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NSV today - New jumper - Size 16 - a bit different from the 26/28 I was wearing in March

TammyJ, Thanks for setting up the challenge! I'm adjusting mine to 10 30min and 10 40 min sessions. I try to do my cardio at least 40, but my circuit is only 30. Did my circuit for the first time today since before surgery, and it felt good. I'm Ready! OHJuli, You are kicking but already on your exercise! Thanks for giving me something to aspire to. I have two exercise balls, but don't know what to do with them. One I have at the office and when I get sick of sitting on my but so much, I'll work at my computer while bouncing on my ball. :bounce: Congratulations Medge on your NSV (non-scale victory). It's really mind blowing to me seeing these sudden changes to my body. Sometimes I just have to look in the mirror and think....wow, 2 months ago..... Mary, I've heard that some don't feel the restriction until a week after their fill. I think that was the case with me. I'm feeling pretty good restriction now and had my fill last Wednesday. I didn't have it right away. Kind of weird, huh? Mrs. Husker, I definately think you should count a day of cleaning or gardening as a session in the exercise challenge! That's hard work! Guns&Roses, Glad you are joining in again! I think you'll find that the format has changed a bit in our group from before. Have a great weekend everyone!!

A great NSV (non scale vicotry) I was feeling my stomach today (and I have always stayed away from my belly button because it is soooooo sensitive~girls you know what I mean) and my belly button is not so deep~wierd the things we notice huh! I had a HUGE inny and now it is not such a huge deep inny. (the things we share) ha ha

I don't see a thread under our month for NSV's. But althought the scale hasn't budged we shall all have Non-Scale-Victories! My NSV scale dropped...BMI dropped...it is unofficially at 39.1 BMI. I would not qualify for the surgery....if insurance was paying for it!!!!!:crying: but will know officially on fill appt at surgeon's office-keeping that as my official weight-ins. What NSV do you have to share with us?

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

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.

Great nsv!

YAY! Good for you. What a frustrating experience:) I know I'm going to feel silly when you answer this, but what is NSV?

Ok, I'll bite. WTH is NSV?

Yay!!! What a relief to see those scale #s going down again. We try to be reasonable, celebrating the NSVs as they come, but we honestly do love it when that scale shows a lower #. It's sooo energizing! Congrats!

