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WOW Laura....made my weekend sound like a total bore!! Great NSV getting hit on. Great isn't it??

Oh, Renewed.......I know that makes you feel so good! I don't blame you for cying....I almost cried too, it's soooo sweet. You must be doing an awesome job at getting healthy if your 9 year old son is noticing all your hard work. I feel exactly the same way you do, I can't wait to get to goal and can't even imagine what life is going to be like. That's a great NSV for you, WTG and thanks for sharing!

Oh, Renewed.......I know that makes you feel so good! I don't blame you for cying....I almost cried too, it's soooo sweet. You must be doing an awesome job at getting healthy if your 9 year old son is noticing all your hard work. I feel exactly the same way you do, I can't wait to get to goal and can't even imagine what life is going to be like. That's a great NSV for you, WTG and thanks for sharing! PS: I posted this on the other thread too, I'm just so excited for you!

Mia, congrats on the NSV! It feels good, doesn't it! I went to church this morning in a pair of dress pants that were pretty much falling off of me. I'll be glad when I get to goal, clothes are so expensive. Anyways, I'd rather wear my pants that are falling off of me than be as big as I was pre-band. I am so grateful for the band. I hope this next fill does the trick for you. It gets so much easier once you have decent restriction. I have had to use a lot of willpower up until my last fill. I've had 5 fills and I think I may at my "sweet spot" (fingers crossed it stays that way). The first fill did absolutely nothing for me. As for the others, I did feel some restriction but it would go away after a week or so.

My NSV's: People are finally noticing that I'm losing weight! Yay!! and I defeated the girl scout Cookies. :thumbdown:

Mia; Congratulations on your first NSV!!! The numbers are moving slowly for me at this point as well, but my first fill is on tomorrow and I am so excited! I hope to be one of those lucky ones who hits their sweet-spot with the first one!! During my initial consultation Terri told me that some only need one fill and most only need two. Hopefully I'll be in the first category. Do you not feel any restriction at all with the fill given at the time of your port revision?

thanks for the update. It is hard to eat breakfast. The scales have been bad to me lately. I am definitely eating smaller meals, wish i could eat salad. Cant seem to chew it up enough. Way to go on the NSV ! You gotta be dropping pounds soon with that workout. Keep motivating us.

Thanks. I had a NSV today also. Went to Walmart and saw a skirt in size 14 and an XL blouse. Bought them, took them home, and they fit!!! I never wear skirts, but I think I will when we cruise next month. Maybe I'll have to return them for a Large and size 12. I am wearing size 14 jeans now. Down from 16W and then 16. I am trying all my clothes on in the closet too. Even my bras are too big. I get my first fill next week. This is the BEST thing I gave ever done. I LOVE MY BAND:)))

Haven't posted for a couple of weeks....Slipped (or lived?)a bit after Valentines Day, but still have had a few NSV to clelebrate! A parent of some children at the school where I work stopped me & said, there's something differnt about you...I replied, I cut my hair short, it looks more red now. She said NO, it's something else, as she motioned up & down her body & said you have lost some weight girl! :thumbup:It was nice to have someone who didn't know about my surgery say that! A p/t staff also approached me (she knows about my surgery) & said I think you are losing weigth everyday that I see you! I have a fleece jacket with school logo that has ALWAYS ben tight & I rarely wore it. Wiht the weather here being in the 20 below range the last week, I reluctantly grabbed it & WOW It fit nice, zipped it up & room to move! I also bought a new winter coat in XL, my last was a men's 2X. I can also wear my NEW belt (helps to keep the old pants up ) on the THIRD hole! Found 4 old pants, one still with tags that I could never fit into & they fit & are even a bit loose in the legs! Even had to dig out an old & smaller bathing suit for my water aerobics class! WOW..If I can do this & be successful....so can everyone else! MNILENE Surgery date 12/20/07 Dr. Redd Theif River Falls MN url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wGCmAbf/] [/url]

I usualy eat protein breakfast bar or shake in the morning. Sometimes I have runny oatmeal. Lunch is usually a tiny chefboyrdee beeferoni cup or cold cuts and cheese and maybe two crackers. Supper is a small portion of something my family is eating. Since we have a 3 year old, it's usually thin crust pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta, or chicken and veggies. NSV I got in the a regular size XL (not a women's size) pants and top today! It didn't look good, but I have NEVER had a misses XL on my body! I also got into a smaller size pants! Still not much progress on the scale, but I guess I really am losing inches. I was also able to run 4 miles at the gym today without slowing and I did 2 miles on the bike! That was a personal best for me. I started out before surgery hardly being able to get out of bed and go to the bathroom without feeling tired and sweating. It's amazing how much better I feel this far along!

