Less to Lose + Health Improvements - Under 50 Category

Aurora Y-J.

I started T-Tapp in July 2010 after I reread Dr. Perricone's books to search a reason of my weight-loss stall. My knees were seriously hurting day and night after I turned up my elliptical exercise, and I lived in a two-story house and my 3 year old son still wanted to be picked up all the time. The pain was really no fun, and my 3 year old wanted to be picked up all the time.

I am a 5-feet-2-inches-short short torso with a big frame, I never tried any diet until 6 years ago, after weaning my first son, I gained 25 pounds within 9 months to 168. I started having annoying female issues, then one day, I found out my blood pressure was 130/90 on my blood donation paperwork. I had stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes in my family, I was 37, my first child was 3 years old, and I was not about to take a lot of medications. So, I started the South Beach Diet, then moved on to the Perricone Diet. I exercised on elliptical 45 minutes 5 times a week, and I lost 50 pounds within 10 months. I let myself grow a few pounds back to 126 to be healthy and maintained that weight for 10 months until I became pregnant with my second son.

I remained ten to fifteen pounds off my healthy weight after my second son was born, and then my weight crept up when I finally weaned my second son. This time I was 15 pounds lighter than 6 years ago, and I started cleaning up my diet and went back to 45 minutes elliptical 5 days a week. However, after the first months loss of 5 lbs, my weight loss stalled. I started exercising 6 or 7 days a week, and my knees were hurting bad, and my weight still did not drop.

I knew my diet was sound, I needed to figure out my exercise issue. When I read Dr. Perricone's T-Tapp recommendation again, I decided T-Tapp was the answer for me (especially, with 2 children at 43, I have less time, and my knees were hurting BAD). I then remembered that I did not look further into T-Tapp 5 years ago was because I was not able to follow any moves illustrated for the 10 minutes workout. So, this time, I was serious, I searched the Internet, read a few testimonies, I ordered More and the Total package including CRT. After a serious study of the Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes and the DVDs, I started the exercise on July 30.

Since July 2010, I have lost more than 50 inches and 16 pounds. I lost 5.5 inches and 1 pound during jumpstart. I am size 10 on the top and size 6 on the bottom, 131 pounds. 5.5 inches and one pound is not the banner loss people talk about, but to me, it was a success all by itself.

In the beginning of the Jumpstart 2011, I was not expecting any inch lost, not because I was a less to lose now, but because I was recovering from a bad cold sore, flu, and bronchitis from the day after Christmas to a week before 1/27/2011. The sickness left me fatigued and weak, I could hardly last longer than 15 minutes to 20 minutes into a workout. I lost quite a bit of muscles (along with fat) during the 4 week of sickness (I managed a few necessary stepping exercises to get the lymphatic pumping).

In addition to my weakened body, I also got some built-in hazards; February was my birthday month, Chinese New Year, Superbowl and Valentines Day. To me, February was just as dangerous as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. If I didn't gain any inches during the Jumpstart, it was a success. Seeing my own picture with a flatter abs, that just made me even happier. Disclosure: I did gain some inches, but that was another unexpected success, I gained some pec and bust, because I concentrated more on "Pull the Weeds" with Barefoot BWO+, hooray!!!!

I entered the contest to get myself honest, if I signed up, I would make sure I made an attempt not to sabotage my achieved inch loss.

Even the prize of the Jumpstart was a chance to meet Teresa, I listened to my recovering body, the day I was tired, I did not press on. I lived a normal life, ate mostly clean GM food (but I didn't count calories and grams of fat, fiber, protein, carbohydrates, etc.). I had my share of treats and cheats for my birthday luncheons, Chinese New Year celebrations, Superbowl junk fest, Valentines Day chocolate dipping with my kids.

I did not do any bootcamp, I did not even do EOD (even I intended to), I tried to get myself to a longer and more frequent workout routine the week before the Jumpstart was starting, but my body was telling me "No" by the end of January. So, I did 3 full workouts a week in the last 4 weeks (to meet the Habit Former commitment). My exercises were intended to improve my knees. So, I did mostly Tempo Arms, Barefoot BWO+, More 4 in 1, Critter Crunch Floor. If I got sore from the floor exercises, I would do some of the Warmup Workout #1 or Foot & Finger Exercise the next day to relief the soreness (three to fours times during the jumpstart for the therapeutic effects).

Whenever I remembered, I would incorporate T-Tapp techniques at my desk, during grocery shopping, or loading dishes. I stepped 5-10 minutes when my feet were cold or feeling a cold/ flu bug was attacking. I also did 2 superslow Hoe Downs weekly to meet a fellow forum Tappers challenge.

Oh, the forums, it is the best place. Teresa, thank you so much for allowing us the forum. So many nice people who were willing to help and encourage, and they were so knowledgeable. I spent more time on the forums than the exercise.

For the health improvement I set out for Jumpstart: My knees did not have any pain, not even once, for the entire Jumpstart. Barefoot BWO+ helped me activated more and the Big Ball Joints helped me planted my feet firmer to avoid duck feet, which was the cause of my knee pain. Thanks Teresa.

VIEW THE OTHER 2011 JANUARY JUMP START WINNERS!