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Yesterday I went to my 6 week post op appointment (was actually more like 7 week post op) and boy oh boy did it go well! First they weighed me and the nurses tech was smiling from ear to ear to announce that I have lost just under 70lbs in 6 weeks. Then they redid the BMI calculator and IN 30 MORE LBS I WILL BE WITHIN A NORMAL WEIGHT FOR MY AGE/HEIGHT/BODY MASS!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!? NO LONGER OBESE?!?!?!?!??! I don't even know how to process that information in my head! So, then the Dr. tells me that I should be looking to loose another 30-60 lbs but that getting down to the lowest part of that might not happen because I am "no longer 18 years old". Psh, if only I could have been this small when I was 18 yrs old! That dude has NO IDEA what I can accomplish with this sleeve! NSV: Went to the gap this week. Went straight for the Clearance rack (as per usual), grabbed a whole bunch of things from the largest section of clothing (praying that maybe SOMETHING would fit and be cheap enough to buy even though it wasn't something that I really was hoping to find)went to the fitting room, tried on the first sweater and IT HUNG TO MY KNEES!!!!!!! YOWZER! So I show my sister in law who was shopping with me and she says, "Kim, you need to go at LEAST 2 sizes smaller". Which of course made my day. I feel like a million bucks. The scary thing is that when i look into the mirror I still see the same thing. I didn't get a chance to take "before" pictures, so I don't know how to compare my body now to my body then. All I know is that I have dropped almost 4 pant sizes in 7 weeks and for the first time IN MY LIFE I can buy GAP clothes and I'm not even in their biggest size! 6 months ago this was all inconcievable to me. Never have I known what kind of outfit I wanted to buy, went to the mall, found a store that sold that kind of outfit, found it on the rack, and bought it. It's always whatever the store has in stock that will fit my XXL body and hide my rolls. Lovin' life.

I guess I should explain why I feel I need this surgery. I was always the smallest child (or close to it) all thru school. I weighed 98 pounds when I was graduated from high school. I was always a 'hungry' child - eating anything and everything I could get my hands on. We were moderately 'poor' so mostly starches, beans, etc. From the birth of my daughter (when I was 20 on), the scales started creeping up. (I thought I was 'fat' at 130 pounds and 5'2" after I delivered!!) After a divorce, raised my daughter on my own. I decided I would not 'do without' if I could help it. Had a successful career as a systems analyst/computer programmer - a sedentary job. Remarried after my daughter left home and married. Retired at age 55 in 2002 (mainly because I couldn't function anymore - no energy, etc). Shortly after retiring, my 'not doing without - food mainly' caught up with me. Found out why I couldn't function any longer. My LAD artery was 90% blocked (had been having symptoms for probably 2 years but stress tests previous had come back normal.) Diagnosed with coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure all approximately same time in 2003. (Already had been on meds for high cholesterol for a few years by that time). I had made several weight loss attempts through the years - WW, Optifast, Fen-Phen, Diet Workshop and more of the same. Tried to buckle down after the stents in LAD and artery to kidney and lose weight. Atkins, South Beach, etc, doctor assisted shakes, etc, etc. Gained another 10-15 pounds. Right knee replacement almost 2 years ago due to previous injuries (falls). My orthopedic surgeon said on my first followup 'You have the smallest bones I have ever seen for such a large person." Boy, what a compliment! My husband laughed his ass off!! However, he is being supportive for this surgery so I am very happy about that! So here I stand - a 5'2" 245ish pound lardass ready to try to turn my health around. I don't feel like I have the extra year to waste to go on an insurance-required diet and am lucky enough to have enough money in my retirement account to be self-pay (and hopefully live long enough to spend the rest of it!!) If I could lose (and keep the weight off) on the diet it would already be a done deal and I wouldn't need the lapband surgery!! I hope to be able to do all these things when I lose some weight: 1) Ride my horse without worrying that I am breaking his back!! 2) Have the energy to clean my house and shovel out all the stuff I gathered thru the years. 3) Stick my arm in that blood pressure thing at Walmart and not have it get stuck there!! And use a normal blood pressure cuff! 4) Walk somewhere without huffing and puffing and stopping to rest 20 times. 5) Get off all these pills I am taking - or at least most of them!! 6) Quit getting my butt stuck in chairs/theatre seats, etc with arms. 7) Have enough energy to play with grandkids, do some gardening, ride my bike. 8) Not be the biggest person in the room. (Already accomplished this when I went to the bariatric clinic-how sad. Finally sat in a chair too big for me!! But I don't consider this a NSV) What a sick mentality I have that I rejoice that someone in the room is bigger than me - this isn't usually the case tho. 9) Do something besides read, crochet and watch soaps on tv all day long because I don't feel like doing much else. 10) I'm sure there are many more but I have gone brain-dead for now. Thanks to all those who support people here on this forum. I read the good, the bad and the ugly here (in probably half the posts) before making my final decision to have the lapband surgery. I am not usually a joiner but more a lurker so probably won't be posting very often. I started out making my journal private because I was writing it mainly for me but decided maybe if it could help even one person make the journey it would be worth it.

