Search the Community

I hope you had a great day china. I know I did today. I took my mom shopping to an outlet mall. I found some lee jeans for $5.87. I bought 4 pairs. I bought 1 a size down and 3 2 sizes down. The great news. 2 pair fit now. I started this weight a very tight 22W. I actually put on some 16W and, they fit...now that was a very nice NSV for me. I can't even remember when I wore a 16. I am having a great time on vacation. I have been able to do the parks everyday without dying. Have a great day everyone. Oh yeah. Our 4 month aniversary today. Laurel:tt2:

Single digit jeans is amazing! But from American Eagle? WOW!! Their stuff is cut tiny. Awesome NSV.

These are all so terrific!!! :thumbup: I was just banded on Oct. 4th and have not yet hit my first NSV but A huge on for me will be when I dont feel my butt sittin on the back of my thighs anymore!!!!:w00t: Y'all are great and a huge insipration. I cant wait to post mine!!!

okay...I'm a newbie lapbander. What's an NSV?

NSV = Non Scale Victory. They make you feel soooo good! And this is a great one.

So, I started my journey as a self-pay. Horizon denied me, saying I did not have five years of written proof I've been obese. This was true, as I did what I call a typical "man-move" and hadn't been to the doctor in about ten years, other than for "emergency" type issues, and since I had a PPO, I did not have a regular physician. Anyway, I stayed stubborn and submitted to the insurance company anyway. Slowly they paid some things, and then last week they sent a check for the hospital, which was a nice $13k check!! :eek: So I've gone from a 100% self-pay for a $22k procedure to about $1.5k out-of-pocket. Sometimes it pays not to take no for an answer and be persistent. :thumbup: I'm not saying this will happen for everyone, but there is hope.

Congrats on being banded ! Yes, Onederland means 199 or below, ( Like the old Toyota truck commercial says " Oh what a feeling !!!!! " ), WSL means weight loss surgery, NSV means a Non Scale Victory, (like your pants getting looser but it doesn't show up on the scale) etc.............. Anyone else have some ?

Denise and Hazelbunny - you guys look great. Oh Juli - I noticed your little pic changed too, noticing some big differences! Congrats Congrats All!!! I just wanted to thank you guys and this website, it really has inspired me to get off my a$$. I always had an excuse not to exercise and I was talking to one of the health nuts at work yesterday; he told me to wake up earlier to go to the gym. And I did. Today I woke up at 4 30, went to the gym, jumped on the elliptical trainer for 45 min, burned over 500 calories, jumped in the shower and drove up to work. And I feel so much better! I'm sure I'll be tired until it becomes routine, but I've already planned to go the rest of the week. Instead of getting home, taking care of puppy, eating dinner, and then sitting on the couch procrastinating, I'm already taken care of. Its a great feeling. One more thing - NSV. This may sound crazy, but if I ever went to a public bathroom I would always use the handicap stall because it was so much bigger. If I used a regular stall, not only would I be constantly bumping into something, I would have to pretty much stand on the toilet to open the stall door. Well, the handicap stall was in use last night so I went into a regular stall, and DIDN'T HAVE TO STAND ON THE TOILET!!! I just opened the door like a normal person. I was so excited. Ok enough about me!!!

I've felt the same way about the posting. Its why I wasn't as active either. I hope we can get to be more supportive of one another! Its wonderful when we have NSV, of course it is also awesome to see the scale move down, and kind of scary to see it move up like it did for me this weekend. I'm back on track though. I made myself some Jello to have when I feel like I need to snack. That way it isn't too many calories and I add a little fat free whipped topping which is only 20 cals!

