My gastric sleeve before-and-after story
My weight affected me both mentally and physically from childhood into my adult years. My journey has included gastric sleeve surgery and later medication support. Today, I’m 85 pounds below my highest weight, and one of the biggest changes is something that once felt difficult: leaving my house feeling great and confident.
Weights reported by Valerie in September 2026. Her journey includes gastric sleeve surgery and later medication support. Individual results vary.
My struggle with weight started early
I was always heavier than the other kids, and that stayed with me into my later adult years. As I gained more weight, I felt insecure and embarrassed to leave the house.
Since I was 18, I had tried diet pills, Weight Watchers, semaglutide, and diets such as low carb. I would see progress for a little while, but then it would stop. Before surgery, even increasing my GLP-1 medication dose did not give me the progress I was hoping for.
Choosing gastric sleeve surgery
In October 2024, I had gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. James Augusta. I weighed 219 pounds. Within a year, I got down to 155 pounds.
Then I reached a plateau. I would gain a couple of pounds and lose a couple of pounds, without making much more progress.
Finding additional support after a plateau
I decided to try weight loss medication again, and it helped. When I shared my story in September 2026, I had been using semaglutide for the past month. I had broken through my plateau and weighed 134 pounds.
That puts me 85 pounds below my highest weight. My personal goal is now 125–130 pounds.
Support that continued after my move
I received complete support from JourneyLite. I’ve since moved to Florida, and the doctors still message me to check on my progress.
After years of feeling insecure about my weight, I can now leave my house feeling great and confident.
“Leave my house feeling great and confident.”
— Valerie, on what she can do now
My journey at a glance
- Procedure
- Gastric sleeve surgery (VSG)
- Surgeon
- Dr. James Augusta
- Surgery date
- October 2024
- Additional support
- Weight loss medication after a plateau, including semaglutide
- Highest weight
- 219 pounds
- Reported weight
- 134 pounds in September 2026
- Total weight loss
- 85 pounds
Adapted from Valerie’s submitted answers with her permission. This is her personal experience; results vary. Photos were selected from her submission and edited for presentation. Exact weights at the time each photograph was taken were not provided.
