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Oh... and is this a NSV?????? I can now feel my port. It was weird. Last night while changing into my pj's I rubbed my belly and felt the hardness of my port and the even funnier thing is that it is NOT at ALL where I thought it was.. I guess I've lost enough belly fat to feel it. This morning I felt it again just to make sure I wasn't dreaming it. :eek: p.s. GOOD LUCK WITH FILL #2 Terri!

Yay - we have some more January Bandsters joining in. Okay everyone, I have to share my NSV! I'm so happy, I want to yell it from the roof top! One of my goals was to buy a pair of low rise jeans, not too low, but lower than my "mom Jeans". Anyhow, this weekend I bought my first pair! The best news, they are not in the womens section, they were in the junior section, and you ready for this, a size 13! And, I actually look good in them. lol. I'm wearing them today and I can't even tell you the compliments I got today. Its a brand of jeans called "cruel girl", I've been wanting them forever, but never could fit into them, the largest size they make up is a size 15 juniors. Anyhow, tried a pair on and they slid on like a great pair of gloves. I love them! I took my before BFL challenge pictures in a bikini (just for my viewing purpose to see how much I improve in my stomach area). I took my 4 week progress shot this weekend and OMG, I can't believe the difference. I am still fat, and still wouldn't wear a bikini out in public, but the difference in my bikini area (stomach) is unbelievable after just 4 weeks. I still have 8 more weeks to complete this challenge, and I might be brave enough to share the 12 week shot with you guys - if you promise not to laugh. lol. Me in a bikini is pretty scary. But I really wanted to see the difference in my ab area and I'm seeing it. The only area I still have problem with is my damn cellulite. Any suggestions on how to improve that? I'm hoping if I continue to lose some fat and exercise it will improve. Lord I hope so. I am just so happy today in my jeans! I can't believe I am actually wearing a pair of low rise, cruel girl, size 13 juniors jeans....and I can even breathe in them! Didn't have to lay down and tuck and pull to get them on! LOL. Exercise is paying off ladies, for those of you that haven't started, you have to do it.....start out by walking only, I did. Start slow and move up. Before you know it, you'll trade your food addiction to exercise - which is a much better addiction. I hope everyone is doing okay....

Mrs Husker; My sympathies to your family and his. Matt is with the Lord and his soul is shining from the heavens. God bless us all!! Hello Everyone, I was in North Carolina for a week and just returned. I had a FABULOUS time there. I will admit that I had some slip ups with my eating. Not that I ate a WHOLE LOT but I did eat things that I know I shouldn't have. Also, I only did one days worth of exercise and crunches. However, I can say that I did get in ALL my water and protein intake each day!! Now its back to reality and I have to get that scale moving in opposite direction. It felt good to hear people comment on weight loss. I did not think that I looked that different. I always had clear skin but I got plenty of comments on my face glowing. I had to tell people that I was not pregnant. I've missed you guys so so so so much. Although I had loads of fun, it felt weird not being able to log on an tell you guys. I'm happy to be back. I want to congratulate everyone on their NSV's :clap2: Lilnena and Demsvmejm - you guys rock. :rockon: Tammy and Thick: :wow2: You two are beautiful! What an awesome difference. OH Julie: I missed ya, girl!!!! LoriPA: Way to go on the Arthritis Walk!!! Well its time to get my butt back in gear. No more country cookin for a little while.

Wow Violets.. I just caught up on all the weekend posts! Janie: YOU ARE STILL SHRINKING!!!!!!!!!! Kat: I snorted water out my nose with the boob comment from your DH! Laura: WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!! ( I always weigh nekid! ) Terri: Another pound gone AWESOME! Judy: I see that you are closing in on ONEderland too! What day is DH having surgery? Angie: How was your weekend post fill? Everyone Else! HANG IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!! For me.. well I ate way too much crap this weekend, didn't drink enough water and didn't exercise..... but the NSV is that even though I did have a Blizzard it was a KIDS size and not a LARGE! Even though I had a Cheeseburger I DID NOT EAT THE BUN....... I have to take DBF to the airport later today so I will be out for the p.m. and then I want to do some major house cleaning.... I still have two weeks til my first fill.......... Like Jane.. I can eat anything and I continue to bounce on the weekends because I'm eating crap, and then work all week to get it back off..... TracyTX: How are you feeling today?

I had a wild weekend in Kalamazoo MI visiting with old friends and over endulged in food and spirits (I think I am still hung over!) but managed to squeek out 2lbs, I am sure it will all catch up with me next week. I am going to post this pic as an NSV, I would NEVER have done this pre-band no matter how much I had to drink...