Hey everyone! I've been lurking the past few days...I haven't really had any updates lately, but now I want to scream from the mountains (I don't have any around me so I'll scream here!) I BROKE MY PLATEAU!!!!!!! It only lasted 5 weeks, I don't know why I'm so excited(!). I finally lost 4 more pounds. I went in for a fill again, and have been at the gym 3 days a week during the work week for a 40-60 minute elliptical session and both sat and sun for a 90 minute workout session of 45 minutes elliptical and 45 minutes stationary bike. If anyone told me 6 months ago I'd be at the gym this much, I would have called them crazy! Thats a great NSV Slikchik - I tried doing something similar. My dog weighs about 25lbs and I took her out for a walk a little while back. We came up to this big hill and I decided to carry her up the hill, since I had already lost 35lbs I figured it would be no big deal! Hell No! I had to put her down after 30 seconds!!! YIKES! Awesome job JULI on the tour de france challenge. And Denise - don't feel too bad about not making the challenge, you know you were working it at the gym! I envy you guys and your biking! I tried the stationary bike at the gym and did 14 miles last weekend. I shocked myself!

Okay - so we all get motivated and we are gung ho about losing our weight. We're going strong, nothing can stop us now, or can it? You finally hit the dreaded "I don't care attitude". You realize 3 months later, you've gained weight, your no longer exercising and your eating crap. You wonder, what happened? You were so excited and doing good, then you stopped? Well, you lost your motivation, otherwise known as MOJO. So, I'm on a qwest, how do we keep our mojo going strong? I've been asking the experienced bandsters this question, what motivates you? What keeps you motivated? Here are some tips - 1) Have some goals and write them down! Make sure they are very clear and precise goals. Don't just say, I want to lose 50 lbs, ror 60 lbs. What are you going to do to hit that goal? Have some short term goals - and work toward your bigger goals. 2) Have some NSV goals. It's not all about weight, maybe you want to wear a size 10, or maybe you want to no longer touch the sides of the bathtub with your thighs when you are in it (one of my NSV goals). 3) Measure your success - thats right, get out the tape measure and measure! You will be amazed at the results (I've lost 8 inches off my hips - that to me is amazing!). Also, measure your success with pictures, take your picture every month, you might even take it nude, this is just for you to measure your success. Or take it in you undies, or bikini, however you want. Look at the before & after pics and check out Foodchamps - you can really see the difference in her tummy area, but if you just took the pic fully clothed, you wouldn't be able to see the results. 4) You have to be tough about the scales. Yes, this is hard to do, I know from experience. But, realize your body water weight changes all the time, some days its retaining some days it is now. So the best thing to do is measure your results weekly or monthly. 5) Look at your before pic often and then look at your latest pic, see how far you have come, don't stop now. Keep telling yourself this. Vision yourself smaller and fit and heathy. 6) Fake it until you make it......I'm talking about exercise. The dreaded word. I hated it, I faked it, went to the gym and walked slowly on the treadmill faking it, then after about 3 weeks, I started increasing the speed, and finally really started pushing myself, I made it....get it? Fake it until you make it! I promise, keep doing this and you will make it, but its hard in the beginning so push yourself to the gym or to go for a walk. 7) Keep track of what you eat, don't just say, I'm doing good, why am I not losing....if you keep track of EVERY bite you can look back on it and say "Wow, it must be the bite here and there of the M&m's i'm consuming, or that piece of candy I grab everyday off my desk etc. Keeping track of what we eat will keep us on the losing path, it will keep us motivated. 8) Buy yourself some new clothes! it will motivate you, promise. I bought myself a size smaller and now am wearing it. It motivates me to keep going smaller. We deserve to reward ourselves, so lets do it, but no with food! 9) Don't look at your flaws (I do it, its easy to do) look at your accomplishment and what you are doing - keep thinking about how much better you are going to look, this helps me stay motivated. 10) After you reach your goals, mark them off your list. It motivates me to keep checking off goals. It keeps me motivated! Below are my goals I wrote back in December (see my first page of my journal) - So I'm going thru them and checking off what I have done - 1. I want back in my bikini! I haven't worn it since, well, 14 years ago. Not yet - but working toward it 2. I want a fit body, not just healthy but toned, I want my atheletic shape back - the one way to do this is EXERCISE (note to self, get off the couch and MOVE) - I've started exercising, so I'm working toward this goal, I can see changes in my body and I feel better so 50/50 accomplished so far. 3. I want to buy sexy clothes again! and not only buy them, but be able to wear them and feel good in them. - I bought a few sexy shirts, and I will be wearing one next weekend. So, I'm going to say this goal has been reached! 4. I want to be able to bend down and tie my shoes without the breath being knocked out of me. - DONE! 5. I want to be able to get in the tub and not have my ASS take up the entire tub, side to side - oh this sucks. - DONE! 6. I want to be able to cross my legs. - DONE! 7. I want to be able to wear shorts without them riding up my crotch. - hmmmm, almost but not quite. 8. I want to be able to walk without my thighs rubbing each other and sweating in the summer and leaving that horrible heat rash! - still working on this one. 9. I want to be able to push food away and not feel the need to clean up the entire plate.- I say - DONE. 10. I don't want food to be my focus in life.- DONE! 11. I want my kids to be proud of me. 12. I want to feel beautiful again and not 40 & fat. - Working on this, but not quite there. 13. I want to be able to buy a low rise pair of jeans without my stomach hanging over. my current jeans go clear up to my belly button. - My most exciting goal of all that I reached! I bought my first pair last week and they look good! 14. I want to be able to have sex with my DH and not feel the need to "turn the lights off". - Well, almost. 15. I want to become where exercise is a part of my life, where I crave exercise like I crave chocolate.- Becoming more and more part of my life! OMG - I've reached this goal! 16. I want to inspire other people to lose weight. - I was just told the other day that I inspire them. So I am going to say DONE! 17. I want to become a personal trainer. - This is a long term goal of mine - so not there yet! 18. I want to buy attractive Teddies to wear instead of my sweatpants and tee shirts to bed. - I forgot about this goal, so I think next week after I complete my 6th week of BFL, I will by myself a new nightie, to celebrate my 1/2 mark with bfl. 19. I want to be proud of my weight, not ashamed. - almost, but not quite 20. I want people to be shocked that I am 40 because I look younger, not shocked because I am 40 and I look 50. - working on this, the more weight I lose, the younger I look.