DISCLAIMER: This FAQ is in no way intended to replace or undermine the advice of your physician. Every person is different, every surgeon has different guidelines, and no two situations are identical. Therefore if any of the answers below are unclear or contradict your physicians’ instructions, always follow your physicians’ instructions. The responses given are a compilation from multiple sources and references. How do I embed the weight loss ticker? There are many ticker generators you can use, but the majority of us use TickerFactory.com or MyFitnessPal.com – Once you create your ticker, embed the code into your signature via your “Settings” *Adding* liquid stage? During your clear liquid stage you can have anything that you can sip through a straw that is translucent, meaning see through. For instance: Water, juice, broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, Isopure Protein drinks, Gatorade, Powerade, decaf tea just to name a few. Once you move on to full liquids you may add liquids that are not translucent. For instance: creamed Soups, soups with the chunks strained out, milk, Protein shakes etc… NOTHING CAFFEINATED When can I have coffee/soda/tea? Decaf coffee is typically OK about 30days post-op. Decaf tea is OK starting with your clear liquid diet. Soda is typically never OK, with the reasons varying from the carbonation causing painful gas to the carbonation stretching your sleeve. Regardless of the reasoning, it's generally a good idea to avoid sodas entirely, or to consume them in extreme moderation. When do I start mushies/purees? Every surgeon has different guidelines for the progression of your post-op diet. The majority of post-op diets progress as follows: Day 1-7 Clear Liquids Day 8-14 Full liquids Day 15-21 Purees Day 22-50 Mushies What’s the difference between mushies and purees? The major difference is that purees are anything that has been blenderized/pureed to a baby food consistency and has no chunks. These should not be watery, but instead a thicker pudding like consistency. Mushies are soft foods that have not been pureed. I'm on liquids/purees and I feel no restriction, should I be concerned that my surgery didn't work? Nope! You'll feel your restriction as you start to take in denser foods. In reality, you never want to experience that over stuffed feeling again because that means you've over stuffed your sleeve. There's much debate over whether or not you can stretch your stomach by over stuffing your sleeve, I for one am not trying to prove or disprove the theory. Best to play it safe - when you start to feel full, stop eating. Should I be counting calories or carbs or both? Both. Again, every surgeon is different, but the majority of sleevers will be on a 600-1000 calorie/day diet with carbs kept at 60-80g or less. The general guideline is this: When eating, protein is always first, veggies are second, and if you have room carbs/starch last. The majority will rarely have room for the carbs. How much protein should I be getting per day? The recommended protein intake may vary from 55 to 100g per day, depending on your individual needs and the bariatric diet provided by your surgeon or dietitian. The generally accepted minimum protein requirement for women is about 50 to 60g per day and men need at least 60 to 70g of protein per day. How much liquid do i need for the day? About 60-80oz When can I eat salad? Once you reach the point where you’re on normal solids you can try salad. Start with a small amount and see how your sleeve tolerates it as it can be difficult to digest. Best protein shakes? This one depends on your particular tastes, however most seem to enjoy powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury. What else counts as a liquid? Anything that can be sipped through a straw or that will reduce back to a liquid. For example: Jello, sugar free popsicles, frozen yogurt/ice cream (these are generally no no foods) Why can't I tolerate plain water, is this normal? It’s called water nausea and it is completely normal. This is very common during the first few weeks following surgery and should eventually subside. What is sliming/slimes? Sliming or slimes occur when you eat or drink something and then regurgitate a slimy, foamy, saliva like substance, usually when belching. What is grazing? Grazing is when instead of consuming your standard 3 small meals and 2 small Snacks per day, you simply munch all day grabbing a handful here or a bite there. The rule is that your meals should take you 20-30 minutes to eat and should be about 3 hours apart with only fluids in between. What do all these acronyms mean? In no particular order: WLS – Weight Loss Surgery NSV – Non scale Victory (ie: smaller clothes, compliments, climbing a flight of stairs etc…) NUT – Nutritionist PCP – Primary Care Physician VSG – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy TOM – Time of the Month SF – Sugar Free WFL/WFD – What’s for Lunch/Dinner How much did you lose at 1 month etc.? How much can I expect to lose in what time frame? Everyone’s body is different and so is everyone’s journey. There is no set amount you should expect lose in a set amount of time, and you should never compare your journey or your progress to someone elses. As long as you’re sticking with the program and following your surgeons guidelines, the weight will come off. What is a stall? How long does it last and how do I break it? A stall is a point at which the scale stops moving for a period of time. The length of the stall varies from a few days to a few weeks and sometimes a few months. Non VSG’ers typically call it a plateau. Stalls are perfectly normal and to be expected. As we lose weight so dramatically, our bodies need time to catch up physically - this typically happens during a stall. While the scale may not be moving, you may notice an increase in compliments. This is because while the number on the scale isn’t getting any smaller, you are physically getting smaller. There are many tips and tricks for breaking a stall (increase your fluids and protein, increase your activity, up your calories…) but the reality is it will break on its own. When can I have sex? When you’re ready. Keep it simple for the first few weeks post-op and don’t attempt any tricky positions. Be careful until you’ve been cleared by your surgeon for strenuous activity. When can I start exercising? Typically right away, though the