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Today is my 3 month surgiversary and with Thanksgiving in two days I thought I'd post all the NSV's I'm thankful for at this point. I lost 30 lbs. last year before deciding to have VSG so I'm actually down a total of 74 pounds since this last Thanksgiving. I have been too embarrassed to post pics but in honor of my surgiversary, I've decided to finally post a "before" pic at my highest weight and also an "in progress" pic of me (10 lbs ago). Sorry, I don't have a more current one. I'm 3 mo. post op and I know I'll be to goal before another 3 mo. has passed I KNOW I'll lose the weight AND keep it off, instead of just hoping I will When I said goodbye to the 200's, 190's, 180's, 170's, and now 160's - I knew I was never going see those numbers again I'm wearing a size 8/10 pants, and medium tops I enjoy clothes shopping again I get to donate all my big clothes that I hid behind I buy things that are form fitting now sleep apnea is much better My knees/ankles/feet don't hurt at night My BP is great I'm not constantly out of breath it's easier to roll over in bed I can cross my legs and keep them crossed easily sex isn't filled with my wondering if he's noticing my fat rolls I no longer am resolved to the idea that I'll live a short life - I can imagine I'll grow old some day When I look in the mirror I no longer hear negative self talk, I like what I see, I feel pretty My fiance is always checking me out I'm not terrified that the holidays are coming and someone will post a pic of me on FB - posting my own pics now all the time when I meet someone I don't wonder if they are thinking about how fat I am I don't hide in my home anymore, I attend social functions or outings and enjoy myself I'm no longer embarrassed all the time, or feel like the fattest person in a room, or worry that I'll run into someone I know Eating is getting easier - haven't thrown up in several weeks (this was an issue the first 10 weeks) food doesn't have the power it used to I'm rarely hungry a restaurant meal can last me two/three days I look forward to getting on the scale I'm no longer invisible, I'm treated differently People are nicer to me I'm sure I could list another dozen if I thought about it some more. This really is a life changing experience. I knew it would be because I've lost all the weight three times before in my life but it's always come back on, plus more. The best NSV is just knowing that this is it. I never have to go through being obese again! Thank you for the wonderful support I have received along the way. This is truly and warm, caring, educational group of people and I'm so thankful for this forum because you've answered questions, lifted me up, and shared unselfishly your own journeys in order to help others.

I wrote this on the Peeved at Lane Bryant thread but I am so in love with it Im posting again: I am ecstatic that LB has gotten so expensive and boring. It is incentive to trudge on, to eat bandster portions, and to exercise daily. They've gone insane and I am happy. I love that I will never have to pay $40 for one of their cheaply made tee shirts again. I'm glad that they don't make 36 inseam Supreme jeans any more. I'm glad that they have converted to that new (nonsensical) sizing. I'm happy that their coupons are scams. I'm even happy that they never have my bra size in stock. I am overjoyed that they have become so inhospitable! I am so happy because I am leaving them behind! I am on my way to the Gap, BananaRep, JCrew, Regular stores! When I want to breakdown and buy something there, I come here. Seeing everyone's (many of you are on this thread) progress, NSVs, and before and afters makes it sweeter. For a long time all I could wear was LB, now I am almost at the point where if I do shop there it isn't out of necessity. Hurray! I love my band!

