go for a "wax" and she asked why I don't do it myself. I answered her "Because I can't see what I'm doing down there!!!" Now there's a weird NSV...the day I can wax my own bikini area!!! LOL!!! thanks for the chuckle!!

So since I decided on the band, and have a while to wait (december), I find myself thinking about the NSV's I can't wait to post. It's been really motivating thus far, had an odd one today that never occurred to me, wonder if any of you have the same experience. Anyone dread getting their hair cut? 1. Worrying when the lady tries to pump the chair up to her level, that the pneumatics might just fail, or worse the chair will give up with an exhausted psssssssssssssssssssssssh. I usually put my feet on the floor and push to give it a little help! 2. Being forced to sit in a chair facing a mirror for twenty minutes, don't know about the rest of you, I like looking in the mirror standing up, but sitting there two feet from it nonstop under a big black tarp, just brings up memories of that girl who turns into a giant blueberry in Willy Wonka! I look forward to getting a haircut, a pretty normal thing, without worrying about the chair working or having to face the willy wonka blueberry. It will be so great to actually see a healthy person looking back at me:clap2: .

@shan0520 wow - great accomplishment (NSV) pushing yourself to reach 1 mile good for you if you must cry in the car make sure you have enough kleenex!! keep up the great job you are aces!!! kathy congrats

I had a medical NSV this week. A1C went from 7.4 in June (Pre-surgery) to 5.8 in October. According to my lab report 5.7 and lower is normal. Good bye Diabetes.

I had a fasting blood sugar of 98 this morning without any diabetic medicine. A great NSV for me. TBM

Uuuuummmmmm........NSV? I'm loved just the way I am in all of my fatty gloriousness by my family and friends. Does that count?

Lets see. It probably counts as an NSV that I'm moving and I've been able to haul stuff around without getting winded (and there's even a flight of stairs in my new place!). I think that's good. In the process of moving I sorted through all of my clothes and threw out a bunch of stuff that was to big. It's fortunate that I saved a bunch of stuff as I grew out of it, so I have it to shrink back into, which is good. Oh! I tried on a dress that I wore to my friend's prom the other day and it fit. The last time I tried it on it squished my boobs together so bad I had a uniboob! haha.

Thanks guys I was super stoked!! Made my day lol and NSV stands for non scale victory

What does NSV stand for? Congratulations!

Cheri, I checked to see when you had your surgery....looks like 12/5, so you are still in the first 6 weeks and experiencing tons of new feelings, eating only certain foods (probably just into the mushies), and you're still healing. With that said, let me tell you things get MUCH BETTER!!!! You will be able to eat most anything again...no, you will not be stuffing your face like most people eating at Cracker Barrel, but you will be able to order just about anything and enjoy it (and enjoy it again with your leftovers). What happened this weekend is nothing to feel bad about, Cheri....trust me as time goes on when you find yourself crying it will probably be tears of joy as you adapt to your band and all the wonderful SV's and NSV's you'll experience!!!

Marci - I am jealous of the TV! What a great gift! And your son. I hope my son turns out to be a young man like yours. Drews - I have the post Christmas blahs too. I normally take this week off work and I wasn't able to get it off this year. It sucks! We aren't doing anything fun for New Years either so I don't have anything fun to look forward too. You are rockin on the weightloss ever since you had your leaky port replaced! Good luck with giving up cigs. We will support you any way we can. Kim - Great NSV with the clothes! You are rockin your band too! I'll do a Valentines day Challenge as well. I want to hit 173ish by the "I have a Dream" on 1/15 so that will give me an extra 4 weeks. I will say 167ish by V-day. Hopefully that puts me on target to hit 140 by my dreaded 30th b-day on 5/21. I've got to get my butt back in gear with drinking Water and exercising. I have been horrible lately and need all the butt kicking from you guys I can get!

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.

@@Margie122 you are doing terrific !! you are surviving and doing great i never had to do a pre-op liquids this is all new to me!! went to the movie "mother's day" today with Julia Roberts and Jennifer Aniston!! cute little movie - no oscars will be given, but it was nice to see with mom and sis big NSV, turned down popcorn from my sister!! she pushed it a couple of times, but I "stayed strong!!" ANOTHER NSV - i've stayed off scale since Thursday!! that's huge for me!! not going on scale daily!! am I great or what LOLOLOL i agree on the staying busy!! i have not went on my treadmill for awhile. i was on for 30 minutes the past three days!! another NSV!! treadmill is in a designated room, so i don't have any excuse not to use i've led a sheltered life i never did Zumba or isopure!! maybe will be NSV in near future!! OP, hope you don't mind margie and i communicating on this group board if you don't like it - DEAL WITH IT!! kathy

Okay for this week: I wore a sweater that I haven't ever worn before. I think I got it last Christmas, or maybe the one before. It never fit, I didn't even dare try to pull it on. It fits great now! I even got a complement from a co-worker on it . I'm also re-branching out with my artwork. I got a job designing a book cover off of craigslist. Which is an NSV because I have the confidence again to even try, even if it's not weight related. I have to add this, it just happened; I was walking back from picking up lunch and someone whistled at me! I actually got whistled at by a passing car instead of some dirogitory (horrible spelling) remark!

