My name is Leslie, and I had a gastric sleeve with Dr. James Augusta at JourneyLite Surgery Center in January 2025. My highest adult weight was 304 pounds, and today I’m down to 192 — a total loss of 112 pounds. Even writing that still feels surreal.
I first noticed my weight was a problem as a child. I look back at old pictures now and my heart just breaks a little for that younger version of me. I see this sweet kid who had no idea how hard things were going to be because she didn’t yet know how to take care of herself. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how much my weight was shaping my life. Now, with some distance, it’s easier to see all the ways it held me back.
When I was heavier, everything was harder. Walking was harder. Getting out of bed was harder. Sitting on an airplane was uncomfortable and embarrassing. I had been overweight my entire life, so it just felt “normal” to struggle. But slowly, I stopped doing the things I loved. I stopped skiing because just walking to the hill felt like too much work. I stopped swimming because I hated how I looked in a swimsuit. I stopped going on walks because I couldn’t make it very far without being out of breath. My world got smaller and smaller, and I didn’t truly see it happening until I began to come out on the other side.
Choosing the gastric sleeve was, in every sense, a lifesaver for me. During the pre-surgery phase, the weight started dropping quickly, and that alone was a huge motivator. For the first time, I could see real, measurable progress. After surgery, everything changed. Needing so much less food made me realize just how much I had been overeating my entire life. Feeling full faster was a complete game changer. The constant cravings for unhealthy foods started to fade.
I began to learn what my body actually needs: protein to live, to heal, and to thrive. I discovered that I could be perfectly happy and satisfied with something as simple as a protein shake. I didn’t need restaurants and alcohol to socialize and have fun with friends. That was a big mindset shift. As the weight came off and my habits changed, something even more powerful happened—I started to truly love myself. Not in a superficial way, but a deep, genuine appreciation for who I am and what my body can do.
Am I at my “ideal” weight yet? No, not quite. But for the first time in my 45 years, I actually believe I’ll get there. I’m not dreading the process or waiting to be happy later; I’m enjoying and appreciating the journey right now.
The support I’ve received from JourneyLite has been incredible and has made all the difference. From the beginning, they genuinely cared about me and believed in their process, and that confidence rubbed off on me. Early on, their assurance helped me feel secure in my decision. The monthly appointments with the dietitians and doctors gave me structure and accountability. I never felt like I was doing this alone—and I still don’t, almost a year later.
I still get texts from Dr. Curry checking on my progress, and he always responds with something positive and encouraging. The dietitian team is amazing at answering questions—whether by text, phone, or during our classes and meetings. One of the last classes I attended focused on non-scale victories. The timing was kind of perfect, because my scale hadn’t moved in about four weeks. But just a few days before that class, I had slipped on a pair of pants that had been too tight—and suddenly, they fit. That was a powerful reminder that progress isn’t always just numbers.
No question has ever felt too silly or basic for the JourneyLite team. They take everything seriously, and they truly want you to succeed. When they say, “If you need a boost, message us,” they mean it. Their determination to see their patients succeed is so obvious, and it helped me keep going on days when I wasn’t sure I could do it on my own.
It’s honestly hard to pick just one thing I can do now that I couldn’t do before, because there are so many. One of the biggest victories is being able to sit in a single airplane seat and buckle my seatbelt comfortably. I travel a lot for work and pleasure, and that used to be such a source of stress and embarrassment. Now, it’s just… normal. I can walk without getting out of breath. I actually want to ski again, and I’ve already scheduled two ski trips for 2026. I can cross my legs. I can shop for clothes in the same stores as my sisters—and that feels like such a gift. I can walk by a mirror and genuinely smile, not because I’m “perfect,” but because I’m truly happy.
I was 44 years old when I finally reached a point where I felt like I needed to cry out for help. I had tried so many different programs over the years and had some temporary success, but the weight always came back. JourneyLite was the answer to that cry. For me, it was absolutely the right decision at the right time.
If you’re reading this and you’re on the fence, I get it. It’s scary. But it doesn’t hurt to have a conversation. Schedule a call with JourneyLite. Ask the questions. Learn about your options. It might just be the answer to your prayers the way it was for me.
