How do you measure your weight loss?

[NrseJessie]

So, one of my best friends is one of the few people who know I've had surgery. I use her as a support tool as she had gastric bypass several years ago. She's been a big help to me. She likes to check in and ask how much I've lost, which leads to my question. Do you measure your weight loss starting from your actual starting weight from your first doctor's appointment (i.e. your highest weight) or do you measure from your weight as of the day of surgery? According to my friend you always measure from your highest. And, I must admit, it does sound much more impressive to say I've lost 49.2 lbs than it is to say I've lost 26.2 lbs. Not that I'm complaining either way! lol

[Luna354]

I do mine from surgery date. But I also did not have a long process because my insurance doesn't cover it.
I also weighed about 50 more than I did at my surgery date, but I would feel weird counting that into my WLS total. I take measurements as well and those are from the day before surgery.

[Ann2]

I count mine from my pre-op highest weight. (I lost 19 pounds pre-op, including the surgeon's pre-op diet).

Believe me, I'd be heavier now than I was at my then-highest if I hadn't had WLS. So I'm counting everything that WLS has helped me lose.

[Sarcastic_Bard]

My ticker has my weight from surgery day, but my highest was a little over 30 pounds more. Maybe I should update my ticker to show my highest weight; I did work my butt off for it. Literally, kind of. I have no more booty.

[Tamera2]

Hi Jessie, I use two w.l. Numbers 1st one is w.l before surgery which is 53 pounds, w.l since surgery (1-24-17)is 30 pounds. Good Luck with your journey.

[Nitasjourney]

I count from my highest weight even put it into my signature but I also haven't had my surgery yet but I plan on always counting from highest weight and surgery weight

[Christie13]

Mine is from my pre op highest weight. When I discuss with on here I always talk about WL since surgery. But my ticker shows highest weight. I had a 7 month process with insurance and lost 20lbs during that time. I look at it as my weight loss since the process started.

[Donald G]

On my ladder tracker I am counting my weight from my first weigh in to begin the process to have my surgery. In my updates on the bottom of my signature I am breaking it down further so folks can see what I have lost since having surgery.

[Pam G]

well, if someone asks how much you lost due to surgery, you'd use your surgery date. if they want to know how much you've lost total, use that.

but to me, it varies so much in the pre-op, that the weight lost from the "surgery" is from the surgical date. Some folks do pre-op for months and some not at all.

but, if someone sees you and goes "wow! how much have you lost?" , just use the total lost. But if they say, "gee, how much did you lose with surgery?", use that.

[ghost_ryder]

I measure from when I started my modified Pre-op diet. Since that is the program start of when they are managing our diet.

[Sandra3]

I asked my surgeon about the data we find about bariatric surgery in general but also his own numbers. I wanted to know how he collects his numbers and what his stats reflected compare to other numbers I got (Europe/US/Mexico). He told me that surgeons count the starting weight as the one from your first consult.
I kept track of the details for my weight loss (and most of it is in my signature) because it's also important to understand that when patients already lost doing their own pre-op, then the doc's pre-op, sometimes weight loss could be slower than for other patients who don't have any pre-op diet except three days of liquids.

At the end only the final results count anyway, but I needed to know that my doc's projection included the pre-op diet, that's why I asked.

[Bagawk!]

I count all of it, which for me began 2 weeks before surgery. I view my experience as a weight loss journey and the surgery is only part of it.

No right or wrong here, in my opinion.

[Qbdriver]

I measure from my pre-op date also my insurance company took awhile to approve and had some health issues.

[Slimbydesign]

I measure by my highest weight (which was the day of surgery). It keeps this in prospective when I feel as if I'm not losing enough...I've come a long way!

[NrseJessie]

Thanks everyone for the insight. I know it's mostly a matter of personal preference on how someone measures their loss. I was just curious how the majority seem to do it. Seems like the general consensus agrees with my friend. I'm ecstatic either way. I know everyone says not to compare my loss to others, and I'm trying really hard not to do that! I'm 72 days out from surgery and down 49 lbs from my first initial visit with the surgeon, down 26 lbs from day of surgery. I was amazed at how much I lost on 2 week liquid pre-op diet from the doctor. I was/am wishing for a greater initial lost but I'm not going to get discouraged. Never have I lost 26 lbs in 2.5 months. It's so encouraging to FINALLY see results. See results makes it so much easier to stick to eating healthy and going to the gym. Although, I have to admit, I do feel a little guilty receiving kudos and praise from people who don't know I've had surgery.