That is totally cool! It's amazing what happens when we get, as Kathy calls it, a brain band. Everyone is doing so well with their NSVs! I just updated my main NSV thread.

NSV - I decided to wear jeans again instead of loose comfy cotton pants. Yes, they are a size 20, but they do not squeeze my belly fat and make an unsightly roll. This NSV has a lot to do with regaining some care for what I look like. I was on this whole thing of being fat and not caring about looking nice or dressing up. Now I actually care about how I look again and put makeup on and everything. Damn, I think I got my groove back!

sounds like the third week stall - Read embrace the stall below. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/351046-embrace-the-stall/#comment-3952027 Posted September 18, 2015 It seems that at least 50% of the posts on BariatriPal are bemoaning a stall. Daily, and sometimes hourly, I am reading about how someone ONLY lost x number of pounds and now the scale hasn't moved in ___ [fill in the blank] days/months, etc. Oh no, they write, I am a failure/unique/my surgery didn't work/life is not fair, ... Why am I in a stall? I know I am exaggerating but I think you get the idea. Guess what? STALLS are a NORMAL part of the PROCESS of losing weight. If you want to lose weight, you will stall. Not just once, but over and over. And, guess what? A stall is where your body actually does the hard work of becoming smaller. It takes a lot of work and energy to dismantle a structure that has been holding up, in some cases, hundreds of pounds. For those who think they have to DO something to somehow "break a stall" (in my opinion, you do not break a stall, you just ride them out), here is my response: What can you do to "break" a stall? 1) STAY OFF THE SCALE Relax and stay off the scale if it bothers you so much. Weigh no more than once a week, or even less often. Weighing only at your doctor's appointments early in the process is a good strategy if your mood and self-worth are dictated by the numbers on the scale. 2) PICK UP A TAPE MEASURE In addition to using the numbers on the scale to measure your progress, take your measurements. Inches lost are also a great way to see physical progress when the scale isn't moving. Most people see the biggest physical changes in their body when the scale seems stuck. 3) TRACK YOUR Protein AND Water AND MEET OR EXCEED YOUR PROTEIN AND WATER GOAL EVERY DAY As long as you are getting in all your protein and water and following your NUT and surgeon's instructions, you are doing what you are supposed to do. If you aren't getting in all your protein and water, then increasing your protein and water is something you can do (and should be doing anyway whether or not you are in a stall). 4) EXERCISE If you aren't exercising, then you can exercise (and should be whether or not you are in a stall). You can start slowly by walking or even moving more around the house. Exercising will help you feel better, tone your skin and build fat-burning muscle. 5) MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR NUT If you are unsure or unclear about what you are supposed to be, or should not be eating, then make an appointment with your NUT (which you should be doing whether or not you are in a stall). 6) REASSESS AND REEVALUATE About the only good result I see that comes from complaining about a stall is when you take an honest look at what you are doing and realign with the program recommended by your NUT and surgeon. Have you started eating more outside of your plan? Are you restricting calories? Are you eating enough carbs and protein for your exercise? Are you taking your Vitamins? Are you eating often enough? Are you eating slowly with protein first? Sometimes, all you need to DO is go back to basics. 7) JOURNAL One of the biggest things I have noticed from the various posts is how anxious and out-of-control some people feel when they notice a stall. Journaling can help you gain some perspective and deal with some of the emotional turmoil. -- Write about how you are feeling about the stall and your weight loss, and surgery in general. -- Write about why you had the surgery in the first place. -- Write about what life was like before surgery. -- Write about what you hope and dream about accomplishing in the future. -- Write about your fears. -- Write about your NSVs. -- Make a gratitude list. -- Make a bucket list. -- Write a letter to your old self; write a letter to your new self. Just write. 8) SEEK HELP Stalls are when too many people seem to revert to old, counterproductive dieting behaviors (restricting calories, over exercising, bingeing, etc.). If this is you, then another thing you can DO is to talk to a counselor or therapist or consider joining a bariatric support group or a twelve-step group like Overeater's Anonymous. The discomfort of being in a stall can also drive people to develop new, unhealthy coping habits or even transfer addictions. This is where you want to marshall all the resources you have available to you and use them. The last, and most important thing you can DO is: 9) EMBRACE THE STALL Stalls are a normal and natural part of the process. Our bodies are complex systems and not simple machines. Stalls go hand-in-hand with weight loss. If you had Weight Loss Surgery, then you probably want to lose a significant amount of weight. So, get ready to embrace the many stalls you will experience as your body is transformed. It will be worth it.