types of exercises you can do will be limited. Most surgeons restrict weight training/resistance training for about 3-4 weeks after surgery, but you should be walking/speed walking at least 30-45min daily starting from the day you get home. What do I do with flabby skin? What's the best exercise etc.? The severity of the flab will vary based on many different factors. While there’s no way to tell how bad it will be or whether it will even be bad, there are a couple of proactive measures you can take. Make sure you’re using a moisturizing lotion with Vitamin E and Keratin several times daily. The vitamin E will help add elasticity back to your skin and the keratin will add moisture, both of which may help your skin bounce back as the weight falls off. The best exercises to target your problem areas are resistance and strength training in order to tone and build muscle to replace the fat. Lastly, be patient. Just as your weight stalls while your waist catches up to it, your skin will sag until it gets the signal to shrink. While it probably won’t ever be as tight as you’d like, it will shrink. Will I lose hair? How much? What causes it? When does it return? Do Vitamins help? The truth is, yes, you probably will lose hair. Because of the drastic changes going on that are caused by the extreme reduction in protein and vitamins coming in as well as the hormonal fluctuations caused by the rapid weight loss, it takes our bodies a while to adjust. Don’t worry, as our hormones level out and our bodies get used to the new us, it will come back. There is no set time frame for it to do so however. I’m constipated - what is it okay to take, especially in the beginning when newly sleeved? Will it get better? Worse? In the beginning a simple stool softener like Colace should do the trick. You don’t want to take a laxative or anything that may irritate your new sleeve. While you’re in the liquid/puree stage, constipation shouldn’t be an issue, but as you reintroduce solids you may have to go back to your stool softeners. If you do find that stool softners are only offering temporary relief, try increasing your fluids and Fiber and decreasing your cheeses. I’m having very loose bowel movements, is this normal? Totally. You do need to monitor stools of this consistency to ensure they contain no blood, but very loose stools, even watery stools, are completely normal for a few weeks post-op. When in doubt – ask your surgeon. Will I feel fatigue? Will fatigue go away? Yes and yes. Your body has just undergone major surgery and it needs to heal. While it’s healing you will feel more fatigued than normal. Subsequent to having such a large portion of your stomach removed is the fact that you can no longer take in as much food (read: fuel) and therefore your body has to adjust and find a new fuel source. Your body will eventually begin to burn fat for fuel and some of the fatigue will subside. Your surgeon should also prescribe a B12 supplement which will also help with energy. When can I go back to work? How much time should I take off? That will be entirely up to your surgeon. Most return to work within 2-3 weeks. How many days in the hospital? Your hospital stay will depend on your recovery. When you are able to keep down liquids, are up and about and walking as directed, and your surgeon and nursing staff are confident there are no complications, you’ll be released. Your surgeon should be able to give you an expectation of the length of your stay. Do the staples dissolve? No. The staples used to close the stomach are titanium and do not dissolve. The stomach tissue will eventually grow over the staple line. Your staples do not make metal detectors go off or make you ineligible for an MRI. They are completely benign. Why am I always hungry? The most likely culprit is either head hunger or reflux/heartburn. Head hunger is a false sense of hunger triggered by boredom/emotions/the clock or any number of things which make you think you’re hungry when you’re really not. Heartburn is the most common culprit of constant hunger. Even though you may not feel as though you have heartburn, you may find that a simple antacid will eliminate that constant hungry feeling. What is dumping syndrome? Dumping syndrome is what happens when the contents of your stomach are rapidly dumped into your small intestine. It is characterized by cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Most people that complain of dumping syndrome associate the attacks with eating a certain type of food IE sweets, carbs etc.. It generally resolves on it's own once the offending food has left the system. What is a stricture? A stricture is what happens when scar tissue builds up in your esophagus (sometimes caused by reflux) that causes your esophagus to narrow and makes swallowing difficult. What is a leak and what are the symptoms? A leak is an opening along the suture line of your sleeve that allows bile and other digestive fluids to leak into your abdominal cavity. The symptoms of a leak vary but the most common symptoms are pain radiating across the abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and abdominal cramping. It is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Can you get a leak any time after surgery? Or is it just immediate? Most leaks happen very soon after surgery, but there is still a risk for about 4-6 weeks after. Again, it is important to note that leaks are rare and only occur in about 1 out of every 100 cases. Some of my incisions are oozing - is this normal? If they’re oozing a green or yellowish Fluid, absolutely not. Green and yellow are the colors of infection and should be reported to your surgeon immediately. If your incisions are oozing a pinkish or clear watery fluid it’s your body’s way of keeping your incisions clean and isn’t usually a concern. When in doubt, ask your surgeon. I see a lot of people posting about drains - I don't have any. Should I be concerned? Drains are tubes that are temporarily placed in the abdomen that allow fluids to drain from your abdominal cavity in order to prevent infection. Not every surgeon uses them so if you don't have any, don't worry. It likely means your surgeon saw no need to place them. That being said, it doesn't mean you're immune to infection so you should still be on the lookout for fever or any areas that a red, warm to the touch, painful, swollen, or oozing any green or yellow fluids.

