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Karri - Great NSV 1.25 miles - if I can jog for 1/10 of a mile I am happy - I can say that I have increased my incline to 4 -5-6 and I feel good at that and have increased my mileage to 3.5 - will do that for a couple of week then push it up to 4. I feel the same way about support group in person - why - I have all the support i need right here and it's open 24/7 and I don't have to drive anywhere. Ours is lapband only - and the one we had the 1st of Feb was ok - I got a little out of it but not much - and it make a long day for me and I miss my exercise - so I may go in March if Phyl goes just to see her. As far as being out spoken like me - so what these people need a reality check - I think the lady you are going with may benefit from some counseling - There is no shame in it - not everyone can do it on their own and they may have deeper issues that need the help of a professional - I guess for some of us the whole serious issue of having surgery was what we needed to finally get it - I really think that alot of people who have the surgery be it bypass or band - really think in the back of their minds that the surgery alone will take care of their food issues and weight problems - As WE ALL KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE - WE HAVE TO DO THE WORK... Yes just saying thank you is so hard - I have been doing it though - I love it.. Ruby Glad to hear you are doing so much better and had a good time with your son - I totally agree to take it easy for a day or 2... Ok - I started this an hour ago - phone keeps ringing - just found out another gf just went to Mex - Dr Oritz and got banded she called to ask questions... Well phone is ringing again - will ck back later..

Wow, that is really impressive! Congratulations!!!! That's a very IMPORTANT NSV!!! I need to have mine checked again. It was still stuck on 5.9 last time, but I'm really hoping it has gone down.

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

Lindaa - congrats on your NSV. It's so good to know you can probably at some point get off having to take daily doses of medication for the rest of your life. That's the bleak future I was facing as well. Not any more though! Sunshine - hang in there. I went on a couple of weeks hiatus from weight loss too. It's frustrating when you know you're doing everything right and you're not seeing any progress for your efforts. I agree with lindaa, keep track of what you're eating and show it to your doctor. You may need a slight adjustment to your band, or there may be something else going on. Best to check with the experts. I got my second fill on Friday because I wasn't seeing any change in the scales and was able to eat more than I should have been. Friday night was pretty tough for me. I woke up 4 times in the night choking on my own spit. I was worried that I'd gotten too much of a fill. It was the weekend and I probably couldn't have gotten hold of my doctor unless it was an emergency. I didn't feel it was at that stage yet. I decided that I'd go for the day (Saturday) making sure I was at least getting water down so as not to get dehydrated. It was kinda tough in the morning, but as the day progressed it got a little easier. I managed some soup on Sat night as well. Sunday morning I made a protein shake. It took me an hour to get through that, but I made it without PBing. I had soup for lunch. In the afternoon I treated myself to an iced orange mocha at Starbucks. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but ohmystars it was delicious! I had a protein shake again for dinner. Today I start mushies until I feel game enough to venture onto solids. But this morning it feels like I'm too restricted for food, so I'm just having a protein shake again. Maybe I'll try yoghurt and/or some egg salad for lunch. I take my vitamins religiously and my energy levels are good, despite Aunt Flo being due for a visit this week. My hubby and son had a sub sandwich from Quizno's on Sunday and I was envious of them for being able to sink their teeth into it. I wasn't feeling hungry or anything, I just missed stuffing my face with food. :embarassed: That's probably a bad thing. :paranoid The scales are on the downward move again. :whoo:I don't feel hungry. I don't miss being hungry!!! Life is good. I love my band! :biggrin1:

