Runner Up
Average to Lose with Health Improvements

Becky B.

To write an essay as to why I should win this 60 day challenge is not an easy task. I went into this contest with the attitude of a contestant in The Biggest Loser, and that was to WIN it. But in reflecting what I have accomplished in these 60 days, with becoming more aware of how my body reacts is far more important than winning. To tell my story, I should start from the beginning.

I was always a chunky gal growing up, whose only form of exercise was from the school’s physical education department. In high school and part of college, I was part of the flag team to keep semi-active. But even with these activities, it was not enough to keep my body in tune, especially when I would be spoiled by my parents by eating out and savoring prime rib on a semi-regular basis. In high school, I discovered that I was not having regular monthly periods, so in starting college, I went on birth control to regulate it. I was also a very irritable teenager, and insecure by a physical congenital deformity that I had, which I later found out was called Poland’s Syndrome. This is where part of the pectoral muscle is underdeveloped or absent, and along those lines, one breast may be absent as a result. I would wear frumpy clothes and walk slouched to try to cover up my “problem.”

About 5 years went by, I graduated from college, and I wanted to start focusing on my health. Come to find out, my irregular periods were due to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which is also a form of insulin resistance. I also put on about 70 lbs since being on the pill. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and hypertension.

In 2002, I decided to take the plunge and do something to correct my asymmetry on my chest, which was as much as 3 cups different in size. Though it is something considered to be a birth defect, it took me years to get the insurance company to cover it. I had to get letters from doctors to prove that this surgery was necessary. One letter I got was from an orthopedic surgeon who told me that the asymmetry was ruining my posture. I leaned to the heavy side when I stood. After finally getting the surgery, I began to gain more self esteem and felt comfortable in my relationships. Two months after the surgery, I met my now husband. Funny how a little confidence can work.

I should also mention that my profession is an accountant, and I am an avid crocheter. Due to the repetition during crocheting, combined with the typing and writing with the accounting, I developed tendonitis. I couldn’t crochet for more than an hour without being in such pain. I had alternative treatment done on my wrist, but nothing really cleared it up permanently. I began wearing a magnetic bracelet on the affected arm, which helped some, but my crocheting was still limited.

A year or so into my relationship with my husband, I decided to go to a reproductive endocrinologist, who confirmed I had PCOS, and told me that losing weight would help my situation immensely. However, I did not have the determination to work on this problem since I didn’t have the patience to make my lunches to take to work. At that point I had the mentality of popping pills to make things go away. Of course, whatever I was prescribed would have side effects worse than taking nothing at all. Months later, I was told I was diabetic, but since then I was told I was insulin resistant as a result of the PCOS. So I was basically borderline diabetic. My sugars would usually run under 200, depending on what time of day it was…not very high if I was diabetic, but high for being “normal.”

So to shorten my story, I got married, moved, and found different doctors. Again, they reiterated that weight loss would help with the PCOS. Also, back when I saw the reproductive endocrinologist, I was told I was not ovulating. Nothing’s worse than being in your 20’s and being told you’re infertile. I stopped taking birth control at that point, but then had sporadic periods until my new doctor here prescribed a diuretic which also helped regulate my period.

Then in 2007, I wanted to take my weight into my hands. I started Nutrisystem in April. I was following the plan, but didn’t really get into an exercise regimen. I would do the treadmill for periods of time, but quickly got bored, especially since I didn’t see immediate results. I tried doing the resistance bands, and various infomercial DVDs, but I didn’t really stick to anything. Then I found a copy of the Women’s Fitness magazine at Wal-Mart which had several articles on T-Tapp. I remember on another forum I was on years earlier, that someone mentioned T-Tapp and how it worked for her. I ordered the Total Workout and CRT System and thought I’d give it a try. What’s strange is that I was very gung-ho with the workout, but I felt like I wasn’t doing enough when a fellow dieting coworker told me I had to do more than 15 minutes a day to see changes. (At the time I only did BWO+.) Of course, it was working, but being put down by a fellow dieter made me question its effectiveness. So I became discouraged, even though I felt better with the workouts. I even went so far as attending a clinic with Kirsten late October, and felt great afterwards. Oh, and I should also mention that I was down 50 lbs at this point, with about 50 to go.

Unfortunately, though, I went on vacation the following week, then the holidays came, my grandfather passed away, and excuses continued about why I wasn’t working out. Before I knew it, I found myself approaching the ’08 Challenge, and I gained back about 10 lbs lost. I also found myself without a job after being fired. So I told myself I was going to do this for me. I am now 30 and if I don’t snap myself back into better shape, I’ll never get to be a mother. Going into the challenge, my only medications were a thyroid medication and the diuretic for my periods. I had stopped taking diabetic meds when I found out it caused weight gain.

So I started slow. I did BWO+ and MORE, and brushed for about 11 days in a row before I gave myself a break. Almost instantly, I noticed that I became very “regular.” Like clockwork, it seemed within minutes of eating breakfast, I had to go. In the past, Nutrisystem made me so constipated. I did my darnedest to get back on my diet as well. (I’m thinking I need to change the diet…it’s not really working anymore. Perhaps I should switch to the GM, MM plan.) I should also say that I added Alfalfa back into my regimen. A week into the challenge I got my period…only two weeks after my prior one. I’d like to think the Alfalfa and Tapping played a part in this. I got it again two weeks after that, which would have been on time based on the date of the one before the challenge. Despite its odd timing, cramps were very minimal and I at times I forgot I was even having it, something I’ve never experienced before.

Around this time, my sister who is diabetic was hospitalized for high sugars. Up until this point, I hadn’t been checking my sugars. I decided that night to check right after dinner and it was only 119. I was very happy because it is right in normal range for after a meal. Hooray for Hoe Downs!

As time went on in the challenge, I would throw in Hit the Floor, in addition to regularly doing BWO+, since I just love that workout. I felt so rejuvenated afterwards. I would also check my blood pressure when visiting Wal-Mart, and it seemed to be running about 130/80, way better than what it was running before I moved. Then something weird happened. Since I was unemployed, I began crocheting gifts for weddings and to make some cash. I found myself crocheting hours upon end, without having the tendonitis flare up. I’d like to contribute this to my T-Tapping. I couldn’t figure out what else it would be otherwise. I had stopped wearing the magnetic bracelet back when I went on vacation last November.

Then, I had my annual wellness woman checkup. On this visit, my doctor was excited to see that I lost some weight since the last visit. I told him about T-Tapp and he said he’d check the site out to help other patients. At this time, he also told me to stop taking the diuretic due to it causing me to break out in hives on my face (which I still haven’t gotten rid of). He was very impressed with my blood pressure coming down as well.

Upon ceasing the medication about 10 days before the end of the challenge, I became rather irritable. I did my best to stay on track with the Tapping because I knew I’d feel better afterwards. But since I stopped taking the diuretic, I found myself gaining back the 5 lbs I lost since the challenge started. Fortunately, my inches weren’t affected much by this weight (fluid) gain. I also added PG to my workouts, and honestly, if it weren’t for that I don’t think I would have been able to make it through my workouts. That medication affected me more hormonally than I expected. However, the T-Tapping kept me on track. It’s possibly what is helping me purge this medication that was in my system for so long. Stopping this medication also threw me into “weird craving” mode. Like, I’d suddenly be craving the salad bar at one of the chain restaurants. (Luckily, it was only the salad bar and not worse.) I wish this challenge was a 90 day challenge so I could report after this medication clears my system. Despite my fluid retention, I am happy to report that I have lost over 20” and that was doing primarily BWO+ at least 6 days a week and sometimes replacing it with MORE, Hit the Floor, or Tempo Arms. I also had a span of 4 days “off” when I visited friends and had an erratic eating and workout schedule. I am hoping my fluid retention doesn’t camouflage my losses in pictures.

The most exciting part of the challenge is when my husband bought me the new Wii Fit, three days before the end of the challenge. I had heard from so many people that the balance board on the Fit was very sensitive and accurate in determining how balanced your body is. I am happy to report, that on my first check-in on the Fit, that my center of balance is almost center. I am slightly to the side that was my “heavy” side in the past, but by very little. I want to say that the T-Tapping is what made me more aware of my posture, my balance, and what little things can affect my body. That is more rewarding than winning any contest. To me, I’ve already won, with all the “little” things that I’ve noticed having changed. Achieving smoother skin, having my knee crackle less, and having my hair stylist notice my hair being thicker are such little things. Winning the contest will keep me on track and push me in the direction of losing inches, weight, and hopefully make my body ready for being a mother, by continuing to T-Tapp. Still being without a job, and unable to afford the Retreat otherwise, I would be honored if I won this contest. A big Thank You goes out to Teresa and everyone that made this Challenge possible.