Ok I'm back on the wagon... I mean treadmill! Just finished week 1 day 3 AGAIN It was mentally hard starting back up again, but it went pretty good! Oh and a funny NSV my slim 17 year old mouthy daughter walked in as I was running and sat down and stared at me. I look over at her and gave her a friendly hand gesture (just joking ok not really) She says "what?" Then she says "you look really good" !!! What the what??? From the same girl that just last week as we were out pointed out my sleeveless arms and asked "are you going to have surgery on those?" 0_o She said I looked good, and I looked good running!

"Oh, a lovely NSV: one of the little ones at my school today didn't think my last year's picture (on my ID) was me! I told him it really was, but I was trying to get healthier and had lost some weight. He nodded his head wisely and said, "my mommy is always on a diet, too." These children are so adorable! Next year, I hope to look even less like my ID photo (that I just had taken a few days ago)!" This tale made me remember that my school ID pic is to be taken next week, 1 week before me getting banded and I have decided to turn my weightloss into a lesson for my class and take my measurements with ribbons and compare as the time goes on. They are 6 year olds and are bubbling over with interesting and relevant questions, which I am only to happy to answer.

Kathy, you are right about the PB's. But I do think it is entirely my fault. Either the bites are too big or I am not chewing well enough. It always happens on Proteins (ground beef or chicken---one time it was deli roast beef). This is the first time I tried fast food (and it was just a burger, w/o the bun and all the carby stuff---just a few little pieces of lettuce and a slice of tomato), and I thought if I was careful, it would be ok. I do eat at restaurants a lot with friends, but usually have fish or something easy to handle. I am trying to get better at this, really I am! LOL! Indio: I think you are correct. I am not sure if the bite was too large (I doubt that, as it was really small), or if I didn't chew enough (I think that was the culprit), but my goodness, you would think I would learn this lesson, wouldn't you? I am so phobic about deli roast beef that I tossed a bunch of it. However, I did make some roast beef in the crock pot (very, very tender), and it is just fine, as long as I chew well and take small bites. Oh, a lovely NSV: one of the little ones at my school today didn't think my last year's picture (on my ID) was me! I told him it really was, but I was trying to get healthier and had lost some weight. He nodded his head wisely and said, "my mommy is always on a diet, too." These children are so adorable! Next year, I hope to look even less like my ID photo (that I just had taken a few days ago)! Nancy

Congratulations, Judy! Way to go! You will lose the rest of the weight---I'm sure of it. Your motivation is awesome! Nancy P.S. The NSV is even better, huh?

new NSV: bath sheets just to big now. i have to bunch it up to tuck it around me. im going to have to down grade to a normal sized towel, geez. insert sarcasm here, lol. its been a long year. insee some around me that have reached goal already and some that are slow losers like me. we all go at our own pace, its a lot to learn and relearn and reteach. i just now feel im ready for another fill, its ben over 6 months i think. i needed to ensure i was eating correctly, chewing very well, and what foods and when i can eat. things you never thought of before. im very glad i got my band, i see new changes both physically and mentally constantly. you just need to enjoy the process instead of thinking your life will start once you reach goal. live now and blossom into a new you. much love and peace to you all.

Marlena - CONGRATS on Onderland :clap2: Real Chocolate Candy - I just don't do it - I don't start - Not one piece of See's passed my lips over the holidays - did allow myself xmas cookes that I made with Grandaughters & tamales that I made with DIL - but that was it... I find that i can satisfy my craving for choc with my double choc sf puddings & healthy choice fudgecicles which are sf and have only 80 calories... Michelle - I had cookies that were to deliver to a freind - but never made it to their house - I had finished my allotment - I took those that were left and threw in the trash - they were covered in plastic on a paper plate - then I realize that due to the fact that they were covered I could go back - so i took them out and crumbled them up so i couldn't go back.. I bet there isn't a fat person who hasn't done this you are normal - well at least you and I are NMSunshine I want to you to THROW THOSE DARN CANDIES AWAY NOW.... You can do it - walk over to the trash throw them in and pour something over them... Do it now - Do not let stupid choc win over you - they are the devil... They are doing nothing but hurting you..... Throw them away NOW..... Better in thee than in me..... Your new mantra... xoxox Janet P.S. - My NSV for not eating candy - I have a size 12 pair of pants on....

