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Hello, all. My VSG was Dec. 4th, 2013...the day that changed my life. IF you had your VSG last year December (2013) and this is your 1-year surgerversary month, share your stats and maybe a picture. Also your NSVs!

I had a wonderful NSV!! I work at a high school, a coach that was here last year but went to another local school this year came by the school. I was in the faculty workroom signing out when he and another coach walked in. When he saw me his eyes bugged out.. and he said.. "Girl... how many rocks of Crack you smoking a day?" The other coach who I work with daily and knows about my surgery quickly said.. "at least 3 a day". I laughed and laughed... I have lost about 55 pounds since August. I had surgery in November but started dieting seriously in August. I still laugh when I think about it.. Rhonda

I love this kind of NSV! It so reminds us of how good it feels to feel attractive again.

I had two great nsvs today. First I went and bought my season pass for Elitch Gardens in Denver. I no longer have to worry if I can fit on the roller coaster. Second was feeling so good I decided to check out the gay bars on Capital Hill trying to find some old friends as the one I use to frequent back in the day is now a 7-11. Well didn't find anyone I knew but I am sure this cute young lesbian was checking me out. That is a first for me.

Less than 6 weeks post-op my PCP took me off one of my blood pressure meds! I am so excited - can't wait to rid myself of those puppies. What a great NSV!

I can finally tolerate yogurt! I tried the Yoplait 100 calorie Greek Yogurt and I didn't have to get on the BM train to Crapsville!!!! This is an awesome day! Just because you get severe lactose intolerance after surgery doesn't mean you will have it forever ...your new tummy may decide to start making lactase again!!!! Mine did!

Well, since you asked....I went to buy some summer clothes today and I managed a size 12...can you believe it. I have gone from a 24-12 on my own before WLS. I have worked hard but never imagined a size 12 in a million years. So I could not leave the store without the purchase. Thanks my NSV and I thank you for letting me share. Congrats on your NSV.

You look great! And I think it's awesome to not mind having pictures made...it's my favorite NSV.

So, today is the day I get to report my first NSV, and I haven't even had my surgery yet!! Yes, I'm gunna brag and I know y'all will love listening. I am pre-op, and I have been giving up some of my vices over the last few weeks in preparation for starting my liquid diet on 7/23. I am an emotional eater, I turn to food when I need comfort. Today was very challenging emotionally, and I did not turn to food for comfort! As bad as I wanted the ice cream, diet coke, doughnuts, candy, fried cheese and taquitos that I passed in the grocery store with my broken heart, I sassed my big ol booty right by that junk and left without buying any. Take that bad day! That is an NSV, right? Anyone else have NSV that happened pre-op? Happy losing, Slenderella

Ok... so if you've read some of my posts recently, I've been complaining about being in a stall or not losing inches or anything. I received some killer advice on this board and took it to heart. I stopped consuming 2-3 Protein shakes a day and decided to get most of my protein in via food, I stopped weighing myself everyday, and I up'd my Water intake by double! So, here I go last week with all my changes and what happens? I get hit with my kids' cold/flu! I've been out of commission since last Thurs and am finally back to work and feeling somewhat normal. The bad news? I havent been able to eat anything substantial since last week and have only been able to finish 1/2 of a Protein shake. I know I'm depriving my body of the nutrients it needs to survive but nothing is going down. I made chorizo and scrambled egg for BF and was only able to eat maybe 3 bites. I have baked chicken for L today and am hoping to get most of the 2oz in but I highly doubt it. Anyway.... on to my scale VICTORY!! I am officially down 30lbs post-op!!! (Ticker to reflect this later) YAY!!!! My "stall" has broken since last week due to all your help and advice!!! and for my NSV.... I fit into my size 14 slacks today!!!! So very excited!!! One more freakin pound and I'll be in ONEDERLAND!!!! Doing the Happy Dance!! Thank you all for your encouragement and advice!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

It i the dreaded stall. Stop making yourself crazy and step away from the scale. Look for other NSV (non scale victories). It could be taking your measurements (neck, boobs, waist, thighs/hips) and measuring the differences. It could be noting the changes in your body; can you walk further? It it easier? Do you have more range of motion in your knees?, etc.... Throughout your weight loss journey there will be stops and starts as your body adjust to the changes you are making. Do not let them frustrate you. As long as you are following the program, the weight will come off.

