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Hi everyone--between finishing up the last of the leaves, my walks, Curves, and an additional walk to and from Church this morning, I made my weekend count!! Actually I should get extra credit---like an attagirl--for walking to church this morning, I had my granddaughter--and heels!!! It was an NSV for sure!!! I truly would like to be in Onederland by the first of the year, but to be very honest, I am not sweating it. Part of the reason I chose the band over other options, was so that I could live a normal life. One of the reasons all my previous diets failed, was a feeling of deprivation. My warped mind goes berserk as soon as I tell it I cannot have something! I want to be able to eat Thanksgiving dinner, and have pie afterwards, and not feel like a failure for doing so. This next 6 weeks IS going to be a challenge, in many ways. We have family obligations, Christmas to buy following several months of my DH being off of work, traditions we really want to uphold, goodness the list goes on....I will truly be trying to continue my exercise. I want to get to Curves 3-4 times a week, and try to walk on a daily basis. I will also make a serious attempt to keep my water intake high. But I am being totally honest here---with you guys, and with myself...I am not going to worry too much with the food I eat. I intend on enjoying the family dinners, and the treats of the season. Thank heavens I have my little band buddy---it WILL keep me in check...I mean 3 bites of a piece of pecan pie is nothing like the 3 different desserts (full portion) I would eat prior to banding! I am sure my numbers as far as weight loss will slow down, but I can do without the added stress of worrying about that! I want to celebrate. I feel like my DH and I were given another chance! The week after Christmas, as all settles back down, and the family and friend get togethers slow down---I will too, and will get myself back on track, and make the best choices I can. I have no intention of ignoring the turkey, and making my meal on sweets....I just do not want to think about it for now. Some of these habits are now ingrained enough I know I will do it automatically--and I will be thrilled with that!!! I have my husband back healthy, my kids are well and happy, I have regained my own health....I want to party with the entire world!!! Susan--you say you upped your work out...WTG!!! But that alone could be the reason you have not seen a change in the scale right now. If you stressed the muscles more than usual, they will retain extra fluid. Plus if you are working harder and building muscle...it will weigh more. I know it matters to all of us, what the scale says--but in reality, no one but you and your Dr. are likely to ever know what that scale says...are your clothes feeling different? I would bet if you checked your measurements, you would find you have lost inches. I have been stuck at 217 for days on end---but I did my measurements this morning, and while I have only lost 1 1/2 pounds since I did them last which was about 3 weeks ago---I have lost 4 inches over all. How without losing weight? Who the heck knows??? But it's gone! My size 16 jeans I can slide off without unbuttonning or unzipping!! You are doing all the right things---all you ladies impress and inspire me soooo much!!! It will do just like Julie said--and next week several pounds will be gone!!! Betty & Julie--hope you have a safe and happy trip! Boo--Hope you are resting and recovering. Take care of yourself--we will all be here waiting for you when you get better and are raring to go again!!! Roberta--what's your Thanksgiving plan?? Heather --where ya hiding?? Talk to you all soon...off to the shower (aka the great hair pit---it is falling out soooo bad!!!). Kat

Congrats on the HUGE NSV, Lapbandit!!! That is so AWESOME!! Be sure to post a picture of you in that dress so we can see how fabulous it looks on you!

MARIA! great nsv!!!

I avoid the movies, that's a place I really feel huge. Great NSV!!!!

Whooooo Hooooo! That's a great NSV!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

Ladies..... I have a funny NSV to share with you, it's one that only "we" would appreciate. I was in town earlier today and as usual, traffic was heavy on this main road. As I waited for the light to change further down the street (so that I could cross mid-block) a guy in an SUV stopped traffic to let me cross the street!! Let me tell you, this would never have happened 55 lbs. ago!! I felt pretty darn good as I strutted across the street in my black boot leg jeans, and short black leather jacket! LOL Roberta

Wow, what a great NSV!!! Way to go Maria. And you mother/daughter night out sounds lovely.

Yippee Friday!! Happy Friday Bandster Friends!!! I am not getting much work done today. Oh well. Still waiting to get a stern talking to about being online. =) yesterday I had a great NSV! A coworker was saying my jeans yesterday looked crappy and were all droopey on my butt. So i told my husband when I got home and started playing with my jeans once i took the belt off. the next thing i knew i was able to pull them down without undoing the button or zipper!!!!! shocked the husband (and probably the folks across the alley!!). I wasn;t expecting it to work!!!! I guess this is working!

Congratulations on the NSV!

