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Everyone has them. Stalls can last from a few weeks to months. Make sure you're getting in all your protein, drink your water and exercise. All you can do is follow your program until your body decides it's not starving. In the meantime look for NSV and take your measurements to compare the differences.

I took a friend to the hospital today for tests. After they told me I could go get my car and pick her up outside the front entrance. So I was walking a long and there was a mom and a little girl behind me.... The little girl was chattering away about everything and nothing. Then she stops and says, 'mommy why is that lady's leg so little?' I knew she was talking about me because we were the only ones around. Her mother did not miss a beat! She said,' honey I think she was born with them like that.' I looked around and the mother smiled faintly at me hoping I did not hear. I smiled back. I thought, " you should have seen me two years ago, they would have been hidden from view." Is that a NSV or just an observation by a little girl with big blue eyes!

So yesterday was my 9 years wedding anniversary and the hubby took me out for dinner to Logan's and,I ordered a grilled chicken breast with a baked sweet potato and I shared my meal with my 2 year old baby. I asked for a to go box before I start eating my meal and I took out of my plate the food that I was not going to eat I was so full with 2 bites of chicken and 2 tsp of sweet potato. I was so happy!!! Before I could eat the whole plate and ask for desert Yay for my sleeve. I took home the left overs and my daughter and my husband had some. I just had 2 bites of the chicken for lunch. Now that I am not allow to eat much I realized the ridiculous portions of food that restaurants serve here in America and is worse in Texas lol I just wanted to share my first experience dining out

hello fellow sleevers. i am so excited today i lost 5lbs for the week, yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. also i am out of the 250's and now in the 40's yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. i also had a nsv. my daughter gave me some of her cloths and there were a pair of tight jeans that i couldnt get past my hip welllllllllllllllllllllllllll guess what they are on me and with room, so exciting when she saw me in them yesterday she was like who is this lady? hee hee hee. i am going to continue to do what is working for me that is eating every 2-3 hrs getting my Water and Protein in. i no longer need shakes because i get it from the food now another yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. doing the happy dance and singing (im so excited, and i just cant hide it) also i lost a total of 30 since surgery and plus the 16 i lost before surgery. 46lbs total yayyyyyyyyyyy

Great NSV! Keep up the good work!

Raine, I love your NSV threads... and this one is no different! You gotta love the compliments and seeing 'the light'... well, that is pure brilliant!!

Now that I am so close to my goal of 150 I have developed new habits lol one of which will probably be bad eventually lol but hell I went years without bcuz of my weight. My addictions are shopping for new clothes and shoes and crossing my legs!! Lol I have been to the mall everyday this week!!! Lol I am very cost conscience bcuz I only hit the clearance racks and deals in shoes. So I haven't spent to much but I have spoiled myself. But my bday is dec 23 and I'm finished Xmas shoppin for the family already. And I have no clothes now since I have lost 76lbs. Now that I don't have so much extra weight I can now wear the heels I've been wanting to wear! It feels so good to shop on the clearance rack and always find ur size!! Now the crossing legs addiction...I LOVE IT!!! I haven't been able to cross my legs in years!!! Now that I can do with ease I can't help but to always sit like that now! I think it's so sexy and I feel sooooo sexy!!! This surgery was the best thing I cud have ever done for myself and my family and I hope anyone that is thinking about this surgery will definitely get it!!! IT'S SOOO WORTH IT!!!!

Congrats on your first NSV! The dreaded plateau! And yes, you can expect to see several of them in your future. In the past 18 months, I've gone through so many I lost count. It's a normal part of the process as your body adjusts to your new way of eating. One thing I've learned, if I just stick with my eating plan and walking, eventually the weight loss will start again. And yes, it is frustrating as Hell to have to wait it out!

