Health Improvement Category Winner

Patsy E.

Health Improvement Issues

I am 56 years old. I have four grown children and four grandchildren. I have been diagnosed with several chronic illnesses that greatly affect my quality of life and will only get worse as I age. They are (in order of occurrence):

- Asthma/Allergies
- Fibromyalgia/Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Diverticular disease (with irritable bowel syndrome)
- Metabolic syndrome with: Type II diabetes, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and (obviously) obesity, mainly in the midsection.

Other than that, I'm in pretty good health! No, seriously, these are chronic, potentially disabling conditions (lots of syndromes) and not much fun to live with. However, I refuse to let them take over my life. I work a full-time demanding job, try to eat healthy, and have taken natural supplements for years. I have actually lost about 25 lbs. in the last 3 years since I was diagnosed with diabetes, but have been on a "plateau" for the last year and a half, even though I eat less than most people and have been on a strict Atkins-type low-carb diet for most of the last 15 years.

My endocrinologist has agreed to let me try to manage my diseases without prescriptions as much as possible, though I have had to add glucophage for blood-sugar control and a blood-pressure medication over the past year. The doctor says the one thing I am sorely missing is a routine exercise program and, if I can do that one thing, it will control the metabolic syndrome and diabetes better than any other treatment available at this time.

I have tried several different approaches to exercise including Callanetics, walking 2-3 miles every other day, and joining Curves for Women, but all have been too easy for me to give up on for one reason or another. I prefer living my life through activities I enjoy—anything besides exercise, which I find boring and unsatisfying. But I realize if I do not change my ways, nothing will stop the deterioration of my health—and of course, I am not getting younger. It would also be nice to fit into my clothes better and to have a nicer appearance. I have had good looks in my youth, and I don't really care too much about being "hot" at my age, but truly, people treat you better when you are thinner and prettier.

By entering this contest, I hope to establish an exercise routine that improves my health in the following ways: better muscle tone, (I get tendonitis because of weakness from the fibromyalgia) better sleep, less chronic pain, more energy, lower blood pressure, and, most importantly, controlled blood sugar so I won't have to go on insulin anytime soon. They say no pain, no gain, but I disagree. T-Tapp does not leave me too sore to move, does not aggravate my fibromyalgia, and still shows good results with minimum time invested. T-Tapp is the one program that I can get through in 15 minutes and feel like I have not wasted my time. The effort I expend with T-Tapp More is definitely worth it for me—and I can actually do the exercises! I have tested the Hoe Downs' effect on my blood sugar, so I know it works. (Hoe Downs will bring my blood sugar down 40 points! Unfortunately, repeating them 30 minutes later has no effect, so obviously I need to do them consistently, not sporadically.)

My husband who is at risk for diabetes (though he is in total denial about that) has agreed to do the T-Tapp More program with me and this contest is our attempt at accountability and commitment. Whether we win in our category or not, if we make it for 90 days and establish a habit for the rest of our lives, we will be winners in the ways that really count.

Thank you for accepting my entry.

HOW T-TAPP HELPED ME FEEL BETTER IN 90 DAYS!

I started the 90-day contest in the categories of “More” and “Health Improvement” because my endocrinologist has been telling me for two years that exercise is the single best option for me to improve my health. I was diagnosed in the fall of 2001 with metabolic syndrome—today’s terminology for most cases of Type II diabetes—with elevated blood sugar, elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and obesity—particularly in the abdomen. As you can see, I fit the profile! He also told me it would be almost impossible for me to keep from gaining more or to lose weight with my metabolism so far deranged.

That diagnosis, plus existing allergies and asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a lifelong case of scoliosis requiring frequent trips to the chiropractor, meant my life would only get harder as I age. It was clear I would need to step up my daily health management practices if I planned to have any quality of life in the home stretch.

I have been nutrition-savvy and have watched my diet for decades, but have never been good at managing stress. If I was to improve my quality of life, then exercise was definitely the missing ingredient. So my husband and I decided to do the 90-day contest as a way of kick-starting an exercise program for life. We did the “More” routine 4 days in a row and every other day after that for about a week or two, then we settled into a pattern of two or three times a week for the duration of the contest.

I can honestly say I was shocked when I compared my measurements and found I had lost 15 and 5/8 inches over the 90 days. Where did they go?! My clothes fit about the same for the most part. I have such a long way to go to get to my goal in dress size and weight—neither of which have changed by the way—so I didn’t feel much thinner, but they say the tape measure doesn’t lie.

However, the greatest benefit to me has been the increased energy, stamina, muscle strength and positive outlook I’ve gained from doing the simplest exercise program I’ve ever tried. The “More” routine takes me 20 minutes from setup to cool down, is easy for me to do, does not flare up my fibromyalgia, does not make me sore the next day, or leave me too exhausted to get ready for work in the mornings. I love it! I need to do it more often, and I plan to pick up the “broom” and “step away” portions of the tape as an in-between routine, but all in all, I am very happy with the results so far for so little effort on my part!

Thank you Teresa Tapp! And thanks for the contest opportunity. It really made me focus on my commitment.

Pat

P.S. When I started the contest I had to wear ace bandages on my wrist and forearm due to intense tendonitis, and I suffered from a “trigger thumb” from too much typing at my job. After two weeks—and ever since—no more tendonitis, no more trigger thumb. Plus, the tension in my back and neck have been relieved so much, I only have to go to the chiropractor every 6 to 8 weeks instead of every week or two. My chiropractor of 30 years is amazed at how my spine has realigned itself and stays put between adjustments.