My Weight Loss Journey with Gastric Sleeve and Wegovy®: How Danielle Lost 108 Lbs
Medically Reviewed by Alexis Begliomini, PA-C
Real patient experience with Wegovy® for medical weight loss
Table of contents
- Before Gastric Sleeve and Weight Loss Medications
- My Weight Loss Journey with NJBC
- How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Helped Me Lose Weight
- How Wegovy® Helped Me Lose Weight
- Life After Losing 108 lbs. with Gastric Sleeve and the Medical Weight Loss Program
- My Recommendation for Someone Beginning their Weight Loss Journey
- FAQ'S About Wegovy®
- FAQ'S About Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- References
My weight loss journey before gastric sleeve surgery and Wegovy® was a long one. Struggling with my weight as a child and much of my twenties made losing weight seem unattainable. I had started to accept that being overweight was just part of my identity. However, that all changed when I first decided to try bariatric surgery and lost 63 lbs and then three years later I tried weight loss medications and lost 45 additional pounds. In total, I’ve lost 108 lbs.
Before Gastric Sleeve and Weight Loss Medications
Before gastric sleeve and the medical weight loss program with Wegovy® at New Jersey Bariatric Center®, I tried countless diets and fitness programs. From the Atkins diet to the Max Challenge to working with a virtual personal trainer. Each time I experienced a glimpse of success and optimism proved unsustainable. The weight would always come back.
Fear of judgment not being able to keep up prevented me from trying the fitness studios in my new hometown. Even simple walks along the waterfront became challenging because I needed to stop frequently to rest.
I became very self conscious (especially in the summer) because of the way I looked in clothes. About a year after moving, I remember feeling like I wasn’t fully enjoying life the way I wanted. At that moment, I decided I was done letting my weight dictate my life. This marked the official start of my weight loss journey.
My Weight Loss Journey with NJBC
I did my research and chose New Jersey Bariatric Center® to help achieve my weight loss goals. After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in 2021, I successfully lost 63 lbs within the first year. However, three years later, I began to regain weight and decided to explore my options with my doctor. I ultimately chose to enroll in the MWL@NJBC program and started taking Wegovy®—an FDA-approved injectable prescription medication for weight loss. Through the program and Wegovy®, I lost 45 lbs, bringing my total weight loss to 108 lbs.
How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Helped Me Lose Weight
Gastric sleeve surgery completely transformed my relationship with food and helped me develop healthier eating habits. It reduced the size of my stomach so I could eat less and feel full faster. It causes the secretion of fewer hunger hormones - grehlins - resulting in less overall hunger leading to weight loss.
The doctors and staff at New Jersey Bariatric Center® are fantastic! I was very nervous at my first appointment, but Dr. Goyal was extremely kind, direct, and helped me decide on gastric sleeve.
How Wegovy® Helped Me Lose Weight
Wegovy® has helped me maintain the foundational habits that I learned from gastric sleeve surgery and reduce the food noise. Wegovy® works by mimicking a hormone that targets the area of your brain that regulates appetite. Physician Assistant Alexis has been extremely supportive and helpful throughout my journey with Wegovy®.
Life After Losing 108 lbs. with Gastric Sleeve and the Medical Weight Loss Program
My life has completely changed. Now that I’ve lost 108 lbs since gastric sleeve and medical weight loss, I feel more confident in all aspects of my life. I’m no longer worried about feeling judged at fitness studios.Yoga is now an essential part of my weekly routine. I love that I can now confidently throw on shorts and a t-shirt on a hot summer day. In my career, my network has expanded leading to new opportunities and promotions.
My Recommendation for Someone Beginning their Weight Loss Journey
I would recommend New Jersey Bariatric Center® for someone considering bariatric surgery or medical weight loss. The staff made me feel comfortable and confident in my decision. It was a scary step but I found the staff to be perfect for the job!
FAQ'S About Wegovy®
The amount of weight you lose depends on your starting weight, however, people tend to lose around 4% of their starting body weight in 2 months on Wegovy®, according to Numan Health. Wegovy’s® clinical trials indicate that the average weight loss from a much longer period of 68 weeks (1 year and 4 months) was 15% (35 lbs). Calculate your potential weight loss here.
While Wegovy® and Ozempic® contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, and can be used for weight loss and to reduce the risk of heart disease. However, they have different primary approvals. Wegovy® is specifically approved for weight management, whereas Ozempic® is primarily prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes, with weight loss being an off-label use.
The primary downside of Wegovy® include common gastrointestinal side effects, the risk of rare but serious health complications, and possibly some patients experiencing weight regain after stopping the medication. At NJBC we are transparent and keep patients informed of the potential risks and side effects while taking any medication, including Wegovy®. For more information, call our office at 908-481-1270.
FAQ'S About Gastric Sleeve Surgery
For hospital recovery: Patients can expect to stay for approximately one day. After surgery, patients are encouraged to get up and walk around as soon as they are able to do so – usually within a few hours. Our goal is to ensure your comfort with walking, adequate fluid intake, and effective pain management before hospital discharge.
For at home recovery: Once you leave the hospital it’s important to follow the post-surgery instructions provided to help enhance your recovery and minimize complications. At NJBC we advise patients to wait at least 3-4 weeks after bariatric surgery before engaging in any rigorous activity or heavy lifting (no more than 15 lbs). That’s the average time for the healing of the abdominal muscle layers to occur.
Without insurance, on average, in NJ the cost of gastric sleeve procedures range from $8,500 to $18,500. The cost depends on each person's individual needs and the procedure. The self-pay costs in NJ typically include hospital or surgery center fees, anesthesia fees, pre-operative lab work, 1 year of post-operative visits, 1 year of nutrition counseling and exercise classes.
On average, patients lose between 40%-70% of their excess body weight as early as 12 months after gastric sleeve surgery.
References
Morgan, Kendall K., and Jabeen Begum. "Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound: What's the Difference?" WebMD, 21 July 2024, www.webmd.com/obesity/mounjaro-ozempic-wegovy-zepbound-difference.
Harland, Nick, and Nimlan Shanmugathas. "Wegovy timeline: what to expect ." Numan, Numan Health, www.numan.com/weight-loss/medication/wegovy-timeline-what-to-expect.
"Obesity and overweight ." World Health Organization, 7 May 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.
