PuraVida37

So glad to read these updates !!!

Just make healthy food choices and you will do awesome puravida. You're growing a human so you have to get bigger but once your pregnancy is over you'll get the excess weight off in no time.

So I posted about my colonoscopy from earlier this week. The day before the colonoscopy, I had my psych eval. These are some of the things that we talked about during my psych eval.
Ever since I decided that "enough was enough" and I wanted to have WLS, back in November 2014, my right eyelid has been twitching. Almost constantly. It drives me crazy, but it's what happens to me when I'm stressed. I couldn't figure out what I was stressed about, but I figured it had something to do with my decision to have WLS. I have spent a lot of time since that decision really exploring my past and how I got to where I am.
I looked at pictures of my childhood, and saw that during the time my father was telling me I had to diet because I was too big, I was actually normal. I was shocked. I was shocked at how much one person could really screw you up. I thought about all of the things he did over the years, and the things that brought me to cut him off about 10 years ago and stop all contact. He is a mean, toxic person and is no longer in my life.
I also thought about the time in high school when I weighed 195 (I'm 5 ft 7 inches tall) and thinking, "well, it's okay, because I'm not 200 pounds." I remembered in my early 20's weighing 281 pounds and thinking, "well, it's okay, because I'll never weigh 300 pounds." Now all through this time period, I was still dieting, losing weight, then regaining weight when I couldn't keep up with the demands of the diet. But hey, it was okay, because I wasn't XXX pounds, right?
Then in my early 30's, I got serious (or thought I did), and dieted down to 225. I married someone who liked big women and was not supportive in my efforts to lose weight. Two years later, at 350 pounds, I got pregnant. When our daughter was two years old I left him. I continued to struggle with weight. About 5 years ago, I got on the scale and it read 397. I was shocked. There was no way in hell that I was going to let the scale read 400. I went back to my go-to plan, Atkins. I lost 75 pounds. But I couldn't keep it up, I was still emotionally eating and eating out of boredom.
But hey, it was okay, because I have tons of clothes (thank you, internet shopping), boots that fit my fat calves, and even tights that fit. There was nothing wrong with being a BIG BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, because that's what I was hearing all over the place. Accept who you are! Accept your size! That's the message I was hearing.
People couldn't believe that I was 50 years old. They would say, "you have no wrinkles" and I would respond, "that's because I'm fat - only skinny people have wrinkles." And they would laugh and I would laugh. Because it was okay to be fat, right?
In November 2014 I got on a scale and it said 403. I felt sick to my stomach. I did some soul searching. I decided to stop kidding myself and to stop accept being fat.
I told the psychologist that Fat Acceptance did me no favors. It may have done wonders for other people's self esteem, but it just enabled me to be fat. Now most of you are younger than me, and you may not remember what things were like before "FA" became a thing. There was no such thing as "BBW" - the term hadn't been invented.
I told the doc that I was afraid of failing. That I had read a post here about someone who was afraid to get rid of her fat clothes, because every other time she had done that, she had to go back and buy that same size again when she failed in her efforts to keep the weight off. I told him that I had a hard time with failure (and had been my whole life, another thing to thank my father for), and I think that was what I was really stressed about.
I poured all this stuff out to the psychologist, things I had never, ever admitted, even to myself. And it felt great.
And then my eye stopped twitching.

NT scan this weekend was very good! Next step is genetic testing in 2 weeks. Wish us luck!

Just wanted to come back and let you know that so far, so good! Saw baby wiggling on the sono today.

NT scan this weekend was very good! Next step is genetic testing in 2 weeks. Wish us luck!

Just wanted to come back and let you know that so far, so good! Saw baby wiggling on the sono today.

¡Bienvenido!

fellow Bandsters.....it slipped by without my realizing it....
Officially now ONE DECADE postOp....10 years ago had my Band installed.
New Year/New DECADE begins....
....and the thrills just keep rolling along.....
Cheers and Joy to ALL

@@princesstuiaki How is your pregnancy going?

Really inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS Since I got my band, I've gone from non-runner to multiple 5K finisher (even middle of the pack!). It really has been a blessing!!

Really inspiring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PS Since I got my band, I've gone from non-runner to multiple 5K finisher (even middle of the pack!). It really has been a blessing!!

Quest bars

well.... it is obvious now... need to run a marathon.... I'll start with a 5k first, but damn it, I will run a marathon within the next 2 years. very inspiring

What an inspirational article to start my week off.

This is a wonderful and inspiring article. Anybody who can say she took the easy way out is just a dope. Michele's achievements give me hope for my own goals. Congratulations !!!

A lot of weight loss surgery patients struggle with weight for their entire lives before deciding to get surgery. The same is true for Michele Elbertson. The difference is that Michele was only 23 when she hit 427 pounds and got her wake-up call. She got the lap-band, changed her lifestyle, and dropped 260 pounds. She’s run 6 marathons in the past two and a half years, and is training for her first Ironman triathlon this spring.


Bigger from Birth…And Then College Hit
Michele was always big. She was at the top of her height and weight charts from the time she was an infant. She remembers times in her childhood when she couldn’t or wouldn’t participate because she was so big. She didn’t like physical education or sports, and the other children teased her.
food was a comfort. Michele describes the situation as a vicious cycle. The more kids teased her, the worse she felt. The worse she felt, the more she ate. The more she ate, the more she weighed. The more she weighed, the more she got teased.
College was a disaster in terms of her weight. Forget about the freshman 15. What about the freshman 40? And the sophomore 40? Add to that the junior 40, the senior 40, and, for good measure, the super-senior (fifth-year) 67, and you now know how Michele Elbertson got to be 427 pounds at the age of 22 years.
A Young Weight Loss Surgery Patient with New Relationships
Michele made the decision to get the lap-band on her own. She needed a tool to help her control how much she ate, but understood that it was up to her to control what she ate. She only told her parents about her decision after she was sure about it. They were supportive, and have been since then.
Michele has taken full advantage of and responsibility for the band. She has lost 260 pounds – 260 pounds! – in less than four years. As she says, she’s a determined person who will accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
Michele began to “eat to live” rather than “live to eat.” As her relationships with food and exercise changed, so did her relationships with some friends. She lost some friends whose relationships centered only on food. She gained many more, though, through her new activities. She says the friends she’s gained through running and fitness far outweigh those she lost by changing her lifestyle.
An Athlete Is Born
Michele ran her first 5k after losing 100 pounds – when she was still 327 pounds. She was hooked. She loved the training, the atmosphere of the race, and the accomplishment. She has never looked back. Since then, she has run countless other races, including 38 half-marathons, 6 marathons, and a 50-miler ultra-marathon. She has also competed in triathlons.
Now at an athletic 159 pounds, Michele has her sights on even greater challenges. In the near future, she wants to run a 100-miler and complete an Ironman. Both are feats that most people wouldn’t even dream of.
Marathons, Ultras, and Ironmans
Now, not everyone’s a distance runner or triathlete, so to understand Michele’s accomplishments, here are a few facts about these endurance sports.
A marathon is 26.2 miles. All marathons are 26.2 miles.
An ultra-marathon is anything over 26.2 miles. Michele’s recently completed ultra-marathon was 50 miles, and she is training for a 100-miler.
A triathlon includes swimming, biking, and running. An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon.

Fitting It All in Every Day
Michele works out 6 days a week. Currently, she’s training for an ulta-marathon and is running 5 days a week and lifting weights 3 times. She also does Zumba classes. She takes a rest day once a week.
Michele has built her life to be able to accommodate her training schedule. She recently quit her teaching career to focus instead on helping others achieve their fitness and health goals. She is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. Working at a gym is pure genius – it leaves her with no excuse not to get her workout in!
Eating Like a Bariathlete
How do you have energy to train like an athlete and work full-time while losing over 200 pounds in 4 years? Ask Michele. Here’s how she eats and works out in a typical day.
7:00 a.m. breakfast: almonds and yogurt or eggs/romaine lettuce
9:00 a.m. snack: Protein bar
Workout, such as running, lifting, or group fitness class, such as Zumba or bokwa
Noon. lunch: Soup or salad, usually the largest meal of the day
2:00 p.m. snack: cheese and crackers or something small, equivalent to 200 calories (may include a fruit or vegetable)
4:00 p.m. snack: hot tea
6:00 p.m. dinner; lean protein, veggie, possibly a carb
7:30 p.m. snack: lemon water/hot tea.

The number of calories Michele eats during a day is 1,800 (her resting metabolic rate) plus half of the calories she burns through exercise. So, if she runs 10 miles and burns 1,200 calories in exercise, she’ll eat 1,800 plus 600 calories, or 2,400 calories. She allows herself an occasional treat meal with junk food, but still counts those calories.
The Accolades
Michele is more than your typical bariatric patient, and she’s been getting the recognition she deserves for her extraordinary achievements. These are a few recent examples.
Runner’s World magazine Cover Contest Finalist.
Makeover on the Rachel Ray Show.
Local feature on 6ABC Action News in Philadelphia.

Dealing with Negativity – Don’t Worry About It
One of the most striking things about Michele is her drive. She has worked very, very hard to get where she’s at today. She’s lost 60 percent of her body weight through being very disciplined every day. And, she has run marathons. Anyone who has run a marathon can tell you that it is was harder than they had ever imagined. Anyone who hasn’t run a marathon cannot imagine how difficult it is.
But with all the publicity, Michele has receive a lot of nasty comments. How is she supposed to react when people slam her? They say she hasn’t accomplished anything, that the band has done it all. In fact, they basically say what a lot of weight loss surgery patients hear all the time from people who don’t know any better.
So how does Michele react to negativity? She doesn’t want to respond directly and add “fuel to the fire.” She knows they don’t know anything about her, and she’s probably done more exercise and worked harder than they ever have. So, she just goes about her business.
Leading by Example
Michele says she hopes her successes and story will give others hope. She describes herself as a “real person” and “very down-to-earth,” and she hopes others will see that they can accomplish what she has. In the future, she would like to travel to seminars as a motivational speaker. In the meantime, we congratulate her on her amazing story and wish her well in her 100-miler this spring!

puravida37...Congratulations!!! I'm so excited for you! I was just told on christmas day that my oldest son and his wife are expecting again so now both my older children will be giving me new grandbabies in 2015. I have a granddaughter coming in april and now a new little one coming in august.
Sending lots of good wishes your way!!

Nice to hear from you all!
Since last year this time I've only lost about 20 lbs, and the summer/fall was particularly bad. However, I made some awesome exercise changes and ran several 5Ks. Running was something I would have never done in my "previous life".
The week after Thanksgiving I found out I am pregnant! A complete surprise, as I've never been able to conceive without medical help in the past. I have had several losses (at my old weight), and I'm 40, so I'm not sure what will happen, but I'm celebrating every moment I have with this baby, and tomorrow I will surprise my daughter with the news. She's gonna be over the moon! So far, I've been eating terribly for a lap bander (normal for a normal person---and I've discovered I can eat a whole bagel, which has got to be the worst thing!!) and the doctor unfilled me completely yesterday (I only had 2ccs in a 10cc band anyway). I met with the nutritionist and she gave me some good things to think about and ideas for lunches and how to handle cravings.
May the new year bring a new motivation and some happiness to you all!!

Today I went to my LB doc and he wanted to take out the 2ccs that were there. But it was awful to take out!! He couldn't get a good shot to my port, so he had me move in a sorts of positions and it was like when they try to do a blood draw and can't find the vein!! YOUCH!! but he took it out, so I'm all unfilled. I hope he didn't hurt the baby. It really did hurt. Then I met with Nutrition who basically said don't change a thing, just eat an extra yogurt or so per day. I can handle that.

My somewhat normalized period (only in the last 6 months) was a little late, so I took a HPT, and holy crap, it was blaringly positive!!!!!!!!!! I've suffered from secondary infertility (13 medically assisted procedures-IUI and IVF, none successful) for the last 8 years and so I never thought this would happen. I've got a lot against me: I'm 40 and I've had six previous losses, so I'm keeping my head on straight and my heart guarded. I am not certain about how far along we are, maybe 6+ weeks? Went to the RE and they did a scan. Shows a baby and a yolk sac. Next week I go back to look for heartbeat and dating.
Wish us luck. I'm terrified. I'm not going to change anything in my diet except adding one more Protein Shake a day until I see my lap band doc in late December, provided the baby is still viable at that time.
Who else is PG with a band right now?

I've screwed up and since Halloween I've reintroduced sugar into my eating. And now I'm eating everything. I've gained about 10 lbs. Thanksgiving and seeing family made reverting to old habits too easy and I ate many, many things I shouldn't have. But I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I will just get back on track. I did do something recently that I'm proud about--I ran a 5K Turkey Trot and got 6 of my family members to do it too! But then I gave myself permission to eat like a crazy lady and that's gonna stop right now.
It's gonna be a rough week detoxing from sugar again. I've done it before, i'm gonna do it again!!!!!!!!! Send me some positive vibes.

And three days later I found out I am pregnant. HA!!! No wonder I was craving foods so bad. haha

Ten months ago I weighed 302. Yes, 302. I was so blue.
My life was small and getting worse. Obesity was my lifelong curse.
I had a dream. A dream to live. It asked for all my strength to give.
I mustered strength and all my will. Every requirement I would fill.
I got my LapBand and then began
My new life of not "can't", but "can".
I can, I said, and walked a mile. You've never seen a bigger smile.
I can, I said, and rode a horse. "The hour trail?" I said, "Of course!"
A trip to Italy, climbing hills. My new endurance gave me chills.
A bubble bath is a luxury that once was for everyone else but me.
An airplane ride with a regular belt. I can't describe how good that felt.
The movie seats used to squish my hips. Now the room I have brings a grin to my lips.
My larger clothes become someone's prize as I donate them for a smaller size.
My dozen meds have gone away. One pill and a Vitamin today.
Arthritis pain controlled me so. I am so glad to see that go.
A hundred pounds have waved goodbye. There really is no better high.
Fifty more to get to goal. Not stopping now. I'm on a roll!
So if you're starting out, don't fear. This all can be in your new year!
Have faith, believe, work hard, and give
Yourself the best of gifts -- to LIVE!

Today I went to my LB doc and he wanted to take out the 2ccs that were there. But it was awful to take out!! He couldn't get a good shot to my port, so he had me move in a sorts of positions and it was like when they try to do a blood draw and can't find the vein!! YOUCH!! but he took it out, so I'm all unfilled. I hope he didn't hurt the baby. It really did hurt. Then I met with Nutrition who basically said don't change a thing, just eat an extra yogurt or so per day. I can handle that.