Winner: Over 50 Category
Karen Barnes
I sit watching the awesome transformations from ugly duckling to beautiful swans that occur within a mere 60 minutes on TV. "Extreme Makeover" - that's what I need. Maybe I should apply. I check out a web site and find that I am over the maximum age - ah yes - 54 - too old, too far-gone. My youngest child is going to college. The job description of "Mom" isn't the same any more. My two sons are at least partially launched, but I feel empty inside.
I tell myself that it's okay. I would not do the surgery anyway. My last surgery four years ago was so devastating that I am reluctant to even go to the doctor. I went in for a meniscus tear. The good news is that they took out the tear. The bad news -- it wasn't the tear causing the pain, but stage 4 arthritis. The surgery video of the bone bleeding into the bone, because there is no cartilage, is a hard image to erase. There is no cure; I will live in pain forever. The arthritis is supposed to be "wear and tear" but it is a systemic issue. X-rays show that I now have arthritis in my feet. I can feel it in my hips, elbows, and other joints.
I need an extreme makeover - not just physically, but mentally, spiritually and every other way. I have been doing T-Tapp regularly for over 9 months. A few pounds lost, a few inches lost. Nothing to write home about. I am lucky - I attend Kat's Tues Night T-Tapp group. I read the forum regularly. I try to do all the tips. I own almost all the videos. I have been on Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Grapefruit Diet, God Made/Man Made -- you name it - I've probably tried it. Outwardly, I smile and nod. Deep down, I am broken. I am tired and there is something wrong physically inside that I do not even want to acknowledge.
And now there is the First Ever T-Tapp Contest. Do I really want to do this? Not really. What good will it do? I decide that I will do the contest only if the Tues Night T-Tappers will do it with me. I do not think they will go for it and that will be the end of that. So I come with a tape measure and disposable camera on Tuesday, June 29th. "Hey" I say to the T-Tapp ladies, "Do you want to do this T-Tapp contest with me?" To my amazement they all said "YES!!!" So Kat measured all of us and we took pictures and giggled and had a great time and we sent everything in.
Now what? I'm stuck - the ladies all want to do this contest. This is impossible - 8 weeks - I haven't lost hardly at all in 9 MONTHS! What can I lose in 8 WEEKS? Well, I will have to do something dramatic. Hmmm - I guess I will do my very own Extreme Makeover.
Why not? I will do everything. I will T-Tapp every day that I possibly can, but take at least one day off each week. After all, I have enough videos to change every day. I will do 10 minutes on my horrible hated stationary bike, adding one minute every two weeks. (I cannot walk long distances because the arthritis is just too painful). I will brush. I will go to the forum and see what new diet is there that I haven't tried yet. I will keep a journal of my workouts.
And so I started; one day at a time. I exercise in the morning. At night I hurt too much and I am too tired. It is all I can do to sit in a chair. Inside I am broken. God, where are you? Do you care?
On July 11, 2004, I was watching Joel Osteen preach on TV. When you are truly broken is the time when the God who created the world and flung the stars into the heavens finds you. I sat with tears streaming down my cheeks as Joel said: "You are the child of the most high God. You are loved - not because of who you are, but because of whose you are."
And so I gave this whole thing to God - the entire Makeover - my entire life. My body is His, for His glory - it is NOT about ME - it is about HIM! If He chooses to heal me, that is His choice. If I am to suffer and not be healed, then that must reflect God, too. I originally did not want to write about this, because I used to think that it mattered what people thought about me. It does not. All that matters is what people think about God.
So what happened? God is really good. Thanks to the T-Tappers on the forum, I tried Eat to Live, The pH Miracle, and the Biochemical Machine - bits and pieces of learning in all of them. I have lost 15 pounds. I kept Tapping and have lost 25.25 inches in 8 weeks - over 4 inches from my waist and I am the shortest of short torsos. Truly amazing since my weight was within the "normal" range to start out with - at least according to Weight Watchers, BMI and some other measures. God can do amazing things. It is God who gives you the spirit of power and love and self-discipline. It is God who can renew, regenerate, and rejuvenate, if only I will remember.
Am I healed? I believe it is a journey. My arthritis is less painful, because I'm stronger, but I cannot claim to be without pain. However, I just started the "apples and milk" routine from the Biochemical Machine - so who knows. My skin looks much better, but there's a ways to go, especially in that tummy where I had two c-sections. I have more energy at night and no longer just collapse. And most important - every single day I spend time with God! There is still something wrong physically inside, but I know that God will use that for His glory, too.
I owe so much to so many - Theresa Tapp - wow - what an incredible workout and one that even an arthritic old lady can do. It just keeps getting harder to do, but the results keep coming, too. Thanks to Kat, L'Oreal and the Tues Night Tappers - you are my inspiration, my cheer-leading section. Kat, at 8-1/2 months pregnant you can do the balance sequence better than I can and you have a wisdom that is beyond your years. L'Oreal, you are a wonderful trainer and you are not afraid to challenge me. Tues. Night Tappers -- when no one else even noticed that I was losing weight you cheered me on and when not one person remembered my birthday the whole day - you remembered with cards and balloons. To all of the ladies on the T-Tapp forum --- you have no idea how many lives you change when you post. Thanks to all of you - for the Rhassoul soap, for the diet ideas, for the training tips, for the one person whose signature line reads - "God is not interested in who you are not. God is deeply in love with who you are." Thanks to Michelle for setting up the T-Tapp Big Sis/ Little Sis program. Thanks to my two T-Tapp little sis's - I know you think I'm the "Big Sis" but it is you who have given so much to me. To Kitty and Lauren for handling the contest and putting up with multiple email questions. To everyone I have forgotten to mention - thanks so much!
I am not sending this in to win. I cannot attend Safety Harbor because I will be in Arizona on business. I do not need any more videos. What I would really like, if I should win is to give one video to the each of the Tuesday night T-Tappers (their choice) and then if there is any thing left - just to give videos away as an extra drawing to the ladies on the T-Tapp forum. It is God's song…. it takes all of us to be the orchestra.
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| LOSSES: |
|
| Bust: |
-2 1/4 |
| Waist: |
-4 1/4 |
| Abdomen: |
-3 |
| Hips: |
-3 1/2 |
| Right Upper
Thigh: |
-2 |
| Right Lower
Thigh: |
-1 1/4 |
| Left Upper
Thigh: |
-2 1/4 |
| Left Lower
Thigh: |
-1 1/2 |
| Right Calf: |
-1/4 |
| Left Calf: |
-1/4 |
| Right Arm: |
-3/4 |
| Left Arm: |
-1 1/4 |
| TOTAL
INCH LOSS: |
-22 1/2 |
|
|
|
