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Let's call it metamorphosis - the closest thing I can liken it to is a caterpillar cocooning and turning into a buttterfly. Except my cocoon has mirrors and I allow the occasional visitor. I'm definitely undergoing a transformation, my fill is working, I'm rarely hungry and when I am I eat small portions. I'm officially a size 22 dress which is for me a BIG deal, even though I've been a size 22, 20, even an 18 in jeans, I haven't gotten below a 24 top. So my dresses were always in the size 24-28 range depending on the cut and store. Officially a size 22 which is for ME a HUGE deal, I feel GREAT.. I feel fantastic.. I feel....FABULOUS! I'm definitely in the middle and midst of something great and I can't wait for it to continue. NSV this week - Down from a size 48D to 40DDD - yes they actually got BIGGER! lol.. Down from a 24/26 dresss to a 22 Double chin has almost vanished completely! Taught myself how to do "professional" looking makeup. Rocked absolutely everything I wore... And then ran into an old friend who just CHEESED when he saw me and couldn't get over or stop saying how great I look. That was just amazing (especially since he's the best friend of an ex boyfriend lol) this is absolutely 100% the BEST thing I ever did for myself.. I know I'm experience God results and my change is rapid and I'm SO thankful for it. Praise Him!

That's definitely a NSV and by the way... CONGRATULATIONS - LOL! Seems like all of the "Bs" disappear with the weight loss... booty, boobs, bumps, and bulges. :biggrin2:

I had a shocking revelation today. I was able to use my lap for a laptop. I have never done this before. Then it dawned on me, I have been fat since before there were laptops…ouch. I really should not be surprised, but I am. I believe this qualifies as one of those NSVs, but it was still somewhat disturbing that I have been fat longer than laptops have existed. I do travel almost every week for my job and I have over 3,000,000 miles on American Airlines alone, and about that many on United and other airlines. I even bought my roll-aboard suitcase because it made a good table for my laptop when I was on the road. OK…probably not the most earth-shattering event ever, but very helpful anyway.

I had a shocking revelation today. I was able to use my lap for a laptop. I have never done this before. Then it dawned on me, I have been fat since before there were laptops…ouch. I really should not be surprised, but I am. I believe this qualifies as one of those NSVs, but it was still somewhat disturbing that I have been fat longer than laptops have existed. I do travel almost every week for my job and I have over 3,000,000 miles on American Airlines alone, and about that many on United and other airlines. I even bought my roll-aboard suitcase because it made a good table for my laptop when I was on the road. OK…probably not the most earth-shattering event ever, but very helpful anyway.

As I type this blog, I am sitting in a coach seat with my tray table down and it is flat. My stomach is not in the way, I did not need a seat belt extension and my laptop is open. This is the first time in the past decade I have been able to do this. I always used to cringe when my boss would say…”Oh you have a 6 hour flight you can work on this on the plane…” this usually meant performing some form of cramp induced typing contortions and annoying the person next to me. Today, it is different, and I am somewhat amazed. As I have mentioned in many other blogs I travel very often with my job and have spent years mastering the Yoga of Airline seats. I have studied the lay of most of the major jets and can tell you which seats have the windows in the right spots so I can lean my shoulders into the window cavity. I used to carry in my computer bag 3 extension cables, one for American Airlines planes, one for Untied Airlines Planes and one for Southwest airlines. I will not go so far as to say I am comfortable in airline seats now, that would be going way too far and I still think they are built for people who only weight 100 pounds or kids under 12. However, it is getting easier to travel and that is a huge NSV for me.

Just got back from Sea World with my daughter. It's the first time I've flown in two years. Normally, the belt won't fasten - this time, there was a good 6-8 inches left on it .. YaYYY. And my arse/hips didn't keep pushing the arm rest up lol, which has always happened in the past. I was able to out walk my lil one at Sea World and she's a real bundle of energy, so that in itself was quite a feat for me. I didn't even keep having to stop and catch my breath. <doing the happy dance even though I'm exhausted from the trip LOL>

@NJGirl32 - NSV stands for Non Scale Victory...

