My journey with T-Tapp began ten years ago when I discovered it in a 1999 Woman’s World magazine article. Having just given birth to my 3rd child, I was at my heaviest weight with lots of extra flabby inches. Having tried dozens of workouts and programs, I was shocked to have lost 13 ½ inches in one week. Even though I measured as instructed, I could not believe the fast results and had to call the T-Tapp office to confirm this inch loss was even possible. Indeed it was! T-Tapp continued to show results as long as I provided the effort and actually  T-Tapped. Soon I was pregnant again letting T-Tapp slip to the side and found myself back on bed rest for several months gaining the lost inches back. I would come back to T-Tapp now and then and it always provided results as long as I provided the effort. For some reason, I didn't stay consistent and let work, homeschooling, kids, and everything else come first in my life with time for exercise and myself practically non-existent.

Shortly after having my fifth child, I saw an image of large woman in a church window at work and wondered who she was. I was shocked to learn it was me!  That was the moment I decided to do something about it and give myself permission to take care of myself. Knowing I would need lots of time for cardio and strength training, I joined a gym. The thought of exercising at home with five homeschoolers seemed impossible. By the time I drove to the gym, did my cardio mixed with strength training and returned home, a couple hours were easily gone from my day. However, I was starting to see results so I continued.

Soon I found that I had to increase my gym time to see results. I would sometimes take two 1-hour classes followed by weight lifting with increased reps and frequency. Along with this, I started getting injuries from the jarring exercises and movements. My hips and lower back ached so terribly the day after kick boxing classes that it took five minutes to get out of bed in the morning. Soon I found myself in physical therapy and wearing a knee and ankle brace. For these reasons, along with the expensive monthly gym membership fees that I could no longer afford, I gave up the gym.

It was a challenging time in my life and I wasn’t sure what I’d do for stress relieving exercise. Suddenly T-Tapp popped into my head and I dashed for the website. I knew it was meant to be when I saw the 2008 challenge was starting the very next day. T-Tapp amazed me again when I had great inch loss results but better yet, my aches and pains were gone! The day Kitty called to say I was a first place winner in the Average to Lose with Health Improvements Category is one I will never forget. The 2008 Retreat was life changing and I felt called to pursue becoming a T-Tapp Trainer. I knew what T-Tapp did for me and seeing what it does for others put it in my heart wanting me to pay it forward with the best fitness and wellness program ever: T-Tapp!

I began mentoring in October 2008 thinking I knew what T-Tapp was all about and couldn’t possibly be surprised by it again. Ha! It has been a continual learning process, especially during the 30-Day Challenge as I discovered more health benefits, wellness information, figure-shaping moves and the amazing muscle activation that T-Tapp provides. T-Tapp has helped me overcome several health issues in the past and I thought I was done. I discovered more with the Ladybug/Critter Crunch 30-Day Challenge.

During my first pregnancy 14 years ago, it was discovered I had a goiter thyroid condition in which the thyroid is overly large. Mine seemed to average about 30x the normal size and I remember several nurses’ eyes popping when they felt the size of mine. Many times a goiter can be monitored over time as it was with mine. The thyroid hormone levels have been in the normal range the past 14 years. Then in May 2009, that changed. During a regular exam, the doctor noticed my goiter and suggested we check levels since it had been a few years. It was surprising to find my thyroid levels were way off. It was even scarier when the doctor immediately ordered tests and radioactive scans. It was determined that I have the less common thyroid condition, hypothyroidism and several nodules.

Because of what I have learned through T-Tapp, I was determined to help my body heal itself through eating well and exercising with T-Tapp. It is ironic that the Ladybug/Critter Crunch Challenge came when it did. I wanted to try these workouts not only to help with my thyroid but also to help with some possible perimenopausal symptoms. I’ve been teasing my husband lately that I was getting mini hot flashes at only age 39 but in reality, I found I actually was. In my research, I discovered I had several preimenopause symptoms such as the hot flashes. Also, I had been waking almost every night at 3 am not able to get back to sleep. That changed almost immediately after I began the Ladybug and Critter Crunch workouts. I began sleeping like a baby all though the night. Only one hot flash has occurred since beginning the challenge as well. I believe my thyroid levels are improving and am currently awaiting test results and am excited that T-Tapp may have helped!

Knowing there was a chance I could possibly have the opportunity to attend the 2009 Safety Harbor T-Tapp Retreat, I approached this challenge with all sorts of ideas. I was determined to eat clean and healthy and workout nearly every day with daily brushing as Heather did. I was happy to have accomplished daily brushing and noticed how smooth and soft my skin became in a short period of time. I was shocked to notice a reduction in cellulite on my legs, mid-section and especially the tightening of my tummy.

My workouts rotated between Ladybug Standing, Ladybug Floor and Critter Crunch. Although I did something nearly every day, I listened to my body and rested when needed and never attempted to do all three workouts in a day! As far at eating, I started out doing really well. But a week into it, I realized I wanted to be real about it. Our annual family cabin vacation was during the last ten days of the challenge, I wanted to eat and enjoy special drinks with my family. So I tossed the scale and have not been on it since. I decided to listen to my body and choose a day of eating well then I relaxed and ate what I wanted, even mom’s famous deserts and special drinks. I chose not to worry about it, especially on vacation and allowed myself treats and even over indulging at the cabin several times.

Maybe that is why I was again shocked what T-Tapp could do for me. By simply being consistent and concentrating on muscle activation and form, along with skin brushing, I was able to lose over 17 inches! My pictures again amazed me even as a Trainer-in-Training and not changing my diet. No wonder I am constantly talking about T-Tapp wherever I go looking to pay it forward to another. Even as a Trainer-in-Training and 10 year Tapper, T-Tapp continues to amaze me, teach me new things and allow me to grow and discover while empowering others. The best part is that everybody, no matter what your age, fitness level, even with health conditions, can T-Tapp and see results and health improvements.

My biggest discovery in this 30-Day Challenge is that T-Tapp really IS a
progressive workout. No matter if you are just starting T-Tapp, or have been on a T-Tapp journey for years or are even a T-Tapp Trainer, you are always progressing. I was concerned that there are less reps in Ladybug, so I was pretty certain I wouldn’t get great results. But less IS more with T-Tapp when you do it in good form and I really learned that during this past month. It was also about muscle activation. Using good form and concentrating on Teresa muscles activation techniques (especially during Critter Crunch) was a great learning tool and also really made we aware of how we can use our bodies to help themselves by activating our muscles. T-Tapp form, using proper linear alignment rehabs verses injures that I personally experienced several times.