That's interesting about those who have had ps - I read the threads occassionally mostly to look for those who have had their arms done and see their pictures. I think that even without the surgery that;s the whole problem with maintaining is that we know we look good and a little this or that doesn't put on the weight - so it's a little more of this or that - a day or two missed of exercise oh that won't hurt - Well ya all those things add up and it does hurt - the lbs come back. I know that I have 4 more months til 2 yr anniversary - and in the past I have kept the weight off for 2 yrs - but then it slowly creeped back on - I spoke of this in the begining - my whole things was were I will be in 3-4-5 yrs after losing the weight - For me having the PS and not being able to exercise for a while - worries me - getting out of my routine - you all know how that is - once you get out it's so hard to get back into it. And you are so right about the looking good - I know I say it's icing on the cake - but I gotta say I love it - I do love the way I look today - I love being called tiny, skinny. On my mentor thread a lot of the ladies don't get that from their families or friends - I guess I'm lucky - I do - I get that reinforcement and I think that helps with not going back to my old ways. That and just cuz I feel so much better. I just realized this morning (yes it was 4:20 when I got up) that I am going to be able to take the stairs on the ship.. For those of you who haven't crusied the 1st day on ship the elevators are jammed packed and very slow with 2500+ pple getting on ship - so it's faster to take the stairs (I'm on the 7th deck) - Sitting having my coffee this morning - I thought oh - I will be able to take the stairs with no problems this time. What a great NSV for me !!! Also another great NSV is to be able to go zip lining !! There is a 220 lbs weight limitation - No problem !!! Well, this all goes to why I have kept so diligent on my exercise - it has to be a way of life along with the healthy eating - Between those 2 things and all of you - It has helped me stay on that mindset The support here - the accountablity here is very motivating... I know I haven't said it in a long time - but I think of you guys daily in my life. Oh I gotta tell Karri this or I gotta tell Phyl that - Candice will love this - Steph will understand you get my drift. You all are such a big part of my life and I am so very happy that we are together. Isn't it funny - that being on lbt gave us a whole new family.. Omw - I am sentimental this morning - I don't pms any more - but this must be one of those times where I have the symptoms of it anyway - In the past when I got pms I use to get very angry then towards the end - I got very lovie dovey I would tell my Xdh - oh I love you and he would say you must be pmsing and then I would look at the calendar and say oh ya I am :smile: Really I think cuz I am going to be missing you all - a whole week with out you guys... I have never been gone a whole week from here... That's scary for me.. So I may just have to buy the minutes on the ship and pop in to say hi quickly... Ok now I really am going to have to check in !!! To see how that goes!! Ya I think that once he mets the doc and sees how clean the facalties are he will change his mind.. Good Morning Gang - Yep I'm up early - I think it's cuz I am really excited and I want tomorrow to get here.. Having coffee waiting for 7 to hit the gym (so I can pack my tennis shoes) then go get my hair cut at 9 then nails - a little target shopping - wash my sheets - vaccum my room. Oh did I tell you - I am packed - was worried my stuff wouldn't fit in my new suitcase - so packed it last night - fits like a dream with a little room left - not much - but this is the kicker - I have one suit case just for shoes !!! It's my little rolling carry on - I have casual black shoes - dressy black shoes - my fun multi color heels - white shoes - tennis shoes and yes threw in 3 pairs of flip flops on top of that.. The problem now a days is that my shoes now consist of heels well really platform type shoes where as before all I wore was flats (thong sandals) cuz that's all my feet could stand and even walking in those hurt my feet - Now I can walk all day in some of my casual platform type shoes.. Ok off the fb to play some pathword I will ck back later.. Hugs & Love Janet

That's great, Liz!! I am so excited for you! I am learning to appreciate the NSVs. I traveled this weekend for the first time since surgery. I was COMFORTABLE in the seat on the airplane, CINCHING my belts on both flights, and generally not self conscious about how I looked or how uncomfortable I was (or made a seat mate). It's great!! I love hearing about your NSV. I find that I am more inspired by those than the numbers we report. Don't get me wrong, when I weigh myself tomorrow morning I hope to see myself in the 250s (not since.... gods, 10 years ago???), but I am so high on feeling and looking better and these NSVs, I am driven by everyone else's to go for those feelings. Maybe I am rambling a bit; I am exhausted. But thank you again for sharing. You're awesome!

I had sort of an NSV this weekend... I WAS out getting active, and kayaked 7.5 miles of beautiful river near my house.. But that's not the NSV.. For my birthday my Mom bought me a new bathing suit that I had fallen in love with. I haven't been comfortable in a bathing suit in years, but once I tried this particular suit on, I knew it was "the one". I have always worn a t-shirt and shorts over my bathing suit, but still felt like crawling under a rock in public.. I decided it was time to change that. Since this time last year, I am down 51lbs, and I am determined to change my ways. So- This weekend while out with my peeps kayaking, I decided to leave the t-shirt and shorts behind. And I wore JUST my new suit... confidently! I felt totally empowered by this! I also wanted to share a couple of pics.. Hope you enjoy! ~Kerri Me: The crystal clear water:) Some of the peeps:

CONGRATS Special K!!!! How awesome to hit that 100 pound mark!!! I'm back from my vacation. I think I did ok. I tracked my food every day, BUT I forgot my little food calculator book. Some stuff I remembered, some I did not. I will see how I did tomorrow when I step on the scale. I missed my wii fit, but we did some hiking and playing on the playground. Which reminds me.... NSV - I slid down the sliding board! I haven't done that in many years. It was fun! I was afraid my butt wouldn't fit, but it did and it was a blast. My son thought it was funny that I went down the sliding board. I totally enjoyed it.