I noticed that I am walking faster today, almost back to normal pace. Soon, LOL, I will be able to keep up with my husband again. I had an interesting NSV today that I think has nothing to do with weight loss, so to speak, and everything to do with my "new found" positive feelings about myself. For the past two years I haven't really had a good positive image of myself. I lost my long straight blonde hair to chemotherapy. I was over weight even then, but I had my pretty hair to help me keep a positive image about myself. With that gone, it has been hard. Not to mention that my hair came back extremely curly! Everyone tells me how much they love my curly hair, but I just absolutely hate it, and I really mean ~~~loathe it! I guess this not so good feeling about myself has put me into the mousy quite type category, which I have never been in until this year. Well obviously looking at my numbers, I haven't lost much weight. I have been taking pictures and I can see slight differences because I myself know where I feel lighter so I can see those changes in the pictures. However, my husband really can't see any visible changes. So, I know this isn't happening because I showed up to work looking "thinner". Well here goes my NSV.... There is a very handsome man that sits just a few cubicles down from me. I have been walking past him since January, ever since I returned to work after my chemotherapy. He has not once ever turned his head, acknowledged my existance, looked up from his computer screen at me or anything of the sort. I even had to discuss something work related with him and he talked to me while he looked at his computer screen. So, I have walked by his desk countless times and never a reaction. These last few days, I have been talking about this "natural high" that I am feeling. Well, my natural high must be radiating, because everytime I pass this guy now, he glances up. He even said "good morning" to me in the kitchen. Interesting perspective into how positive or negative feelings about yourself can change a situation. Morning Scale: 212 (up +1) Food today: cup of coffee black w/ 1 equal Breakfast - ham and swiss cheese, about 3oz total Lunch - 3oz of Red Snapper and 4 pieces of yukka protein snack - Dinner - 1/3 of a La Madeleine chicken, broccoli tomato crepe. Calories 416, fat 21g, net carb 31g, protein 22g. Excersize: None

So I got the chance of a lifetime to get to go to New York City on work....but then stayed over the weekend for my birthday (it was the 7th). My wonderful boyfriend flew out for the weekend and we had an amazing time! Heck, that I have a boyfriend (we're at about six months) is a HUGE NSV. But the one I'm talking about today is that now, at some 90 lbs down...I was able to walk EVERYWHERE in New York. I had energy that amazed even my boyfriend. (amazed me too). I just kept giving thanks and praise to Trink (my band's name) for giving me such freedom, such energy, such joy, such happiness. I got my life back and it was never more affirmed than it was on Sunday, my actual birthday....we left the hotel at 10 am and returned at 8 that evening. We walked NON STOP. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge...I never got winded or had to stop, I walked proudly holding my man's hand. My God I'm so thankful for Trink! She's been a godsend to me. How amazingly my life has changed in just the bounds of eleven months. My goal is to get to 100 lbs gone by my bandiversary in one month. I may not make it but it's a nice stretch goal. Here are some photos from the trip! This is me as we're just about to walk the bridge: This is me on the bridge: Here I am with the statue of the Bull near Wall Street. The joke is...I'm a Taurus...get it? The bull with the bull on my birthday! And this a photo my boyfriend snuck...I was taking a shot of Grand Central station and he was shooting a photo of ME. Lol! For reference...here's what I used to look like...

