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I am so excited! I just tried on an old dress for Easter. It hasn't fit for about five years but it fits now! No elastic and no stretchy fabric. Before starting this WLS journey, I was most comfortable in women's size 32. My Easter dress is size 26 - and it FITS! My WLS is scheduled for May 12 and I am already down about 40 pounds in 2 months.

NSV-- I rode bike with my kids today!!!! I RODE A BICYCLE!!!! Haven't done that in over 20 years(I'm 37) I felt so alive! So grateful, so good! My son (14) is ecstatic that "ma" can do fun stuff with him, and my daughter (9)feels like she can't keep up with me!!! The nice, unexpected "Miami cold front" made for perfect weather to try it. At a bone chilling 61 degrees, I was cruising along, breeze in my hair and a smile from ear to ear. I'm finally an active parent, thank you God, my ultimate goal has been checked off my list. No more watching from the sidelines. Mommy's kicking ass and taking names SW-348 CW-230

I had to drop off a prescription today while on my lunch break. I walk up to the automatic doors and darn near run face first into the glass. It's not one of the pressure pad type doors, rather it is the black eye above the door type. I take a step back and wait for it to open and nothing happens. I have to wave my hands for a moment before it recognizes anyone is there! I'm sure that it was just dirty, but for a moment I thought that I was too small to register!

Hi Princess. I too am BRAND NEW. Surgery date scheduled for April 5, 2016. PSYCHED!! I can not wait to start this new journey of LIVING. My goal is to feel comfortable in my skin. Getting on a plane and not needing an EXTRA strap will probably make me cry..but they will be tears of JOY! Chat more later. hi Joyce! Welcome to the group! I had my surgery on March 10 (today is day 11 post-op). I am recovering well, and I'm super excited about the potential of my future. Like you, I am also really looking forward to some NSVs like not using a seatbelt extender on a plane, as well as sitting in booths comfortably, crossing my legs and no longer being burdened by medics, issues (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) good luck on your journey, and keep in touch!

No body knows the struggle loosing and gaining better than me. I remember losing 105 lbs back in 2009 in two years to get down to 180. The weight seem to come off so easy, BUT then I stop and in 4 short years I was back to 250 lbs. I had to take a strong look at my life and I felt like such a failure even at 250 it was still 80 lbs less then my highest weight. In January 2013 I rededicated myself and for the last 3 years and even though I am not terrific at following bandster rules I just seem to make more good choices then bad ones and I have gotten back down to 180. So I do know how frustrating you must feel and how ashamed it can be. Even if it is possible to gain weight it just as possible lose the weight again. I know what you mean about not leaving the board this is truly my support system. during those 4 years of gaining I rarely came back to the board. I do miss many of the bandsters that started with me back in September 2007 So when I am going through that 3 month stall I seem to concentrate on NSV just like I mention in my earlier post.

So many NSV's this last week. I am at a loss for where to start, so I won't. I'll go more towards the end. It was a small victory, but one that sorta dawned on me after it'd happened. Had a perfect week....ending with a long night. Next morning light was harsh and scolding. lol. I needed coffee. Blessed coffee. I knew just the spot and they had just the right brew. Next, I needed a place to hole up and sip a bit. An inviting looking nook but the chairs looked liked they'd been made for a little girl's tea set. lol. No way I'd fit....and no way it'd hold my big arse. I did........ it did........ and that was some good damn coffee with a nice breeze coming through and the sun on my face. Peaceful times. Serene.

Woo-hoo! That is an awesome NSV! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So I'm super excited. I teach at a University, and I had a Psychology professor with whom I am friends on facebook, etc. come up to me yesterday and tell me that my story and weight loss journey has been such an inspiration to her to watch. She teaches the Psychology of Change and asked me if I would come to her class as a guest speaker and talk to the students about what motivated me to change and what has maintained the motivation for the long-term changes for almost 3-years now. It's not so much about surgery, because, let's face it, surgery is the tool that got things started, but whether or not we choose to make long term changes to be successful is up to us. Anyway, I digress. I was super excited and flatter that she invited me to speak on my changes, and I'm hopeful that i can motivate someone else to get healthy! keep up the hard work! You never know who is watching you and being inspired!

@@DirtyyMelodies - what a loser! breaks up with you on FB? Consider HIM your first NSV (Non scale Victory) - you just LOST 180lbs (guessing) of useless weight! Focus on you! welcome little sister to the BP Sleeve family ((((hug))))

Ididit34, I just started the C25K and I love it! I'm on day 3 week 1. It's 30min but includes a 5min warm up and cool down. And thenow you walk for 90 sec then jog for 1 min. Doing day 1 of this app was a true NSV moment for me. I truly felt accomplished because I know 7 months ago at 349 I could barely walk. Just try it and you'd be surprise what you can do. Look at me, I'm 238 pounds and can run! Wow that's awesome.

