Less to Lose Category

Jill B.

July 11, 2005

Teresa and T-Tapp Team,

T-Tapp has introduced many positive attributes to my life: more energy, better health, good posture, a flat stomach, a great mental attitude, improved sleep, increased strength and stronger muscles (without bulking up to look like a Russian sailor!).

I’m grateful for the improvements I’ve seen and have become a T-Tapp “evangelist” to those who want to increase their personal fitness and overall health.

My T-Tapp journey kicked off just over four years ago. In June of 2001, I ordered the tapes but only did them occasionally. I didn’t get serious until November, 2003. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to attend two fitness retreats, one of which was graced by Teresa’s presence. I learned so much in those clinics and my form greatly improved.

Two surgeries slowed me down in 2003:   knee surgery in the summer and a complete hysterectomy in the fall. Talk about being lax! I always had a pretty flat stomach… even after a partial hysterectomy and childbirth. About eight months after the hysterectomy, I started carrying extra “padding” around my waist – something I never had before! Each season, I was traipsing to the store to buy bigger pants. I went from a size 4 to size 8/10 in just a year and my exercise and eating habits did not change.

Finally, I had had enough! That fall, I got serious and started Tapping regularly. I did a boot camp and then EOD with one of the Tempo workouts and Step Away the Inches on my off days. I would throw in floor work whenever I could.

I definitely found that “less is more” with T-Tapp. I’m one of those people who has an ‘all or nothing’ attitude and I found myself overtraining. Trust me – it’s important to listen to your body. When you feel too tired to exercise, just cut back. However, once I found the right balance, I made a solid commitment.

The contest started April 11th and I was going full force. I was a woman with a mission! Then on May 4th, I broke my ankle after missing the bottom step in the middle of the night. I was going to quit the contest, but my dear husband encouraged me to continue. I really could not do a full body workout with a heavy (bright pink!) cast, but I pressed on with floor work from Tempo Lower Body and Sit Down T-Tapp. I tried to do this 4-6 times each week. I tried to walk on my crutches with KLT and butt tucked (not an easy task, but doable if you put your mind to it). I also did PBS with one leg on a chair.

I’m convinced that keeping up some levels of Tapping with a bum leg helped me to strengthen my core and lose inches. Walking and standing with crutches requires pretty good balance – I know my balance is very good due only to months of Tapping.

After 6 weeks the cast came off and I thought, “Yippee! I can Tapp again!” Boy, was I wrong! I had to go to physical therapy and basically learn to walk again. I still could not do a regular T-Tapp full body workout. I continued with my floor work and tried to work the stomach, hips and thighs as much as possible by doing Tempo Lower Body until the end of the contest. And here I am! Down 9 inches!

If it were not for T-Tapping on a regular basis prior to my injury, I’m certain that my down time from the ankle break would have been much more prolonged. I’m so thankful that I seem to have kept most of the muscle I built previously even though I wasn’t able to do a full body workout for the last nine weeks of the contest.

Now that my ankle is gaining some flexibility, I’m able to do more and more each day. My goal is to attend the fitness retreat in Safety Harbor, Florida this October.

I’m glad my husband talked me into staying in the contest and for learning that even setbacks can be overcome with T-Tapp. Thank you, Teresa, for a wonderful program! I am forever indebted to you!