jmc- Great NSVs! Working out and not standing on the toilet! That's so great! Hazel- Even though you are headless, you look great! Woot Woot!

NSV - I had to see a vascular surgeon yesterday to treat a burst varicose vein - he measured my thighs for the compression stockings I have to wear for a week (can you say old lady!). I have lost 4 inches in EACH of my thighs!!! Holy crap! By the way, if any of you have leftover varicose veins from pregnancy go get them checked. I never knew ....until it happened....that you can "spring a leak" from a vein and it bleeds like a cattle slaughter. I know this will sound unbelievable but when I got out of the car at the ER, I SPRAYED blood all over the car next to us and left a spraying blood trail all the way inside. I am fine but it was shocking - learn from my procrastination and go see the vascular guy and get them checked.

I really enjoy all the pictures. You all look great. I love the public toilet thing, I been there and never really thought of it as NSV. That great way of thinking. Let me tell you what I did this morning. Went to the store and got all the wrong things. Ice cream, pie, muffins and candy bar along with salad, protien bars and milk. I came home and ate one muffin, and the pie filling, no crust, just the filling. Sometimes I think I'm crazier than a loon. That is all that I have eaten today, but not very diet friendly. I will have a salad tonight. Just why do I do these crazy thing? Of course had this been before the band I would have eaten all 4 muffins and the crust. By the way the muffin didn't go down well and I won't be eating muffins anytime soon. Carol

Onederland = weight in the 100's NSV= Non scale Victory PB= Productive Burping ... I think I'm forgetting a few lol. Welcome btw!

