When Rachel became pregnant with her first child, it marked the beginning of her years-long struggle to lose weight. Around this time, Rachel was also diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance during the reproductive years that often causes weight gain.
Weight Gain Presents a New Challenge for Rachel
A Massachusetts native who now lives in Four Oaks, N.C., Rachel, 49, is a devoted wife and mother of two sons. She works as a receptionist in the main office of a local high school. Before starting a family, Rachel had always been thin and active – she never thought that weight gain could one day become a major challenge in her life. In fact, she was once an avid weightlifter who followed an intense training routine.
“In addition to pregnancy weight and PCOS, which was the root of my problem, my tendency to be the doer and caretaker of my family exacerbated things,” Rachel says. “I lost myself in the shuffle. I wasn’t taking care of myself, and the weight just kept piling on.”
Rachel Struggles with Yo-Yo Dieting
Over the years, Rachel tried many different diets and weight loss strategies, including Beachbody and the 21-Day Fix® workouts, WeightWatchers®, the Atkins™ diet, portion control, monitoring macros, and the OPTAVIA® weight loss plan. At one point, Rachel even worked as a Beachbody coach. While some of these diets and programs were completely ineffective, some did help Rachel lose weight in the short-term – but none of the programs were sustainable. After grappling with unrealistic diet requirements, the weight would inevitably come back. In time, she realized that her yo-yo dieting was unhealthy and was even disrupting her hormones. One of the diet programs she tried even forced her into early menopause.
Throughout these years of rollercoaster diet programs, Rachel felt physically awful. She constantly struggled with low energy, feeling tired all the time, grouchiness, and irritability, and felt inflamed and swollen all over. Her cholesterol and fatty liver numbers were very high, which was quite concerning due to the health issues that ran in her family (diabetes and heart disease). Rachel also began struggling with food allergies and intolerances that would cause her to break out in hives without warning. By this point, Rachel could feel that the inflammation in her body and her overall health was coming to a turning point.
She recalls one particular family outing that helped inspire her to make a change, once and for all. “While on a trip a few years ago, we attended a game as a family,” Rachel remembers. “While in the arena, we had to climb five flights of stairs. But I could hardly climb one flight of stairs – I was embarrassed because I was so out of breath that I couldn’t keep up with the rest of the family. I knew this was not the example that I wanted to set for my sons.”
Rachel Digs Deeper & Discovers True You
While she had considered a “mommy makeover” to help herself look and feel better, Rachel knew she needed to go deeper to address the root cause of health and weight problems. She especially wanted to get her PCOS permanently under control. Most importantly, Rachel wanted to ensure she would be alive and healthy for her boys for many years to come. Fortunately, the answer to Rachel’s problem was much closer than she thought.
By chance, Rachel heard a radio ad for True You Weight Loss in 2020 that piqued her interest. She learned that the clinic was located right down the road, in Cary, N.C. Curious, Rachel did some online research and discovered that the clinic’s founder, Dr. Christopher McGowan, was a world-renowned leader in endobariatrics who offered the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a non-surgical, incisionless, minimally invasive procedure to reduce stomach size.
“This was a perfect fit for me because I didn’t want a bariatric procedure that involved surgery or cutting my organs,” Rachel explains. “Plus, I learned the risks with ESG were very minimal, which was appealing.”
But, she wasn’t quite ready to take the leap. Instead, Rachel continued to follow and research Dr. McGowan for well over a year – regularly watching his YouTube videos and following True You Weight Loss on social media.
“I was so impressed with his experience, and his ability to connect with his patients,” Rachel says. “It was exciting when he announced his one-thousandth ESG procedure online.”
Instead of the “mommy makeover,” Rachel asked her husband to join her for a consultation with Dr. McGowan and members of the True You team. From that point on, she was ready to invest in her own health and happiness.
“I adored everyone on the team. As soon as I met with them, I was ready to schedule my ESG,” Rachel says. “They were the first healthcare providers I’d found who truly listened to me, especially about my PCOS, and they were eager to help me address the root of my problems. I never felt any judgment, and from the beginning, the journey was more personal than any doctor’s office experience or weight loss plan I had ever tried before.”
Putting in the Work After ESG Success
Rachel had her ESG in December 2022, weighing in at around 208 pounds. On her procedure day, Rachel felt slightly nervous, but the team made her and her husband feel very comfortable, informed, and prepared. Everything went well, and Rachel was soon on the road to recovery. In the days that followed, Rachel didn’t feel any pain, only some gassy side effects, and within three to four days, she and her husband were out Christmas shopping.
Within one month after her procedure, Rachel was losing weight quickly and began noticing some other improvements in her health. Her allergies were no longer flaring up, and she no longer felt swollen or inflamed. More weight loss followed when Rachel started putting in a lot of her own hard work, too.
“I knew the ESG was a tool and not a solution in and of itself, so I was ready to work really hard to achieve the long-term results I wanted,” Rachel explains. “As part of that process, I started eating a very healthy diet and weight training five days a week.”
Another Weight Lifted: Rachel’s Opinion Changes About Food
Throughout her journey, Rachel’s entire mindset about food also changed – impressive, considering her family background.
“I come from a Jewish family where everyone loves to eat,” explains Rachel. “We use food for comfort and many social events are all about eating. We think about food all the time!”
However, her weight loss journey helped her stop obsessing about food. Now, she thinks about food as fuel, not an enemy that is working against her.
“The ability to think about food differently has been a huge weight off my shoulders,” Rachel says. “I don’t restrict myself; instead, I listen to my body and am much more in tune with my body’s needs. When I feel full, I stop eating, and I allow my stomach to tell me when I’m hungry.”
In addition to her mindset shift, Rachel has been inspired by the strategies and advice given to her by her True You dietitian – she says she’s learned so many new tips and tricks to help improve her nutrition and support sustainable healthy eating habits.
A Brand-New Rachel: Happier, Healthier & Feeling Great
To date, Rachel has lost about 52 pounds, maintaining in the range of 156 to 160 pounds, and she has dropped down from a size 15 to a size 5. Her weight loss has had a profound impact on her overall health and wellness. At one of her recent physicals, her doctor reported that her bloodwork numbers looked the best they’ve seen in years. Today, Rachel has more energy, finds her workouts to be much easier, and overall feels happier, more positive, and confident. She is also enjoying many non-scale victories.
“I love that I can now easily shop online and wear clothes that actually fit my body, like bodysuits and non-stretch jeans,” Rachel says. “I even had to get a temporary wedding ring because my real ring had gotten too big. Plus, it feels really good to hear from my family that they are proud of me. My younger son recently told me how young and healthy I look.”
Rachel Expresses Gratitude for True You
Rachel credits much of her ESG success to the support she received from the entire True You team saying, “They are all amazing! I cannot thank them enough, and I constantly recommend True You to people who ask me about losing weight.”
She is incredibly grateful to have her health back – and is now living her life to the fullest every day.
“You only have one life to live, so just do it! You have to take care of yourself,” Rachel concludes. “For me, having an ESG with True You was the best decision I ever made for my body. You can never put a price tag on your health, and this procedure was worth every penny."
Success at a Glance
Top Non-Scale Victories