Fantastic! Well done! I reckon those athletic NSV's are the ones that truly show you how far you've come.

that's okay Mandi....it all relates to NSVs.....so shop away!!! (within budget, of course!!) LOL. By the way, I'm 5'5" and I ALWAYS have to get pants shortened unless I can find them in the petitie length (then they are puuuuurfect). Mr Yoda gets a kick out of the fact that I will buy "capris" and they are the right length for me (ie. full length)....hardy har har!!! Personally, I'd like to know who the hell these tall women are that the pants all seem to be made for....cause when I look around....I'm the average height....so where are these 5'9" women hangin' out?

Thanks for the advice Barbara. I have my six month appointment coming up in about 2.5 weeks. I will definitely address it with my doc. Til then I'm gonna eat early, stay away from the offenders and see what happens! Congrats on getting rid of the pants. I haven't done that yet. I'm waiting for the day I'm walking down the hall at work and my pants just fall off. Now THAT's a wacky NSV!

I had a wonderful day of NSV's last night. With my hypermobility, I had really come to dread having a bath. Not only was the extra weight putting more pressure on my joints, but the bath was getting rather snug! Which made it more difficult for me to get out of! Well, last night I set myself in my bath and discovered I know longer had to squeeze into it, infact I could gently sway, there was a space either side of me! Also, the chore that was shaving legs, suddenly was easier! My legs weren't being kept away from me by my tummy! There was no awkward spots being missed. (this is one bit my hypermobility is good for.)I was able to stretch my leg to the point where it oculd touch my shoulder, extreme I know but I can't remember I was last able to do tha! I know that these are small NSVs, but it is a great heart warmer for me. I do look at myself nearly every day, wishing to see drastic changes nad being disappointed. Which I know is silly. The last remenants of my hope that I would lose all the weight with a snap of my fingers, is dwindling day by day and the reality is settling in comfortably! Just as it takes 4/6 weeks for the healing to complete, it is also a healing process of the mental kind. I am regaining control of my eating and my life. It is a day by day process but is still the best thing, apart from haivng my son! I'm even contemplating the possibility of dating! Now note, this is just contemplation, it's not just the weight that is holding me back from a realtionship but is most definitey a factor. Being single does have some fantastic advantages lol!

I had a wonderful day of NSV's last night. With my hypermobility, I had really come to dread having a bath. Not only was the extra weight putting more pressure on my joints, but the bath was getting rather snug! Which made it more difficult for me to get out of! Well, last night I set myself in my bath and discovered I know longer had to squeeze into it, infact I could gently sway, there was a space either side of me! Also, the chore that was shaving legs, suddenly was easier! My legs weren't being kept away from me by my tummy! There was no awkward spots being missed. (this is one bit my hypermobility is good for.)I was able to stretch my leg to the point where it oculd touch my shoulder, extreme I know but I can't remember I was last able to do tha! I know that these are small NSVs, but it is a great heart warmer for me. I do look at myself nearly every day, wishing to see drastic changes nad being disappointed. Which I know is silly. The last remenants of my hope that I would lose all the weight with a snap of my fingers, is dwindling day by day and the reality is settling in comfortably! Just as it takes 4/6 weeks for the healing to complete, it is also a healing process of the mental kind. I am regaining control of my eating and my life. It is a day by day process but is still the best thing, apart from haivng my son! I'm even contemplating the possibility of dating! Now note, this is just contemplation, it's not just the weight that is holding me back from a realtionship but is most definitey a factor. Being single does have some fantastic advantages lol!

NSV's are really all that matter, right. Ya right, tell that to me when I'm whining I havent lost any weight. lol. But it's true. Green you are NOT a sausage, mmmmmmmmmmmm I want dinner.

Yep, That were me. From the age of 25 until the morning of my lapband op I didn't know what I weighed.... That's like over 30 years! Now I get a weigh-in when I go to the TLBC for a fill and so far that has been twice.:rolleyes This means that I've been relying on NSVs to tell me the news. My clothes are definitely baggier and I can put them in the dryer now.:clap2: And I can get into a couple of pair of jeans that I had sort of outgrown. :biggrin1: My gut is smaller than it was but I have yet to see my waist. (Oh waist! Where are you??) :peep: The best thing is that my boobs now stick out farther than my gut!!:bananapowerslide: I don't know whether I have actually gone down in clothing size, though. I think my big waist and broad shoulders kinda interfere with that.:phanvan The other NSV is that everyone has noticed that I have lost weight. :clap2: I need to lose some more and I suspect that I have hit a plateau. *sigh*