So one of my goals from preop was to be able to wear my husband's t-shirts. Not that I will wear them but just that I could be able to. He wears a large and I can't ever remember buying large shirts. For as long as I can remember I've only ever bought XL shirts. A few months ago I found a t-shirt that I really liked but they didn't have it in an XL so I went ahead and bought it in a large. I wore it this past weekend!!! I also tried on one of my husband's t-shirts and IT FIT!!! GGGOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!! I was so excited! I also had a pretty funny NSV the other day. I was standing and looked down and saw a shadow next to me, I couldn't figure out who was standing next to me until I realized it was my OWN shadow! I didn't even recognize my own shadow! I couldn't help but laugh. I also saw a picture of myself that a random kid took of me, took me a second to realize who I was looking at there too. It is strange seeing this thinner, healither (and prettier too if I can say that without sounding conceited) woman looking back at me

Way to go Maddie, don't you love those nsv victories?? Keep on rockin the sleeve!

I wanted to share with you guys a discussion I had with my S/O tonight. As some of you may or may not know I've been majoring in psych for a few years now with a concentration in Drug and Alcohol addictions, this I have found is more of just addictions in general then adding the "drug and alcohol" label to it. So here is how the conversation went. I am one lucky person to be able to have food in my house that I know I can't eat. No one else in my household has a weight problem and my son is actually always on the fringe of being underweight. So anyway, last time we went to the store I bought some brownie mix for me to make with my son on a snowy day or something and it sits in the cabinet forgotten by me completely until the day he wants to make some brownies. I had a rough day on Wed. in one of my peer counseling groups where I was listening to a tragic story of something that one of my peers witnessed at her job involving a child. As a mother I was outraged at what I was hearing and had to spend alot of my day controling my emotions and wrapping my head around what I had heard because when you work in the field I do you always question how you can make the world different and better so that some of this nonsense that goes on everyday can stop. I was so wrapped up in my thoughts though that I started to take what this woman said personally and started over doing it and imagining my child being the one who was in danger and had no one to stand up for him....so my S/O works nights and I'm home by myself alot and when my son goes to bed it's just me.... I didn't want to feel the way I was feeling and was getting so wrapped up in it that I took out the brownie mix and I was going to make a whole damn box of brownies because of what I was FEELING. I did not make the box of brownies I am proud to share... but I do want to share that what I was feeling was going to get the best of me and what I tell someone who may have a crack addiction who was going through the feelings of rage and hurt I was is to sit still for a while and FEEL that. It's okay for me to feel that rage and anger and eating a box of brownies would not have changed what I was feeling nor would it had changed what happened to that child I heard was hurt....so to make a long story longer I just think that food can be just like a drug but sometimes we have to walk away (or if you're nutz like me stare at a box of brownies for way too long) and just sit there and feel that for a minute. I got through my emotions that day and I FEEL better for doing it. And the bonus is that on Wed. I didn't have to work through the extra feeling of guilt because I made the right decision and worked through what I was going through. Welcome to the journey you guys! Not everyday is full of weight losses and NSV's!

Sounds like an NSV to me. Congratulations and thank you for sharing.

I was a little discouraged this morning because I am only a couple days past 2 weeks post-op and this is like the 4th day in a row that the scale hasn't budged. So, instead of freaking out and giving up (which I probably would have done in the past) I decided to take my measurements. The last time I took my measurements was only about 9 days ago so I didn't expect a huge change but I just wanted to test the "if you're not losing pounds, you're probably losing inches" theory and boy am I glad I did!.... 1 inch here, 2 inches there, 1/2 inch here and there, for a total of 6 inches lost over the past 9 days! I'm not gonna lie, I still desperately wanna see that scale start moving down again but I'm SO excited about my first NSV that I just wanted to share it with my sleeve-friends and to hopefully encourage those who are also going through a "stall" to check your measurements regularly because even though I was sad this morning, now I feel re-energized and re-motivated to keep going! :)

So I'm in the shower last week, soaping up as usual. I feel an egg-sized cyst where my upper ribs and right breast meet. It's not too hard, and I can move it with my fingers. I'm alarmed only because of it's size and location. I just may be the luckiest bandster in the world because my wonderful surgeon (Dr. Woody Denham) is five blocks east of my condo, and he's affiliated with the same hospital as my internist and OBGYN. Fun fact - I was born there 45 years ago :rolleyes2: Anyhoo, his staff heard the fear in my voice (near the breast, 45 years old, etc) and asked me to come in as soon as I dried off. One hour later, my dear surgeon assured me that I had a harmless lipoma (fatty cyst) that has most likely been there for years. No link to obesity and quickly removed with one afternoon off work. Reason I felt it? Rapid weight loss :cry_smile: It's weird, scary and fun all at the same time! Love to all Knockouts!

