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

[gamergirl 4,610]

(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.

[Wags 549]

Hi Dr. U - math whiz!

Here's mine:

Start weight: 253

Current weight: 179

Goal weight: 150

Thanks for doing this :-)

[gamergirl 4,610]

Hi Dr. U - math whiz!

Here's mine:

Start weight: 253

Current weight: 179

Goal weight: 150

Thanks for doing this :-)

You my dear, have lost a whopping 72% of your EWL. You realize that by bariatric standards you have exceeded what the average patient achieves right?

Congratulations!

[No game 14,437]

Can I play????

[sophiepants 489]

K might save me a headache and a cussing session if I let you do this for me!!

SW 249

CW 196

GW 150

TY I just loving reading your posts lady

[No game 14,437]

Start 235

Current 149

Goal 135 I

hate math!! Um since I'm trying for an even 100... 86%??

look I just did math!!!!

Lol it might not be right...

[Fluffnomore 1,235]

Wow, then I'm already at 29.5%. Then again, I never really thought I was going too slow.

Thanks for being all math-y, even though I understood this to be a math-free zone.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Can I play????

NM Just saw yours sec

[gamergirl 4,610]

K might save me a headache and a cussing session if I let you do this for me!!

SW 249

CW 196

GW 150

TY I just loving reading your posts lady

54% sophiepants! More than half way there.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Start 235

Current 149

Goal 135 I

hate math!! Um since I'm trying for an even 100... 86%??

look I just did math!!!!

Lol it might not be right...

it's right. 86% of the way there.

[gamergirl 4,610]

Wow, then I'm already at 29.5%. Then again, I never really thought I was going too slow.

Thanks for being all math-y, even though I understood this to be a math-free zone.

they lie about stuff like that. They told people there was no math in marketing, and guess what I do for a living?

[Fluffnomore 1,235]

I work in the arts. Use math all the time.

[Guest Sleeved&NotLovinIt]

I

[Wags 549]

Hi Dr. U - math whiz!

Here's mine:

Start weight: 253

Current weight: 179

Goal weight: 150

Thanks for doing this :-)

You my dear, have lost a whopping 72% of your EWL. You realize that by bariatric standards you have exceeded what the average patient achieves right?

Congratulations!

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!! :-)

[gomekast 559]

Ok, it made my head slightly want to blow up..but I got it.

I've already lost 23%! Awesome!