Slow Weight Loss

On the day of surgery I was 372lbs, I am 9 weeks out and I have only lost 34lbs.  My doctor told me that within 8 wks most people have lost a 1/4 of their excess weight.  For me that would be 60lbs..so I'm 26lbs behind.   I get all my protein in and I walk 30min a day.. 5 days a week.  My doctor told me I need to kick the excersise in gear because after the first 4 months my body will be absorbing all the calories i eat and it will get much harder to lose.  I'm just discouraged by this.  I've read on this site that a lot of people don't even excersise and they still lose the weight.  Is their anyone else out there having slow weight loss?    

Repeat after me: EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT. MY JOURNEY WILL BE DIFFERENT.

If it makes you feel any better, I started out at 363 the day before surgery (388 before my liquid diet). When I was 9 weeks out, I was down 33 pounds. I had just broken a 36-day stall. A stall is real common early out. If you didn't have a full blown painful stall, maybe you had a bunch of little ones.

My six week doctor's visit was not entirely pleasant, they hassled me about exercise (which I WAS DOING). However, the doctor's office thought I was doing great when I went in for my 3-month visit a month late.

Don't sweat it.

You might increase your exercise a bit. Add 10 minutes on to your walk maybe. I don't know. Switch something up -- it will help you stay sane.

Make sure you're eating enough. I think a lot of doctor's offices set up their program/diet around the lightweights -- there are more of them. They're also looking at the best way to get the best stats for their particular practice in 18 months or whatever arbitrary time frame these things are tracked. I've heard that the honeymoon ends after 18 months, but I regularly see people posting on here who are getting to goal 2 years or more out.
 
I think when you weigh more to start with, you need to eat a little more to keep your body from thinking you're starving. Jupiter6/Shari, oldtimer and patron goddess of the BMI > 50 board, talks about it in her posts and her blog.

I eat more protein than my doctors office recommends. They recommend 60 g. I do 80 to 100 a day.

Because we started out big, neither one of us is going to get to goal in the same amount of time as someone who only has 100 pounds to lose.

Try not to get freaked out about it.

Hugs!

I just wanted to add, I agree with the upping the protein.  My NUT told me to eat to the protein requirements they usually recommend for the guys because my BMI to start was about 70 and I need the protein.  If you dont get enough protein your body will break down muscle tissue not just all stored fat.  The increased protein should give you the energy to do more exercise.    Also, you did not say what kind of exercise.  Our bodies are very adaptable and efficient.  If, for example, you are only walking, then your muscles may have become used to it and your are not burning as many calories as you were when you started.  Every now and then it is good to "shake things up" whether that is in what you are eating and what you are doing for exercise.  For example, try machines at the gym like stepper or treadmill at an incline or do water aerobics.  Also, watch the carbs.  My NUT recommends no more than 30 grams per day.  For example, a small plain baked potato can have about 24 grams!  So it is good to keep track of things. 

But yeah, I think sometimes we have to be patient and wait for our bodies to catch up with what we are doing.

Upping the protein really helped me.

Everyone is different.

I think everyone compares themselves to everyone else. I did it and so do many people on this site.

The weight will come off. I am almost 2 years out and I have had stalls and scared to death I would not loose the weight. I am now 35 lbs away from goal and looking into a tummy tuck.

Stop weighing yourself all the time. follow the plan. I know its frustrating!!!!  I thought I would not loose the weight because all the other times I tried I never made it very far.

You will succeed. 

Keep your chin up!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your input..just so you know i have only been doing walking excersises.  I will try to change it up a bit and try increasing the protein and see what happens. 

I just wanted to let you know that I had surgery because I have been unable to do any exercise without wearing myself out especially my legs.  I am still losing weight.   I agree with everyone here who says everyone is different.  Talk to your surgeon.  Even each surgery prodces different results on each operson.  My surgeon told me to watch the sugar, carbs, and alcohol.  Watch yourself to see what works best for you.

I just want to thank everyone who  responded to this post and a special thanks to you for posting it.  I am 55 and had the surgery in Mexico June 5/09.  I have lost a total of 54 pounds post surgery and have been a little scared with the pace of weight loss.  I lost nothing for weeks 4 - 8 after surgery.  I was also eating maybe 300 - 550 calories a day and feeling extremely weak.  I have recently started exercising (swimming) regularly (3 - 5x a week).  I am in Canada and have support from my family doc, but she does not really know anything about weight loss surgery.  I have noticed that when I drink more water my weight loss increases.  Problem for me is water makes me feel nauseaus.  I lost weight quicker on the pre surgery diet where I was eating about 1500 cal a day.  I lost 15 pounds in the three weeks before surgery.  Grant it I am sure a good percentage of that was water weight.  I have also lost muscle strength.  The good news is that I am finally starting to feel better and stronger.  I should also mention that when the doc went in to do the LAP RNY  it was discovered that I had a hiatal hernia that had gone up between my diaghram and attached to my right lung.  That was also repaired during the surgery so I got two for the price of one.  I feel better than I have for years and already no longer need the prescription pain medication I was taking pre surgery.  
I dont know what it is like for others but it is weird having a changed relationship with food.  I made thanksgiving dinner and had no real desire to eat any of it.  It is like saying goodbye to an old friend sometimes. 
Anyway, no ambivalent feeling at 4 months out.  I am glad I did this.  I would not have said this a month ago.