I just adjusted my ticker today. I'm 2/3 of the way to my goal. :w00t: I'm feeling better but still a long way from even thinking about getting food in. But at least the liquids are going down okay, even if sometimes I have to force myself to finish the whole cup. At times the slower I go, the harder it is. So definitely know I need some taken out. I'm actually going shopping this weekend. I was going to go last, but got sick. But my jeans especially look silly on me now. I'm pretty excited and I don't really like shopping. I know, since I tried on 14s and 12s 2 weeks ago, that I'll be able to shop in the normal section and not feel out of place. And I'll actually be able to look at myself in the mirror when I try them on. That's a big NSV for me. Typically I'd try things on and if I could bend over comfortably in them, they fit. I hardly ever looked in the mirror to see what I looked like in them. So I'm looking forward to that. There's a question I wanted to ask you all. Especially those who have lost a lot of weight. I have this "apron" of fat now that is my stomach. It's droopy and hangs over my privates. I'm struggling off and on with a rash in the crease area. Probably because it hangs down and gathers moisture from daily sweating and stuff. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has this problem? I've heard that sometimes you can get insurance to pay, or partially pay, for a tummy tuck if you have continuous problems like how Nichole did for her breast reduction. Anybody know anything? At the moment I'm trying different creams and my doctor suggested an anti-fungal powder, but so far I haven't found anything that will clear it up. Sometimes the powder will dry things out, but I still have a red rash there. The rash isn't itchy when it's dry. It's just a little uncomfy because I know it's there. When it gets a little moist, there's also a not so pleasant odor there (sorry if it's TMI). Kind of like when you don't clean and wipe your belly button out.

Diane, A NSV is a non-scale victory.

Renewed, that's great! NSV's are always so exciting.....you are doing great! My ear is so much better, it's almost completely back to normal and my leg feels better too. Me and DH are going to start walking Monday if the weather permits, it's been raining with thunderstorms here for the past couple of days. I ordered a 2 disc CD set (doctor's orders) to help me sleep and they came in yesterday. I just need to get some new headphones for my Portable CD player (the kind that you stick in your ears). Since I am a stomach and side sleeper, the ones that sit on the head and go over the ears didn't work to well last night. I listened to the "sleepy rain" one last night and I think it's going to help me fall asleep faster. I've gotta do something because I'm getting dark circles under my eyes, and I can't be having that, lol!

What is an NSV? Every time I think I know what's going on, I realize I don't. Congratualtions on smaller jeans. Diane

hi everyone - has everyone left us? Or just too busy to check in? Well I had such a great nsv yesterday that I had to come on and tell. We were on our way to watch wrestling and stopped at Chili's for something to eat. When we pulled in my dh said oh look theres someone from the lake (a sticker on the car bc its a private community) so we walked in an there were 2 of our members sitting at the bar, they turned and looked at us so I waved real big and nothing. She was on her cell phone and walking toward us, and I'm waving ... nothing. Meanwhile Don was sitting at the bar and looking right through me. So as she's walking right up to me, 6 inches away, I said hey! She stopped and stared at me for a minute and I said how are you? She said omg I didn't know that was you! So we said hello and sat down. She comes back over to our table and says Steph, you have lost so much weight I didn't know who you were. She said I saw you waving and I'm thinking I don't know anyone in JOhnstown she must be waving at someone behind me. LOL she said you look sooooooooo good, how much weight have you lost? I said 65 lbs and she said omg I just lost 5 and thought that was good, you look marvolous! So that was nice. Then here comes her husband and he pretty much said the same thing, we didn't know who you were. After they left I said to dh, wow, I didnt' think I'd lost that much more weight since last time I saw them - which would've been Oct. - maybe 10 or 15 lbs? He said well 15 lbs is alot of weight. I guess 15 lbs is alot of weight when you are so close to your goal but when you have 100lbs to lose it doesn't seem like much. So that was really cool. Then we went to wrestling. High school stuff with all the district schools there, half way through I got up to go to pee and on the way out a guy yells hey good looking! I turned (crazy to think they'd be talking to me right?) and it was an old friend of ours. He hugged me and said wow you look great! So last night was very ego boosting for me. Especially since I've been hovering around 165 forever. I told my dh that I think I'm happy at this weight, if I can just get the tummy tuck I wouldn't care if I lost another pound. He agreed. When I first started on this journey that was the one thing he and the girls told me, they didnt' want me to lose too much weight, and I think I'm at a comfortable size now. And I think my husband is proud to be seen with me. So there you have it. That was my excitement for the night.