I am scheduled for fill #2 today. It was originally scheduled for the 21st, but my surgeon added another surgery so the office had to change my appointment. I'm not complaining; I would want someone to change their fill date so that I could get the band. I'm just glad that it was moved up instead of further away. I seem to be stuck. I am hungry. When I'm hungry I eat. I try not to eat too much, but I'm not one of those people that can walk around hungry. My stomach has a notorious growl - its so embarrassing.... I received 3cc during my first fill. I'm hoping for at least another 3cc this time. That would put me at 6 cc in a 14 cc band. I hope this offers a lot more restriction that I have now. I'm getting a little desperate - I am 2 months (on the 24th) post op and I am only down 1 lbs - heck I lost those 18 lb within the first two - three weeks post op. Since then I've been struggling to maintain. I'm glad that I am not gaining - boy am I happy about that - I just want to lose more. My goal was/is to be 280 by June 13th. That may not be possible at this point. If I lose 2lb a week from now to then that would put me at 288 lb. I guess that will have to do. I'm going to have to buckle down - really monitor what goes into my mouth so that I can drop those 8 lbs by June 13th. Then I'll start working towards my July 4th goal - originally I wanted to be 270 lb by then. I'll settle for 278 lb. I'm putting this in writing here because I need some accountability to someone other than myself. No one (except my immediate family knows about my band) so there's no one to push me to try harder (and no one to monitor every morsel of food I eat or whisper about me doing this the easy way - which is why I have chosen to keep this to myself). There are a few people here who have had the band - the conversation that some people have about them is ridiculous. I just don't choose to open myself up to that kind on intense scrutiny and ridicule - I feel like a gay woman whose afraid to come out of the closet - but then again I guess not - I have no idea what that kind of pain feels like and I don't want to compare my petty problems to that. Anyway.... If you guys don't see my ticker going down soon - BLAST ME!! Since that's the last thing I want to see here I will be doing my best to make that dag gone scale move! NSV - I have officially left size 4x behind. I had a peasant blouse that I waited all winter to wear. I put that gorgeous thing on and I was swimming in it!!!! My coworker - who is losing weight, gave me a brand new linen peasant shirt that she is now too small to wear (size 3x) it fit perfectly :thumbdown:. WHOOO HOOO!!!! That’s right - I'm celebrating being a size 3x. Do the happy dance, do happy dance - spin it around and shake your body down - doing the happy dance :thumbup:! __________________

Well, I'm still gaining and losing the same 5 pounds that I've been working on since July. Long hard slog for me. I am having some fill issues, so we shall see how I much fill I have left when I go home for the Christmas holidays. I'm still going great guns with my NSVs, so that is good for me.

Gosh I'm so happy to see these great updates!!! You guys are all doing awsome.((((((GROUP HUG)))) !!!!! I must add that I had a great NSV today!! I can fit into size 18 pants.That means I'm down from size 26 to an 18!! YIPPIE!!! Also my knee is no longer swelling for days on end and no Fluid is setting around it like it was before losing 60 pounds. I'm feeling better and better every day... I love my band!! Keep those updates coming March bandsters. You guys are encouraging me to keep reaching for my goal!!

Hello everyone. I hit my 3 month surgiversary (5-14-12) this Monday. I was down 75# (including Pre-op) and as of this morning it is 76#. I am down from 335# to 259#. I am really excited that I have met several short term goals over the last few weeks. 1. I have made it to Twooterville 2. To weigh less than I did when I got married (275#) and as of this morning 3. To weigh less than my husband (260) Hoot! Hoot! My next short term is: 4. To weigh less than when I graduated high school (250#) I am also enjoying some NSVs. I am still off of all my pre-op meds (21), the fibromyalgia is doing great (small 2 day flare this week, 1st one since surgery) and I don't use the cane anymore and we walk a lot. I have bones sticking out every where; collar, wrist, ankle, shoulder, ribs, pelvis. It's great! My husband can wrap his arms all the way around my body and I can him too. Loving my new clothes (18/20) including a KNEE length skirt, form fitting shirts and tops and some heels. I can also CROSS MY LEGS! I haven't wore heels or crossed my legs in years. My hubby likes, but hey, he's liking a lot of things lately. I am really happy with the results I am seeing. I do still struggle on a daily basis though. Eating anything is still very difficult for me. I can hold about an ounce. I still get sick with every meal. My pre-op digestive issues did not improve as my doc had hoped. It can get very discouraging being so weak all of the time. I just keep holding out that my restriction will relax a little and let me get in some calories. Right now the weight loss is very exciting, but I do wonder if long term my body will ever be able to make it on such a tiny amount of sustenance. Anyhoo... Have a wonderful day everyone and HAPPY LOSING!! Check back in with y'all next month This photo is of me yeasterday at my kids school field day. I promised my friend's a pic of me at the blow up bounce house..hehe.