I teach high school. This is the spring. I teach high school. We've had a full moon. I teach high school. We have TAKS (state mandated standardized testing) next week. I teach high school. OK, so now that we've gotten the basics out of the way... After school today a very well-meaning co-worker asked me what size I have gotten down to. I tell her a 12 and she responds with "Back when I was chubbier, I got this dress that I only wore once that is a size 12. It is just sitting in my closet and I'll never wear it again. I just wanted to offer it to you if you'd like it." GEEZ!!! I've lost 65 pounds and dropped from a size 20 to a 12 and you want to start off with "back when I was chubbier" in reference to a size 12?!?!?! Come on people, THINK before you speak!!! Not 10 minutes later, a senior boy (who I've never taught) stops me as I am walking by his table and says "Mrs. Huebotter, I just wanted to tell you, you look amazing!". At this point, I am shocked and just stop and look at him. As I realized he is starting to get embarrassed, I have to check myself to say "thank you, I've been working really hard at it." He responds with "I can tell." Sometimes God knows what we need right when we need it. I sure needed an "amazing!"

i know that i haven't written in a while... i've had a lot going on with just LIFE in general... nothing bad, just busy with kids and family... :cool2: soooo.... according to my Wii Fit, i am down 34 lbs. YIPPPPEEEE! :thumbup: I've had another fill of 1 1/2 cc. 2 weeks ago and have really good restriction. :thumbup: i tend to be realllllllyyyy tight in the mornings and early afternoon... by the time i'm ready for dinner, i can tolerate my food better. :rolleyes2: i have experienced 'sliming' for the first time... mmmm, not pretty. who knew that could feel so weird. :sad: i mean, i need to burp, but it won't come up... and i can hear gurgling... and then if i just give up and let it out, no FOOOOODDDD, just slime. :crying: i used to have a problem with my esophogus being too tight... they dialated it and that was corrected... i THOUGHT being 'stuck' might feel like that did... a choking sensation, but the air still moves... NOPE, it's more than that... i still get the choking sensation, the air is moving, but i am salavating... i mean, like a dog. so i have to let it go. I assume this is what sliming is. So, now that i've been disgusting... i will share a NSV, well 2 NSV's. NSV #1- :thumbup: i have a pair of jeans that i could get into about a year ago, they were tight but i could wear them (with a muffin top of course!) i gained so much weight, i couldn't button them... well, i grabbed them out of the closet last week and BAM! they fit. i mean, they buttoned, zipped and NO MUFFIN TOP!!! Whoop Whoop!!! NSV #2-:thumbup: i have a gorgeous evening outfit, sequined top with palazzo pants that i couldn't wear last June on my cruise. I was pissed. So, i put it on Sat and guess what? YES! IT fits!!! we are going on a cruise in March, so i am SET! Maybe it will even be baggy by then! (one can hope!) I am really doing well on this journey. i am not dropping weight rapidly, but hey: i got the lap-band®®®®, i didn't have gastric. I figure i put it on here over 38 years... i need to take it off slowly. i wish i had done this years ago. :cursing: BUT, i am doing it now! i already feel soooo much better... my clothes are looking better on me & soon it will be time to go shopping for a new bra. This one is a little baggy in the cup (which is disappointing, but hey... i can always have plastic if i need it, later.) Maybe. Anyway, i hope that you are all doing well... I have lost from 306 day of surgery (DEC. 30, 2009) down to 283 (Feb. 20, 2010) That's 24 lbs. since the surgery!!! 7 weeks & 24 lbs. YYYYYIIIIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE! that my friends, is 3.428571 lbs a week. Average. YAYAYAY!!!:tt1: BANDLANDIA is AWESOME!!!

Right now my current goals are: 1.) Have a weight loss of 70lbs by April 25th. I am at 61lbs down now. 2.) I also begin training to run a 5K on July 4th. My training starts April 2nd. It's so weird to think that I actually want to run :ohmy: 3.) I bought an XL tee-shirt that I want to wear by July. 4.) I want to have a "1" in front of my clothes size by this Fall. It's hard to think of any long term goals right now but I would love to be at goal this time next year. DH has promised me a clothes shopping spree for when that happens. So the motivation is there. I had a NSV last weekend when I was able to sit comfortably in a movie theatre seat with my jacket on I still had room to move around.

...But, my NSV was that my only thought was, "sure, I may be fat now, but I will soon be thin and when I am, you will still be a bitch." (sorry for the profanity). Truer words were never spoken/thought! :clap2: :clap2: You are in a very good place about your progress now and giving yourself the kind of positive feedback you desire and deserve. The best kind always comes from within....we're just your cheering gallery! You go girl!! :croc: Jo Ann

Congrats on your NSV's!!! I have step-monsters too. I try not to let them get to me anymore.

