Arif Ahmad, MD

I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I’ve been skinny, average, chubby and obese. I’m currently 5’1” and 200lbs, I decided about 4 months ago to have VSG and I’m scheduled for surgery on 10/21! I’m ready and so excited to be on this journey!

Updated on 1 Feb 2021:
I had the surgery on 10/21/20 and at 3 months post op I have lost 38lbs and 33” all around. I still have more to lose but I am so happy where I am in my journey! See more of my journey on Instagram @vsgbody_tina

Updated on 27 Feb 2021:
Month 4 was a slow with loss month for me. I and I am down 41lbs in total,only 3lbs since my last update BUT it’s all in the niche this month! This surgery is amazing, great tool!
So I went out and bought this black bikini and was like putting it on, lol! I really didn’t have high expectations and boy, I’m so darn EXCITED and HAPPY!!

Updated on 27 Feb 2021:
My photos didn’t post on the last update and app doesn’t allow an update to a post, so silly here they are.

Updated on 1 Mar 2021:
I had gastric sleeve with Dr Ahmad on 10/21/20.I was very impressed with how quick I was able to have surgery. I had my initial consultation in July 2020 an the process moved so quickly I was able to have surgery in October 2020. During pre op testing, it was discovered that I had a hiatal hernia so Dr Ahmad corrected yet at the same time he performed the surgery for gastric sleeve. The recovery was not hard, I had a previous c section and this surgery was a breeze compared to that. I was back to work in 1 week. I'm 4 months post op an I'm very happy with my weight loss progress. It truly i a life changing surgery and I'm so thankful for this tool to assist in weightloss.

Updated on 28 Mar 2021:
I’m amazed with the progress week to week. I’m down a total of 46lbs and I feel like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I now weigh 154 lbs and haven’t weighed this much in over six years. When I look back to seven years ago when I had abdominoplasty, I was about 145 pounds. I’m not quite sure what happened after that but I kept gaining weight gradually over the years topping it off at 200 pounds and nothing I did would take the weight off. It could have been stress induced as I started my own business. All I can say is I am so thankful for this surgery and this weight-loss tool that will be with me forever

Updated on 24 Apr 2021:
49lbs lost I feel great why the weight loss! It definitely slows down, I only lost 3 lbs this month but I’m ok with that. I have 21lbs left until I reach goal. I have been having frequent nausea, and I’m NOT pregnant. My surgeon sent me for an abdominal ultrasound and I found out I have gallstones from the rapid weightloss. I may likely need to have my gallbladder removed. I will find out more at my next appointment with my bariatric surgeon.

Updated on 17 Sep 2021:
It’s now 11 month post op and I’m down 60 lbs. I’m at a healthy weight of 140lbs and my BMI is 27! I still have 10 lbs left to reach goal and it will probably take me time to lose the last 10 lbs and I’m ok with that! My weight is the lowest in over 10 years and I’m quite happy where I am. I’m exercising regularly and building muscle, I hope it helps firm up some loose skin. I did develop gallstones due to rapid weight loss and will be getting my gallbladder removed in November 2021.

Updated on 23 Oct 2021:
This by far has been the craziest year of weight loss and getting fit. I’m so happy I chose this surgery. It has made a tremendous affect on my health and well being, not just physically but mentally as well. I am healthier and more physically fit than I have been in over 15 years. I started exercising in December 2020, at about 2 month post op but I had a hard tone getting into a groove with my workout routine. I slowly increased my exercise days and by May, it fizzled and I concentrated on getting in 10k steps a day because I was hitting major stalls in weight loss. After a 3 month hiatus from the gym, I started back at the gym and yoga studio in August, I really amped up weight training on September and here we are in October and I have a lot of definition!

Updated on 22 Feb 2022:
I’m now 16 months post op / gastric sleeve and my weight has been holding steady between 137-142 lbs. I’m not at my goal weight of 130lbs yet but I am happy where I am. I’ve been seeing so many exciting changes in my body since starting weight training in September 2021, just 5 months ago! I’m getting so strong!! I decided to have a breast lift and augmentation with lipo to my lateral chest and axillary folds for overall breasts aesthetics. You can see that review in my profile, I’m only 13 days post op right now and have a lot of bruising from lipo. Pictures posted with this update were taken just before breast surgery. I’m so excited for this next phase of my transformation journey. Feel feee to follow my transformation journey on Instagram @tinavsgbody some exciting news ahead I’m going to start prepping for a WBFF transformation competition. I’ll share more here as I continue to transform. Gastric sleeve is truly amazing, gave me the motivation I needed and is my crutch to not overeating. I stop eating when I get hiccups and/burp, I still get them! I did notice I can eat more now but that’s a ok! I have an increased level of activity / exercise, my body needs the fuel! Eating healthy, not falling back on old habits is key for me!! Live and learn!

Updated on 18 Jun 2022:
Life-changing!! I am now 20 months postop. I am 132 pounds… 2 pound shy of my goal! I never thought I’d get here. My weight loss was very slow and I had to keep pushing my limits in finding ways to continue on a positive path / not regress. In February I decided I was going to do a transformation show. I started 13 weeks of competition prep in March 2022. I hired a coach Who gave me a meal plan and workout plan…. I hired a separate coach for posing. I had to check in with my coaches weekly which held me accountable! I had to send them pictures in a bikini every week. My meal and workout plans change according to the results in those pictures. I navigated issues with gastric sleeve… food intolerances, digestive and metabolism issues…., I couldn’t eat all the food my coach wanted me to eat. Slowly I had to work up my calories to about 2000 a day, and as we approach closer to the show date we began cutting the calories. I had issues with being able to eat that much as well as drink a 3/4 gallon of water a day, my coach was nice enough to help find to my meal plan to be able to give my digestive system a break in between my meals so we rotated with solid food and liquid food. Unfortunate I was able to find a coach in the medical field to understand my challenges and help me with that.

My body really transformed over that 13 weeks of prep. But really what has transformed me is the weightlifting… nine months of training to date it truly is amazing. At 48 years old I found a new passion instead of reverting to food to cope with stress, I exercise!! Gastric save me this all possible for me. Without it I would not have accomplish all of this in 20 months!

Updated on 25 Jan 2023:
It’s surreal that I have surpassed the 2 year mark now. I have continued weightlifting, and entered into another competition with the NPC in the wellness category. I placed second in masters, 45+!! I am so amazed at what the surgery has done for me… it has completely changed my outlook on life. I am doing things now that I never thought was possible! I stepping out of my comfort zone to create new healthy habits and to continue progressing in body building! Bariatric surgery is amazing, I’m so happy I did it…I have no regrets!

Updated on 3 Jun 2023:
I’m 2.5 years post op now…this journey is incredible. Just when I think this won’t get better…it keeps getting better! I decided to have 360 tummy tuck / lipo 360 and fat transfer to booty! It’s so AMAZING that this is my body at 49 years old!

I’ll be continuing competition prep into 2024…more changes to come! I’m on Instagram if you wish to follow my journey there…I’m am very open on my page, from gastric sleeve to plastic surgery and competition prep! @tinavsgbody