Hi Maysters, Marci – Dancing is a great NSV! I also will automatically tell people how much I have left to lose when they compliment me too. Marz – that is really cool about the shadow – I hadn’t even thought about that. Missy – a loss is better than a gain! 37 lbs down is great! Linda – Glad to have you back! Kim – I completely understand about the water. It’s hard for me to get it all in now. I also find that I usually have a good drop the first week or two after a fill and then plateau for the rest of the month. You are doing great though! Drews- Great weightloss since your port replacement! Good luck on the interview. I, like you, am amazed at how little the patients at my doctor’s office know about their band. I am running into people that are 1 year post op and have only lost half the weight I have. I have also gotten the impression that these folks expected the band to do all the work and they also do not exercise. I may go to a support group soon too. I have a little bit of a rough time lately. I have been feeling icky for several weeks now. I have not felt like working out and I have been going to bed really early. Starting the end of last week I starting running a fever around 5pm and it would break around 10pm. Well, me being stubborn, just dealt with it. Since I had no symptoms other than fatigue, I just ignored it. I got my 3rd adjustment last week so I thought my fatigue might be due to my liquid diet. Finally, on Monday I went to the doctor and I have bronchitis, which my son actually got diagnosed with last week too. I found it odd because I always thought some of the main symptoms of bronchitis are coughing and chest rattling. My doctor told me my lungs sounded like a smokers and I do not and never have smoked. So I got some meds and now I am trying to fight this infection. I am back at work today. I am feeling better but I get winded just getting up to use the restroom. I plan on getting some pics on here this week. I am 3.4 lbs away from my next goal – I’d like to be there by Turkey Day! On a different note, have any of you had to handle people saying, you took the easy way out? Here recently a few friends/coworkers have made comments about the lap-band being the easy way out. I really had to bite my tongue and rather than going off or preaching a sermon. I just said it wasn’t the easy way out because I work far more now than I ever have to lose weight but that the band has been a tool to help me. Sorry for the lengthy post!

:peep: MOM, sorry for the confusion. I started at 222 pounds on October the 8th/9th. Week #1 after that was 220 (-2), week#2 was 218 (-2), week #3 was 217.5 (-0.5), week #4 was 218 (+0.5), and Monday, start of week #5 was 213 (-5.) Total weight lost since challenge started is 9lbs. Best of all, I had a NSV today...I sat in a lawn chair and didn't walk off with it stuck to my hiney when I got up. I stood up and it stayed on the ground! Silly how these things mean so much. :biggrin1:

After 2 months and 7 days, I am only down 13 pounds. However, I went today and purchased the same pair of black pants that I love, but in a smaller size! How many pounds do people typically lose between one size and the next one down? Thanks!

Hi Kathy, Great to see you again on the boards. I'm down about 25 lbs since June 6th. I am concentrating on the NSV and the other day I finally go into a size 22 jean. I was thrilled. Best of luck to our slow losers. We have to keep the faith.

Hi MOM, I lost 1# for this week. Had my second fill last Tuesday and still don't feel much restriction!?!? So I scheduled another one for 11-28-06. Hope I get it right this time around. But I have had some wicked awsome NSV's! I put on my winter coat and I could ZIP the thing with room to spare!