Hi everyone! I've managed to stay in Onederland since Friday...so I guess I'm on my way (as long as I keep doing what I'm doing). I'm over halfway there. The scale is a great victory, but I thought I'd share a couple of NSVs as well. One of my co-workers told me the other day that I don't look like I need to lose another 48 pounds! (I love that guy! LOL). I finally can look at myself in the mirror and say, "you know what ChrissyLu...you're getting thinner!" I've weeded out so many "too big" clothes from my closet, that I actually have room to hang things like t-shirts and shorts. LOL. ReadyForMyJourneyToBe..just stay focused and don't compare yourself to others. This is a different journey for each of us. Make sure you are getting your water and your protein in every day. "JustDoIt" (I think) gave me the idea to alternate high/low calorie days to kind of shake my body up a bit. You can do that with your workouts to. Some days increase your cardio a bit more than the day before. I must say that for me, increasing my exercise has been key. But you can do this!! And no...you are not alone. Erica...congrats on those 3 pounds. Just keep at it...one day at a time. JDI...welcome back from vacation! Hope the beach was wonderful! I hope I can get there soon but I'm not counting my chickens. Nicole...good for you on managing that end-of-year stress! How are things going on the homefront? Hope all is well. And to everyone else: Hello and have a great rest-of-the-day!

okay peeps...I FINALLY lost another pound. Man, I wish the doc had given me a fill last week. However, on an NSV note: yesterday was 'free item of apparel day" at Sears Outlet stores. So, after work I took my little coupon and went shopping for some slacks. I have ONE pair of slacks that fit. So, I go in looking for 20s but I only find one pair so I pick up some 18Ws. Lo and behold, the 20 was a bit too big and the 18W pair fits! A size smaller than I expected...woo-hoo! So I picked out a white shirt and since the pants were $10 and then 75% off, I used the shirt as my free item and only paid $2.50 for the pants. My whole outfit, tax and all, was only $2.73!! Hopefully I'll have a pic to post later. I have some but I don't really like them. LOL. Have a great day everyone!

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! We were pretty lazy after I returned from the gym yesterday morning. However, had a good NSV over the weekend. My mom gave me a pair of jeans from a friend of hers. 18s! Yay! They were a little snug...but they won't be after this week. woot woot!

Hi everyone! Looks like there have been some good NSVs! I had to go for a slight infill last week (.2 cc's). The sinus drainage I'd been fighting finally got so bad I couldn't even drink anything. Of course this morning I realized it had been coupled w/PMS. Oh well...it only pushed back my checkup by a week. However...i feel like I'm eating everything in sight.ugh! So..little restriction plus TTOTM cravings equals Chrissylu not hitting that 100 pound goal anytime soon. On the other hand, my sis-n-law gave me four nice suits that are in the 13/14 range. They all fit..yay! Hang in there everyone. I'm sure trying to.

Congrats to all of you who have lost more weight, have had NSV's, etc. It's a wonderful thing! I'm in a downword spiral at this time myself .Fortunately, not gaining but plateauing like some of you out there. Perhaps the newness has worn off for us January bandsters and it's now down to blood, sweat and tears! I have stopped exercising for the past 3 weeks for one reason or another. One, having some work around the house and have to be up early for that and when they're not here, just being lazy. Finally, work is finished and I have nothing on the calendar in the morning {I'm a morning exerciser when I exercise}. I am now in my work out clothes and ready to get up in the gym after my tylenol kicks in! No more excuses. I'm still at 2.5 in my 10cc band. Have been stuck at least once a week but I think it's due to me not chewing enough. The past week I've been consciously chewing and haven't had a problem. I go next week for a fill although I can go tomorrow but fear I might have a problem like I did the last fill and don't want to have a problem over Memorial Day weekend. {my dr only does fills on Thurs nights which I'm not crazy about but have to go along with it}. One more thing, this weekend is my "phantom" time of the month {had hysterectomy at age 36 but still get all the symptoms despite no ovaries} so I've been finding I'm eating my go-to junk food at night. Salty nachos and melted cheese and fiber thin cookies. I think I'm ready for that fill! And on that note, I'm going to work out before I find an excuse not to!! Keep the faith, we will get there with one another's support.