Oh my goodness, I am crying and laughing at all of these!! And aren't these victories really the best? I know the scale has its own story to tell us, but it is life we should learn our lessons from. I can't wait to be able to add to this wonderful list! Three more weeks until surgery. Blessings to all of you, and I can only imagine how many more NSVs you have all had since this thread began!! Yahoo to You!!

I've noticed that since being banded, I've not suffered from daily headaches. I put it down to eating better. Today for some reason I did a bad thing. A very bad thing. I ate one of those mini Almond Joy bars. Wouldn't you know it, I've had a headache most of the afternoon. Now I have the choice of either suffering through it or succumbing to that gawd-awful liquid Tylenol to get rid of it. I guess that's a NSV of sorts. Not a very pleasant one though, lol. Still..... lesson learned! No more choccy! Bad choccy! Choccy make head booboo! :peep: Citygirl sorry to hear about your fill drama. I'm glad you got it sorted out though. I'm really surprised the doc didn't use that fluroscope thingy the first time round. I'd insist on it for every fill from now on if I were you!

Had the most fun potluck tonight. The theme was "game meat". Now, don't get me wrong here, I usually don't like game meat all that much...I've learned to prepare moose well enough that you really can't tell...anyhoo....you all know that I've had some issues eating meat (it easily gets stuck) so I was a little leary of the fair so I brought some spaghetti with moose-meat sauce because I know I can eat THAT. Here is what else was offered - and went down well! Sweet and sour Musk Ox (that meat really was GOOD!) Baked salmon (now, you KNOW that was good) Moose meat balls Seal meat on rice (quite "gamy", but the texture was fantastic) Sauted goose meat with onions Dried salmon strips (my kids love these) Lots of moose salami-type stuff Tundra berries with sweetened condensed milk (blueberries, cranberries, salmonberries, etc.) My FAVORITE is a moose-sausage stuffed with olives and jalapenos - I usually hate jalapenos, but this is sooooo good! It was fun to try all these new things (and there were SEVERAL more dishes that I didn't mention - these people really know how to do a pot luck I tell ya!) Iditarod is coming...time to visit folks! NSV: I wrapped a REGULAR towel around myself today...not a bath sheet!

Hey Jessica--My band twin! Wow! Level 3! I'll be cheering for you! Kathy--I PMed you. Thank you again for setting this up and tracking us. Phyl--What a nice pic! You have changed a lot since summer--you just glow! My NSV for the week was to be able to button the buttons on my daughter's North Face winter jacket. Now she is a size 6, although the jacket is a L, but none the less, it was a huge NSV for me! I think she wants to give the jacket to me so I can buy her a new one--we'll have to see about that! I kinda think I should get to buy a new one. . . Got the Christmas tree up. Today I'll clean up the house and maybe put up afew more decorations. Kinda cluttered here, with my son and his wife living downstairs, my daughter home from school and another son coming home next week. I LOVE IT! So fun to have them around and all their friends. Constant people coming and going. I don't even miss dh right now.

Oh, I forgot--Kathy asked about motivation. I have to be honest here. I have a son and daughter who are in serious relationships with wonderful people. I suspect there will be two weddings coming up, and I didn't want to let worrying about what to wear spoil my happiness for them. The other thing was that I was feeding a baby one day and couldn't hold her on my lap because there wasn't much lap there. I had to hold the baby off to the side to feed her the bottle. (Remember when you were pregnant?) I thought that it would be so sad not to be able to hold and enjoy my grandbabies. Honestly, that's my motivation. The good news is that I held another baby last weekend and had a LOT more room on my lap this time. A NSV! Now of course it will be wonderful to pitch the sleep apnea machine, not have joint pain and carpal tunnel, get off the blood pressure and cholesterol medications, and have more energy!

