Sophie
Health care is such a human-centered service. The True You team really understands this, and I felt their sincerity.
 Success Stories

Pandemic Weight Rebound Spurs Lasting Health Quest

Like it did for many, the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for Sophie Campbell-Smith to stay on a healthy path. After years of being dedicated to healthy eating and exercise, Sophie got off track after months of lockdown and long hours working from home. Before she knew it, Sophie gained 40 pounds and was feeling tired, sluggish, and generally unwell.

sophie before

“During the pandemic, I dropped all the good habits that had allowed me to maintain a healthy weight, and I went off my clean eating program,” said Sophie, a certified public accountant (CPA) from Charlotte, North Carolina. “Without access to a gym, I stopped exercising, and I was sitting in front of the computer for almost 14 hours a day. I also stopped cooking family meals at home and started ordering a lot of meal deliveries.”

Having already been on this path once before, Sophie knew it was time to make a change to turn her health back around.

Sophie’s First Weight Loss Procedure Experience

A native of Jamaica, Sophie moved to the United States in 2005 to follow a promising career.  She spent years working tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder—80-hour weeks were not uncommon. Over the years while her career took off, Sophie put herself—and her health—on the back burner. By 2011, she was married and pregnant with twins, but a challenging pregnancy put her on bed rest and she gained over 100 pounds.

“My twins were the best thing to ever happen to me. My husband and I felt thankful to have two beautiful children. However, it was hard to lose weight after they were born,” said Sophie. “I tried many things, but it was a constant yo-yo diet situation. I would lose weight and then gain it back again.”

By age 39, Sophie had reached 244 pounds, and she decided to take control of her health for herself and for her family. “I knew it was time to make a change. So, March 2017 was like a rebirth for me.”

Losing Ground After VSG Success

Sophie underwent a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) procedure, which is a bariatric surgery that decreases the size of the stomach. Follower her VSG, Sophie transformed her lifestyle and lost 100 pounds. She wanted to achieve the best health of her life by the time she turned 40 in March 2018, and she accomplished her goal. She and her family regularly went to the gym together and practiced clean eating. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic made Sophie feel like she was losing control of her health again. Things were trending in the wrong direction. She knew she had to reclaim her well-being for the second time, before things got out of hand. Sophie explained, “I wanted a bariatric revision but did not want to endure another painful procedure like VSG again. I needed a non-invasive option to get me back on track.”

Pandemic Weight Gain Leads Sophie to True You Weight Loss

Around this time, Sophie came across an online ad for a doctor who was performing non-invasive weight loss procedures up north. When Sophie learned the advertised doctor had been trained by Dr. Christopher McGowan, she started doing additional research and watched several of his procedure videos. She learned Dr. McGowan was performing endoscopic, non-invasive bariatric revisions just two hours from Sophie’s home in Charlotte. Once she read up on Dr. McGowan’s career, accomplishments, and credentials, she knew she’d found the most experienced doctor in the country.

“When I reached out to Dr. McGowan and his team, they were so responsive and welcoming,” remembered Sophie. “That sealed the deal for me. Health care is such a human-centered service. The True You team really understands this, and I felt their sincerity.”

Within a week of her consultation with Dr. McGowan, Sophie decided to proceed with a bariatric revision. In June 2021, she traveled to Cary with her husband, and things happened seamlessly from there. She felt nervous on the drive from Charlotte, but whatever fears she had quickly melted away once she was in the hands of Dr. McGowan and his team. They understood and answered her questions and put her mind at ease. 

A VSG Revision Success

Sophie’s bariatric VSG revision was quick and easy, and she was ready to leave the True You outpatient office within an hour feeling nothing but a sore throat and enthusiasm for her second “rebirth.”   

Within just six months, Sophie was back to a normal body mass index (BMI) and weighed 138 pounds, even less than she weighed on her 40th birthday after her original VSG. Her keys to success include closely following the dietary guidelines clearly laid out for her by dietitian and making exercise a priority again. She even created a new home gym, including a Peloton® bike, an elliptical, and weights.

“I feel so much better now, and I’m really enjoying my workouts again,” added Sophie. “The entire bariatric revision process was painless and far less stressful than my VSG. Plus, I had done a lot of research into Dr. McGowan and the True You team beforehand, and I felt very safe with them. They were a joy to deal with the entire time, and I am so glad I made this decision.”

Good Health is a Family Affair

As Sophie has lost weight, she is gratified to see that her twins, now 10 years old, notice the difference and are thrilled with her progress. They take an active interest in her weight loss goals and want to be involved. The family is now more focused on cooking at home and exercising together as well.

“I want to be a good role model for my children,” said Sophie. “Being at a healthy weight and feeling better overall, I am easily able to enjoy sports with them again. We play a lot of basketball and soccer together as a family.”

With her health back in check, Sophie is also excited to get back into fashion and is enjoying how easy it is to choose pieces that fit her perfectly. “It feels amazing to get dressed! It’s a great biproduct of losing the weight.” 

Most importantly, Sophie and her family love travelling and being active. They are happiest when they are outside, enjoying nature together. They plan to continue taking trips to their favorite South Carolina beaches. The family is also looking forward to some international trips in the near future, including a trip home to Jamaica. 

“The team at True You Weight Loss has been amazing, and I could not have asked for a better outcome,” added Sophie. “From start to finish, it was an A1, top-class experience, and I am so thankful for this second chance at weight loss success.”

Sophie
Health care is such a human-centered service. The True You team really understands this, and I felt their sincerity.
Stats at a Glance
June 2021
Age
43
BMI
30
Weight
165
January 2022
Age
43
BMI
24
Weight
139

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