@@sapMegan nice NSV its amazing NSV"s happen at 8 1/2 months.....and keep on comin" i see you have lost 99 lbs (hmmmm where did they go )?? wow, you are about to enter the century club come on in - i am holding the door open for you keep up the good job kathy congrats

Good for you!! Think that should be an NSV. Actually forgetting to be buck naked for weight

That's an NSV if I've ever seen it!

Hello! I should be getting sleeved by mid-March. I am excited and nervous. Can some of you please share two things with me: 1. What (if any) complications did you have and were they remedied? 2. Any NSV's you have had and about how long into the process you had them?

I'm almost a year and a half out from surgery and I've almost reached goal weight- have completely changed my lifestyle, and I'm pretty proud of my progress. I went from a size 22 pair of jeans to a size 8 (I'm 5'9"). I walk close to 4 mi./day. People that I knew from before will walk right past me in the grocery store without recognizing me. Talk about a NSV... Then, a couple of weeks ago, I fell and broke my jaw! Ugh! It was competely wired shut for 2 weeks. Hello liquid diet again! Fortunately I had previous experience with that, so I knew to make home made chicken and beef stock, Protein drinks, and I ordered powdered supplements from Celebrate. I knew that RNY peeps are not really supposed to use straws, but, what choice did I have? I lost an 10 additional pounds, which I didn't really need to lose... Now, they have replaced some of the wires with rubber bands, so I can barely bit a baby spoon between my jaws. So, on to the puree stage! Can anyone say deja vu? Again, I knew just what to make/buy for this stage of my recovery. Next week, I move on to mushies. Needless to say, I can't wait until the final stage of this, but it will be a while before I eat anything crispy or chewy again. Then I will buy a 3 oz. portion of filet mignon, season it, sear it in a pan, and rip it apart with my fingers and teeth (I adore meat lol). So, I had a little set back but, ironically enough, my RNY experience has helped me to successfully and HEALTHFULLY navigate this episode.

Hi All, I thought I'd share some of what I thought were the odder moments of surgery. First off was I had been in my room several hours before I noticed the gown I was wearing when I was willed in was a different one. Now I know during surgery we are all laid out like Sunday chicken but it still felt odd to think of someone undressing and redressing me! I also had something called an On Q pump an odd little gizmo that pumps in a novacaine type drug into your stomach area. The last was a bit of a NSV well not really but felt like it they came to take me to x-ray for the upper gi they brought this wheelchair big enough to almost fit two of me in it. The barium stuff was nasty as could be but with someone like me with bad reflux I was able to do it. Oh and a last bit of advice for anyone waiting on surgery, when they bring you your first liquid tray do not go crazy mixing in the unflavored Protein into every thing (G) Nancy

