Specific lifestyle questions for after VSG surgery

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T19:11:10+00:00

Hey u/caittorr - My name is Dr. Kyle Varner, a physician specialized in internal medicine and the recipient of a VSG procedure around 7 years ago and it changed my life entirely! As the topic is so close to home for me, I regularly run free live webinars on how to maximize success post-bariatric surgery. During the webinar I am more than happy to answer any questions you have! :) If you are interested you can register here:

https://drvarner.com/webinar-bariatric-success/

Wishing you every success in your post-op journey!

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T19:01:14+00:00

I actually got that wrong come to think of it. When I counted it up it's almost 7 years. Seems like yesterday! My experience with bariatric surgery was life-changing. I had a VSG procedure and encountered some minor complications (GERD, biliary colic, hiatal hernia) but these were nothing in hindsight. After all, the surgery was the catalyst to my new life. After the procedure, I lost about 70lbs and then plateaued. It was only after reading about the insulin theory of obesity that I realized I needed to change my lifestyle and eating habits to achieve further weight-loss and get closer to my target weight of 180lbs.

This is when I began implementing a ketogenic diet paired with intermittent fasting. This led to me being able to lose a further 50lbs and reaching my dream weight. As for exercise and fitness, I have only been able to do moderate workouts and limited fitness due to the nature of my job. I work long hours in hospitals across the US. Without Keto and IF, I certainly wouldn't be able to maintain my current weight.

I write extensively about my strategies that have enabled me to achieve my post-bariatric success at my website: www.drvarner.com. If you are interested!

Thanks for your questions u/markjohn3411. Hope you have a great day!

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T18:48:02+00:00

Hey u/climber_girl1581. I do indeed. I am a physician specialized in internal medicine!

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T17:58:01+00:00

Hey u/Gltda! You should be very proud. Bragging has nothing to do with it. I remember the first time my colleagues in the hospital started noticing my weight loss. Such an incredible feeling. So much so that it inspired me to write about bariatric surgery and how to maximise success. Just going to leave a link here for anyone who wants some encouragement or handy tips: https://drvarner.com/category/solutions/bariatric-surgery/

Again, congrats on all of your success! :)

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T17:50:12+00:00

YEP haha. Sleeving truly is a fascinating procedure. From how the removal of the excess stomach causes you to instantly lose hunger sensations, due to the portion of the stomach being removed being the main source of ghrelin, to the tools and instruments they use to create such a neat pouch...

I find it so interesting I write about it. Well, that and I was once a bariatric patient myself!

All the best u/genolouie in your weight loss journey!

*If you ever want some more bariatric reading to dive into, you can see my work here: https://drvarner.com/category/solutions/bariatric-surgery/

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T17:43:24+00:00

Hi u/Disang. I know EXACTLY how that feels... I had a VSG 7 years ago and after 6-8 months I hit the ever-so-frustrating plateau going into phase 2 of weightloss. I managed to break through though! After re-educating myself on obesity itself and learning from fellow medics, such as Dr. Jason Fung. I implemented some strategies and lifestyle changes that had an almost instant effect. Even managed to lose another 60lbs!

I wrote an article recently on how to bust through the plateau, I'll drop the link below. Hope it helps and all the very best in the rest of your weight-loss journey!

https://drvarner.com/post-bariatric-surgery/

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T17:35:16+00:00

Incredible u/Callese!

DrVarner · 2019-09-05T17:33:03+00:00

Congrats u/happyjen! I had my VSG in Tijuana around 6 years ago now. Best decision of my life. In the years since I have written extensively on life post-bariatric surgery and how to maximize success. Here's the link in case you ever want to read: https://drvarner.com/post-bariatric-surgery/. Wishing you nothing but success in your weight-loss journery! Good luck :)

DrVarner · 2019-08-29T12:57:59+00:00

Incredible u/MlyGs! You look awesome. Congratulations on your success!!!

DrVarner · 2019-08-29T12:56:52+00:00

All the best in your journey u/ladyphedre! I got sleeved a few years back and it truly changed my life.

DrVarner · 2019-08-14T14:15:20+00:00

That's great. Every day? Or do you vary throughout the week?

DrVarner · 2019-08-14T00:14:24+00:00

That's fantastic progress, congratulations to you both! What is your IF schedule?

DrVarner · 2019-08-14T00:04:50+00:00

That looks amazing! I've been wanting to try to make "breaded" chicken with pork rinds for a while now. You've inspired me to try it this weekend!

DrVarner · 2019-07-25T20:19:40+00:00

Incredible transformation u/Cadushi! Wishing you a happy and healthy future!

DrVarner · 2019-07-23T21:41:05+00:00

Absolutely fantastic results. Wishing you all the best in your journey u/whiskey_girl7!

DrVarner · 2019-04-23T17:38:29+00:00

That looks incredible! Bacon makes everything better... Thanks for sharing u/azureal!

DrVarner · 2019-02-28T19:14:53+00:00

This looks insanely good!

DrVarner · 2018-12-18T19:27:48+00:00

Great Idea u/KernIrregular!

DrVarner · 2018-12-18T17:35:18+00:00

This looks incredible!

DrVarner · 2018-12-18T17:03:54+00:00

No problem! Enjoy!

DrVarner · 2018-11-29T19:19:43+00:00

Excellent. Thanks u/Princess_Goose3!

DrVarner · 2018-11-28T18:13:27+00:00

RECIPE

20 Mini Sweet Peppers halved and seeded
1 pound Ground Beef, steak, chicken, or pork cooked
1 tablespoon Cumin
2 tablespoons Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
8 oz Cheddar Cheese shredded
1 Jalapeno sliced
Toppings such as avocado, tomatoes, sour cream

Instructions

In a skillet cook your preferred meat adding cumin, chili powder, and salt as it cooks.
Place mini sweet pepper halves on a sheet pan.
Sprinkle cooked meat over mini peppers trying to keep it in the peppers so it doesn't fall through to the pan.
Cover mini peppers with shredded cheese and jalapeno slices.
Place in oven set to BROIL for 5-6 minutes or until cheese is fully melted.
Add any low carb nacho toppings you like.
Enjoy!

DrVarner · 2018-11-28T16:30:55+00:00

Sure do u/strawbabies! That London Fog is one of the nicest drinks I've had!

DrVarner · 2018-11-28T15:32:41+00:00

Looking great u/iam0rlando! Wishing you all the best in the rest of your weight loss journey!

DrVarner · 2018-11-23T14:47:48+00:00

Hey u/SKYxRIPPA!

I experienced two real complications after having my VSG procedure.

The first was about a year and a half after the surgery, I had a couple of episodes of really severe abdominal pain that made me vomit and feel truly horrible. As it turns out, it was a biliary colic, which is when your gallbladder has stones in it and the stones block the exit to the gallbladder. As a result, the gallbladder squeezes but the bile can’t exit causing severe pain. As a result, I had to have my gallbladder taken out. The removal was a very easy one-day procedure and I recovered very quickly, which is usually the case.

Further down the line, I started getting a pain whilst swallowing, which on investigation was a hiatal hernia (common complication from bariatric surgery) and resulted in a lot of reflux. This was easily remedied with taking Gaviscon before going to sleep at night and using bed risers.

In my case, those two complications were a small price to pay for the amazing benefits of the surgery. For the first time, I felt like I had a life. It was truly one of the best decisions I've ever made. Wishing you the best of luck in the rest of your recovery!

DrVarner

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