Jaime - I got fills that were a few months apart. This worked for me (especially since I had to travel to get them) because I had to "adjust" myself...and also knowing FOR SURE that I needed a fill. I've lost a decent amount of weight. A little slower than others, but it's not a race, it's life! You don't HAVE TO get a fill anyway, it just helps the tool to work better. Just take your time and PLAN on a few fills the first year - you'll be fine and we're here for support. Brandy - thinking/praying for you and your DH...even way up here! Maybe the Northern Lights ARE majical?! Mini - that's just WAY COOL that you've been chosen. You should be very proud of how you've coped with this terrible disease in your life. I'm not sure I could be so graceful. Now: the boobs - I, too, have breast cancer in my near maternal side, but breast tissue changes so rapidly that I wouldn't get myself all worked up about it - because that can cause tissue changes too! The neighbors - this is going to sound corny/cheesy, but why don't you pray for your neighbors? Yeah, go ahead with the lawyers, etc., but maybe they just need a friend and that's why they want to live so close. After all that praying I suggest getting some really loud, young, super ADHD foster kids to play in the back yard! :thumbup: Works here! Lifesaver - I'm totally not interested in BFL (although that may change), but I wanted to thank you for passing along valuable information. Thank you, thank you! I was just thinking that I wrote, but no one was listening...then WHAMO tons of kudos for my NSV leather jacket! Thank you so much...I really DO need that sometimes! As do we all or we wouldn't be here. Halloween Challenge: Got my scale working so maybe I'll be able to weigh myself Friday. I'm on a volleyball team now and that's at least getting me active (and bruised...you should see my arms!)...even got slamed in the head from a Samoan spiking the ball! I'm so tough! (Sarcasm there!) Anyway, I've decided to not try so hard with the dieting...I was so miserable last week and not enjoyable to be around...I decided that I'll just be more careful about what I put in my mouth and choose "good" food over crap and see how that goes. I may be in need of a fill, but that's not happening for a while if it does at all. I'm not quitting, but I'm not going to be as miserable as I was a couple of years ago when I WAS fat and didn't have the Band!

Phyl - I agree its time to go off on them. I am always too patient and put up with bad service too long and hold it in then if it gets bad enough I blow up. This has only happened 8 or 10 times in my life but it is not pretty when it does happen. I would let them have it. What about going to another doctor? My dw was having pizza as I was reading your post regarding pizza. I am soooo hungry. Laurend - I am going to try alternating my calorie intake weekly at least until my fill. I have no problem increasing it, I don't know about reducing it. Chim - Yes we are going to make it. On a positive note - NSV - I donated 3 large garbage bags of clothes to Goodwill las week. I hope I don't need them again before I get my fill. Indiogirl - Thanks for the info re: onederland. It will be a while for me, is there a twoderland ? What is motivating me to lose weight? Two Things: 1. Health. I have a serious back problem and could loose control of my bowls, bladder or leg(s) at any time. I was told that two years ago after an MRI. I was sent to a surgeon who said I was too fat to have back surgery and that if I lost use of my bladder, bowls or leg(s) to go directly to the emergency room. Also he said if I lost weight I could come back an he would operate. Nuts to him. I am going to loose weight and hopefully after losing half of my body mass my back issues will be manageable without back surgery. Thats my plan. 2. Not to sound corny, but I would like to be a better husband and father. My dw has said I have already stooped snoring! Its a start.

Labgeek... Where or bring slip-on shoes. That was great for me. I had flip flops and streach pants, w/shirt. I was also really thirsty on the way home, I could not drink that much but needed to keep my throat wet, so I would say an extra bottle of water as well. Good luck and let us know how you are! Anita, Thanks for telling us about the fill. I go tomorrow and am scared, but so anxious as well. I am also a big wimp (all five feet of me) when it comes to needles BUT I have not lost one dang pound in three weeks so this fill has to work for me! Michelle, Great job working with the trainer and on your NSV!! Also let us know how your fill goes todays. You know we want all the details!!!

My band mommy looks HOT! I will post my pictures on Feb 9, which is my 6 month bandiversary. Yesterday was a huge NSV day. You all know that I have been struggling with body image issues, but I think I had a bit of a break through yesterday. We went to Wal-Mart last night and some of their clothes were marked down to 3.00$ and since that is cheaper than our thrift stores here I bought a few shirts. XL are starting to be a little to big so I thought I could go to a L. Well they didn't have larges in all of the colors/styles that I wanted so I decided I would get some mediums that I would shrink into. So I came home and tried them on and lo and behold some of the mediums actually fit. I will have to lose a few more pounds for all of them to fit, but I couldn't believe that I was standing in my living room wearing a size medium shirt. To be honest, even when I dreamed of what my smallest size would be when I lost the weight, I prayed that it would be a large. I don't ever forsee being in a small on the top because I really do have a wide rib cage. There is not much fat left on it and bones aren't supposed to shrink! But I can't even make a goal for the size pants that I will be in. All of this is unimaginable to me. For the first time last night I looked in the mirror and I didn't see myself as fat. It was earth shattering in a good way. Well I am sick as a dog. I think I caught what my BF had and it is terrible. I can't think and I am trying to plan for a sub and it just isn't working. Usually I strategically plan the days that I am absent so sub plans are easy, but when it happens that I am actually sick and need to be gone, sub plans are a nightmare.

