September 2006 Mommy of the Month
Ann Telle

How many children do you have and what are the ages?
My husband, Doug and I have been blessed with 9 beautiful children. Eric and Megan are our 1st born twins and they're 13. Hannah is 11, Sarah-9, Mariana-7, Olivia-5, Luke and John are our 2nd set of twins and they're 3, and Paul is 5 months.

How did you find out about T-Tapp?
I found out about t-tapping briefly through a friend 3 years ago, but I didn't pursue looking into it any further. During my pregnancy with Paul, I was re-introduced to t-tapp through another exercise forum. At the time, I was very interested in non-weighted workouts. T-tapp popped up on the forum enough to peak my interest. I went to the t-tapp website and read just about everything. I quickly ordered the book and the total package soon after. Teresa's fitness/health philosophy fit me perfectly.

How long have you been T-Tapping?
I have been tapping for a total of 5 months. I started with the instructionals 1 week before I delivered Paul. Up to that point, I had done traditional exercise throughout my pregnancy.

Why did you choose to start T-Tapping?
I first chose t-tapping because of the health benefits. I want to live the healthiest life possible to raise all of my children. I am a big believer in preventative medicine; therefore, t-tapp seemed to fit me perfectly. I was also very attracted to the amount of stretching in the workouts. That was a big plus for my previous aching back.

Which are your favorite moves from T-Tapp?
My #1 favorite move is PBS. It has done wonders for my back. I try to include it daily. OIP/HF is another favorite. This move is a miracle for me. My previously dropped bladder has now risen back up. I also really like the t-tapp twist and torso twist. They feel so good on my back. Oh, I can't forget to mention how I love hoe downs. It has done amazing things for my blood sugar. Actually, I can't think of any move I don't like. Each move has been so beneficial to me. The more I do Teresa's workouts, the more I like them.

Are you using Teresa's Cellulite Removal Technique?
I brushed regularly throughout my pregnancy but I have slacked off a bit since birth. This is one area that I need to work on being more consistent. I have a major case of cellulite so this needs to be more of a focus for me.

Do you do any other kinds of activities with this pregnancy such as walking, aerobics, etc.?
During pregnancy, I took a spinning class, worked out on the elliptical, and did some videos such as the bar method and lotte berk. I consistently worked out 3-5 days per week up to the day before delivery. Since Paul's birth, I have exclusively t-tapped along with walking.

How long after pregnancy did you start up again, and with what workout(s)?
I started working out 2 weeks after Paul was born. Since I had a c-section, I went very slowly and just listened to my body. I started using SATI and instructional 1. In the beginning, I could only complete about 10 minutes of SATI, but my strength increased daily. I eventually progressed to instructional 2 and started a 14 day boot camp of beg/rehab at 5 weeks post partum. I should add that my doctor did give me permission to start exercise at any time. He just emphasized to only do what my body felt ready for. Since the boot camp, I have consistently done 3 full body t-tapp workouts per week, including beg/rehab, tempo, HTF, TLB, and LB; and 2 days per week, I do PBS, walking, and OIP/HF.

What kind of post partum inch loss results have you had from T-Tapp?
Since 2 weeks post partum, I have lost 54.5 inches, 28lbs, and about 3 ½ sizes(18+ to loose 12) in 4 months. I still have a ways to go. My hope is that I can reach a goal size of about 6 to 8 in 2 – 3 months.

What kind of advice do you have for other new mommies contemplating adding T-Tapp into their lifestyle?
The most important advice I can give to other mommies who choose to t-tapp is to be consistent. I think it's best to start with small goals that one can stick with; even if one only works out for 3 days per week, the health benefits are worth it. It's so important to invest some time into fitness so that we have enough energy to care for our little ones.

What benefits besides inch loss have you noticed?
The health benefits I have received from t-tapping are greatly increased energy, better immunity, greatly improved flexibility, the elimination of chronic back/neck and sciatic nerve pain, the lifting of my bladder, and the control/elimination of my hypoglycemia. I'm sure there will be other benefits that I notice as time goes on since it seems that I keep adding to the list. I think it's important to mention that some of these benefits are exclusive only to t-tapp. I have done many other types of exercise and NONE of them have increased my flexibility, helped my back/neck/sciatic nerve pain, controlled my hypoglycemia, or lifted my bladder the way t-tapp has.

Do you use any BBB product? E.g. Alfalfa, SS body, B-12, Immune Boost...
I started using Alfalfa at about 2 months post partum. I am amazed by this little pill! I had edema since my c-section that wouldn't go away despite all of the natural remedies I tried. Shortly after I began the alfalfa, my edema disappeared. I have also found that my weight more easily comes off with the alfalfa. This is one supplement that I will not go without!

Are you currently following any way of eating?
Since Paul has been born, I put a lot of thought into my eating plan. I have a history of trying many different diets only to go back to my poor eating habits because I couldn't stick with the diet "rules". I decided this time to come up with my own eating plan that I am comfortable sticking with for life. My plan is very similar to Teresa's GM/MM. I eat mostly GM food that I enjoy throughout the day, but I do allow myself MM food on any given day in small amounts. At this point in my life, when I follow the rule of no MM food even for a day, I go into a deprivation mode and think of nothing but food for the whole day. There are days that go by that I don't have MM food but not because it's not allowed, only because that's what I chose for that day. I definitely practice portion control. I eat larger amounts in the morning and less as the day goes on. If I want a dessert, I usually will have it after lunch. I try not to eat between meals and I stop eating at 6pm. I will typically allow myself 1-2 days per week where I am a little more relaxed with what I eat; but the rest of the week, I eat much cleaner.

3/29/06	4/23/06
8/22/06