Ok I had my first fill Friday, I was neverous as crap so I made sure I took my blood pressure meds, my heart meds, and yes a xanax. OK are you noticing what I didnt notice? I am having my feel so that means nothing but fluids after that, ughhhhhhhh I forgot to eat breakfast! Hmmm maybe I should look at that as a NSV. Now about the fill, I found out I have a 10 cc band, which is I think the largest one they make. Dr.Gritsus filled me with 3.5 cc, at first I am not sure how much he put in but he had to take some out. He was viewing the floroscope so he was able to see the barium that I was drinking going down to judge the amount of fill. There was no pain at all but a very unusal feeling, I am not so sure I would even call it pressure. Ok I stayed on liquids for the rest of the day ........ok almost, I had cream potatoes and gravy from KFC, I mean that is instant potatoes so it was just like a liquid. Now I still have very very little to no restriction. Ughhhhh so I called the doctor Monday to complain and here is what he said..... You went through the healing stage and made it, now your going through the learning stage. Now is the time to learn to slow down, chew very very well and to start thinking about what you are eating. You can't do this if you are pbing and slimming, all you will think about is the pain. He said you trusted me to do your band now trust me to make the right decisions on your fills. Now how do you argue with that? He told me to get on the scales that I might be surprised, and OMG, I have lost 9.5lbs!!! I couldnt believe it, I mean I knew that I had cut back some on what I was eating but I also know all that chocolate isnt a good thing either! I have another appointment in 2 weeks. I have decided to act like I have restriction and see what happens. My journey to discovering who I am has began. (is that suppose to be begun, I could never get that right) Oh I am swelling today, ughhhhhhh must be getting to be my time of the month again, oh lovely!:rolleyes

Ok I had my first fill Friday, I was neverous as crap so I made sure I took my blood pressure meds, my heart meds, and yes a xanax. OK are you noticing what I didnt notice? I am having my feel so that means nothing but fluids after that, ughhhhhhhh I forgot to eat breakfast! Hmmm maybe I should look at that as a NSV. Now about the fill, I found out I have a 10 cc band, which is I think the largest one they make. Dr.Gritsus filled me with 3.5 cc, at first I am not sure how much he put in but he had to take some out. He was viewing the floroscope so he was able to see the barium that I was drinking going down to judge the amount of fill. There was no pain at all but a very unusal feeling, I am not so sure I would even call it pressure. Ok I stayed on liquids for the rest of the day ........ok almost, I had cream potatoes and gravy from KFC, I mean that is instant potatoes so it was just like a liquid. Now I still have very very little to no restriction. Ughhhhh so I called the doctor Monday to complain and here is what he said..... You went through the healing stage and made it, now your going through the learning stage. Now is the time to learn to slow down, chew very very well and to start thinking about what you are eating. You can't do this if you are pbing and slimming, all you will think about is the pain. He said you trusted me to do your band now trust me to make the right decisions on your fills. Now how do you argue with that? He told me to get on the scales that I might be surprised, and OMG, I have lost 9.5lbs!!! I couldnt believe it, I mean I knew that I had cut back some on what I was eating but I also know all that chocolate isnt a good thing either! I have another appointment in 2 weeks. I have decided to act like I have restriction and see what happens. My journey to discovering who I am has began. (is that suppose to be begun, I could never get that right) Oh I am swelling today, ughhhhhhh must be getting to be my time of the month again, oh lovely!:rolleyes

I went to Universal Studios a couple of weeks back and actually rode some of the rides. While I was able to do that before, the fit was always rather...snug....and therefore made me less likely to want to try it as I was always afraid of getting stuck or having bruises around my hips. But this time? This time I was able to sit in the pre-molded seats with no trouble and was even slung around a bit because there was so much room! A total and complete NSV for me.

That is exciting and impressive!! Thanks for sharing your inspirational NSV!!! I can’t wait to feel healed enough to start C25K! Jogging/running and doing races is one of the things I’m most excited about on this journey!!

So I've got a fella coming over here in a little while to do some man chores around the house for me, and I've been thinking of how to amuse him while he's painting my bathroom....so I threw on a nice black lace corset, some black thigh-highs, and high-heeled leather boots in front of the mirror and for the first time in my life thought "Man, I kinda look bangin' in lingerie!" Thanks, Dr. Aceves and Crossfit!

THat is great to hear! Gotta love a Dr telling you that you are doing well especially since we heard for so many years that we werent doing enough. Good job! (Since your ticker isnt on blogs, how much have you lost? Any NSV you are proud of other than the cleaned out closet? I love to hear all of that stuff!

