Tenetha’s Journey
A military wife and all-American mother and grandmother, Tenetha raised three children while managing a busy career in clinical trials. Today, Tenetha works closely with her daughter LaNita as they share a career in clinical trials, and she is also a proud military mom to two sons, so she has much to be proud of. Yet, when she became an empty nester, she began reflecting on her life and health. Tenetha struggled with her weight for decades, and up until 2021, never had the time to focus on getting it under control. It was hard to squeeze in time for herself when she was busy working and raising three kids. Tenetha’s failed attempts at weight loss over the years included Weight Watchers™, joining a gym, and trying different workout DVDs at home. But like LaNita, it was hard for Tenetha to stay consistent and focused.
“As soon as I didn’t see results, I would become unmotivated,” Tenetha says. “I had all of this information in my head about health and weight loss, but I didn’t know what to do with it. Nothing was coming together. However, I did know that I was tired of being the largest person in the room.”
Then came the answer Tenetha had been searching for when her daughter told her about ESG and True You. Tenetha was especially intrigued that ESG offered a non-surgical option.
“My daughter came to me and said that it was time for us to do something,” Tenetha explains. “When we watched those YouTube videos with Dr. McGowan, it was as if he was speaking to us directly. At that moment, I was finally ready to give myself permission to do something for myself and have the ESG procedure done.”
Calling it a tag-team partnership, Tenetha supported LaNita during her ESG and recovery, and just one month later, on September 2, 2021, she was arriving at WakeMed Cary Hospital to have her own ESG procedure. LaNita accompanied her mom and gave her helpful advice from her own experience. Tenetha’s procedure went smoothly, and she felt encouraged by the supportive staff at True You Weight Loss and WakeMed. Going into it, she was very excited and ready for her new beginning.
Tenetha has consistently dropped weight since her ESG, and her entire life has been transformed. She was able to discontinue her medication for hypertension, she no longer experiences the joint pain she felt when she was overweight, and her sleep patterns have vastly improved. She has also discovered a new appreciation for exercise and feels her best on days when she can work out. Tenetha enjoys walking on her treadmill, biking, and taking Pilates. She is also enjoying her new relationship with food and has discovered creative ways to substitute healthier ingredients into her old favorite recipes.
“With the help of True You’s wonderful nutritionists, I have learned how to use more discipline with my eating and cooking, and I now do a good job of restricting myself,” Tenetha says. “I have also learned about portion sizes, reading nutrition facts, experimenting with more plant-based foods, and healthier options. For example, I love pizza, but now I can eat it in a healthier way—with a cauliflower crust! My bowl of cereal is now Oikos® Yogurt with some granola.”
Additionally, Tenetha and LaNita have enjoyed sharing healthy recipes and new food ideas with each other. They even go food shopping together so they can collaborate and keep each other in check—and it is all paying off. Just six months after her ESG, Tenetha is down 56 pounds, from 311 to 255, and she is thrilled.
“I feel great! I have more energy, and it’s gratifying to look in the mirror now,” she says. “Because of True You and ESG, I now know I can set goals and actually accomplish them.”
