Journey Weight Loss
Try a different path
Healthy weight loss is a journey you don't have to make alone.
If your weight loss travels have led to more failures than successes, we can change that with our Journey Program. This personalized, long-term plan was developed by an Austin Heart Cardiologist certified in obesity medicine. There are no expensive supplements or prepared meals to buy, and the Journey Program is covered by most insurance policies.
You know that losing weight improves a person’s overall health, but did you know it also reduces the risks of obesity-related cancers, coronary artery disease, and diabetes? After losing weight, some people have reduced the number of medications they are taking or qualified for knee or hip replacement surgery.
The right candidate for the Journey Program
Whether you have tried other programs without success or want to supplement one you are on now, Journey may be the right fit for you. Even people with a family history of being overweight or other health conditions are not defined by their genetic makeup. The Journey Program can play a bigger part in working through barriers to successful weight loss.
Who qualifies for the Journey Program?
- People with a body mass index of 27 with at least one health condition related to their weight (examples include joint pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, history of cancer, infertility, fatty liver, atrial fibrillation, heart disease or heart failure, depression, vein disease, or pulmonary hypertension)
- Anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher
Beginning your Journey
Each patient who enters the Journey Program is sent a 10-minute video about nutrition, a questionnaire, and a 3-day food diary to complete before the initial visit.
What to expect at your appointment:
- Assessment by a cardiologist specializing in obesity medicine
- Body composition analysis with a bioelectrical impedance scale
- Vital signs and measurement of waist circumference
- EKG if you have not had one within the last year
- Nutritional education and counseling by a registered dietician
Please bring the following with you to your appointment:
- Completed paperwork if received prior to the appointment
- Current insurance card
- Current medications or a complete list of medicines with doses, including all over-the-counter medications and supplements
- Blood glucose log (if applicable)
Six reasons the Journey Program works
After years of working with patients who have overweight or obesity, Dr. Suzanne Wetherold became certified in Obesity Medicine. She developed and manages the Journey Program to improve her patients’ heart health and quality of life. Why does our Journey Program work?
- Having overweight or obesity is medical condition that needs evidence-based treatment.
- Individualized dietary and exercise plans are developed for each patient with caloric needs based on their basal metabolic rate.
- Our practitioners provide education on meal planning with macronutrient breakdown (protein, fat, carb content). We even show you how to buy the right food at your local grocery store.
- Each patient is seen by a cardiologist or mid-level provider for the 16 months of the program: First 12 visits are every two weeks, and then monthly thereafter. Ongoing follow-up after the initial program will continue based on individual patient needs.
- Your plan changes with you. Each visit allows modification of diet and exercise as appropriate.
- Medication approved to assist with weight loss and behavioral health referrals are available.
Please note the following regarding appointments:
- Allow 60 minutes for new patient appointments. Please arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for body composition and vitals.
- Allow 30 minutes for follow up visits. Please arrive 10 minutes before your appointment.
- If it is necessary to cancel your appointment, please notify the clinic at least 72 hours in advance.
- Please be aware that if you arrive late for your visit, your appointment may have to be rescheduled.