You know this already, but this woman's comments say OH SO MUCH about her, and really not much at all about you (in the area of character). So, if she says you can "almost" notice your weight loss, I would interpret it to mean, "Way to go! You look great!" It's all in the interpretation. It's an NSV, bona fide!

Awesome NSV! Congrats...I'm glad you're feeling better already.

Congratulations both excellent NSV's.

skinnyginny up until january 2013, i haven't had a need to wear those awful things called pantyhose (some man must have invented them ) but........had to wear them with the first dress i had worn in about a life time!!!!! anyways, bought average size, pulled on no prob, and didn't cause a run!!!!(or a sweat!!! ) now thats what i'm talkin' about no such thing as little NSV's right good for you bud

My favorite NSV was when my husband and I went to the new Little Ceaser's Arena for Pink's concert. I had never been but many people told me how small the seats were which became a huge anxiety fixation. Everyone knows that feeling...well my husband sat down first and had to squeeze in because in the first row of mezzanine the drink holders were on the arms of the seats and made it even more of a tight squeeze. He told me, "I don't know, honey, if I had to squeeze in, it might be tougher for you." I SLIDE IN EASILY AND HAD SPARE ROOM IN MY SEAT!!!!! I could even cross my legs in my seat. Yes, it was an amazing feeling to let all of the anxiety and stress go and enjoy Pink's amazing performance. My husband even apologized - he knew I weighed less then him now but that really demonstrated it.

Well I finally plucked up the courage to join a face to face bariatric support group yesterday, and it was great!! Most people were pre-op, so I got a few slightly puzzled looks when I walked in, but when I explained who I was and why I was there someone said to me "Thank you so much for joining us, you are what we all want to become". In my logical mind I know I am at goal, but I was so shocked to hear it. I'll definitely stick with the group, I'm hoping it will start to help me cut through some of the psychological issues! Thanks for listening x

Good for you!! Thats great NSV's are such a motivational force for both Pre-ops and Post-ops ... Thanks for sharing!

Forgot to mention......Be sure to take your measurements so you know how many inches you lose. This knowledge is really important for NSV moments :rolleyes2:

Oh, that NSV was made twice as nice because you left him SPEECHLESS!! You go girl!

So I found it amusing my blog yesterday was titled "Reflections". I walked out of my building to meet a coworker of mine outside. As I was walking back in the building, I looked up and saw my reflection in the glass doors.. I literally giggled out loud like a giddy school girl. The reflection was...amazing. I was just your normal, average woman walking towards the door. My legs looks so thin...My entire body looked so thin. I know i've lost 100 lbs. I know I'm a new person..but there are days when I just don't see it. I just see me. But yesterday, Oh lord! I SAW IT!! HOLY SKINNY MINNIES BATMAN!! THAT'S ME IN THAT REFLECTION!! not a friend, not some stranger, ME. I practically started skipping back to my desk. Oh what an amazing NSV moment. Just seeing ME. Who I was meant to be.. WHO I AM!!! Now if I could just find another job or at least get a damn call back from 1 of the ones i've applied for... grr...but that's ok. God is watching...God has a plan...

I was able to put on a pair of panty hose this morning without breaking a sweat. Yippee!

I am just so over joyed today. I was feeling a lil down for about the past few weeks because my scale had been stalled for so long. ( this really bummed me out almost to the point where I just wanted to give up). Everybody on this site and a few people I know that have been sleeved have been so supportive and letting me know the scale will move again. My boyfriend who has been my biggest supporter keeps on telling babe you looking smaller every week. (I thought he was just saying that because that's my man). However, on Friday night my neighbor up the street asked hey girl are you loosing weight, I replied yeah a little bit, she say good for you you are looking good you look so nice . i said thank you very much ( and was all smiles inside). So this morning I decided to try on these jeggins I bought two years ago that I thought were my size, but when I got home with them I could not put them on and I refused to take them back and get a larger size. Yayyyyy me they fit! I am feeling real good about being sleeved now.... Going to sit back do what I am suppose to do follow my dr's orders and ROCK MY SLEEVE!!!!!!!!

I feel your pain. I had to use one for the last couple of years, so embarrassing. I had a great NSV when we recently flew to Florida and the belt latched without an extender. It's was a wonderful feeling! Hopefully you'll have the same feeling soon. I do think it depends on the airline how long the belts are.