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My personal "goal" was not a weight, not really....it was a size....I wanted to wear a size 8! I went shopping last week because my size 8's are too big. That's right, now I'm wearing a size 6! Shocking. I'm 51, and I wasn't wearing a size 6 in highschool. I don't remember EVER wearing a size 6, I'm serious. I am certain I went from a 6x in elementary school to a size 12 in jr. high!!! It feels good, I look at them and am sure there is NO WAY I can actually slip into them, but lo' and behold, they fit. Of course, I thought the same thing about the size 8's, I didn't think I could really put them on!! I love my sleeve.

So do it! Anyone can do it! Go for it! You know this truly is the best NSV ever!

Fabulous Boo-Boo! Congratulations on your pics, and this NSV. You do all lap-banders proud!

Definitely a NSV to be proud of... congratulations !! :confused::thumbup:

That is a great NSV. Good job! Can't wait for my TT.

my DH, bless him, is 6'3", 155-160, runners build (with a little bit of a belly)... i am out of clean shorts so just for grins, i put a pair of his on (men's Large)... here they are! not huge, but they fit... wonder if he'll even notice they are his?

I have had my lapband 6mths this week and I'm down 92lbs. So, what have I done/learned in 6mths with Elpeatha (that's my lapband's' name and it means 'hope')? I generally eat better. I take my time with my food. Partly because it's good for me and partly because Elpeatha won't let me do it any other way. I make better food choices and always think protein before I plan what I'm going to eat. Don't get me wrong, I screw up too - exhibit a) one extremely calorific (but utterly scrummy) banana milkshake last weekend. This trip is harder than I thought it would be. There is no (for me anyway) eating what I like but smaller amounts that I thought there would be. If I want this weight to come off then I have to give up many of the things I love and work hard. Leads me to exercise. I'm so much better than I was 6mths ago. I can walk around and go places without having knots in my stomach that I can't cope. I still have a long way to go before I will consider myself anywhere near fit but seeing the results is a great motivator to doing more. Buying a treadmill was the best thing I have ever done for myself . Now what I need is to push myself more. This is something I have never done before in my life (easy option girl, that's me). The weight was falling off but now it's stalled somewhat and I need to up the exercise . Not an easy one but I'll try. I've had loads of NSV's (posted elsewhere) and love them more than the scale. My only disappointment in this respect is lack of clothes falling off- I'm still wearing all my original clothes????????? But that will come too- eventually. I have loved and needed the support I have found online and the friends I have made who's love and concern for my well being is something I now treasure. And that's about it. The next 6mths beckons. I have to work even harder now to get to where I want to be but with all of you giving your support and encouragement I know I'll keep on trying. In 6mths I will have had my lapband a year and I'll be celebrating my 40th birthday . Maybe the old addage 'Life begins at 40' is true afterall? <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

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!

NSV is exactly what I need. Thanks!

I would like to post a NSV. I went shopping yesterday. My jeans are getting big. I went to Lane Bryant and I tried on a 5P. They were loose....very comfortable if this was the weight I was staying at. I tried on a 4P and they fit! Then I thought I was trying on a size 22 coat. (I usually would look for a 24 or 26.) I thought it was okay.....just a little tiny bit small, but something I could definately wear and I could grow into it through the winter. I looked at the tag again and realized that I couldn't afford it...then I realized it was actually a size 18-20! I couldn't believe it!:blushing: Then I went to JC Penny's and the 2x was too small...:cursing:...Oh well I think I'll focus on my NSV at Lane Bryant. I used to love that store and now I can't wait until I can't shop there any more!!!

December 1st.. I've been sleeved... The surgery part not so bad... the team just ran a little behind. While waiting all the different care teams came in to introduce themselves and explained thier roles. My surgeon came in last. Asked me if I have any questions and introduced his Resident. I was given an anti nausea patch and pull then sent to the Surgery Theater. In recovery I have no recollection. However in my room the pain immediately hit me. I have been dealing with pain management all day. It would subside then start back up. It's only the side where the stomach was removed. Aside from pain, the other issue is my bladder. It's been full the entire time... every time I go tinkle... they take an ultrasound to determine how full it is.... hoping for no catheter... especially since I am "girling" right now. The walking... I haven't managed to do much because of the pain and being slightly dizzy. But when the pain has intermittently subsides... i am up and at em. I have 6 incisions. All the staff has remarked that I look extremely well for just undergoing serious abdominal surgery. .. guess that's my 1st NSV!!! TIRED & Optimistic. Much success to the rest of you.

When the scales are not moving, look to your NSVs. NSV = non-scale victory. e.g. 1. Your belt buckle moves a notch or two. e.g. 2. Your old 36" pants suddenly fit when they didn't last week. e.g. 3. You can stick 2 or 3 fingers inside the buttoned-up neck of your shirt & tie. e.g. 4. Your shoes are not so tight as they were a month ago. e.g. 5. You can hold your breath for 45 seconds underwater (when before surgery/before exercise it was 18 seconds). Watch for these or other examples of success.