I admit it--I used be be a diet coke addict. I work night shift, and caffiene was the only thing that got me through. Diet coke was the beverage of choice, but I would drink other caffinated beverages too. I have been soda free and caffiene free for over a month now. I have totally kicked those habits. I had a sip of my DH's diet coke recently and thought it tasted nasty. I need to focus on these kinds of victories--my surgeon is conservative and won't do a fill till the 6 week mark, so I haven't had my first fill yet. What other victories have people had?

I kept forgetting to post this, but got reminded by another board. When I was trying to get my PCP to write a letter to insurance for me, back in December of 2006, he made me get blood work done. Well, at the time, my cholesterol was 286. I got it redone in early February of this year, as part of my 6-month post-op check-up. Guess what? It was 185!

Here is my weigh in for this week: Start 240 Goal 220 Current 233! To go 13!!! NSV- I can wrap the bath towel around my waist and not see any skin!!! I am so happy I got the band. I never imagined I would feel sexy at 233 lbs!

So, I just had to report some more NSV's to my fellow bandsters!! :thumbup: My weight loss has plateaued again, which I don't understand because I'm not eating much at all!! But oh well, my body is still catching up to the weight loss. So last weekend, we took the high school youth group from our church up to Wolf Creek to go skiing. The last time I went skiing was in Jan of 06, I was 55 pounds heavier and I had problems getting the boots on because my calves were too big. They had to jerry-rig them to get them to fit. So, I was apprehensive going into this, but knew I wanted to ski. Let me tell you, I had a blast, and I'm sure I burned a heck of a lot of calories that day. The boots actually fit, and I could even feel my feet at the end of the day. So, I also decided that it was finally time for me to get some new clothes. I had been waiting until I was out of plus sizes, but just decided I wasn't losing all this weight to look horrible in clothes that were 4 sizes too big. I went to Ross & Kohl's on Wednesday and actually fit into a regular 16. Some stuff is still too tight in my arms and thighs, but I was able to get into most of it. I'll take some pics and post them to my blog sometime for you all to see. I'm actually picking clothes that are cute, and as I lose more, I really want to look cuter and cuter. Ruby, I wanted to chat about your surgery. I had a breast reduction done in Feb 05, and besides the band was one of the best decisions I could have made. I think I was a 42H before surgery, and now am about a 38C. I've been a full C cup since 05, but I've been losing the size in my chest, not in the bust. Are you a cash pay for that or is insurance covering it? I was actually able to get insurance to cover it after I complained to my various docs and they all recommended getting it done. Once I get down to goal, I really want to go back to Ireland and get a picture kissing the Blarney Stone. I have a pic of me doing that before any weight loss, and breast reduction and since you are laying on your back leaning over a ledge, all that fat really sticks out. That's the big thing I'm looking forward to. I have been lurking around here since I last posted, but just haven't posted. I will go back though and find my goals because I think I have met some of them!! I hope you all had a good week, and I'll make sure I'm back on this weekend. ~Nichole

Now THAT's a NSV if ever there was one! Good for you!

Make sure all of you US self-payers, bring in all of your medical bills when processing your taxes this year. I am actually getting a nice refund and although I have other things that are contributing to that, my accountant said that it was definately a good thing to have all of those expenses factored in. Love my band - have a good weekend!

Way to go jtag and Ang - outstanding and inspiring NSVs!!!!!!

