I am a 46 year old mother of 5 serving in Japan with my husband as Christian missionaries.  My adventure with T-Tapp started in April of 2005.  I have been fairly consistent in exercising for the past five years, but I have a muscle imbalance on the left side of my lower back that has put me out of commission for several months at a time.  I would just get on a roll with exercising and seeing results when my back would seize up and put me in bed for several weeks.  When it calmed down enough for me to start exercising again I would be back up to my previous size.  This yo-yo effect went on for at least four years.  I am a Combo body type which means that I usually lose all over without a loss in dress size.  I had it in my mind that if I wasn't doing a 14 day boot camp and full workouts then I wasn't going to lose.  However, every time I tried to do this, I would overtax my back.

Even thought I loved doing T-Tapp, I wasn't sure if it was causing my back pain or not.  So, I ordered another exercise program and put T-Tapp on the shelf. For two months I persistently exercised.  However, there were several problems:  1) the circulation in my left leg got much worse.  I damaged the vein in that leg when I developed a deep vein thrombosis while pregnant.  I couldn't walk for longer than 10 minutes without it throbbing. 2) It was a progressive program that found me at the end of the two month period exercising for 2 hours a day.  I was so tired by the time I was done that I had to take a nap.  I seriously didn't have the time for that. 3) I literally gained 14 inches. What a waste of two months.   I was not a happy camper.  I quickly concluded that T-Tapp is a much superior program and went back to doing it.  

I contacted my trainer, Jill Brightbill, with my woes.  She suggested that I concentrate on form.  I took my "Fit and Fabulous" book and tried to do the Basic Workout Plus while reading it.  In one week I lost 3 inches.  Jill suggested the "Super Slow" and "Warm Up Stretches” DVDs to help me become more aware of what my body is doing.  After receiving these, I decided to take it slow and really push my body to the max.  From August to October I have lost 11.75 inches and 5 pounds just concentrating on form.  I had already lost 19.25 inches and 5 pounds from March to August by just exercising every day except for Sunday.  Because of my bad back, I have to exercise or I am in pain.  I have lost a total of 31 inches and 10 pounds since March. I did this with Basic Workout Plus (usually doing one of the exercises using the Super Slow and then finishing off the rest with the Basic Workout Plus DVD), Step Away the Inches, and Labybug Basic Workout Plus.  I have also thrown in OIP/HF, AL, PT and DD.  This is the biggest losing streak for me.  My overall measurements are the lowest they have ever been.  My size 12 pants are VERY loose on me.  I am now down to a size 10. 

Five years ago I started out as a size 14/16.  I am 5'8".  An added blessing is that my husband is also doing Basic Workout Plus 4-5 times a week and is seeing good results. My husband and I are also following Teresa's "God Made/Man Made" eating plan.  This works really well for me.  I don't know about you, but as soon as I hear the word "diet" I immediately want to eat all the things that I am restricting. It's hard to stay consistent when all I can think about is chocolate and ice cream.  With Teresa's plan I can be really good on my "on" days because I know that I can treat myself on my "off "days.  I find that even on my "off" days just a little treat is enough to keep my going and satisfied.

T-Tapp is helping me to lose inches, although it has taken longer because of my back.  However, the biggest benefit has to do with my health issues.  I mentioned my circulation problem.  T-Tapp has greatly helped this.  I am now able to walk 30-60 minutes a day without it throbbing.  A year ago my plane was delayed and I found myself having to run/fast walk for 20 minutes through the airport to get to my next plane.  I had a 20 pound back pack on my back with a fanny pack around my waist.  When I got on the plane and sat down I ealized that I had no pain in my leg.  I was amazed!  Running has been out of the picture for me for awhile.  Around this same time I also developed a swollen lymph node in my groin area.  I did SATI everyday for a week and it completely disappeared!  My back pain has almost completely disappeared.  This is a big praise for me to be able to go from constant pain to no pain.  I realized that my back was hurting while exercising because I wasn't holding my stomach in while exercising and I wasn't keeping my shoulders back with my back pressed in like a kidney bean.  Now I really work on tucking my butt.  A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with fibrocystic breasts.  They would be extremely painful 1-2 weeks before my period.  This past month saw me pain free.  I believe it is from brushing and doing SATI regularly.  This exercise really pumps your lymph.

Another turning point for me was downloading Charlotte Siems story.  She has many practical suggestions that have greatly helped me.  If you haven't read her story, I encourage you to do so.  I know Teresa has said all along that "Less is More", but I have had a hard time believing that.  Charlotte lost all her inches by NOT working out more than 30 minutes a day.  What an encouragement to me.  Now I don't beat myself over the head if I don't do a longer workout. I believe that one of the reasons why it has been harder for me to lose is because of my thoughts.  When I didn't see results quickly, I would tell myself that I wasn't going to lose anything.  It would work for others, but not for me.  I would be stuck in this body forever.  I have done enough reading lately to know that my mind can greatly sabotage my results.   What I tell myself is what I will become.  So, now I am telling myself that I have a beautiful, healthy body that is fit and toned.  When I exercise I imagine the fat just falling off.  I am trying to change my, "I don't like my thighs (or whatever it is I don't like)" to "I love my thighs".  This is helping me feel a lot better about my body.

I am so very thankful for Teresa and her study of the human body.  Her knowledge amazes me.  She really knows what she is talking about, and I am benefitting. Thank you, Theresa.  I absolutely love your exercises and am a tapper for life.