Good morning everyone, just a few rumblings in my tummy this morning so that's a good sign. My head is a bit stuffy and my chest hurts a little so I don't think it's the flu. I hope to get to my belly dancing class tonight if the runs have stopped. Congratulations Boo, what a great NSV!! Betty have a great time! Roberta

Welcome to January, April Bandits! It's a New Year, can you believe it? Let's think back to April and compare it to how we feel now. WOW, dieting and exercise really pays off. Then just think about how we'll all feel in April 2007. Woohoo! This is OUR YEAR to make goal! We've made it through the holidays and it's time to bust a move. We can do it! We're upping our challenge for the month in duration. I think we've decided to hold steady on the number of sessions. Our ultimate goal is 20 sessions a month for 45 minutes each session, and we'll get there by April. For now, here's January's challenge: (1) Complete 17 or more exercise sessions (counting only one session per day, if you're the type to do more!); (2) To count, each session must be at least 40 minutes in duration (two 20 min sessions in one day still counts); and (3) Set a goal (whether in lbs/kilos or NSV) for your upcoming bandiversary and share with the group, if you wish. We can do it! Speaking of, I'm off to the gym....

Hi Guys, Julie, the apartment sounds great!!! Wow is all I can say. Guysis you are exercising so much these days and that is great. kat... can you cut down wood for me too?? Well, it was COLD here this weekend- Iknow the Arctic is January what would you expect, but I mean COLD. It was -31 F (putting in the F for you guys in the States) and with the windchill that made is -42!!!! But, because I am crazy I went for my run, but i did it in the afternoon instead of the morning. I was warm enough, except for my feet. I just can't run in boots, so my new balances were it. I had to soak my toes in warm (not hot) water when I got home, but I was proud of me! So... let's hope it warms up a little. Have a great Monday everyone!!!! p.s. a great nsv... sliding with my kids and being able to get my backside up the hill over and over again!! Dawn Banded April 4th, 2006 Montreal

Bluehill: DEFINITELY! That is awesome! NSV stands for "non-scale victory." For those of us that are scale-challenged, we have to get excited about all the other victories that come from working out and living with the band.

I had a bladder issue too and I totally forgot to even think about it. It's gone! That's like the best NSV ever!

Hahaha , mysleeveI only sit with my legs crossed now. Seems to be the only comfy position. LOL! YAY us. A little NSV that I hadnt even noticed til someone else brought it to my attention too! BAM! We rock!

How awesome NewSho - I bet you'll be acting for more than fun with your new figure! Congrats - what a fantastic NSV! for you

You will do alot better if you think about how you look compared to before, vs how you 'want to look'. For myself, there are so many 'spots' on my body that I just hate how they look, and while 'deflated' is better than fat and puffy, it's still not really what I'm going for, you know? Whenever I start to get on myself for that, I just think about what it was before. How much stomach I could grab before, vs now, how I always had a double chin before, and I only do now if I try to put my chin on my chest, or how I CAN SEE MY COLLAR BONES. Those are all NSV's... you should start an NSV list, it's really neat to see all that stuff in one place. I have a before picture from when I was pretty much at my highest, maybe JUST a little less. Yikes. There are plenty of times where I just don't feel smaller and I still feel huge compared to my sisters (even though I'm only 15lbs bigger than one of them), etc, but when I look at that picture, I see the difference and I know I'm doing well. I still have some days where I run from my reflection, but what I've been trying to do lately is look at myself and who I'm walking with and trying to see the comparison. My reflection doesn't completely block their's, even if I'm between them and the window

Great post! And congratulations! When I moved to WA, I decided to be more "honest" and only fudged my weight by 50lbs (300) the lady at the counter said "oh honey, no one ever tells the truth on their DL, we'll put 250". When I got under the 300 mark I was thrilled to weigh less than my DL, then I looked at it and remembered that the lady "adjusted" it for me. She got 50lbs worth of cursing for my missed NSV :-). Happy to say I have now surpassed that number by 10lbs and can officially say I weigh less than my DL claims!!! Yay!

Today I weigh 132, which was exactly my goal for the month. Yay! I would like to drop another 7 lbs, but it won't be next month. My 1/2 marathon is at the end of May, so I am going in next week to get a slight unfill, as I need to make sure I can get in enough hydration and good calories to combat fatigue during training and the race. I so love hearing how everyone is doing and about everyone's NSVs as well, so I'll definitely be following along with you all in May, and hopefully I can make my final goal in June.