OMG I just tried on a pair of pants that I haven't received in 2 yrs...they fit!!!! Size 20 (I started this journey in a size 24)...woohoo!!! My first NSV!!!

Bman you are a weight loss machine nat- hope you feel better soon maurdan I am not sure about the stretched pouch thing but I do know I can never eat more than one cup at a time with any food My scale is still stuck I have been doing my workouts eating well I think I need less carbs I struggle with this so much and it should not be okay nsv I buttoned a pair of 16's I have not worn sixteens since I was 16 for real I am thrilled my sis in law just can not believe that I have only lost 35 lbs she says looks more like 60 that is great to here well check yall all later

Good Afternoon March bandsters! here is my NSV!!!!! Had two people at work ask if I'd been losing weight...No one knows I had the LB surgery. I said "Thanks!, my lifestyle changes are really paying off!" I'm glad someone, besides me, finally noticed! I've been working really hard with this band and a little compliment goes a long way for my motovation. I could kick myself! I never took body measurments before my surgery. I don't fit into my sz 18 pants any longer and the few pairs of 16's are kinda baggy in the waist. The scale hasn't moved in a few weeks, so i'm sure i'm losing inches with all my walking/jogging. Our local "fitness" center has a special for $30.00 a month, all the water aerobics, weight room usage and swimming you want. Thinking about joining for a month to see if I can really find the time to get away from the kids to do this. There isn't a trainer for the weight room, it's all on your own, not sure i would know what to do. Everyone have a GREAT WEEKEND.....let's all get outside and get our bodies moving! The snow is gone and spring has arrived in Northern Michigan!

That a great NSV DENISE, I have that problem too, with taking compliments, we are losing weight fasting than our minds can caught up:eek: You still lovin' it in Twoterville:heh: In about another 44lbs and I'll be leaving you:heh:

It's been over 9 months and I'm just now getting up the guts to post before and afters. Right now my scale is broken but I know I'm over 60 lost. I still have 100 to go but today I had a HUGE NSV. I went to buy some new carpi's for work and before surgery I wore 28's (tight) 30/32's. Today I grabbed a 26 and too big. 24...too BIG! I bought 22's!!!! I can't remember the last time that happened. It's been over 10 years since I fit 22's!!! My shirts are still bigger because I carry my weight around my mid section, but I can now shop for shirts at lane bryant again. Anyways, I figured it's time to post some pic's. I finally see a difference! Thanks to everyone for being so inspiring! Love you all! First pic was taken a few days prior to surgery and the second was taken tonight!

Hi Marchies, I've been MIA for a couple of weeks. I've had some issues between a pulled muscle in my abdomen which is EXCRUCIATING at times, and constipation causing hemorrhoids/anal fissures I've been pretty miserable. I went for a fill on 4/15 but Dr. Singh wanted to wait. He said if he gave me a fill and I was too tight I would have vomiting which would aggravate my muscle so he told me to rest the muscle to help it heal and to come back in 3 weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that by 6/12 I'm done with pain and able to get a fill! I've lost 17.5lbs since surgery but have had some NSV's. I'm down from a 26/28 in tops and bottoms to an 18 top, and I can fit into 24 bottoms but they are too snug in the hips to be comfortable

Hey all, Had my first fill yesterday, not at all what I expected but I don't feel any restriction at all. I am on liquids until tomorrow and started TOM yesterday so I am of course HUNGRY! I can make it through the liquids and have to wait a whole month to go back for the 2nd fill. Got 1cc yesterday and they said another 1cc next time. I hope this works for me. At least I am down from my initial consult 15lbs. thats a nsv. I was just praying I had lost something from my week post op visit and I had lost 5 lbs. of course I think I am retaining a little from TOM being right here and just starting. I hope so. I want to thank all of you for being an inspiration to me daily when I check these boards. And I am hoping that your advice shows up in the form of a signature at the end of this post! Here's hoping!

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!!!

Haydee, I am the same way! When I went in for surgery the only thing that really even bothered me was the shot in my tummy..... aHHHHH that freaked me out. The IV was a bit of a pain, but since I have had many IV's I knew what to expect. So I am worried about my fill tomorrow as well. I think I am going to take some of my liquid vicoden before I head to the Dr.s. You all are so funny. I am having a rotten day and then I read these posts and just started laughing! OMG this is so funny! "So this morning I got to work early and I decided I'm going to do some of that ab work where you get on all fours." That is something that would happen to me! Judy, Tell DH good job!! Also great job on your NSV. Everyone with fills this past week how are you feeling? Are you losing yet? (please please give me hope!) Are you still on liquids or able to eat?

