Michael’s Story: “I finally changed my mind—and my life.”

Procedure: Gastric Sleeve (VSG)
Surgeon:Dr. James Augusta
Facility: JourneyLite
Surgery Date:May 2025
Starting Weight:299 lbs → Current:192.6 lbs
Total Lost:~106 lbs

I’ve been one of the “heavier guys” my entire life—short and stocky. In school, kids could be brutal. As an adult, I usually brushed off the looks and comments. I lifted weights, I could keep up with my family, and I didn’t feel fat.

Then something happened that I’ll never forget. Years ago, after I took a facilitator role training new managers, my boss and a VP pulled me into a conference room and told me—point blank—that I needed to lose weight because it didn’t look good for the position. I’d never been told I was an embarrassment before. It stung. I still pushed on, but the seed was planted.

Fast forward: I’m 60, with high blood pressure, prediabetes, and a new diagnosis—fatty liver disease. I started seeing photos of myself and, for the first time, I didn’t like what I saw. I realized if I didn’t make a significant change, I might not be around as long as I want to be.

I researched every option and kept coming back to the gastric sleeve. I met with the team at JourneyLite and decided if I was going to do this, I’d do it 100%—not halfway. That meant dropping what I thought I knew about weight loss, listening to experts, and changing my mindset and behaviors: what to eat more of, what to eat less of, and what to avoid altogether. I’ve always loved lifting weights (I still hate cardio!), but the sleeve, paired with education and accountability, was the structure I needed.

Dr. Augusta was outstanding, and the staff delivered on their promise to be with me every step. The dietitians are the rock stars—group education, one-on-one check-ins, troubleshooting what’s working and what isn’t, and regular weigh-ins that gave me celebration and accountability. The surgery reduced the size of my stomach; the JourneyLite team helped me rewire the habits and thinking that got me here.

Today I’m down from 299 to 193 lbs. There isn’t much I can do now that I couldn’t do before—but I do it easier, faster, and without feeling like I’m going to have a heart attack. The scale is only part of it. The wins that matter most to me:

• I’m off medication for high blood pressure.

• I’m off medication for prediabetes.

• My fatty liver has reversed.

• I’m wearing clothing sizes I haven’t seen in 40 years.

I used to think weight loss surgery was only about the stomach. For me, it was about my mind—choosing to listen, learn, and follow a plan with people who know how to help. If you’re on the fence, I get it. But I can tell you this: saying “yes” to the gastric sleeve with Dr. James Augusta at JourneyLite gave me my health—and my confidence—back.