(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.

I am at 64% at 15 weeks out! SW - 269 CW - 190 GW - 145 That is a great way to look at our loss! Thanks GamerGirl!

That is very impressive!

Soo, we're talking percentages so it should work just as well with kgs? 11.4/50*100 22.8%! Sounds way more impressive than 11.4 kgs.

Yes it does! I'd translate to lbs just because that sounds more than kgs anyway 25 lbs for you!

I'm at 40.94%!!

I lost 61.7% of my EW! Not bad for 5 months postop. Thanks, Doc!

WHA.... are we counting our SW from when we seen the Dr. for the first time when we decided to have surgery or Surgery SW the day of surgery Because shoot I was 278 when I started this journey, Did my 3 month supervised diet then on to surgery. do they only consider you a success only with the weight you have lost after your surgery. Which I would think. But could be wrong??

49%! So almost half-way there. Good for you.

This was very ingenious and kind of you!!! I thought this was about where I would fall and since I am just coming up on 5 months I will take it! Thank you so much!!

Ok here's mine since I seem to be math impaired today

Sw 270

Cw 199

Gw 125

Ok here are my stat's

SW 223

cw 147

goal 140

So what is my EWL? Thank you so much....

WHA.... are we counting our SW from when we seen the Dr. for the first time when we decided to have surgery or Surgery SW the day of surgery Because shoot I was 278 when I started this journey, Did my 3 month supervised diet then on to surgery. do they only consider you a success only with the weight you have lost after your surgery. Which I would think. But could be wrong??

girl, every pound lost counts. who cares how you lost it?

besides, the more you lose before the surgery, the slower you will likely lose immediately after so don't short change yourself.

Ok here are my stat's

SW 223

cw 147

goal 140

So what is my EWL? Thank you so much....

91.5%!! Hooray!!

Ok here's mine since I seem to be math impaired today

Sw 270

Cw 199

Gw 125

49%! Almost half-way there KJ. Good for you!

WHA.... are we counting our SW from when we seen the Dr. for the first time when we decided to have surgery or Surgery SW the day of surgery Because shoot I was 278 when I started this journey, Did my 3 month supervised diet then on to surgery. do they only consider you a success only with the weight you have lost after your surgery. Which I would think. But could be wrong??

I am counting mine from my highest weight, which is what I weighed at my very first pre-op appointment. Every single pound counts in my opinion.

I am counting mine from my highest weight, which is what I weighed at my very first pre-op appointment. Every single pound counts in my opinion.

Me too!

REALLY!! Is this how everyone calculates there weight? I've only been tracking since my surgery date. Sheesh GG your right doesn't matter how I lost it just that I did. K can we do me again??? Pretty please HW at first apt to get stated on my insurance approval in Feb was 278. CW 196 GW 150. Wish I would have thought about the other 29 pounds Before sx. lol Is everyone counting the pre op weight?

I started from the first day of pre op liquids Which was a little over a week before surgery.