Non-Scale Victories

Thursday, 16 August 2012 00:00

Spend any amount of time on weight-loss surgery forums, and you will likely see people talking about NSVs, or "non-scale victories." These little moments often happen when you least expect them, but they can make your day when you are feeling down about your weight-loss goals.

While the numbers on the scale are a great indicator of your progress, in many cases, NSVs can be even more meaningful and encouraging to WLS patients. Have you experienced any of these moments of triumph?

• Being able to wear your wedding rings or other treasured pieces of jewelry that were previously too tight.
• Being able to hug your kids or your spouse.
• Shopping in any store you want, not just stores that offer "plus sized" clothing.
• Fitting into your favorite old jeans.
• Having normal blood pressure or blood sugar levels and being able to go off your medications.
• Fitting into restaurant booths without having to squeeze.
• Being able to cross your legs again.
• Climbing stairs without getting winded.
• Flying on an airplane without having to use a seatbelt extender.
• Getting double-takes from people you have worked with for years because they no longer recognize you.
• Being able to bend over and tie your shoes.
• Realizing that you aren't automatically reaching for food to deal with stress or a difficult situation.
• Signing up for your first 5k.

At times during your WLS journey, you will likely experience setbacks or plateaus when the numbers on the scale don't seem to budge. Instead of focusing on the scale, allow yourself to celebrate these little victories, no matter how small they may seem.

As you continue losing weight and reaching your goals, don't forget to set new milestones so that you always have something to look forward to. You may even want to keep track of your NSVs in a designated notebook to provide positivity and encouragement whenever you are feeling frustrated or discouraged in your WLS journey.