No I didn't cry, but you must make some really damn good eggs. There are hormonal changes going on and personal issues (your obese life leading up to this, concerns about your life post WLS, etc.). This is normal. Everything is going to work out for the best and you will be one of the many WLS success stories. Stay positive, you CAN and WILL succeed. Think of all of the positive health aspects and NSVs that will happen as you lose your excess body weight.

Hi Lizzie Thank you for your support. I got home yesterday (Tues) so in hospital for 5 days total, longer than I first thought. Wasn't up to replying earlier sorry, I am just so tired. Everything went well, weighed myself this morning and have lost 2.9 kgs since Mon 7th. How are you going Lizzie? Are you starting to move that weight now and how about any NSV's. What exciting puréed meals have you made. When did you have to start counting Protein my doc told me not to worry about that at this time, I do see him again next Tuesday though so maybe he will run through it then along with Vitamins etc. Anyway that's me all done - exhausted again, will speak again soon. Take care Marie Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

@@nervousnelly719, @@lisyl & @@laura_rose16 - I think you all are experiencing the norm for most: buyers remorse (it does get better) head hunger (craving food, when you are NOT really hunger) the realization of your new "full" (yes 1 former serving now = 3 servings!) Stay on plan provided by your medical team: hydrate, move and protein! Stay off the scale, or only weigh weekly! Measure yourself now so when the scale doesn't move you can see the NSV in the tape measurement

I think having surgery is a personal decision. Of course there are risks involved, and only you know if they are worth it for you and your circumstances. I had a BMI of 40 and for me the risks were well worth the rewards I've gotten (including no more foot/ankle/knee pain) I see you have Dr. Ariel Ortiz listed as your surgeon. I went to OCC in 2013 and couldn't have asked for better care or an easier recovery. Your coordinator and/or any of the OCC doctors and staff should be able to help with any questions, but feel free to PM me if you'd like. I also wanted to say I LOVE your username. Mine (Kindle) is my horse's name and I know no one is happier with my 100 pound loss than she is! One of my favorite NSVs was being able to hop up onto her back effortlessly, without needing find a stump or rock to climb on. The other was having an excuse to buy a new saddle cause my skinny little butt no longer fit in my huge 19" saddle.

Weigh in day again and I'm back in a stall. Hey ho. Am I fed up? Am I despondent? Nope. Not one bit. I have got so many NSVs happening that the fact that the scales aren't budging this week doesn't bother me. I feel great. I look a damn sight better than I did 5 months ago and I have ditched 40lbs of useless flab - so far. I started swimming last week and by Friday I was clocking up half a mile (without stopping) in 35 minutes in the pool. The dogs are getting one to two hours walking per day so they are thrilled with my weight loss and fitness gain. My jeans without belt loops (thus nowhere to anchor a belt) are beginning to slide off my arse and I have to hoik them up, when no-one is looking, when I'm out and about. I can get a beautiful pair of Frye boots on that were too tight around my calves not that long ago. I've bought a couple, or three, new pairs of jeans and can get into two pairs well before I expected to. I've still got a way to go yet but just to be able to see and feel results so quickly is just wonderful. I don't feel that my weight loss is too slow. I am only too aware of how long it took me to put it on and it didn't jump onto me over a matter of weeks that's for sure. I spent fortunes and untold hours at Weight Watchers meetings and although I managed to lose weight it never, ever stayed off. Having the VSG has been one of the best things that I have ever done for myself. I just wish that I had done it sooner. It has given me the mental kick up the rear end that I needed to get my eating habits under control. I'm still learning a new way of approaching food but now I have a physical 'stop' button in the shape (literally) of my sleeve. So, I embrace my stalls because I know that my body is juggling and rearranging it's composite parts during these times.

It's the little things that really hit home as cool NSV's. Last week.....getting dressed at the gym.....crossed my legs and couldn't believe how easy it was. Now....when I go out to restaurants.....I always request a booth. Last week at work I even sat at one of our booths in the cafeteria. Everyone complains about how small these things are....yet there I was....sitting there and was completely comfortable.

@@leonelbreton hey dude 50 lbs down!! woo hoo party dance, party dance!! first of many milestones more NSV's to follow keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer, life good luck kathy congrats

@@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.....

NSV - When you look at a photo and think who the hell are you.

