Anne Marie & daughter Elise

Hi! My name is Anne Marie, and I’m an almost-52-year-old wife and mom from State College, PA. My husband and I have two daughters. One is married to an Army pilot; the other is a senior at Penn State. I’m an author by occupation: I’ve written more than 40 romance and inspirational fiction novels for Harlequin/Silhouette, St. Martin’s Press and Guideposts Books.

By avocation, I’m an animal rescue and rehabilitation worker. I have more than 30 years’ experience in rescue work, mostly cats and dogs (plus birds, turtles, fish, and various rodents). In 2005, I traveled to the Humane Society of Louisiana to work at an animal rescue camp only 3 weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck. In 2007, I became involved in wildlife rehabilitation. Centre Wildlife Care, where I volunteer, rehabilitates orphaned and injured wild animals and birds. Check it out on Facebook to see some great photos of our work! I also enjoy a variety of sewing and needle arts, reading, and amateur theatre and dance, and I sing with my church’s choir.

My T-Tapp journey really began in November 2001, although I only recently returned to Tapping.

From the time my first child was born 25 years ago, I have lost and found the same 30 or so pounds over and over again. 1985—size 14...1989—size 8...1995—size 14... 2000—size 8. Get the picture?

The first time I found T-Tapp was in the autumn of 2001. My BGP (Best Gal Pal) and I exercised together off and on throughout our children’s school years. We began getting together to do the Total Workout a couple of days a week throughout the winter of 2001-2002, and we were delighted with the way our bodies began to shape up and slim down. Unfortunately, as many busy women can relate, the general insanity of family life got in the way, and we didn’t keep up with our T-Tapping.

In 2004, when my elder daughter graduated from high school, I wore a size 8. But by the time we moved to State College three years later, I was the biggest I think I’ve ever been. I never bought clothes larger than a 14, but I was using hair elastics to expand the waistbands of my pants rather than admitting I needed a 16! In addition, I went through menopause at a fairly early age. By age 49, I had my last period and whoa, did I notice my metabolism s-l-o-w-ing.

I joined WeightWatchers in the spring of 2007 and lost more than 35 pounds in 6 months. I got down to a size 6-8. I also joined Curves and faithfully visited 3 times a week, in addition to my usual 30 minutes of dog-walking daily. (Sadly, dog-walking is not a reliable form of exercise, because it rains, sleets or snows a great, great deal in State College. We’re the Seattle of the East Coast.)

By my 50th birthday in September 2008, I had “stayed small” for more than a year, and I continued to keep the weight off for another year. But at the beginning of 2010, I temporarily lost my mind and spent the spring stuffing my face with every sweet thing in sight. Sweets are my nemesis. Specifically, chocolate. I am far too friendly with the Dairy Queen not two miles from our house. And it doesn’t help that one of the women at the wildlife center loves to bake...she shows up every single week with some new, delicious treat!

Fast-forward to the end of May 2010. I was wearing a solid size 10. This was a problem, because I had (as WeightWatchers suggests) gotten rid of my larger-sized clothing after my last great weight loss success. And the Romance Writers of America’s national conference was at the end of July. Obviously, I needed a weight-loss miracle or a new wardrobe. I really didn’t want to buy bigger clothes. (So I have to admit, that “throw away your larger sizes” thing really did work!)

I started getting serious about diet and exercise again and that’s when I remembered T-Tapp. I did an Internet search and was absolutely stunned when I saw how much T-Tapp had grown over the decade.

I’ve only been “back” for 6 weeks now, and while I’ve only lost about three pounds, I’ve already shrunk by more than 24". I did my first boot camp during week 3 and was thrilled when 3” inches melted off from around my middle in 1 week! Since I started T-Tapping again, my husband and my younger daughter, age 22, both have “seen the light” and starting T-Tapping too!

T-Tapp is great for my lifestyle which unfortunately is fairly sedentary. The number of books I publish is in direct proportion to the number of hours my fanny stays in my chair. When I’m really busy, I can do the Basic Workout and move on with my day. When I have a bit more time, I can do one of the longer workouts for variety and toning different body parts. And I love not having to go to a gym, which takes time I don’t have. I recently attended that national writers’ conference in Orlando and took my T-Tapp DVDs with me. I ate a lot (and okay, drank too much champagne), figuring I'd be happy if I didn't gain inches. To my surprise, I still lost a half-inch that week.

My goal is to comfortably fit into all my clothes again (I’m really close!), and then to keep my shape throughout the upcoming years. With the amazing workouts that Teresa has spent so many years developing and refining, I should have no trouble as long as I continue my commitment to T-Tapp workouts!