So I'm now a little over three weeks since being sleeved. I actually typed this up once before but somehow lost it and was too tired to type again until now. My time in the hospital started off with a glitch and ended with a glitch. At first (after being at the hospital for over 5 hours- also had a vena cava filter put in) my bloodwork showed I had low potassium. If they couldn't get it raised by taking what I call potassium "shots", which were super nasty tasting, then my surgery would have to be post-poned. Yeah...I freaked, but my levels did raise about 40 minutes after the potassium shot- so yay surgery! Everything with surgery went fine. The surgeon said if I hadn't lost the 63 lbs. ahead of time she would've had to have done an open procedure because my liver was still pretty big but thank goodness that didn't happen! I was so happy to wake up alive and with the laproscopic option! My other glitch was one night I woke up with a nurse sitting by my side. Apparently my oxygen levels went really low and I stopped breathing. The nurse had to stay with me as I slept that night since it kept going low- scary! Anyways that led me to staying in the hospital another night and I was supposed to stay a fourth night but they decided to let me go home if I slept with oxygen at home and scheduled some heart tests and a sleep study. Whew- I was glad I could leave the hospital! I was so ready to be home! Finally after a couple days home I got on the scale- oh I so shouldn't have- I had gained 15 lbs!!!!! What... I thought I was supposed to lose weight! So I know it was due to receiving fluids for 4 days and the air they pump into your stomach during surgery but still it was depressing. I've since lost those lbs- thank goodness. Then came the appointments. Had an echocardiagram and bubble tests done on the heart, potassium checked, additional bloodwork done, follow- up with the surgeon and nutritionist, and more bloodwork done to see if I had infection (had some bad stomach pain). All of that came back good. And then I had the oh so fun sleep study last night. Wow- that was an experience! How weird to be hooked up to so many wires and to have someone watch you sleep. The strangest thing was waking up in a pitch dark room while someone was saying my name. Of course I woke up forgetting where I was and I kept looking around trying to see who was calling my name- well duh it was over the intercom. he he . I haven't received results yet but the technician said I definitely didn't have severe sleep apnea and she wasn't even sure I'd be diagnosed with sleep apnea/need a c-pap. Both she and my surgeon guess it may be because of the pain meds why I had issues in the hospital- but of course I won't know for sure until my follow-up with the doc. Whew- well there is my story. Overall things went well. It is definitely an adjustment but I continue to tell myself it will get better and better. I've really enjoyed reading all your stories and NSV's and can't wait to be there with you soon!

This week, I have been complimented like crazy about how I have lost weight!! All of a sudden, BAM!! Everyone is saying something to me. It feels pretty good. However, I was not prepared for the compliments,. People are asking me what I am doing, and it never occurred to me to have an answer. I guess it is a like a dream come true that you are not ready for. I just tell people I cut carbs and eat very differently. But if feels good and is great incentive for me!!

I'm 7 weeks out. I'm down 56 pounds but more exciting to me is I have lost 5 inches in my waist and my hips. I'm down from 24 pants to 18; and some 18s are getting loose! I bought a shirt at the store last weekend. It was in the regular section so I didn't know if it would fit. I held up the XL and thought it fit. Got home and I was swimming in it! Went back and tried on the medium. It fit well but the bust area looked odd the way it was cut because I'm still a D. So I got the L and it looks good even though its a bit big. Unbelievable! I also lost three inches under my bust and I'm having to use the inner clasp. I'm putting off getting new bras as long as I can. Also I talked to my daughter who is 9. I was talking to her about eating habits and told her I don't want her to end up over weight like me. She said she didn't think I was overweight. If only we could see ourselves through their eyes! I'm able to walk up the stairs at work which are huge without grabbing the rail or feeling tired. I have a lot more energy too!

Yesterday a 2nd grader that I have known for years (and we "pick" on each other) gave me a hug and said "Ooo, skinny."

great nsv's ! happy for you !

Great NSV and I love your exercise plan, too!

Just ran out on my lunch hour to d**k's Sporting Goods to get goggles for my swimming lessons.... they were having a clearance sale ( additonal 50% lowest ticket price). I purchased 3 Dri-Fit workout shirts in size MEDIUM... MED-DEE-UMMMMMMM!!!! for $6 each... I was tempted to buy more but since I still have weight to lose these will due for now.... They had a LOT of XL and XXL stuff on the clearance rack..not much in medium... So I was reminded 1 of the downsides of losing weight...the middle sizes are the first to go... the extremely tiny and the humungous clothes seem to hang around the racks a little longer, especially in stores like this...

PQ, that is a wonderful NSV! Congratulations! Sharon