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Time flies, and the summer certainly seemed to slip away for us at BariatricPal! Still, our busyness has been fun and productive, and we hope you feel the same way about your summer. Here is a newsletter that we hope will keep you centered and move you forward as we head into fall. You’ll find: • Weight Loss Surgery Journey Help Anytime, Anywhere • Fall Flavors, WLS Style • Looking Backwards and Forwards During Your WLS Journey Use this newsletter to get a handle on your weight loss surgery goals and strategies, and then launch into action! Get your meals prepped, lace up your walking shoes, and logon to the BariatricPal Forums on your computer or using the Android or iPhone app! Can’t wait to see you there! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Weight Loss Surgery Journey Help Anytime, Anywhere Going through bariatric surgery, losing weight, and keeping it off is already a tall order; why would you even think about trying to go it alone? Rather than trying to go through the journey alone, you are probably better off figuring out what help you may need, and where you will find it. That way, the challenges you are sure to come across will be nothing more than little blips that you can overcome more quickly than if you were trying to face them on your own. Your Healthcare Team Obvious though it may seem, sometimes it is easy to forget, that your healthcare team is there…for your health. Your surgeon, primary care doctor, and specialists that you may have, such as an endocrinologist or cardiologist, can answer your health questions, and put you in touch with bariatric specialists, such as nutritionists and psychologists, when you need them. The People Around You People may be more willing and able to help than you realize. Look to family, friends, and even coworkers for help in your WLS journey success. They can help you in a variety of ways, both direct and indirect for your surgery and weight loss. • Your parents and neighbors can take care of the kids or drive them to their activities, especially right after surgery when you need to rest and/or cannot drive. • Coworkers who are trying to lose weight or who work hard to lead healthy lifestyles can be supportive as you work to eat healthy, and could walk with you at lunch. • Friends could agree to socialize while shopping, hiking, or crafting – not eating. BariatricPal Really! Talk about 24/7 support, and BariatricPal should come to mind. The forums are where to go for support from BariatricPal members. You can browse or come to ask specific questions. Find helpful WLS success tips in our WLS Magazine when you read articles on nutrition, exercise, head games, and more written by experts including nutritionists, psychologists, surgeons, and successful WLS patients. Get trusted reviews on surgeons in your area in our Surgeon Directory, and check out The BariatricPal Store for protein bars and shakes, bariatric supplements, great-tasting entrees and snacks, and more products that can make your journey easier. Fall Flavors, WLS Style The bounty of fall is in, with apples, pumpkin, and mushrooms making their presence known. With these and other nutritious choices in season, why did diet disasters such as apple pie, pumpkin pancakes, and mushroom dip become the culinary face of fall? Classic fall foods can put a damper on weight loss, but fall fare does not need to throw you off your diet, though. Here are a few ideas that can get you your fall fix while letting you hit your fall goals. Apples Crisp fall apples are so innocent, until they turn into apple pie a la mode, apple cobbler, and apple butter. You are far better off pairing these fiber-packed fruits with Peanut Butter Powder, which adds some low-fat, reduced-calorie protein. Or, try great-tasting apple-flavored protein punches, without extra sugar in apples or baked goods, in the form of Protein Fruit Drinks, Apple Pie Protein Bars, and Cinnamon Apple Protein Oatmeal. Check out our Apple-Flavored Collection! Cinnamon Nothing screams “autumn!” like cinnamon and spice, but the food industry takes the flavors to dangerous places. Cinnamon turns from a blood sugar-lowering agent into a sweetened flavor that brings too many calories and too much sugar and fat: think cinnamon latte, cinnamon French toast, and cinnamon buns, for example. Get your fix instead from our Cinnamon-Flavored Protein Foods, such as Cinnamon Swirl Protein One Meal Replacement, Cinnamon Vanilla and Cinnamon Crunch Protein Cereal, and Cinnamon Crunch and Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Protein Bars. They are low in carbs, and high in protein and flavor. Pumpkin, Chili, and More A piece of pumpkin bread or pumpkin muffin has about twice the sugars you need in a day, and hardly any pumpkin. A bowl of beefy chili can have your daily dose of saturated fat and sodium. Those creamed mushrooms may smell appetizing, but what if their rich sauce sends you to the bathroom with dumping syndrome? Don’t do it! You are better off going with Pumpkin Protein Muffins with 20 grams of protein, low-carb, protein-rich instant entrees such as Vegetable or Turkey Chili, and Creamy Mushroom Protein Soup or Meal Replacement. You will get the fall flavor, without the hit to your waistline. Check The BariatricPal Store for more fall flavors you love, with nutritionals you love, too. We have treats for every phase of the WLS diet, including liquid, pureeds, soft, and solid foods. Looking Backwards and Forwards During Your WLS Journey Bariatric surgery is a process, not an endpoint. Getting bariatric surgery, losing weight, and keeping it off are a lifelong journey. They require commitment and effort, and you might be best able to keep it up if you balance looking back with looking ahead. Backwards: Staying True to Yourself and Celebrating Achievements Your past may be behind you, but it shaped you and still affects you today. Remember who you were and the frustrated or other negative feelings you may have had before surgery or before you started considering surgery, and you may help yourself stay motivated to keep moving forward. You can also honor your past by marking milestones, such as weight loss markers, fitting into smaller clothes or other NSVs, and your surgiversaries. Forwards: Setting New Goals There is always something to achieve, and setting new goals will help you move forward. There are weight loss milestones on the way to goal weight and goal weight. Along the way and beyond, you can always set goals to improve fitness, try new activities, and keep growing as the result of your commitment to yourself and your health. As always, we support whatever commitment you make to yourself and your health, and we are thrilled to be a part of your journey whenever you allow us to be. Good luck this fall in your quest for health, and thanks for being a BariatricPal member! Stop paying for nutritional supplements! Check your insurance eligibility now! If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please click *|unsubscribe|* or to unsubscribe from ALL BariatricPal E-Mail Click Here.

