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Today I tried on a ring that I was given when I was about 12. I have no idea what size it is, I just know that once I was in high school it no longer fit. It's a gold claddagh and I have always loved it. IT FIT! On both hands I can get it on my ring finger and it's not even tight. I never in a million years thought I could wear it again. This is amazing. I'm so glad I had my sleeve!!!! ????

Congratulations on going through with your surgery. It's ok bro, you are not alone in feeling that way. You will be able to eat the same foods again, just in smaller quantities and for some, less frequently. Yeah, there is a difference in eating (smaller quantities, chewing more, not drinking a liquid a little before or after, etc.) but look at all of the things you will be able to do post surgery and the longer, healthier, better quality life you will live, more NSVs than you can shake a stick at, etc.. You made the right choice.

I have posted several time but thought I would put my whole journey in one post for those beginning. I started my journey by calling insurance company in Dec of 2014 to see what they covered as far as weight loss. I was told a couple of dr's names and did a little research on dr's. I called one office and set up my seminar for Jan 8, 2015. As I waited for my appt I did even more research and when I went to seminar, I had already decided if I qualified I was wanting to get the sleeve surgery. Seminar came and when it was over you could set up a consultant with dr, so I chose the first time that would fit with my schedule, which was in February. I went in February and they told me what my insurance expected of me, which was 4 appts with a Nut and exercise therapist and 3 month diet plan. So I scheduled my appts and started the journey and told myself I could change my mine at anytime. I lost about 5-10 pounds on my supervised diet plan and finished all four appts faster than I thought I would, at the end of May at my last class they handed me a paper stating I had done everything I needed to do and had turned in all background paper and was ready to summit to insurance. I said great and left thinking it would be awhile. The next week I was on vacation and they called to schedule surgery!!! I set up my pre-op for the following week and surgery for June 15. Looking back it happened so fast. I went to my pre op appt and since it was close to surgery they asked if I had started my pre op diet(which I had not). I got my blood work, cheat X-Ray, and an EKG while I was there. I came home and started the pre op diet the next day as told. I lost about 10-12 pounds on pre op diet and day of surgery weighed in at 240. Had surgery at 11 and was in room by 3. My dr required a min of 2 days stay. All was going good until that night. I was up all night long getting sick which made me even more uncomfortable. I slept all the next day and got sick again that night. I told them I thought it was from the morphine and sure enough as soon as they took my IV out I was fine. Came home on Wednesday and slept all day, which caught me up on my sleep. Got up Thursday and was sore by kinda laid me bed all day as I run a home daycare and didn't want the kiddos to hurt me. Friday I came out to the living room and played with kiddos and moved around a lot. By the end of the next week I was going to the church and walking the indoor track(about half a mile). At the end of the third week I was going to gym and walking a mile in about 30 mins. Fast forward to December I started having really bad pains in my right side and went to have an ultrasound done on my Gallbladder were they found a huge stone. I had to stop going to gym while I waited 6 days for surgery(over Christmas). I had my gallbladder removed on Dec 29, 2015 at a surgery center and was home within 4 hours of arriving. I did awesome and I told them how sick I was after my sleeve surgery and they gave me everything they could to help that and I didn't even feel as though I was going to get sick. I was told no gym until my check up a week later. I went for check up on Tuesday and started back at the gym Wednesday. I am now able to do the treadmill for 30-35 mins which I am at an incline of 5.5 and speed 3.8 and go about 2 miles and I do the stationary bike for 30 mins and I go 6 miles. Then this week I am adding in weights as my surgeon said give it a few weeks. I weighed today and am at 179.6!!! I have not been that weight since middle school(now 40). I am wearing a size med yoga pants or a size 13 jeans and shirts I am wearing a large, but I haven't went shopping for any large so I am mostly swimming in my extra large shirts. After my gallbladder surgery I went back to protein shake for breakfast, ham and cheese roll up for lunch and a small dinner of chicken and some veggie or fruit. Then I normally have to eat a cheese stick and peanut butter at night to get my calories up to 900-1000. I am still wanting to lose about 20 pounds and then I will try maintenance, but I am going to be watching what my body does and will be happy with what every it decides to do. NSV this week was seeing someone I haven't seen in about 3 years and them going on about how good I look. Of course my hubby and parents tell me that all the time, but it is nice when it comes from someone you haven't seen in a long time and at the gym no less!!!!! Hope everyone else is doing well and loving the "new" you!!!

gowalking, I love this type of NSV! @DjmohrI, I love the fact that your husband James calls you Bartles : )

I love NSV's like that. I am a silly one too: I regularly take baths and read on my kindle. I rest the kindle on a bathpillow and noticed recently the bottom is always soaking wet where it didn't use to be. I realized it's because my lap is smaller and now below the Water level.

