u/indianhobo89

On 10 March 2026, I walked into JIPMER weighing 170 kg (375 lbs) for my sleeve gastrectomy. Today, nearly seven months later, I weigh 118.5 kg (261 lbs) — a loss of 51.5 kg (114 lbs) and more than 30% of my starting body weight.

My BMI has come down from 46.6 to 32.5, and the changes in my health, mobility and everyday life have been far greater than what these numbers alone can show.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at JIPMER, Puducherry — the surgeons, doctors, residents, anaesthesia team, nurses, dietetics team and every healthcare professional who was part of my surgery, hospital stay and follow-up care.

Bariatric surgery isn't a shortcut or the end of the journey. It gave me a powerful opportunity to change the direction of my health, and the responsibility of making that opportunity count continues every day.

From 170 kg (375 lbs) → 118.5 kg (261 lbs), this transformation would not have been possible without the medical team that guided me through one of the biggest decisions of my life.

Thank you, JIPMER Surgical Gastroenterology team, for giving me this opportunity for a healthier life. 🙏❤️

I still have more to achieve, and I'll continue this journey with the same commitment.

51.5 kg / 114 lbs down. And the journey continues. 💪

Om. Namaste.

Many people hear the word Veda, but few are shown how to approach it.

The word Veda comes from the Sanskrit root vid, “to know.” In the Hindu tradition, the Vedas are Śruti—wisdom received by the ancient ṛṣis and preserved through an exact oral tradition.

There are four Vedas:

1. Ṛg Veda

The oldest collection of Vedic hymns. Its mantras praise and contemplate deities such as Agni, Indra, Sūrya, Uṣas and Varuṇa while asking profound questions about creation, truth and cosmic order.

2. Yajur Veda

A collection of mantras and ritual instructions used in yajña. It teaches that sacred action requires discipline, correct intention and responsibility.

3. Sāma Veda

The Veda of sacred melody. Many of its verses come from the Ṛg Veda, but they are arranged for chanting. It reminds us that sacred knowledge is not only read; it is also heard and experienced.

4. Atharva Veda

This Veda contains prayers and teachings connected with spiritual life, health, protection, family, society and the concerns of everyday existence.

Each Vedic tradition contains different kinds of literature:

\- Saṃhitā: mantras and hymns

\- Brāhmaṇa: explanations of ritual and sacred action

\- Āraṇyaka: contemplative teachings associated with the forest tradition

\- Upaniṣad: enquiry into Brahman, Ātman, consciousness and liberation

The Vedas are therefore not a single book, nor should they be approached like an ordinary textbook. They are a vast sacred tradition of mantra, ritual, contemplation and enquiry.

Their study traditionally requires patience, correct pronunciation, context and the guidance of a competent teacher. Reading a translation can open the door, but it should also make us humble enough to recognise how much lies beyond translation.

Tamil sage Tirumūlar honoured the same Vedic foundation:

«வேதத்தை விட்ட அறமில்லை; வேதத்தின்

ஓதத் தகும் அறம் எல்லாம் உள»

He teaches that the principles of Dharma worthy of study are found within the Vedas.

— Tirumantiram, verse 51

We begin this series not by claiming to master the Vedas, but by approaching them with reverence.

Which Veda or Upaniṣad would you like us to explore first?

🪔 Kyrah Vedic Foundation

Reviving Wisdom | Empowering Dharma | Living Tradition

Reference for the Tamil verse: "Tirumantiram, verse 51

Hi everyone,

I had a sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on 10 March 2026, and I'm now almost 5 months post-op.

I started at 170 kg (375 lb) and I'm currently 123.35 kg (272 lb).

That's a total loss of 46.65 kg (103 lb), or 27.4% of my starting body weight.

I'm posting my before-and-after photos because I'd really like to hear from other sleeve patients, especially people who started at a similar weight.

My stats

Age: 37

Height: 6'3" (191 cm)

Procedure: Sleeve gastrectomy (VSG)

Surgery date: 10 March 2026

Starting weight: 170 kg / 375 lb

Current weight: 123.35 kg / 272 lb

Total weight lost: 46.65 kg / 103 lb

Starting BMI: ~46.6

Current BMI: ~33.8

Total body-weight loss: 27.4%

Weight progression

Date

Weight

Mar 10

170 kg

May 7

141 kg

Jun 9

135 kg

Jun 28

130.8 kg

Jul 4

129.05 kg

Jul 20

127.45 kg

Jul 22

126.45 kg

Jul 28

124.4 kg

Aug 4

124.4 kg

Aug 8

123.35 kg

Current measurements — Aug 8

Waist: 117 cm

Chest: 117 cm

Hips: 120 cm

Right thigh: 65 cm

Left thigh: 65 cm

Right biceps: 35 cm

Left biceps: 38.1 cm

Neck: 43 cm

The physical difference is very noticeable, particularly around my abdomen and chest. I also have quite a bit of loose/stretchy skin around my abdomen now.