Now that is a NSV worth jotting down in your diary! And if you don't have a diary start one today just for this! Congrats!

When I sit in the tub, it hurts now, because I have NO booty anymore lol

WOW Ash Isn't that A GREAT NSV Moment!! I bet you were grinning from ear to ear!! I LOVE hearing these stories! Keep up the good work!

nice :-) I had an unexpected NSV yesterday. My grandson was playing on the kitchen floor and he managed to bunch up the rug in front of the sink. I was at the stove, didn't realize there was a hazard behind me, and backed up to get to the sink. I *almost* went down but was able to catch myself with the counter midway to the floor. My husband was impressed :-) I have hurt myself several times by slipping and not being able to stop myself from falling. Woo hoo!

Hi everyone hope you are all in good health. This made me laugh so hard today I wanted to share it with you all. I was sitting on the toilet today and noticed my thighs were not completely hugging over the toilet seat, lol I couldn't stop laughing I was so happy to see how much inches I have lost. Share your funniest NSV if you can would love to read them.. Thxs

Thank you I look forward v to the NSV

So, I've always been the type that hates exercise, sweat, getting hot, etc. Monday, I ran for the first time in... 6-7 years. I ran 1 mile, with breaks. Today, I ran another mile. Without stopping. Clocked in at 12:41. It is slow, but I'm super proud What is a realistic running regimen for me? My dream has always been to run a 5k. I just never thought Id last half lap around the track. I plan to run a mile 3 times a week. It's one of my biggest NSV: I can't believe I can run! Sure I'm slow, but wow... Running??? Do you think a 5k is something that I could shoot for and how would I go about training for this? Any and all advice is much appreciated! I'm a fish out of Water when it comes to exercise.

The very first time those jeans that were just a little tight slide on without a problem. When someone says "Wow, you look good, have you lost weight. There will be lots of NSV in your future just wait for it. The excitement will soar

Way to go girl! I started out exercising really good, but since the holidays I just haven't been motivated. I've got to get back on track. I even got an elliptical after Thanksgiving, I think I've used it about 5 times . Great NSV! Keep up the great work!

Awww that's a terrific NSV!! How wonderful that you were able to feel so good on your sister's special day!!

Was at my sisters wedding on Friday and had a blast. It was so much fun. Everyone was amazed at how I looked and kept calling me things like skinny, slim and tiny. Kept hearing you're melting away, you are disapearing etc etc. I love all the compliments and at the same time it makes me feel a little weird. I don't know, but I still don't see me as skinny etc. In the past it was always at this point that the tides would turn and I would gain what ever I lost back. The best thing is that the ones that know me better, didn't say those things but did ask how I felt and how was my over all health with the weight loss. That is when I got animated about it all because I haven't felt this good in over a decade. A couple of NSV's from the wedding: They gave all the brides maids these beautiful Tiffany like silver bracelets. I was so afraid mine would not fit, well because those things never fit my wrists and it did, it fit perfectly. They also gave the brides maids these little tank tees in their color ( it was a rainbow wedding I was medium blue ) to wear the day of the wedding when everyone was getting ready together. They got me a large and I smiled and put it back in the box thinking, no way in hell is this thing going to fit me. But it did fit and it wasn't even a tight fit, it fit with room in it. I normally do not wear anything that shows my upper arms because of the skin and stretch marks, but I wore it that day with a smile.

Hey, that is a great NSV. But, doing laundry will never, ever make me smile. I hate doing laundry!

For me, I will not accept 1 percent of fat more than what my ideal weight is, which is 140-145. I am 5'7" and that weight puts me a little higher than smack dab in the middle of normal weight. I did not have this surgery to accept less. I don't care what any doctor or nutritionist says. It's my goal. I still remember what I looked like at 155 lbs and I had at least 10 more pounds to go to get to the weight I'm supposed to be at. I won't settle for less. My NSVs include getting my health back and being able to work out like I used to; to go hiking when I want; to be able to do my career with the most versatility. But I will not budge on that weight, because I KNOW I will get there. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Happy for you great nsv

Def a NSV! Congrats!

I haven't lost any weight in about 5 weeks so I was getting bummed. But I can Celebrate my NSVs. Last Friday I squeezed into size 14 jeans!!! And managed to breathe good enough to ride 250 miles in them. Last year I worked really hard for 6 months to lose weight and bought 5 new suits. Then my dad died and I regained the weight plus more. I never got to wear the suits. I still weigh 7 pounds more than I did then but I wore 2 of them this week!! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

That is quite the awesome NSV!!