I love these NSVs! Congratulations! It's such a good feeling, isn't it! We have a tiny garage in a 1 bedroom apt at the moment. When we put our SUV in there, there is about 1 foot of space between the wall and the front of our vehicle. To get into the passenger side you actually have to walk out of the garage and go around and then you have about 1 foot in to open the door and get in. My husband usually will back out and then I get in. A few times I have walked thru that space sideways just to see if I could. This week without even thinking I walked straight through that tiny little space with all my winter gear on, walked around open the door and got in. When I looked up my husband was staring at me. I said what's up James? He calls me Bartles (like Bartles and James wine coolers). He said "Bartles, I suppose you think you are all that! You are so skinny you think you can fit anywhere"! I swear this is my new thing, to squeeze through spaces I never could fit before. I am constantly finding things I can do with my new thinner body.

It's been three years so most of the NSVs have already happened but once in a while a new one pops up. Yesterday, I was sitting on the bus in a two seater by the window and had to get off and get past the lady beside me in the aisle seat. She didn't even bother to get up...she just did the body shift and moved her legs out of the way so I could get out. Not only was I able to do it, I was able to slip past her easily. I had the goofiest smile on my face when I got off the bus... This is the kind of thing that tells me I'm normal sized...not the scale. Second NSV...I was between meetings this morning and didn't want to bother putting the laptop back in the port so I worked at my desk with the laptop on my lap. Yes...my lap is now a flat surface with no stomach in the way. I've worked at home on a laptop for a while but tend to do so with feet up...either on the bed or the coffee table but this was with my feet firmly planted on the floor. I know I couldn't have done that before I lost the weight. These are good reminders of living life the way it was intended and not with the challenges of all the excess weight I carried.

Thank you @@proudgrammy I love seeing other people's NSV! They are always an inspiration and a push for me!

@@kanaud keep those NSV's coming gotta love them keep up the great job kathy

Congratulations on your NSV! I just reached a point where I can buy clothes in stores with a plus size dept and it's exciting! I've been reduced to buying online and accepting whatever could fit for so long, that it's now so much fun to go to Lane Byrant or Nordstroms and walk in and get to choose things that look good on me or make me feel good! I also just made it to zulily sizes 22/24 so now I have a new favorite online store. such a big change from the 32/34 I was wearing in July!

If you have to find a lump, finding its twin on the other side is the best kind! Congrats on the emergence of your bones. That's a top notch NSV if ever there was one! ????

I'm a few days from surgery still, but I have an NSV to share! We were at lunch with family yesterday and a drop of Soup fell onto my jeans. As I was dabbing at it with my napkin my husband leaned over smiling and said "I think that's why ladies usually keep their napkin in their lap", and it occured to me...OMG I have a lap!!! Its not just tummy mashed up against the edge of the table anymore! I was so proud to be able to place my napkin in my new lap.

Congrats!! What a GREAT DAY!! Keep track of those NSV's! They are what keeps us all moving forward! (Especially the attention from others. And strangers at that! You go girl! )

You look great...congrats on your scale victory and your NSV. I understand the need to be noticed again. I am down 78 lbs... Hoping for my 100 soon.

