(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.

SW: 248

CW: 172

Goal Weight: 145

Using your formula, I got 73.7%... is that right?

SW: 286

TWL: 50

GW: 165

[50/286-165)]*100

(50/121)*100

=41%

Thanks GG!!!

Gamergirl, maybe you should upload a simple spreadsheet to Dropbox or something

You know I've thought about that, the problem is that I want to create an app that I can embed in here or on my blog and that requires PHP. My PHP programmer (aka my son) is busy with grad school but I will harass him when he comes home for thanksgiving. He's going to have to work for his Brazilian Churrascaria fix this holiday!

SW: 248

CW: 172

Goal Weight: 145

Using your formula, I got 73.7%... is that right?

it is! Three-quarters of the way there. How cool is that?

SW: 286

TWL: 50

GW: 165

[50/286-165)]*100

(50/121)*100

=41%

Thanks GG!!!

that's insane! Didn't you JUST get sleeved???

And yes I owe you a PM

Following gamergirl's awesome lead on this topic, I created a webapp that does the calculations for you. Now you can check your own progress as you lose. Enjoy.

http://bea.amaya.com/PercentEWL.html

you. Are. my. hero!!! THANK YOU!!!

Is it okay for me to embed this into my blog?

Gotta love excel!! I took my tracking a step further this month plotting my data into Minitab .

I created Control Charts to track my weight loss by month, so I can monitor any potential shift

- Losing to little

- Losing to much

- Inches loss

I then created Pareto to track my top 3 causes for the shifts

Cheers to fellow stat geeks!!

Gotta love excel!! I took my tracking a step further this month plotting my data into Minitab .

I created Control Charts to track my weight loss by month, so I can monitor any potential shift

- Losing to little

- Losing to much

- Inches loss

I then created Pareto to track my top 3 causes for the shifts

Cheers to fellow stat geeks!!

if anyone figures out how to export data from MFP, will you let me know? We want to create a timeseries model using macronutrients as the input variables and weight loss as the criterion. But I haven't figured out how to export the data yet.

I'm very interested in your results! Please do share after you have a trend showing up.

if anyone figures out how to export data from MFP, will you let me know? We want to create a timeseries model using macronutrients as the input variables and weight loss as the criterion. But I haven't figured out how to export the data yet.

I'm very interested in your results! Please do share after you have a trend showing up.

I don't use MyFitnessPal, but will look into ho to export results. I will post my trends once I have enough data ponits to see them plotted into the control limits.

Holy eff - I'm at 72%, help me understand, is that as awesome as I think it is? I am at 72% excess weight lost? wow, thank you, you just really really improved my mood.

Globe, you are ahead of the game by percentages, this is a pretty average estimate of how much EWL a person has after getting the sleeve:

Overall, Peterli and colleagues found that the average excessive BMI lost after 1 year was 61.5%, and then 61.1% after 2 years.

By 5 years, average excessive BMI lost was 57.4%, they reported.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Obesity/40490

Holy eff - I'm at 72%, help me understand, is that as awesome as I think it is? I am at 72% excess weight lost? wow, thank you, you just really really improved my mood.

I missed this post earlier. yes my dear. Despite all your adverse circumstances, and everything you have battled this past year you are almost three-fourths of the way there.

CELEBRATE!!!

Thanks for your post .. if i did the math correct i have lost 83%

congratulations! I hope you are proud of yourself, because you should be.

Okay....hit me with the facts gamergirl!

Starting weight - 380

Current weight - 204

Goal weight - 170

Nov. 6th was one year that I was sleeved!!!!!!!

84%! Which, given everything you went through the first 5 months is nothing short of spectacular you know? Congratulations.

At one year, I'm 95% of goal. Thanks!! Went from size 1x or 2x to 8P short today as long as they are for curvy women!!!

if anyone figures out how to export data from MFP, will you let me know? We want to create a timeseries model using macronutrients as the input variables and weight loss as the criterion. But I haven't figured out how to export the data yet.

I'm very interested in your results! Please do share after you have a trend showing up.

I track mine with charts on myfitnesspal.com along with food, exercise, and water.