Imfine and Car, welcome to the Lucky 7's. Chim, been wondering where you were. Hope you'e doing good. Marcy, you have restriction!!! Way to go only eating 3 pieces. Sunny, where have your been. Dini, did you kidnap Sunny and take off. You didn't even stop and get me!! You've been MIA for a while now!! Nurse76, I think you dropped of the planet, where ae you??? Hope you've been well and doing good in school. Stop in and see us!! dmtjet, have your room ready yet, the kiddies are coming soon!! Cazulay, do you like Curves? I did it for a year, but am no longer a member. I liked it, but then I went and spent $200 on a home gym that I don't use, go figure. But I plan to get on it soon. ssankofa, love the attitude. Let it go and start fresh this week. I went to the physchologist today. She said I was doing great. Had to weigh in again. I lost another lb from their last record, but was 2 lbs heavier than my scale. I'm figuring with my jeans on instead of light shorts and being in the aftenoon makes a diference. I'm beginning to not like the scale, as you weigh different at different times, at different places. Too hard to keep track of. I've decided to let my scale go, to the basement. Out of sight, out of mind. I'll continue to get weighed at the office and that's it. I'm not changing my ticker, it's just going to have to wait for me to get there with the doc's scale numbers. I've decided it's going to be a long road, and with every journey we take we will have ups, and downs. I know it will come off if I follow the rules and guidelines. I need to start paying more attention to the NSV's that are sure to come, than what the numbers say on the scale. After all, isn't that what we are all lokking forward to the most. Remember all those things that we listed that we were looking forward to accomplishing with the loss. Not one of us mentioned a number. When I think about losing the weight, I imagine myself healthy at the end, not thin, and a scale can't measure my health. It's just a number.

Am having friends over for drinks on the deck tonight. No worries about mosquitoes here at the moment so you’d be safe @GreenTealael but frost bite is a distinct possibility. Brrrr. Not an OOTD, more a NSV I wanted to share. Yesterday I was putting on some opaque tights & I realised I was standing & bending over to put them on. I used to have to sit down & physically lift one leg up & place it over the other just to pull one leg on. Happy dance.

been going to the pilates studio almost everyday now (a few times ive gone twice a day, thats how addicted i am to it). got tired of washing the same 4 pairs of yoga pants every few days, so decided to buy some new ones! got these babies in 5 colours (black, pink, blue, red and these brown ones)...for $10 each! bonus NSV: finding my size in abundance in the clearance section! win! ...now i gotta buy some new tops..

Thank you @Jeanne. I will. Today I’m better emotionally. I was just completely overwhelmed yesterday that the scale didn’t move again. It’s been a few weeks with no change. I’m trying to focus on NSV as someone told me yesterday. It’s been hard but I’m determined to stay positive and see it through.

Only 3 more days in my casual office. A great NSV for me today. Size 28 Levi skinny jeans. I wore these 6 years ago when I was at my lowest before my gain. I went shopping in my to small Jeans tub and all of them fit. Have a great day ladies.

Jill--glad you are feeling better. For me when I am too tight an unfill just does the trick and I am able to get right back on track. Steph--hoping to be a hot mama??? C'mon, you will be! Forget aboutit, you will be skinny and stealing the brides thunder. But not on purpose of course because that would just be mean. NSV ladies--I got called a skinny b*tch! WOO HOOO!!!!!!! :scales: I made somone mad at the grocery store parking lot and when I got out she yelled at me at called me a "stupid skinny bitch" lol...I am just sticking to the skinny part.

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.

Jill---congratulations on the NSV! I bet that feels better than great! GOOD FOR YOU! Transformer--I haven't felt the need to eat it yet, thank goodness! I locked it up as well! lol..thanks for the vote of confidence though! Maud--Hey sweetie! Long time no see! How ya doing girl? Nikki--good morning to you and our baby boy! How is he and mommy doing? Sweet--I think I am ok if I don't get it this year, I am back to working hard at the gym. VA--woooo hooooo I bet you are happy girl today! What a great World Series!! I wish it was my Tigers, but congrats to you and your Sox! Brandi--where are you sweetie peatie? Wish I had kept your number I would have called you!!