Oh sweetie! That's not being nosy, it's a very valid pre op question. You will have tons of responses but for me this- - I can walk. And walk a lot! - I can touch my toes and cross my legs and reach around my back to fasten my bra - I am no longer tied to the "living to eat" modality, rather I eat to live. This is key, because more often than not, I don't experience hunger and I need to remind myself to eat - I can tour college campuses with my children and this one is huge because last year with my son I could not and it really became a focus for me during this process. There is nothing worse than taking your child to see colleges and sitting around waiting while they are touring. - my chronic conditions have literally disappeared, including my rheumatoid arthritis - the disease which got me to obese to begin with -I FEEL GREAT! And have more self confidence than I've experienced in years - I'm much more social than I've been in years -I can "keep up" with anyone!! - I can shop off the rack anywhere now There are so many more, we call them NSV's- non surgical victories- things that you don't realize -or that you were missing it- until after it happens and the light bulb goes off. Good luck! Lisa HW 283 SW 272 CW 180 Surgery RNY 3/23/2016 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi All!! I got my first fill this morning- it was a breeze! I got 1 cc- I have a 14 cc band, and he had put 5 cc's in during surgery, so total of 6. The PA who did the fill said with a 14 cc band the sweet spot was usually between 7-9 cc's but different for everyone. They do 1 cc at a time there, so my next appointment is April 2nd. Right now (about 2 hours after), I don't feel any different. On full liquids today, mushies tomorrow, then full foods Wednesday. It was super easy, I was so glad! Nicole- some suggestions- I've been thinking of taking up crocheting or cross stitch- journaling helps me. Go to the park, read a book, get on the treadmill (or do crunches or jumping jacks, etc)- even if you've already worked out, a little more won't hurt, LOL. Stress eating- just think about why you shouldn't- how much weight you've already lost, the NSV's you've already experienced, how much better you feel- that is head hunger, not real hunger. Journaling about your stress might help with that too! I'll post more if I think of any. Kymie- that's a bummer, but you're not a week behind, you're still going to lose weight!! You're doing great. 32 lbs is awesome! And about the skin- cross that bridge when you come to it. It will rebound some, I think, especially with exercise. And someone on the boards- I think it was SHirley54 or something- said something about talking to the head surgeon at a burn unit- they need skin there- who sometimes will do it if you donate the skin! Whoda thunk it? But don't borrow trouble- lose the weight! Maybe you'll win the powerball and can get all kinds of plastic surgery (remember who your friends are, LOL). Tell us any good recipes you come across. Hi Otaknam! Slow and steady DOWN is waaaay better than going up, LOL. Someone on these forums reminded me that the first little while is for surgery and healing, then comes the several months of fills to get to your sweet spot, then comes the losing!! So you're doing awesome!!!! It 's a marathon, not a sprint. Mags- weekends are hard for me too- I do a LOT of talking myself out of eating things. I too am a card carrying member of the clean plate club- let's tear those membership cards up together!!!!! Let's be a member of the "Leave a bite (or lots more) for Miss Manners" club, LOL. Journaling will help you be aware, for sure. I think it just takes several fills to get to where we feel like it's not such a struggle always. We are doing awesome! It's been only a month or two for all of us, depending on surgery date!!!!

Chrissy, you are doing fabulous, congrats! How did everyone do over the 3 day holiday weekend? I survived for the most part. No major issues. I had a wonderful NSV that I didn't expect. After doing errands and cleaning yesterday, it was hot and I just wanted to sit in the backyard and get some color. We opened our pool yesterday and was not able to go in as it needs to be shocked, etc. I decided to look for some old bathing suits I had stored away knowing full well I wouldn't be able to wear last year's suits as they would be swimming on me, no pun intended. I found a tankini from NewPort News, a good 6 yrs old, still in good condition and size 14/16 {last year's was 20/22}. It fit and looked really good on me! I couldn't believe it! My husband also commented on how good it looked which was an added bonus although he's been very supportive all along.