Winner: Less to Lose Category
Allison P.
Short Torso, Long Leg
Never in a million years did I think I would ever have a weight problem. I was always the short, scrawny little girl that no one wanted to pick for their team at school. When I graduated from High School many moons ago in 1974, I weighed and impressive 88 pounds. I had to get a waiver for my weight to join the Army!
My weight stayed fairly level all through my 20’s and 30’s. I bounced right back after my daughter was born in 1982. All of this changed when I had my right thyroid removed due to a cyst in 1997. My weight suddenly ballooned and I gained about 40 pounds which was a lot on my small 4’ 11 ½” frame. I was addicted to McDonalds quarter pounders with cheese and sodas. I ate Payday candy bars like they were going out of style. Even though I had always eaten a lot of junk food such as butterscotch krimpets (A North East treat!), chips and cookies everyday for lunch (something everyone teased me about) suddenly everything I ate went to my waist and I was devastated! I was fat, tired and depressed.
I had two definitive moments that lead to me wanting to lose the weight. We were supposed to meet some friends at the beach one beautiful summer day, and I was dreading showing up in a bathing suit. My worst fear was realized when this “friend” took one look at me and disappeared for almost an hour! How embarrassing! The second was that fateful day when I could not bend over to tie my shoes. I finally realized that something had to change.
My sister introduced me to the joys of video workouts. From my first Lesley Sansone walking tape I was soon to discover step aerobics, which I loved but didn’t help me lose a pound. I added in weight training and finally started to lose, but the loss came to a halt and I was at a very stubborn plateau, which I would stay on for a very frustrating 2 years.
I first discovered T-Tapp at the Firm web site, believe it or not. I started tapping in 2002 and I hated it! I got no results from it and I was bored. I went back to my Firm and Cathe Friedrich tapes.
I believe it was a newsletter from Teresa that jogged my interest in Ttapp again. The office sent me a copy of the PBS special with an order and I watched it. I decided I would have to give T-Tapp another serious try or get rid of the tapes. I dusted off my instructionals. I scoured the T-Tapp website and Forums for tips and support. I signed up for a workshop with Stephanie Ackerman, one of your wonderful trainers. She kicked my butt that day! I never realized that T-Tapp could be so hard! I was so sore for 3 days! I have not picked up a weight in almost 2 years and I have more definition in my arms than I ever had. I finally got off that plateau and am still losing fat.
I decided to join the challenge because I was kicking myself for not doing the Book Challenge. When I got my copy of Teresa’s new book and saw so many pictures and success stories of the wonderful and helpful women that I knew from the forums, I knew I could have been there too! Plus I had already signed up for the Tampa retreat; it was my 50th birthday gift from my husband!
I had planned to eat clean, workout on a regular basis and really keep my nose to the grindstone during this challenge. Life, however, had other plans for me! The first week I had to take a few days off because I had a strained muscle in my back. Things went pretty smoothly for a few weeks, and then I had a party for a friend that had just turned 50, I turned 50 myself and celebrated in a big way and other events kept piling up, until realized that I really was not eating very clean at all! I had signed up for the Health Improvement segment of the challenge; I was going to give up sugar. While I have not completely given up sugar I have cut way back. I don’t know if I will ever be able to say no to that luscious piece of Tiramisu!
A few weeks ago I had a pelvic ultra sound, which revealed a thick uterine lining. The last week of the challenge I spent recuperating from a D&C.
I could look at my measurements and photos and get very depressed because it seems like my body did not change very much. However, I could look at my measurements and photos and be happy that despite all of the challenges of the past few months, my body did not change very much! In spite of all the transgressions and stress, I didn’t gain any inches and actually lost a few! I tapped as much as I could, but some days, in spite of good intentions, my workouts just did not happen. I was hoping to have that six pack abs that I always wanted and still do want, but in reality the most important thing is for me to be healthy and happy even if I do have a slight tummy pooch! LOL!
My mom died of cancer when she was 55. She was obese for many of her adult years until the cancer treatments made her lose the weight. I am now 50, not many years off from her lifespan. That is very scary to me! I do not want to get older only die of some degenerative disease that could have been prevented. I am trying to do all I can to stay active and healthy and Ttapp is a very big part of that plan and always will be.
Why would I like to win the contest? How awesome would it be for a 50 year old to win a fitness contest!!! I would like to show other 50 something women (and maybe some younger women as well) that they don’t have to grow old and do nothing but sit on the couch and watch TV. So many of the T-Tapp women have been an inspiration to me and I’d like to be that inspiration to others as well! We women can be healthy and active for many, many decades after the big 50th birthday; it’s all a question of your mindset. This is the best shape I have ever been in thanks to T-Tapp. I’m in even better shape than I was in during my Army years. I have more endurance and better muscle tone and my energy level is up. I have biceps, I have glutes, and I have quads! But most of all I have my self esteem back. I look good and feel good in my clothes! I’m thrilled and happy about it all. And that friend that ditched me at the beach? We will be at a wedding together in December. I’ll be wearing a very sexy, black, size 4 dress, thank you very much! Woo Hoo!!!
Thank you to all the women who have supported me in my T-Tapp journey. I especially thank Stephanie Ackerman, Lani Muelrath, the gals from Tappy New Year and Dreammakers, and everyone else that kicked my now very firm butt to get me going when I was unmotivated. You may not have realized that you have, but it’s a fact! Thank you also to Teresa for creating this life-changing workout! Yes, I know I can be Fit, Fabulous and 50!
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LOSSES:
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Bust:
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-1
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Waist:
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-1.5
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Abdomen:
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0
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Hips:
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0
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Right
Upper Thigh:
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-1
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Right
Lower Thigh:
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+.25
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Left
Upper Thigh:
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-.5
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Left
Lower Thigh:
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0
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Right
Calf:
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-.5
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Left
Calf:
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-.75
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Right
Upper Arm:
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0
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Left
Upper Arm:
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0
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TOTAL
INCH LOSS:
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-5.25
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