Sue’s gastric bypass success story
After years of putting everyone else first, Sue chose gastric bypass surgery at JourneyLite and reclaimed her health. She has lost approximately 200 pounds, reached a weight below her original goal, and gained confidence, mobility, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Choosing herself after years of struggle
Sue remembers weighing 110 pounds in high school yet still feeling that she was not enough. After her second child, difficult personal circumstances further affected the way she saw herself. She became a single mother at 27, put herself through college, and began building a career while her weight gradually climbed from 150 pounds to 350 pounds.
When her children began building lives of their own, Sue decided it was time to reclaim hers. She chose gastric bypass surgery at JourneyLite and weighed 302 pounds on the day of her procedure in May 2016.
Long-term progress after gastric bypass
Within a year of surgery, Sue reached approximately 175 pounds and maintained a weight between 170 and 180 pounds for several years. When her weight rose to 202 pounds in October 2024, she worked with a medical provider and added prescribed weight-loss medication to help manage cravings and restart her progress. Today, she weighs 149.6 pounds—just below her original goal of 150.
“If I can do it, you can too.”
Mindset, habits, and ongoing support
For Sue, surgery was an important tool, but lasting change also required new daily practices and a different relationship with herself. As her plan began working, momentum grew and she learned to trust herself again.
She also credits JourneyLite with providing consistent support. The team answered her questions before surgery, checked on her during recovery, and continued inviting her to classes and support meetings years later. That connection helped remind her that she was not navigating the journey alone.
Freedom in everyday life
Today, Sue can fly without requesting a seat-belt extender and shop outside the plus-size section. Clothing that once felt out of reach now fits, and she enjoys expressing herself with confidence instead of apologizing for taking up space.
Her message to anyone considering treatment is simple: do not give up on yourself. Gastric bypass in 2016, followed by renewed medical support in 2024, helped her move below her goal and begin a happier new chapter.
Sue’s journey at a glance
- Procedure
- Gastric Bypass Surgery
- Surgical program
- JourneyLite
- Surgery date
- May 2016
- Highest weight
- 350 lbs
- Surgery-day weight
- 302 lbs
- Current weight
- 149.6 lbs
- Total weight loss
- Approximately 200 lbs
Sue gave JourneyLite permission to share her story and images. This testimonial reflects one patient’s personal experience. Individual results vary. Weight-loss medication requires evaluation and a prescription from a qualified medical professional.