Not as far out as you are, but from what I've been reading around here, we're all likely to hit several of these on our way to goal. The recommendation of vets is usually to stay the course, look for NSVs, and don't forget to take your measurements periodically, look at before and current photos, review your #s, etc. so you are reminded of the progress you have made regardless of what the stoopid scale says right now! There's a blog post around here somewhere that claims including avocado (particularly substituting this healthy fat for a not so healthy fat) can be helpful. When I've hit stalls during weightloss prior to surgery, I've always changed something to break it. I'd reevaluate my diet: have extra calories snuck back in or am I maybe not eating enough? Do I need to readjust my macronutrients? Too many processed foods? Eating the same items day after day? How can I eat "cleaner"? And reevaluate my activity: Too much, not enough, not enough variety? Has my fitness improved and therefore my output/effort decreased? Too much cardio and not enough weights? Getting bored and complacent? Need to find something new? There is also an article floating around multiple places here that explains what is happening during a temp stall, your body is replacing glycogen and water. Weight doesn't drop at that time, but once that replacement period is over, you can expect to lose again.

Definitely a NSV! Congrats!

I would count both of the kids' remarks as NSVs (non scale victories)! Agree on the fill I would never be able to eat more than about half of one and that's good for me!

Ok, today something incredible happened to me! I have been experiencing all the normal NSV's that everybody else talks about, shopping on the non-plus side of the store, etc. But today I had a funny thing happen to me. I travel a lot for work, so I rarely go to the bank at home anymore. I used to be the manager at a retail store and went to the bank every single day. Today I went through the drive through to cash a check. The teller was a lady that I know very well from my days as the manager at the store. She has waited on me a million times. I put the check in the slot. She retrieved it and looked at it and kept looking up at me. She finally walked away and came back. She said "I am sorry maam, but you will have to send your mom in to cash the check. We wont be able to do it for you." I said "What the heck are you talking about. Its my check, why does my mother need to come in. She said "Are you Agnes' daughter? I said no I am Agnes! She told me to wait just one moment. She went and got the bank manager, who thank god knows me well. She came to the window laughing and said "I apologize Agnes. The teller thought you were your daughter trying to cash your check. She didnt recognize you. YOu look fantastic! Between my weight loss and I have grown out my hair and ot a completely new style, she thought I was my daughter!!!! I love it!!!!!!! Everybody keep on plugging away at this thing. Days like this really make it worth it!!

So I have lost 91 pounds since I started this journey many months ago. I was wearing at my largest size 5x tops at times, mostly 4x. All of my 3x top and pants are starting to get too big and people keep telling me I need to buy new clothes. I just hate to spend any money. I ordered some stuff, cause I still won't shop in stores, online from the clothing place I would buy all my plus size clothes from and everything I bought I picked as 2x figuring even if I didn't fit into it I could save it. Everything I bought fit me!!!! 2 of the tops and 1 of the pants were a bit too snug but they were on me.....I'll probably hold off wearing those for a bit but everything else, 2 other tops and 4 pair of pants all fit comfortably, I was pleasantly surprised.

NSV = Non scale Victory! Way to go! The best NSV's are the ones where our significant others are the ones to realize it. Well done!

LOL.. I would say that's a NSV!!!! Girl, i don't have a whole lot to start with, but I'll sacrifice this gut for it!... I've gone down a FEW cup sizes pre-op.. I'm VERY scared about that!!!