@chavezmommy LOL! I do have SF pudding and popsicles, but the girls selling the Cookies with the pleading faces, and my lack of control, and remembering how goooood they tasted, first thing you know I'm saying "Of course I'll buy a box!". However, this morning my sweetie and I hit Kohls'. I've never been able to shop there, but he told me "your underwear are baggy as heck!". So while at Kohl's, just for shits and giggles, I decided to try on "real" jeans, not the elastic all around waist one's. Sweetie says "what size are we looking for?", "I have no clue" I responded! So I pick up the highest I could find which was a 24W, thinking in my head "you are setting yourself up for a let down", but believe it or not they just fit! Around the waist anyway! My legs have always been thinner than the rest of me, so even at a much smaller size (I used to wear 3x from Catherines), the legs are still baggy so I didn't buy them. I need my waist and a** to catch up to my legs before I'll be rocking some jeans! LOL Thank God for summer, because in shorts I can usually pull it off without too much bagginess. But I came out of the fitting room empty handed but with a huge smile on my face. He said "they didn't fit?". I said "they did but too baggy in the legs, but I'm getting there!" I guess that would be my first NSV! Bra's are next. I am on the last row of hooks and the shoulder adjustment all the way forward, when it used to be all the way to the back! Thanks for your encouragement! It helps during the rough patches! Keep up the good work yourself!

Thanks @@Dub for sharing that NSV. It's a great example of how your success can inspire those around you!

Wow that is a powerful story on so many levels. What is so fantastic is that it is not just a NSV for you but also for him too. It sounds like the seed was already planted but boy you sure are the water! I know that this man's life will be different because of you. You are awesome.

I have not wanted to have my picture taken for over 20 years. Now after losing 160 pounds, I traveled to Washington DC to meet with my Senators about topics very important to my heart and soul. They took pictures and for the first time not only did I not shy away from the camera but I actually was willing to share it through social media. This is the first time I have ever done that. I still have a lot to lose, but this is huge for me. I do a lot of advocacy and have always done it in the background. Now I finally feel comfortable being in the spotlight. Who else is now willing to have their pic taken?

I was leaving work yesterday after a long day. Tired. Ready to get to my vehicle and make the interstate commute home. Was already thinking about my playlist for the ride home. I am a production supervisor in a large manufacturing plant. At one time, I seemed to know everyone there....and know them fairly well. The place has expanded and grown significantly over the years. Lots of new faces. So, I'm walking down the main aisle with my tired mind lost in my thoughts about my music and a couple phone calls I needed to make to arrange some schedule changes. Waving at and speaking briefly with some folks as I walked on by. Nearing the main plant entrance I hear a horn blow and look back and see a dude riding up on his material handling cart. He's a big guy, too. Appears to be fairly tall, young and really, really heavy. He's taking off his work gloves and extending his hand. We introduce ourselves and he said he's seen me around the plant and I'd been losing a large amount of weight and he was simply hoping I'd share how with him. I was straight up with him and gave him a fast rundown of the my sleeve surgery process and how, where, why it unfolded like it did. I was 100% honest with him and broke down the costs and how our insurance was not so great.....covering only 50% of the actual surgery cost, but not the related tests and things that are required. I told him how it was actually significantly cheaper for me to have self funded the deal. Crazy scenario, but true. I urged him to pursue a couple different avenues for finding out further information on how to fund the surgery. He had very specific questions as to what I could eat, what I could take for meds and what I could drink. He wanted to know what days off were like and what working days felt like. We talked for at least 30 minutes and I tried to think of the the things he'd not asked that I could answer, too. He thanked me profusely and I can say that I instantly felt like the last 14 hour workday was erased.....I had recharged my batteries. I felt absolutely great. I can only hope that he'll be able to sort things out and find out the information that he needs to find out to better make his battle plan. So....I'm almost out the main entrance....but then veer on a new course. I stopped off at the nice gym we have at work and spent 30 mins working out before refilling my 30 oz Water bottle and getting in the car for the well hydrated ride home. Life is good. I am grateful for each day....but yesterday was really cool. I looked at this guy and could see in him the same desire to change that I had......the same confusion as to how......and I'm hoping that things will line up for him. I know that our HR department and our benefits are lacking in regards to wls. I need to study up on the various financing options and have this information readily available....contact info and such so I can be better prepared for the next such conversation I have with potential wls candidates. Thanks for reading my ramblings. I hope that today brings another such conversation with someone like this young guy. I hope that each of you have this experience and can feel a sense of calm and relief in the person you are talking to. It is a powerful moment and one that is very rewarding. To date, it's one of the very best NSV's I've had.

I'm the same way..... I've lost 90 pounds but sit between 185 and 188 for a while now. But I can tell how much the weight loss helps because today I walked 8 miles without my knees and ankles hurting. Also went on a plane and the seat wasn't uncomfortable and the seat belt fit. All little NSVs but I'll take them