Questions for other VSG patients

Weight loss

For someone who started at 170 kg, does 46.65 kg lost at almost 5 months seem like a typical VSG trajectory?

If you started around 160–180 kg, how much had you lost at 5–6 months?

Did your weight loss slow down around months 5–6?

How much more did you lose between months 5 and 12?

Did your measurements continue decreasing even when your weight temporarily plateaued?

When did you notice the biggest changes in your body shape?

Exercise / gym

When did you start going to the gym after VSG?

When did you start strength/resistance training or weight lifting?

Did you focus more on cardio or strength training during the first 6–12 months?

Has anyone started strength training while still losing weight rapidly? Did it affect your scale weight or measurements?

What exercises worked best for you — walking, swimming, cycling, gym/weights, elliptical, etc.?

For people who started with a high body weight, were there any exercises you initially avoided because of knee/joint or mobility issues?

Did strength training help with loose skin/body shape, or did you mainly notice improvements in muscle definition?

How many days per week do you exercise now, and what does your routine look like?

Loose skin

How did your loose abdominal skin change as you continued losing weight?

At what point did you start considering whether you needed skin-removal/body-contouring surgery?

I'm not trying to compete with anyone's numbers. I'm mainly interested in hearing real experiences from people who have gone through VSG and understanding what I might realistically expect during the next 6–12 months, particularly regarding continued weight loss, exercise and body composition.

Thanks everyone! 🙏

Edit: Current weight is 123.35 kg as of August 8, 2026. My surgery-day weight was 170 kg.

I have a 2015 Volkswagen Vento 1.5 TDI with 162,000 km on the odometer.

The issue started with intermittent power loss. If I switched the engine off and restarted, the power would return temporarily. During those episodes, I could hear a hissing sound while accelerating.

Now the problem has become much worse:

Very poor pickup and acceleration

Struggles to climb even moderate slopes

P0299 Turbo Underboost code

Turbo whistle sound is mostly gone

Earlier there was heavy black smoke and white/grey smoke under acceleration

Recently the intercooler hose was replaced, but the problem remains

One mechanic suspects damaged turbo blades/bearings

Another mechanic checked the boost control valve (N75) and feels the actuator may be okay

Before spending money on a turbo replacement or reconditioning, I'd like some opinions from people who have seen similar issues.

Could this be:

Failed turbocharger?

Stuck VNT vanes?

Vacuum leak?

Faulty actuator?

MAP sensor issue?

Something else?

Thanks in advance.

I have a 2015 Volkswagen Vento 1.5 TDI with 162,000 km on the odometer.

The issue started with intermittent power loss. If I switched the engine off and restarted, the power would return temporarily. During those episodes, I could hear a hissing sound while accelerating.

Now the problem has become much worse:

Very poor pickup and acceleration

Struggles to climb even moderate slopes

P0299 Turbo Underboost code

Turbo whistle sound is mostly gone

Earlier there was heavy black smoke and white/grey smoke under acceleration

Recently the intercooler hose was replaced, but the problem remains

One mechanic suspects damaged turbo blades/bearings

Another mechanic checked the boost control valve (N75) and feels the actuator may be okay

Before spending money on a turbo replacement or reconditioning, I'd like some opinions from people who have seen similar issues.

Could this be:

Failed turbocharger?

Stuck VNT vanes?

Vacuum leak?

Faulty actuator?

MAP sensor issue?

Something else?

Thanks in advance.

I have a 2015 Volkswagen Vento 1.5 TDI with 162,000 km on the odometer.

The issue started with intermittent power loss. If I switched the engine off and restarted, the power would return temporarily. During those episodes, I could hear a hissing sound while accelerating.

Now the problem has become much worse:

Very poor pickup and acceleration

Struggles to climb even moderate slopes

P0299 Turbo Underboost code

Turbo whistle sound is mostly gone

Earlier there was heavy black smoke and white/grey smoke under acceleration

Recently the intercooler hose was replaced, but the problem remains

One mechanic suspects damaged turbo blades/bearings

Another mechanic checked the boost control valve (N75) and feels the actuator may be okay

Before spending money on a turbo replacement or reconditioning, I'd like some opinions from people who have seen similar issues.

Could this be:

Failed turbocharger?

Stuck VNT vanes?

Vacuum leak?

Faulty actuator?

MAP sensor issue?

Something else?

Thanks in advance.