So today is my 1 month post-op and I also received my first fill, and let me tell ya, it came RIGHT ON TIME! So the first fill was easy, lay back, pillow under your back, cross your arms, do a lil' crunch, relax and done. The weird part was when she took all of my fluid out to make sure how much I had in me, then added a cc to it.. I could feel it "flush" through my body/band, what I imagine those lil' canisters at the bank would feel like as they get fed through those air tubes. It didn't hurt, it was just a weird sensation. Moving on to better news... So the other day I had my first non-scale victory (NSV - yeah I'm learning the lingo lol) on a whim I decided to try on my ever so expensive seven jeans that I bought 4 years ago, when Lane Bryant first started selling them. Yes the ones Kimberly Locke modeled with the rhinestones and crystals and tears on them.. Yes those ever so fabulous, expensive and I'm glad they're still in style ones. Let me say when I bought them in 2005 I was at the smallest I had been in YEARS or almost like ever. When I tried the jeans on I had to POUR myself into them, do the tight jean jump up and down, wiggle and finish with a deep breath in to button them. But I got them to fit, they were tight but they fit, and I figured I would keep working out and they would fit better. They were cut VERY small... I was an 18 or 20 in other jeans but in these jeans I had to buy a 24. The sales girls just smiled and said yeah they're cut REALLY small, be lucky you can fit into them, most people can't. I wore them once, I got "stuck" in them and had to have my brother free me with a pair of pliers as he carefully jimmied the zipper down so I could get out of them. So back to my "on a whim" moment. So I decide to try the jeans on, as I do every couple of months, in hopes that one time, just one time they'll magically fit. The last time I tried them on they were about 6 inches from buttoning. Hmmm maybe if I wear a long shirt, some rubber bands or my big 80's belt I can pull them off... Yvette you BETTER not walk out of the house in jeans you can't button.. sigh.. the years go by the gap grew from an inch or two to the most recent of 6 inches from closing.. So I decide to check my progress and put the jeans on....THEY FIT... OMFREAKINGOSH!!! THEY FIT!!! and not just FIT but FIT COMFORTABLY!!!! I have been wearing them pretty much every day since I tried them on on Saturday night. Ok so it's only Monday, doesn't matter... they FIT and I'm wearing them to get my money worth! lol But all of that being said brings me to what I was told at my appointment today....Drum roll please... Waist is down 7 inches since surgery one month ago! Weight is down 22.7lbs since surgery one month ago. I've lost 12% of my 66% of "extra weight" and am 90lbs from my doctor's goal for me. My BMI is now in the 40's high 40's but still 40's! My doctor says my progress puts me at the 3-4 month post-op mark, and this was done in a month. She was VERY happy for me, and I was VERY happy as well as I fastened my fabulous jeans after my fill lol I came home and had some soup, then a couple of ours later some applesauce.... about half way through the applesauce I felt I had had "too much" so I know the fill worked...YAY!!! I'm SO glad, because after eating 2 big tortillas yesterday (bean & cheese burrito and a quesadilla - took me 3 hours or so but I ate it) and the mini loafs of bread that come from the cheesecake factory a couple of days before I was starting to feel like I felt before surgery, so this fill definitely came right on time.. I'll see how this one goes, I think she could have put in another CC, but I'll go back in on the 8th and get another one, I honestly think that will put me in my sweet spot...we'll see. Either way I'm feeling great and I'm loving life. This is THE BEST THING I could have ever done for myself!

Good morning, BP Campers. Thought I'd stop in for a a quick visit and update. I started my preop diet 3 years ago today. I always consider this my anniversary, rather than the surgery date. Here's a recap of my journey so far..... Year 1 - the year of losing all of my excess weight (100 pounds), dozens of NSVs, and a new wardrobe. By far, the most exciting year. Even the month of liquids, 6 weeks of diarrhea and 2 insanely painful gallbladder attacks couldn't put a dent in my enthusiasm. It was all so new and fun and easy. Life was great and I was invincible! Year 2 - the year of finding out life still sucks no matter what size you are, losing my best friend to suicide, sinking into a deep hole of depression and finding that I could no longer rely on my old friends.....food, alcohol and cigarettes. Just struggling to get through each day with really no desire to. Two more gallbladder attacks which I finally put an end to with a long overdue cholecystectomy. Despite a complete breakdown of my emotional stability, I was surprisingly able to maintain my weight loss from the 1st year. I held onto the fact that what I put in my mouth was one of the few things I could control at that point. Year 3 - the year of emotional healing (well, at least a start in that direction) with a grief therapist, testosterone replacement and an antidepressant. Finally able to crawl out the darkness into a somewhat bearable existence. My latest breakthrough is I actually said yes when asked out on a date about a month ago. Considering my introvert personality and swearing off relationships almost 20 years ago, this is an extraordinary step for me. We've been out 1/2 dozen times and I'm actually enjoying it. Who knows what Year 4 will bring. But I've definitely come to realize as time goes on, everything has become less and less about surgery and weightloss and more and more about life. I maintain my weight the same way I lost it....80+ grams of Protein, 100+ ounces of Water, low carb, balanced diet including veggies, fruit and whole grains. I pretty much eat whatever I want but I make smart choices when it comes to quantities. No tracking, no measuring, just mindful eating. I am diligent about keeping any regains in check. I've got too much invested, both financially and emotionally to let a 1-2 pound regain turn into 10-20 pounds. I have labs done annually and follow a Vitamin regimen based on the results. I don't have an exercise routine, just a very busy, active life. Bottom line is a successful WLS result is not rocket science. Whatever you had to do to lose weight is pretty much what you need to do forever. If you can't control sliders and trigger foods, they WILL lead to regain. If you don't make the psychological adjustments and permanently change your habits and behaviors, you WILL regain. It's totally up to you whether or not your surgery becomes just another failed diet. Don't be afraid to seek professional help with the mental side of it. I finally did...thank goodness. Good luck to the newbies. Congrats to the veterans.

