I turned 40 in November of 2005 and my doctor recommended that I start coming in for yearly physicals (read this as: you are getting old, we have to check up on you more often now). I went to the dreaded appointment in April 2006 and he told me my blood pressure was too high ( I was WAY nervous, my BP is fine), my cholesterol was too high and I was OVERWEIGHT. He told me he wanted to see me in 4 months and he wanted me to improve on my diet and *gasp* exercise. I was 160 pounds at 5’3” and I knew I was out of shape. I just didn’t know how bad.

I had lost 30 pounds, down from 181, with just dietary change and then gained 10 back after getting in a relationship. (see, I get to blame it on my fiance) Thing was, I FELT fat. I was wearing a very tight size 10 and I saw 12’s in my future. That wasn’t gonna happen.

I started working out with Callanetics and then tried Turbo Jam, but that hurt my lower back. I had NO abdominal strength. I started reading about T-Tapp and in July 2006, won the Instructional #1/BWO+ on Ebay. I was enthralled with the Yes You Can seminar and I had also been doing the Try Before You Buy exercises from the site. I was hooked. I decided I would give Instructional #1/BWO+ the 30 days that is recommended and see how I liked it. I have been doing a photo-journal of my progress since starting in April 2006 and although I haven’t lost a ton of inches, my body has drastically changed shape.

My size 10 jeans still fit, sigh, still waiting to lose a size, but they are comfortable now and I LOOK more slender. My body looks longer and leaner, something SO important for a person who is vertically challenged. My BP is fine, my cholesterol dropped from 225 to 203. My HDL went up too! Today I’m down to 145 pounds and still hoping to lose more.

I look forward to the day where I can post on the forums that I’ve gotten into size 8 jeans, so stay tuned! These boards are what got me motivated and keep me motivated. I, like so many others, owe Teresa a big thanks for showing me how to be fit and healthy without spending hours in the gym. I have never stuck with an exercise program this long, even when I got down to 115 pounds with Nutrisystem. I was lighter, but my body was just a smaller version of the unfit body I had when I started that program.

I will continue to post my progress pics on the forums. If I can help just ONE person by posting them, I will be very happy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the caring and sharing of the women on this forum.

Thank you all!

Cheryl Wogahn (aka ‘catzrule)