Today is a new day and another NSV! I had to find new jeans to wear today cause my standard pair are too big. AND I thought I might need to get a new bra. I was a 44DD a couple weeks before surgery. Was a 42DD a couple of weeks after surgery and went to get a 40DD, but they didn't have that size. So I got a 38DD and hoped it would fit soon. Well, soon is TODAY. I tried it on and it fits!! PLUS I was wearing size 10 Fruit of the Loom undies and now I'm in 8's. Now this is information I can only share with DH and all the Shrink'n Violets. The rest of the world would not be that interested in my underwear, trust me.

Hey Maysters! Haven't checked in with you guys lately! How is everyone? Happy Bandaversary to all of you! We have done so well as a group! My Bandaversary is coming up in 9 days! I had hoped to be in Onederland (199) by then and am just outside of it. Today I weighed 204! How awesome is that?! I had another fill on Tuesday and am now up to 2.75 cc's in my band, so I'm still on liquids. HOPEFULLY I will make it to 199 by the 26th. If I don't, I won't be upset... this year has been amazing! I bought some size 14 MISSY's capri pants and a size 12 Missy's skirt the other day(It doesn't zip all the way, but it will). I have NEVER in my life shopped in the MISSY'S Department! I went straight from the Sear's half sizes when I was in elementary school to the Plus Size departments. I gotta admit that I am totally freaked out by the Missy's department and find myself wondering back to the safe, comfortable Plus Size area. This is a mental hangup that I have to get past. I feel totally out of my element in the Missys. How crazy is that? I have sooo many NSVs that I have exeperienced over this last year that I can't even begin to list them all... I had a wonderful talk with my surgeon the other day.... These were his comments: "Wow, do you realize that you have lost a lot more weight than we expect in just under a year?", and "You are definitely leading the pack", and "I can't ask for you to be doing any better" and "Since you have done so well... we aren't gonna go crazy with this fill.. the only thing worse than being too loose is being too tight". My doc made me feel sooo good about where I am right now! I love my band!!! Its the best 18 grand that I will ever spend. Also... I have been getting alot more attention from guys... A little background... my younger cousin (by about 4 years) and I have always been very close, she is practically my little sis... anyway.. she is adorable.. 5'6, 125, awesome blue eyes and gorgeous long flowing brown hair. She has recently become single(broke up with a total loser, thank you God!) and we've been hanging out a lot. In the past, I've always been the invisible fat girl with the hot cousin. Well, now I'm no longer invisible! I catch guys checkin me out a lot more now. This is nice, but I still am having lots of body issues. I think I've always hidden behind my weight and I am a little freeked out that its not gonna be my protection from the world anymore(I have no idea why I need this protection). Most people don't understand this because I am very outgoing... everyone's confidant, everyone's buddy,I never meet a stranger.... but nobody's girlfriend. My friends tell me that I put out a major "don't approach me vibe" when it comes to guys. I don't know why I do this... I guess it is because my self esteem has always been pretty low, which I have always attributed to being big. Anyway... the weight loss has been awesome and I will never regret being banded. I just gotta work on the self esteem and body image now. Slowly the fat girl in the mirror is being replaced by a "normal sized girl"...the transformation continues. Thanks for letting me rabmle and I know you guys can relate! Have a great day Mayster and thanks for being here for me!

HELLO Fellow Violets!!!!!!! I had a hard time getting in today so now it is already afternoon! I was VERY happy to see the weight on my siggy this a.m. now I want those 230's!!!!! I have had 1 pc cajun string cheese 1 fairly large pc of meatloaf 1 cookie ( ) 44 oz's of water..... My sister and her best friend just started a colon cleansing program Colon Cleansing, Constipation, IBS, Colonix, Cleanse, Detox – Online Resource and I am about ready to try it myself, I wonder if it would be ok for us! I'm guess it would be since we have all our innards. I will warn you the pics on the website are DISGUSTING so if you thought my surgery pictures were gross..... BE WARNED..... I will also say that my sis (who is only on day two) is already a believer.. she's had bathroom problems her ENTIRE LIFE... she used to run from my grandma if she had a bar of soap in her hand! LOL sad but true. Feed back anyone???? NSV: I am now able to wear 5 pairs of my old jeans and two of my old "good" bra's that I had gotten too wide for. My boss, today said he could tell I was losing weight.... (HE DOES NOT KNOW I HAD SURGERY) but he does know that I'm on a diet and paid to see a nutritionist. Also... this is pretty amazing because he is a near retirment normally unobservant MAN!