It has been 10 days since my surgery and I'm really starting to get back in the swing of things. If you read my earlier blog, you know that I was having esophageal spasms that hurt tremendously. Well, as the swelling has gone down, the spasms have almost fully gone away. Yay! I hope that means that I won't have problems with fills, but I will definitely keep track of it. As of today, I am down 21.1 lbs. I include my pre-op diet pounds in my total because it is all part of the process. I am a little worried that I will gain some now that I am eating solid food, but alas, that is part of the process as well. I had TWO non-scale victories today. I am a HUGE Colts fan and my best friend is a HUGE Saints fan. She mentioned a couple weeks ago that she was planning to wear her cute little women's cut Saints jersey to work today. Well, my XXL men's Colts jersey hasn't fit for months. I tried it on last night and it doesn't look half bad! YAY! So, I can represent! That is NSV #1. NSV #2 - I haven't worn my rings in several months. I kept telling myself it was because I was "swollen". Heh. Anyway, they are a little snug, but I'm wearing my rings (that I wore everyday for about 10 years) again today. It is only the beginning and good things are just flying at me!! Hope you all are having a bandtastic week!

Something that's been nagging at me since surgery.... I miss being able to chug water. Badly. I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery, and still can barely hit 40oz of fluid intake a day. That being said - that amount is double my intake from the week before, when I discovered how wonderful straws truly are. I thought all liquids gave me the burps; instead, I can drink pretty much everything now burp-free, provided it's through a straw. I had pre-employment paperwork today for a new job, and while I was filling out the mountain of legal stuff, the woman casually asks for me to give a urine sample for drug tox testing....and I secretly panicked! I had been sip sip sipping along on my water all morning, but I was no where near prepared to give 50ml of urine on the spot! Heck, I'm lucky to pass 200ml total on any given day! Yes, I'm chronically dehydrated since surgery, and it sucks. In the past, this would not have been an issue. I was notorious for being able to chug a full liter of water in under 30 seconds as a pre-op. Now it takes me the better part of 6 hours to get down one of those 16.9oz bottles. WTF. After 3 hours of drinking as much as I possibly could, I was only able to produce 20ml of urine...they sent the test bottle off anyways, but I have that sneaking suspicion that I'll be required to retest. See, little things like this nag at me as a post-op. I was prepared to possibly not be able to eat red meat/steak again, so I spent quality pre-op time eating a TON of beef, and I was ok with that going away. I had no idea I'd end up lactose intollerant...to the point where I wake up at night, covered in sweat and dreaming of cheese, to the point where I can taste it in my mouth!! The social aspects of food are hitting me hardest. I suppose that this is normal for everyone. I've been lucky in that I have been somewhat isolated from other people for the last month, but food advertising is everywhere, and it makes me want to strangle people. If I have to see one of those Pizza Hut ads for that damn CHEESY BITE PIZZA one more time, I swear I'll go postal!!!! Bread and cheese! I'd rather have it than sex! ....at least, I think I would. Truth be told, I'm not even sure if I would really enjoy it anymore. And that's what it comes down to....food hold absolutely no enjoyment for me any more. I can't think of anything in my food choices that tastes GOOD right now. Some things are more tolerable than others, but there is nothing that I truly savor, and it makes me sad. I'm sure the fact that I'm "stalled" does not help matters. I chose to consume a small amount of something I shouldn't, and gained 4 lbs of fluid overnight...which has stubbornly clung on for the last 3 days. And now I am terrified to eat pretty much anything. Worried that I went in debt and nearly died from complications...all for 42lbs of weight loss, which may or may not stay off. Ugh, frustrated. I'm at that point where I'm not far enough to see positives (no, I haven't lost any clothing sizes or had any NSVs yet), but buried in negatives, and it's hard to see when things will improve.

I had my first NSV today. My fiance and I made love, and I was in a position that, was, well, doggy-style. He said "wow! I can really tell you've lost weight when you're in this position!" So, at least from one angle, I can tell this is working

2 1/2 weeks later.. my NSV(non scale victory) is I am down 2 guchies sizes (for you non Western Pennsylvania people, that means underwear, and it is an actual word). :bananajump: Also.. do you celebrate your highest weight loss or what you weighed right before surgery or BOTH?? From when I started this journey 8 months ago, I am down 39lbs.. Since my surgery I am down 25lbs...:thumbsup: