Runner Up
More to Lose Category

Lisa R.

I had mixed feelings about doing the Challenge this year, and came close to caving into negative self talk, that came to mind. Things like: "You should be to your goal by now!", "You are "still", in the More To Lose category ?", and "What will people think?"...kept running through my head. However, my faith is what gets me through life. I believe in: God's Divine plan for each of us, that things happen for a reason, "pray without ceasing", "fight the good fight", "finish the race". Keep the faith", and "for nothing is impossible with God." With these things in mind, I continue my "last journey to fitness...to help myself, and maybe encourage others to try T-Tapp, and to stick with it. So with positive faith, overcoming the negative thoughts, I took my final entry photos, and measurements, for the 2008 T-Tapp 60-Day Challenge. As part of my 2008 Essay, I'd like to share a little about my journey so far...One, short, but Life Altering year ago, I found T-Tapp on the Internet, as I was searching for ways to help my tibial tendinitis. At the time, I was deep, in the battle of life, as a wife, and full time working mom, of 5 children still at home...I was absolutely worn down...my job as a nurse aide, in jeopardy due to my ankle issues...and my physical, and emotional, health suffering. I prayed, and asked God, to guide me through. He answered with T-Tapp. I had no idea, just how Blessed this year would be... With steady, consistent efforts of usually 3-5 short Basic Plus workouts during the week, I have changed my 5 foot, size 22W, to a size 12!! The most amazing thing being, at 5 ft. even, and a size 12...I weigh 180 lbs. T-Tapp just amazes me, more and more, each day!

Forward, to my current life circumstances...I am still a wife, and mom of 5 children at home...3 teenagers, very involved in Band and Color guard, and who all work, but have not had "wheels". Then add in, the 11 and 9 years olds, who are into basketball, and softball. Therefore, by day, I work at a nursing home, 45-50 hours/week with travel time, and then I come home to be "taxi" to the kids. Working, Marriage, Children, and home responsibilities take up, nearly every moment, of my waking hours. I am living proof, that moms with No Time, let alone, Mom Time, CAN improve their health, bodies, and minds. I have come to depend on the Basic Plus, 15 Minute Workout. I can sneak it in, early before work, in between taxi runs, or after all the "dust" settles, in the evening! I sometimes try to add on a set of Hoe Downs, Organs In Place/Half Frogs, or a 10 Min. Broom workout, from the T-Tapp MORE DVD, if time permits. That's It!!! But, "It's" working!! It's working with my full time job, my busy taxi time with the kids, my insane, crazy schedule working and caring for a home, and family!! Just 3-5 short workouts a week, and I've steadily, went down a size, every couple of months or so, over the last 13 months. At my son's school carnival last May, I wore size 22W shorts...this year, to attend it, I had to buy new summer shorts, in a size 14!!

I am so glad, I decided to complete this year's Challenge! I started the Challenge in my new summer shorts, size 14...and now 60 days later, I am wearing size 12, work pants...I guess I'll just have to go buy new size 12 shorts!!

Over this year, and even through the Challenge now, my progress has been steady, but slow, in comparison to other success stories. However, I have to share... that once and awhile, out of the blue, someone at work will say (and this week, 3 times in one day) "Gosh, you are looking good, what are you doing, again?", or "I don't know what it is, but you have this glow about you!" Oh, and speaking of that glow...I guess it is the T-Tapp glow I have read about on the forum. WOW, I've got it too!! It is that glow of better mind/body connection, and inner confidence, that T-Tapp builds. After about 3 months of doing T-Tapp, I had gained a confidence, that I hadn't felt in 25 years!! I felt so good about the positive changes with T-Tapp, that I took my resume, walked right into the Vice President of our Senior Care facility's office, and had a great conversation with him, about my future there! I had set my sights on a better job position, and went for it! Although, I loved my work as a nurse aide, that confidence, helped me to strive toward a position that I really wanted, and now love!! Within a few weeks of that meeting, I had bettered my job position. I now work in the Activity Department and Love with all my heart enriching the lives of the older residents. All because of the confidence I gained with T-Tapp!!

I'll close with a few lines from my 2007 Challenge essay, that still ring true..."I've learned that with T-Tapp, I CAN exercise regularly, (Now, one year and counting...), I CAN feel better!! and I CAN look better...T-Tapp is so doable for anyone, whether young, old, male, female, fit or yet to be fit...I don't have to be afraid of failure...I really know....doing the workouts...I will get there!!"

I'll bury the "should haves", and celebrate the "will be's"... So, I'm on the two year plan....That's okay....what a great year this will be...I am so Blessed to have found T-Tapp. No matter Who you are, or What Size you are, or what Age you are, or how Busy you are...I'm telling you loud and clear...with a little time and T-Tapp...YES, YOU CAN!!!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be in this Challenge...Thank you for your awesome workout Teresa!!