I often read threads in this forum where people are disappointed with their weight loss. People compare themselves to others and feel that their loss is not good enough or not fast enough.

Apart from the fact that everyone is different and their body is different people often forget to look at things such as starting weight. Someone that weighs more will initially lose weight a lot more quickly than someone who does not weigh as much. As people get closer to their goal weight the loss slows down and it gets harder.

So instead of focussing on the number of lbs or kgs or stones lost rather look at the percentage of your body weight that you have lost.

For example a person weighing 400lb may drop 100lb very quickly. That is a fantastic achievement, but lets look at it another way they have lost 25% of their body weight. Another person may have "only" lost 60lb. Lets say their starting weight was 290lb - that is almost 21% - still amazing.

So why not do the calculation and see how much you have really lost. It may make you feel heaps better.

My stats.

Starting weight 74kg or 163lb

Lowest weight 50 kg or 110lb

Total lost 24 kg or 53lb

Percentage of weight lost 32%

I've lost 6% TOTAL weight ... and 25% of the total weight that I want to lose. 4 months post op

Starting weight 384 lb

Current weight 307 lb

Total lost 77 lb

Percentage of weight lost 20%

Still a work in progress. I'm am starting over. At one point I was down to 284 which was 26%.

I to was down to 284 .. Jumped up to 307 and now back at 291 june was a crazy month for me

There is a difference between total body weight lost and excess weight lost. I have lost a total of 36.6% of my body weight from all time hight to current weight. From all time high to current weight I have lost 113% of my excess body weight based on reaching a BMI of less than 25.

Cocoabean, I would think that the value should be a percentage of your excess weight rather than your total weight. I came up with my value by dividing what I have lost by the total amount that I needed to lose in the first place. You have really done well, by the way!

Geology Rocks..not being a statistician, I am not sure what you mean, but when I redid my total loss, I came up with 35.5%...which is what Elcee asked for originally 77 pounds lost divided by 217 starting weight. The other number..well, To get to a normal BMI I needed to get to 149 lbs. I am less than that now...so I have lost in excess, or more than 100% of the excess I had to lose. I need to lose 68 lbs to get to normal, I have lost 77. I divide 77 by 68 and got 113% of my excess weight lost..

Am I incorrect?

Only 19.5 here.

Not only - every loss counts. My mom reminded me today that losing as little as 5% of your body weight has health benefits. Think of it as 19.5% so far

10%

Starting weight 250.5

Current weight 219.5

Loss/starting weight = 31/250.5 = 12.4%

Loss/desired loss = 31/100 = 31%

Banded May 29, 2012 (5.5 weeks)

I kind of like the second way better because I know eventually I will reach 100%. Both ways are informative...but something about 100% keeps me focused and motivated :-)

17.9% awesomeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! 335 starting weight,day of surgery 304(6/8/12), today 275!

As I begin my journey again this is a great way to look at steps along the way. Thanks

31% and still going

33.17 and still shrinking!

33.17% and still shrinking, sorry forgot the percentage sign! Congrats everyone!

Banded 6/15, down 10%

Weight as of 5/28 is 210

Date of the surgery: 205

Current weight: 190

1st fill will be 7/19

I feel a little restriction

My goal is 130

41%

Geology Rocks..not being a statistician, I am not sure what you mean, but when I redid my total loss, I came up with 35.5%...which is what Elcee asked for originally 77 pounds lost divided by 217 starting weight. The other number..well, To get to a normal BMI I needed to get to 149 lbs. I am less than that now...so I have lost in excess, or more than 100% of the excess I had to lose. I need to lose 68 lbs to get to normal, I have lost 77. I divide 77 by 68 and got 113% of my excess weight lost..

Am I incorrect?

If you had 100 pounds to lose and you lost 80 of those 100 pounds, then you would have lost 80% of your excess weight. In short, take the weight you have lost and divide that number by the total amount of weight that you have/ had to lose. If you have lost more than what you set out to lose, then you have lost more than 100% of your excess weight. Does this help? ;-P

29%