Kayla’s VSG Before and After Testimonial

I’m Kayla, and in January 2022, I made the life-changing decision to have gastric sleeve surgery. At my heaviest, I weighed 285 pounds. Today, I weigh 165—and the difference is more than just the number on the scale.

I spent most of my teenage and young adult life caught in a cycle of yo-yo dieting. I was always watching from the sidelines, missing out on the things I loved. One of the lowest points for me was when I couldn’t fit on a rollercoaster—it was humiliating. Another moment that hit hard was when I was cheering for my daughter at a soccer game, yelling “faster, faster!” and suddenly realizing I could barely walk comfortably myself. I felt like a hypocrite.

I’ve always loved adventure—hiking, traveling, exploring the outdoors—but my weight held me back. Since losing the weight, all of those things have become not only possible, but enjoyable again.

The surgery helped me regain control of my appetite, but it did more than that—it forced me to confront the emotional reasons behind my overeating. I couldn’t just eat my feelings anymore. I had to dig deep and learn to cope in healthier ways.

JourneyLite was a huge part of my success. In the beginning, the monthly weigh-ins kept me accountable and on track. That consistency gave me the structure I needed to stay focused.

There’s no way I could pick just one thing I can do now that I couldn’t before—there are so many! But even something as simple as walking is so much easier now. I’m no longer just existing—I’m living.