You know, I hadn't realized the part about skinny people being more supportive than not, but that explains why I have received so much support - everyone around me (even at work) is pretty thin / healthy. I have been so blessed to have incredible support from my friends and coworkers. (There is one friend that isn't but I knew she wouldn't be. She's just like that about everything medical.) Interesting observation... I tell EVERYONE (and I mean everyone - perfect strangers - about my surgery). I guess I figure if I don't act embarrassed of it and get it out there before someone says something, then I have the upper hand? I don't know. Like you, I don't quite grasp that I have lost over 100 pounds; however, mine is because I never really understood how heavy I was. (Crazy, I know.) So just probably the last 10 pounds or so have I realized that not only do I look different but I am actually starting to look - gasp - THIN! Concentrate on those NSV's. That is why we all did this - off the meds, better dr visits, fit in the plane seat, smaller clothes, etc. Those are the things that will help you realize the weight that is gone (said I after going to a movie today and realizing how nice it was to fit in that seat!) I too do not like the excess skin but constantly find myself staring in the mirror trying to decide just how bad it is. Most of it is covered up - except for the turkey neck and that BOTHERS me to no end. I will have my arms done if nothing else because I have always wanted to wear sleeveless (without the requisite cami over it). I can completely understand being anxious about your wedding dress, but girl, you are getting married and from the sounds of it to a wonderful person, so I agree with @@Valentina, spread your wings and fly! Congrats or your progress!

On my top ten for NSV!!!!

The thrill is gone and its a fabulous place to be. Life goes on after the honeymoon. The NSV's , The shock from people around you and being driven by weight loss. Looking back I have to laugh. The high from the honeymoon was incredible..I even thought I had the answers to everything bariatric. The transformation is complete. Finding other adventures and things to overcome and conquer. I'm soooo over it!

Just got back from my 8 day cruise. Happy that I kept to plan--- not happy to come back to below zero weather! I haven't really lost a lot since surgery... I go to my doctor's on Wednesday which is my 8 week follow up and am only down 3 pounds in 6 weeks. Not sure what is happening but at least it is going down- even if it is slow. My NSV is that I was able to purchase closed in the regular Misses area- not plus size- for the cruise. Yes- it was the largest size in the misses area but so many more choices! I actually had a portrait taken on the cruise (something I definitely would not have done before!) I don't think I look FAT anymore- just chubby LOL!

It's the best feeling! I just posted that it was my NSV!

Congrats- that is a huge NSV. Being free again to participate in life is so amazing. Happy for you!!

Like many on this site, traveling on an airplane when I was super big was very challenging. I am now down 150 pounds, and had my first plane trip. I could not believe how amazingly I fit in the seat, no seatbelt extender, and room to spare all around. Yay! On the ouch side, I am visiting my in-laws for the first time since I've lost this weight and nobody said anything. 150 pounds down, and no one said a thing. I know I have much more to lose but OUCH. They even know I had the surgery (in all fairness, they didn't ask a single thing about me or my husband because they're self-involved but really???) Thanks for letting me rave and rant about this! I've decided by posting this to let go of the ouch and focus on the NSV. Thank you to everyone on this site.

Thank You ladies, I am happy that I became involved on this forum. We all have stories of why we chose surgery. As I tell anyone who asks, this is not the "easiest" thing to do to lose weight. But after years of trying to do it the conventional way or the way most people try to do it, I was a failure. I lost weight many times only to re-gain it shortly after stopping yet another diet or program. There are many more on here who had more of a challenge than I did but due to my health concerns I felt an urgency to take that step to fix it. I love reading all of your success stories and looking at photo's of before and after. Each person who writes their story or tells of their NSV's gives me the hope that this is my last weight loss program. After maintaining my loss for 3 years I am very hopeful. I do have some moments especially the last few months of my husband's health crisis that I did not follow all the rules but I have since tried to re-group. I have not gained but have not lost. The best we can all hope for is a comfortable place with ourselves and our weight loss situation. I do feel liberated somewhat in that I do not stress about every bite I take and whether I should go out to eat, etc. Take Care my friends and be well.

When you really wonder if this is the right call, read through this section...http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/195065-you-know-you-lost-weight-when/ If you don't spontaneously tear up at times, you are NOT a candidate. I still do. It's amazing to me how over a year out I hear about someone's struggles that they have overcome after losing weight how it brings back memories of my past struggles. I don't think those weight PTSD memories are ever going to go away. But these NSV's always bring me hope and happiness.

Nope those days are over post sleeve... Just kidding, Just give yourself time to heal and then build back up slowly...your game will be better than ever. Can't wait to hear your NSV stories.