OH OH OH!! And I had an NSV today at lunch! Was trying on some new clothes (everything is BIG in my closet!!!) and instinctively went for the 16W's, which is the next size down for me. They were all too big! Guess what?? 14W's are just right!! That's a drop of 2 sizes so far!! Almost into the regular womens sizes!...maybe another 10#. Now THAT is gonna be one helluva day.

Hi ya'll, Has anyone else been having trouble with LBT? I keep getting error messages. I guess they don't have all the bugs worked out with the new format. The scale was kind to me after my Mother's Day indulgence, and I was still at 173 on Monday, which was down 1 lb. for the week. My 16-year old daughter has been wanting to walk in the evenings, and of course I want to support her fitness efforts, so in addition to my spinning classes, I've been doing some power walking in the evenings. Of course, I'm getting nothing *else* done in my life these days *except* the exercise. Lisa, I admire your running. I actually tried it the other day, but the ol' knees reminded me that I was practically crippled with knee issues a few months ago, and we *don't* want to go there again. I also keep a fairly moderate fill level, but it's my own choice. The fill nurse at my doc's office is pretty lenient, and offered me .5 at my last fill, but I declined, and asked for .25. That's been perfect for me. I can still eat solid foods, even a little bread occasionally, but am able to keep my hunger under control. Karey, let us know what you think of the Body Bugg. I've heard really good things about those. My daughter just got a pair of the Nike Plus shoes. You put in this little device, which sends a signal to her iPod Nano, and tells her # of steps, calories burned, and let's her design fitness routines which it monitors on her computer. Pretty cool. Sandy, congrats on the 3# drop! And, yes, my blog is visible. If you go to my LBT profile, there's a link there to my OH profile. If you have trouble finding it, let me know. Mim, you're gorgeous *and* a computer whiz? Dang, what a combination! Congrats on being "normal"! Unfortunately, no matter how much weight I lose, I will always be slightly *abnormal*. April!!! It's good to hear from you! I'm so glad to hear your problem resolved itself, and that you've got your band in gear again. Don't stay away so long! Lifelongband, 7 lbs. in one week??!!! That's awesome, congratulations. You're really moving along. I had a really nice NSV this week. I was crossing the street, and a couple of guys drove by in a hot sports car, and one of them yelled out the window, "Lookin' good!". Made my day/week/month! Tami

Well everyone, I tried so hard this last week. I lost 7 pounds!!! WOOHOO! I am so excited!! What a great birthday present!!! I am now at 101 pounds until goal!! WOOT! I went to the 2nd hand store and bought jeans over the weekend and I am down from a 30/32 to a 20 or 22 depending on the brand. So, this week I have had a SV and a NSV!

You know, I had problems logging in yesterday and now I have to play catch up! LOL!! Molly....great NSV!!! Losingjusme! You'll make it to 100 this week! I know you will. Ridin...have a great time! I had a fill last Friday and it feels like NOTHING! He filled me and then said "oops, a little too much" then took some out. I still don't feel restriction!!! I was hoping for more of a kick but with that whole "fat around the stomach" bit, I'm thinking maybe this is the best it's gonna get from now on. I'm going to have to start relying on some willpower.

Waterlily!!! I forgot to tell you how proud I am of your great NSV!! You go girl!! Keep up the good work and the 18's will be slidin' off that tiny behind!! Katie

hey annie, congrats on the nsv! and thank god im not the only one going through this. I JUST turned 39 and thought i was going through "the change" early too. You know though it DOES make sense to get on the pill to try to control it. Libra, thanks for that idea, ill probably go in and see what i can do. maybe because of the extra estrogen the pill you were taking isnt strong enough anymore? Im definitely going to go in and find out if i can get on them. we only have so many eggs. when they go, they go...and rapid fire shooting isnt doin me any good.

molly, great NSV!!!

Welcome Katie! Glad you found us :youcandothis: Well I had a major NSV today. I went shopping for some new slacks and I bought a pair of 22's my current fav pair are 26 and the smallest I have other than the 18's I have stashed away. My DH asked me if I was gonna try them on and I said no, they will fit very soon if they don't yet. Took them home and tried them on, they fit!!! I started this journey out wearing size 34's and they were pretty tight! Now I am in 22's I can barely believe it. As for more weight loss I am having a hard time not approaching it casually, I kinda feel like I need to get rid of the diet mentality and just go with the healthy eating mentality. Diet mentality works great for me in spurts but I get burned out really quick. I think that now that I am about half way I am cool with slower weight loss or faster whichever my body decides to do. Despite all the hard work and all the right numbers I cannot make my body shed pounds I just have to go with the flow and let my body shed when it wants to and make healthy choices so that I don't back track at all.