Okay, so I had today off work (federal gov't holiday for the 11th). I got up bright and early (my day off!!!) to go to costco and get there 30 mins before it opened so that I could get my winter tires put on my car...thinking....how smart am I. Okay, well, much to my DISMAY, about 30,000 other people had the same idea this morning....despite my early arrival, there were already 25 people ahead of me in line. *SIGH*. So, once they open, I snake my way through the line and get to the counter at 10:15 and I'm told it will be ready by 4:00. OMIGAWD>....I live too far away to just take a cab home (ie. nearby town) and so now I was STUCK. (I did have the foresight to bring a book, thinking I "might" have to wait 30 mins....but NOT over 6 hours!!!). So, I called Mr Yoda (who did have to work today) thinking he would take pity on me, leave work and come get me to take me home. Nooooooooooooo. WTF????? He merely said, "go home and we'll try another time". But, c'mon, it will be like this ALL the time!!!! So, I called a friend who lives in the city to see if she could either take me home or I could hang with her but her phone was continuously busy for over 2 hrs (she has teens, so go figure!) and so I never got through. So, not knowing what to do I just started reading my book. After 2 hrs, the guy took pity on me and asked me which car was mine. He then said it it would be ready by 1:30 instead of 4:00. Oh joy. (sarcasm). True to his word, I got it at 1:30, so I "only" had to wait for 4 hours!!!! GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I got home by 2:00. Okay....so the actual point of this is: I was now STARVING.....since I had my Breakfast (a few bites of toast) six hours earlier. So, on the way home, I thought how GREAT it would be to stop at Wendys and have a burger and fries; something I would likely have done pre-band days to soothe my frustration and anger of wasting all that time ON MY DAY OFF.....you know...make it all okay and worthwhile. (Keep in mind I haven't even had a bite of a burger since early April!). Anyways, I obviously did NOT stop at Wendys because I figured I would only be able to eat a few fries and that would be it.....so I came straight home. So, that is an NSV in itself. BUT< when I got home I was so damn hungry I went straight for a bag of Salt & Vinegar chips that were in the house.....I ate maybe 4 chips (too fast) and felt icky (caught it in time though!) and then realized....okay...yeah, I have a band....I suppose thank god for the band. But on the other hand, I was thinking, "DAMN YOU DAMN BAND". I'm a freak. I know it. And now I have to try not to be pissed off at Mr Yoda when he gets home for not volunteering to come and get me earlier. What a rough day. SHADDDUP!!! I know it's all relative!!!! LOL....I mean, I KNOW I don't have a teenager driving me batty....(*hugs Cloe*) but it was still tough for me in it's own way. By the way...did I mention that I froze my ass off literally on a cold slab of cement while I was waiting in the lobby area? Really...my ass is still sooooo cold......I'm gonna take a warm bath but I gotta wait for it (my ass) to warm up a bit or it will sting when it hits the water!!! As much as I love Canada and being a Canadian I hate that we live in a climate that puts us through the damn tire changing season. Grrrrrr. Okay, I vented (see Maria!!!) so I feel better now. I'm gonna go see if I can squeeze in one more chip now! hehe :guess

Well, well well! Just when I was getting nervous because my weight loss has slowed so much, I get on the scales today and to my shock and surprise I have lost 3 more lbs. That makes a total of 30 since 10/4/06. Awesome! I went to see my surgeon last Friday and he told me I was doing really well. Everything has healed well and he said I could go ahead and add some fish and chicken to my diet. That was the best news I have heard in forever! I have been having weight watchers frozen meals for lunch and yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast and then cooking low fat for dinner. It is really great to be able to cook for my family and actually eat some of what they are having! I have also increased my daily exercise to 45 mins per day. When I started this I could not hardly make a lap around the track. Right after surgery I could do 4 laps (1mile) in 35 mins. Now it only takes me 20 mins to do 4 laps. BTW... I started a blog to keep up with my NSVs. If anyone is interested, here's the addy: http://onmywaytoanewlife.blogspot.com/

Wom, Mim, great loss for the week! I know the fill has been a little challenging, but it sure is great the see the results! lisalee, I know what you mean about NSVs. They are really much more important than a number on the scale. Just knowing that I'm making progress has taken a load off my shoulders. I think I was in a low-level depression for many months (years?), and I've pulled out of that. I don't know if it's the weight loss, the fact that I'm getting better nutrition, or a combination of both, but it seems like my mind is clearer, colors brighter, and it seems a little easier to face problems and stop procrastinating. Mom, I'm down 2 more pounds this week. Good luck to all of you for a great week! Tami

Wow, I haven't checked in here in a while! here's a clothes NSV. Since I'm freezing cold all the time, I'm now keen on long-sleeved shirts. Go figure. So I go to Kohl's and try on the XL (in the regular Women's sections, not the Plus sized 1X, 2X or 3X I used to buy) and the XL is too big! WOW! So I now have 5 long-sleeved cotton stretch t-shirts in pretty fall colors in Large. Plain ole Large. My numbers game isn't going very well. I'm sooo stuck on actual weight loss, even inches aren't budging much. I'm out of the Curves habit, and recovering from the Halloween candy habit. That one got me pretty good for a few weeks. I thought I could finish this journey without another fill. I so want to avoid the fill/unfill game, but I give up. I have a consult Wed with a local band doc. A REAL band doctor. I'll get a flouro fill and discuss an endoscope with him. I'm tired of wondering if something is wrong with my little band friend. I'm 18+ months out, and haven't done a thing with my band in 13 months. No fills, nada. Time for a check up. I was hoping I'd be in MX with my sister getting her band, but she's not ready to fork over the cash just yet, so I'll not wait for her any longer. I want to see my band. I'll start with a flouro fill and go from there.