Awesome!! Hot heels are a great NSV!

------------ Yes!! I've cleaned out my entire closet and found several sizes! As of this weekend, I've found out that the last of the smallest sizes I was holding on to, are now getting loose - as KarenK stated. Went shopping today and bought a new suit a size I haven't worn in at least 15 years! OMG! Best of luck and much success to each of you!! These are certainly called sweet NSV's!

That's fantastic! I know how excited I was to get off my blood pressure, diebetes and high cholesterol meds. It's a great NSV!

Yesterday I went shopping, and walked right past an angel food cake, and went and got a protein bar instead!!!

Fiddleman What a wonderful NSV Luv it that you didn't recognize your old self wonder what you will "see" or not see at the next wedding keep up the great work

My mother managed to really, really hurt me today. She went off and told people about my surgery and how she felt about it. (Not positive mind you). I was so hurt and embarrassed...quite humiliated. So what did I do? I went home and attempted to over eat. Stuffing my feelings about her betrayal just like all the hundreds of times I have felt as though she has thrown me under the bus for the sake of juicy gossip. But (here's the good part) I stopped. I picked up the phone and very nicely but firmly told her that she hurt me, made me feel humiliated and embarrassed. I asked her to please never discuss my issues with anyone else and if I wanted to disclose information that it would be up to me to do so. She apologized (tears and all...this is a way for her to keep me from speaking my truth) and I accepted. And I thanked her for listening and accepted her apology. And then I felt better. I didn't need to eat anymore because I dealt with her in a constructive, positive way. And that is for me, a victory!

Congratulations on you NSV!

Hi there..... Let's see..... I now fit into XL shirts! No more plus sized shirts for me...... and I no longer fit into the plus sized underwear LOL and I wore a non-plus size 18 pair of pants....... I do not know what I am going to do when I can shop anywhere and have a good selection. Jackie

What does NSv mean?!

When I first started this journey back in August 2013, I weighed 301 pounds and according to my BMI of 50.1, I was "super obese." Now, 61 pounds later, I have a BMI of 39.9 and am *just* "obese." I also got a call from my PCP - she said my bloodwork confirmed that I no longer have to continue my diabetes or hypertension medication and that my bloodwork looks fabulous. The only thing I need to do is get my good cholesterol up and I can do that with exercise - which has been happening 4-6 days a week since surgery so I think I'm on the right track. Still have a ways to go but it's nice to see the results in so many various "weighs." From giving away clothing, putting on dresses that didn't fit for a good long while and now seeing things like my BMI and being off some medication. I'm sure that I'll hit a stall soon, or there will be bumps in the road but I'm trying not to focus on the negative and really just focus on the good news. And be happy. It's a novel experience, really. Hope everyone is having a good Thursday! Holiday weekend is almost here!!!

I was in the store today and realized that I had slip on shoes that no longer fit! I felt like I needed to curl my toes to keep them from falling off. It was a good feeling but they are my favorite shoes and still in good shape! I normally just wear flip flops around the house (I work from home) or walking shoes if I am out exercising Not sure I want to buy new shoes yet as I have a lot to lose yet. I think I'll just wear my walking shoes when I go out.

Great nsv. I cant wait for my favorite boots to fit again; they have gotten way too tight.

Today was like Christmas and my Birthday when I was a kid! I went shopping (clearance sales of course) and got to shop in the "normal sizes" first time ever in my adult life. Whoop, whoop!

Me too! It happened for the first time on Friday while I was in my therapists office. I looked down and said, " Hey, I'm crossing my legs!" Then I started bawling. I hadn't crossed my legs in....I don't even know how long. This was the best NSV yet.