Are you discouraged? Try some math!

[sawyer77 1]

In an effort to be a well-rounded academic, I'm bringing you some math after my recent Bandster poem. I want to make sure I'm entertaining all sides of your brain. :thumbup: Play along with my fun math games below.

I had my surgery on 1/20/10. I'm constantly searching for ways to keep myself motivated, and it always helps me to see my successes to keep my mind off of any times I've stumbled. I'm including a picture of my Weigh-In Notebook, just to encourage you to do a weekly (not daily!!) weigh-in, and track your SUCCESS! The highlights in the notebook are my fills. I go for my fourth fill in two days, but I don't note it until it's done, until it's IN MAH BELLY! :biggrin:

I started my pre-op diet at 197 pounds on 1/13/10. My weight on 5/12/10 was 170. So that's 27 pounds lost in 17 weeks. If I divide 27 by 17, I have an average loss of 1.58 pounds a week. THAT'S AWESOME! How could I possibly be discouraged with those numbers?! (I'm doing a lot of self-talk here, folks!) Even if I don't have a loss on the scale tomorrow (my weigh-in day), 27 pounds in 18 weeks is still an average of 1.5 pounds lost per week.

Another fun math game is this: Divide your lost weight by your original excess body weight (EBW). I just use 117 as my goal weight because it gives me an even EBW of 80. (I may amend my goal as I get closer. That will come in time.) So, I've lost 27 out of 80. That means I've lost 33.75% of my EBW in 17 weeks. How could I be unhappy with THAT?!?

C'mon, folks, get with me here. Let's do some math! Look at the GREAT stuff we've accomplished and stop beating yourselves up! Who's with me?! Let's hear your average pounds-per-week and your EBW percentage lost! I bet you'll surprise yourself!

[kellyjoiii 19]

I so needed this. You are an inspiration. I figured mine out (yes, I am only a few weeks out...) BUT I am averaging 4.86 a week. THAT is a fantastic number. Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

[toddee1099 0]

OMG, I soooo needed this bit of inspiration and motivation, too! I am right about the same as you. I too am a January bandster!!! My surgery date was 1/7 and I've lost 27 lbs. overall, which averages to be about 1.5 lbs. per week! I'm happy with that!! I'm not sure if I'm doing the math correctly on the EBW calculation, but I think I've lost 21.6% of the total amount of weight I want to lose, which is 125 lbs.

Thank you so much for posting this! I've been discouraged with my progress because I see some of the gals who had surgery at the same time as me who have lost so much more, but the thing is, I've only had 3 fills, 1.0, 1.5 & .3 so I'm doing this all with only a total fill of 2.8, which I think is pretty low, comparitively. I actually go in for my 4th fill today. My doc is very proud and happy with my success, which is very encouraging as well, but I soooo can't wait to hit that all too elusive "sweet spot"!!!

Thanks again for the encouragement and motivation!! You've made my day!!!

[shadst8 8]

I like this math. If I did this correctly, that would put me at averaging 2lbs per week! Not sure about the EBW, I know I want to lose 149lbs which means I have lost 23.4% of that already if I did the math right (math is not my strong suit:smile:) .

Edited May 18, 2010 by shadst8

[adagray 1]

I'm so glad you posted this. I actually have been doing the same math to motivate myself as well. My average since surgery is 1.59 pounds/week. And, my excess weight lost is easy since I want to lose 100 pounds. I've lost 42 pounds so far so that's 42%. Woohoo!!!!!!

One thing that I've noticed w/the band that is so different from every other diet is that the weightloss seems to come off in spurts for me. So, instead of seeing a constant one or two pounds per week, I might see a four pound loss one week and then nothing for two weeks. If you have any self-doubt at all, then you start thinking the band is failing you and you're not gonna lose anymore. But, the longer you have the band, the more confident you get that you can rely on it.

Also, the weight that comes off w/the band doesn't come back. At least for me, even if I break some rules or eat some things I shouldn't, I generally don't start gaining back. It might take me longer to see another loss, but the weight that's gone is really gone for good!

[BetsyB 9]

Great post, Jacki! I'm losing at a rate of 2.65 pounds a week. You could knock me over with a feather, 'cause it never seems like it!

Let's see...I've lost more than a third of my EBW. My goal is at the low end of healthy BMI for my height. (I'm just a couple of pounds shy of the halfway to an upper-end normal BMI.)

17 weeks---a third of the way there, and not yet really restricted. (Tomorrow's fill will likely change that.) You won't hear any complaining from me!

(And to think that I ordinarily dislike math.)

[bambam 0]

Thanks for the post - I really needed the encouragement! I'm at a plateau. Know I need to increase my Water and amp up my exercise and seeing what I've accomplished rather than focusing on being stuck will surely help!

In the last 14 months I've averaged a loss of 1.25 pounds a week (just last night I asked my hubby if I was failing at this - HUH???) And I've lost 65% of my excess weight.

WOO HOO!

[christine1182 48]

Thanks....I was beginning to think I wasn't doing so well. But after doing the math I have lost 2.14 pounds a week for 13 weeks.