I am by no means ungrateful for the insane salary increase I just got, neither am I so gullible to think that after 9 years, they suddenly realize my value. No. I have been blessed with a $20k per year salary increase...and a hell of a lot less responsiblity. I know it's because of the way I look. I use to loathe women like that, the ones that get things their way just because of the way they look. I now realize that it's not their fault. Blame hormones, if you're attractive to men or women in power you just go further. I'm not complaining. I love my band "Miss Pearlie"! She has given me a brand new life...not just a better version of the one I had before, which was still pretty awesome.

Hey Guys, I went car shopping last night w/ my BFF and her hubby... They're looking for a midsize sedan or small SUV.. anyway, we test drove the new Honda Accord, Chrysler 200 and some Lexus car... so, I was like.. oh Lord.. I don't think I can get in the backseat of this car... Not only did I fit in the backseat, so did my neice, nephew and salesperson!!! LOL... Then I was concerned about the seatbelt... NO ISSUES in either vehicle... the next test was whether or not I needed to move the front seat back so I could have space to get in and out of the front seat... HEHEHEHEHE.... I didn't!!!!! I'm so tickled, that finally, I don't have to drive an SUV or big, cute car... I can just buy a CUTE car, regardless of the size!!! Another reason I'm grateful for Sleevina!!!

Remember this post from way back in January??? Don't forget your stance on how much weight the scale has on your progress (no pun intended). You are already down a few sizes, and are celebrating many NSV's. Stupid scale. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Get the point?

I feel I had an NSV last night. One of my dearest friends that I thought was going to have a problem with me having the surgery and not support my decision came through for me last night. He told me that he will support my decision and will be there for me if I need him. That is just plain awesome. It made my night. I was on cloud 9! I know I shouldnt really care if they are behind me or not, but I do. I am doing this for me to better myself and want to make my family and friends proud of me!!! I am having my surgery on the 30th of June and I feel like I have already gotten an NSV without it! Look how it is going to make me feel once I have it. I have all my family and friends support. My Dear Husband has been so supportive of me doing this and he is very excited for me. He is such a wonderful man. I am one of the luckiest woman in the world!!!! WOO HOO!!!!

The NSV's are already rolling in! Well done, doesn't it make you feel good? I'm so excited for you!

Wow, Penni, that looks coool! Well done! The band is VERY tilted, and at that angle I suppose it should be. It runs diagonally (L to R) below the pooling stuff and looks wide and rectangular. It was neat to see my port and tubing while I was getting that done (the Upper GI) and the radiologist doc found baruim in my colon from last Saturday!! Yuk, it's still there? I also had some bile (?) in my colon so I know I had at some point eaten something that would create a bowel movement! It was below the barium though and apparently wasn't enough to "wash" it through. Here are my NSV's for recovery today: *drank about 4oz of watered down guava nectar mixed with protien powder *mixed a crushed Prilosec with same and got it down fine. *was able to sip my Centrum liquid Vitamins and chase with Water, went down fine *sips are able to get just the tiniest bit bigger without the reflux *was able to very carefully and with his help, get fussy little man into his crib for his nap without discomfort or pain, so my belly really is healing *actually drank enough liquid this morning to produce the bowel movement my GI pics showed was waiting to be "prompted" to do so. *I actually feel okay today, physically, and not undernourished and underhydrated (although to be able to chug some Iced Tea would be just the best thing!) Wow, so believe me, I'm not doing anything to mess this up! I hope it improves, even if it does so slowly.

Gosh - thank you all so much for sharing... sometime when the scale isn't moving it's so easy to get obsessed by it - and I agree with your point about scale-a-holics. I went in for a little top up fill today and the nurse pointed out that I've lost 3 lbs in the last 2 weeks - and that's not bad at all... here I was thinking that I had stalled, and I haven't!! focusing on my NSV's and yours really helps with motivation. I'm going to keep this thread and make sure that I keep thinking about it. Best of luck to everyone!

Congrats on your NSV's! I'm so glad that your doing so well!!

Fabulous....loving the progress. When the scale fails to move, those NSV always help us maintain that focus!! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I was sleeved on 9/30/15 at my highest weight of 205. As of yesterday I've lost 50 lbs and am down to 153.8. I still have 27 pounds to go to reach my goal and I'm hoping I get there by my one year surgiversary. Even as a kid I remember being too self conscious to wear shorts. I ventured into the juniors department at Belk today and tried on these pink scallop shorts. I'm still not 100 % comfortable in them but I'm hoping I will be by summertime Sometimes the number on the scale doesn't move and sometimes it's so easy to get discouraged. Celebrating non-scale victories helps me keep everything in perspective. What are YOUR favorite NSVs? (cross posted in post op forum)

My clothes that Ive been taking in to make last longer are getting too big!!

Congratulations on you NSV!

@@butterfly23 Congrats on your amazing NSV!! It feels so good when you don't have to hide from the camera. I am sure most of us have been there. You look fabulous.. Keep on taking those selfies!! @KindaFamilar Now you have us all curious.....