Alright New Years Knockouts - it seems like this weight has just been falling off and everytime I turn around I am able to do something different like tying my shoes anywhere now - not just sitting on the couch! Speaking of NSV's, this morning was a BIG one! I am wearing (comfortably) a pair of pants that I bought back in 2005 that were too small in the hopes that I would lose the 10lbs I needed in order to fit into them (you know, motivation). Well, it never happened, I went ~40lbs the other way and the tags stayed on and they stayed in my closet thru 3 moves and countless "closet re-organizing, spring cleaning"....Well today, I pulled them out of the closet, finally pulled the tags off and I AM WEARING THEM....3 years later - they fit! And I have 10-15 other pieces bought around the same time with the same 10 lbs intentions. This is really fun! I am so happy I want to tell complete strangers on the street, but I figured you guys were a better audience!

Good Morning Ladies - TGIF :thumbup: Jackie - You haven't been feeling great and now that you are getting back to the gym it will work wonders for you... My goal is to be at goal prior to my 1 yr anniversary - I know I will be there... (this is postitive thinking not bragging) - I still worry that this is a lifetime change - I think I go it but I know this most likely will be a life time struggle not to revert to old eating habits. Karri - Stopping eating when satisfied - I would bet a million buck this is a problem for all of us - Last night GS wanted Pizza (he hadn't had any in a long time) so I said ok - I had 1/3 cup beans & cheese around 7 - then pizza came a little after 8 - I had one slice and ate the whole thing (well not the crust) when I should have stopped at 3/4 - Had a bit of slime and a little pain - but went away in about 10 minutes.. It just tasted so darn good - haven't had pizza in months. I did good calorie wise 1010 - but like most of us didn't get my water in.. I could eat salad for B/F - I am not a big sweet eater for breakfast - in fact for B/f this morning I have 1/2 ham sandwich on lite bread with mustard - Lunch one pot wonder - cabbage/pork/squash/eggplant/rice & soy sause - 1 cup and dinner will be fish & veggies.. How nice of you to give your student $$$ for food - she hadn't eaten since the day before - doesn't your school have free lunches &/or breakfast - The schools here in the Desert have breakfast (for the younger ones) and lunches for everyone who qualifiy for them. The Desert is very Rich in some areas and very poor in others. Ruby - You go to the Doc on Monday are you considering a slight unfill - I know you have been tight - Well, just cking in this morning - I went to bed at 9 last night - I am meeting a gf for breakfast tomorrow - she hasn't seen me since before surgery - so she will be in for a shock - (she knows about the surgery). Then suppose to go to the Fair and see Heart tomorrow night - the fair in known for what you can eat - I love the cinnaminon buns - but none for me this year. Oh ya great NSV - yesterday had a continuing ed class (insurance agents have to have continuing ed to keep their license) - the intructors brought Mrs. Field cookies :tt2: the girl next to me ate 3 :smile: and I didn't eat one - just drank my water - and OMG I wanted one - it was 3 and I was hungry - but just didn't eat it - another gf here who is on a DIET... ate one and wonders why she isn't losing weight:confused: - They all think I didn't eat it cuz of the band - they think it takes away the wanting - they don't understand it doesn't take away the wanting - I CHOSE not to eat it - not cuz I couldn't but because I want to lose weight,... - Like i keep repeating losing weight is more of a head game than a tummy game even with our bands,..... Well, back to work - ck w/you all later - hope everyone has a good day LINDA CALL AND BUG YOUR DOCTOR... and keep up posted ((hugs))

I've had a bunch of NSVs recently! When I sit in a chair I find myself crossing my legs without even thinking about it! And I can sit like that for a while, unlike before, where after 30 seconds it hurt to keep them crossed. I actually have the following body parts (or at least now I'm 100% sure): A neck! A hip bone! Collar bones! A rib cage! Also, the chairs in my classrooms are the chairs with an attached desk, which are not big people friendly by any means! Last year I could barely sit comfortably in them. Now I have plenty of room to move and I can even cross my legs under them! And......I bought an XL sweater from the Misses department!!!! I'm not quite an XL in tops yet, but this one fit, so who cares, it wasn't a plus size!:tt2::w00t::smile: