You May Be More Successful Than You Think....

[nsharrah 60]

(if you can't see this post without a bunch of extra HTML code, go here: http://sleevers.wordpress.com/2013/11/10/you-may-be-doing-better-than-you-think/)

Or math games geeks play.

So I see people posting how they’ve lost a lot less than those who were sleeved the same day as them. “I’m 3 months out and I’ve only lost X but everyone else has lost so much more than me.” Theoretically we all understand that if someone has a lot to lose, they will lose faster than someone who has less to lose.

But here’s an example to make it real. There’s me, with 80 lbs to lose, and there’s my friend Emily who has 180 lbs to lose. Mine are actual results, and I made up the results for Emily.

Wow, I’m doing really badly. I’ve “only” lost 35 lbs in 3 months and Emily has lost 79 lbs! Obviously, I’m failing.

But you want to know a secret? I didn’t entirely make up Emily’s numbers. Look at the picture below. Can you guess what I did?

Yup. I messed around with the numbers until Emily had lost exactly the same as I had in terms of percent excess weight to lose. I have 80 lb. to lose, she has 180 lb. to lose. In order for her to match me for percent of excess weight lost, she has to lose considerably more than I do during the same time period.

Poor Emily is having to work a lot harder to get the same results I am. And what do you know, I'm doing just fine.

This is why I strongly believe that we should move away from total pounds lost, and move to percent excess weight lost to gauge where we are in our journeys.

Here’s how to calculate your %EWL:

• [Total weight lost/(Starting weight - Goal Weight)]*100
• [35/(230-150)]*100
• (35/80)*100
• =44%

Who knew Math could make you feel better hunh?

Btw, if you're total math phobic, give me your start weight, your current weight, and your goal weight and I will do this for you.

[nsharrah 60]

Please help me! Starting weight was 253.4 surgery weight (4weeks later) 237.7, current weight 182.4 goal weight 150.

Then maybe 130

[nsharrah 60]

Yay me!!! Thanks so much! 5 months and 10 days and 72%! I am so stubborn that nothing less than 100% will do!! I fully plan on proving those statistics wrong!! You will too Gamer!! :-)

[nsharrah 60]

Wags... we are pretty close in stats I think. Can I ask when was your surgery date? How did you get your goal weight? And how tall are you? I dont remeber my dr ever discussing goals with me. I just picked a number one day. Its the fake weight from my drivers liscence when I met my hubby. It said 150, lol I was more like 155 or 158. I thought that was fat!! Haha ahh to be 22 again!

[gamergirl 4,609]

Please help me! Starting weight was 253.4 surgery weight (4weeks later) 237.7, current weight 182.4 goal weight 150.

Then maybe 130

you are 69% of the way to your goal of 150! Even if you re-set the goal to 130, you're 58% of the way to that goal as well. More than half way in one case, and almost three-fourths of the way in another case.

[nsharrah 60]

Thanks math genius...I mean gamergirl lol

[SuzyB 182]

Starting weight 303

Current weight 245

Goal 180

[gamergirl 4,609]

Starting weight 303

Current weight 245

Goal 180

wow Suzy you're almost half way there! 47% to be exact. Didn't you just recently get sleeved? during the massive thunderstorm/flooding thing? Way to go!

[southernsoul 773]

Here's mine:

(79/150)*100 = 52.67% of my excess weight lost in 4.5 months. Yay!! Man, I hope I did that right!

[gamergirl 4,609]

Here's mine:

(79/150)*100 = 52.67% of my excess weight lost in 4.5 months. Yay!! Man, I hope I did that right!

How hard is that to believe? If someone had told you that you'd be halfway to goal in less than 5 months, would you even half believed them before the surgery? I know I would have laughed at anyone who told me that.

[1SuperBonBon 221]

Thanks Gamergirl. Just what I needed as my scale doesn't want to cooperate with me.

I am 32.5% to goal. Not too shabby. I will take that to the bank!

[kwigillingok 177]

Hmmm, if I did this right I'm at 42%

Not too shabby!

[84/(380-180)]*100

[SuzyB 182]

Good memory gamer girl. Yes I was sleeved 7 weeks ago. I put my starting weight as the day I made the decision in June. I have a feeling I will move my goal weight lower when I get there, but right now I am just focusing on following the plan.

[EarthyGoalie 253]

Laura-ven, I have an even 100lbs to lose also...

SW 240

CW 202

GW 140

So I guess that makes 38% loss?

I'm 6 weeks out.

Now I'd like to know the average % of loss in certain stages (after how long). :-)

[EarthyGoalie 253]

By the way, VERY smart way of approaching this weight loss thing!!!