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misstransformer
09-26-2007, 04:50 PM
I thought this might help others to remain patient on their fat loss journey. :)

Miss T

Paper Towel Theory by Bob White

Let?s assume you go out and buy two rolls of paper towels, each with only 84 paper towels on it (one for each day of the challenge). You put one aside, and keep it for future reference (your ?before? picture).

The other one represents you (I?ll call your paper towel you ?Ed?). The core represents the lean Ed. The towels represent the fat that is covering the lean Ed. For sake of argument, let?s say that Ed wants to lose 21 pounds of fat, so (84/21) each sheet represents a quarter-pound of fat lost. Let?s also assume that Ed loses his fat equally during each day of the challenge.

Each day during the first week, you tear a sheet off of Ed, representing the fat he has lost for the day. Next, you put Ed next to the full roll (?Big Al?) for comparison. No noticeable difference!!! Even at the end of the week! This can?t be working for me!

But, being a good Ed, you continue to follow Body-for-LIFE. At the end of weeks two and three, you continue to compare Ed to Big Al, and still notice very little difference. That stinkin? Bill Phillips MUST be a liar!

But Ed is determined! He works hard! Hitting his 10?s.eating his 6 daily meals. Three more weeks go by, the sheets peeling off day after day, before Ed gets up the courage to stand next to Big Al again. Holy Myoplex! Ed is skinny! OK, not skinny, but less huge!!!

By the end of the 12-week Body-for-LIFE program, Ed is down to his lean dream, or somewhere near it. Ed is happy. We are happy. Big Al - well he?s not so happy.

The lesson to be learned is that fat, like paper towels, comes off in sheets. When you are heavy, you are big around. And when you are big around,that fat is spread over a MUCH larger area - just like that outside towel sheet. The closer you get to the lean you, the more each lost pound of fat shows, because it is spread over a smaller area.

While the outside sheet may only cover 1 layer of the roll, the inside sheet may go around 4 times. That last sheet looks like it gives you 4 times the results of the first sheet, but in reality, the results are the same - your perception is just different! And you?ll never see the inside, if you aren?t patient while the outside is coming off! - Bob White

vanillabn
09-26-2007, 06:01 PM
Great post Miss T!! Very interesting, and good advice to keep in mind. I have a tendency to be one of those " impatient " people who want everything NOW! Thinking about that helps put things into perspective....and realize the value of PATIENCE ;)

Lckymii
09-26-2007, 06:30 PM
Thanks for posting that, it is a nice reminder to be patient :)

wv4x4mom
09-26-2007, 08:24 PM
Great post Miss T!!! (as usual). I always enjoy reading your posts. Keep em' coming.

rhbrand
09-26-2007, 09:05 PM
I'm one of the impatient people myself. I forget it took a couple years to get fat and out of shape, it will take longer than 1 week to get back into shape.

KathyM
09-26-2007, 11:13 PM
What a great analogy,! I too enjoy reading your posts.

TurbulentFluid
09-27-2007, 06:33 AM
That's all nice and correct (in my experience of losing 25 kg) EXCEPT....

...the more paper you tear off, the more difficult it becomes to pull. And you know how irritating are those last 2 sheets of toilet paper which you just CAN'T get off, and you GOT to, otherwise you gotta go in public with a filthy butt? That's how it really is... The more weight you lose, the more visible it is when you lose a single pound, but losing a single pound becomes increasingly difficult. Which is ALL understandeable, due to the fact that the heavier you are, the less % of total mass a single pound is, and vice versa (the lighter you are, the more % of total mass a single pound is). Consider:

200 lbs person loses 10 lbs => they lost 5% of total body mass
100 lbs person loses 10 lbs => they lost 10% of total body mass
Obviously losing 10% of your mass is going to be more visible, but also much more demanding than losing just 5%, but in both cases it's 10 lbs (35 000 kcal if it's all fat).

PS.
I used 100 lbs person as an example for easy computation, not as a recommendation that 100lbs individuals should lose any weight!!

claycat
09-27-2007, 11:54 AM
MissT - Great example!

TF- your's too. LOL at the last few sheets on the toilet paper roll.

indiglo9124
09-27-2007, 12:01 PM
Thats an awesome 'story'. Thanks :)

misstransformer
09-28-2007, 06:33 AM
Thank you Vanillabn, Lckymii, Wv4x4mom, Rhbrand, Kathym, Turbulent, Claycat, and Indiglo9124 for taking the time to read this thread and post comments. Also, I'm happy to hear so many found the paper towel theory helpful. It definitely gave me a fresh new perspective on fat loss. Big ups to Bob White on writing such a Great Article. :) Miss T

breathingsky
09-28-2007, 06:36 AM
Good post!

MissDarque
09-28-2007, 09:10 AM
I was just getting down about how I have'nt seen much of a weight loss this week in my jeans... I'm also doing BFL and it's a slow process, but I can feel my body getting that tight feeling, especially my back and shoulders.
I know it's working and I have to be patient.

I must tell you that I really enjoyed reading this, thanks for posting it!

bbbom
09-28-2007, 11:47 AM
Yes, great post, Turbo has a point though, that last couple pieces of paper are tough to pull off but you can do it!

Now if the chick in our office that refuses to EVER change the toilet paper or paper towel roll could learn to switch Ed for Big Al, I'd be thrilled! Take the last piece, put a new roll on - only with paper though!!! ;)

TriGirl
09-28-2007, 01:10 PM
Mind if I borrow this? :)

misstransformer
10-01-2007, 09:31 AM
Mind if I borrow this? :)

Hey TriGirl, sure you can. Pass it on to many people. Just be sure to credit the author Bob White. Enjoy! :) Miss T

misstransformer
10-01-2007, 09:33 AM
Breathingsky, MissDarque, and Bbbom happy you all enjoyed the article as well. :) T