T-Tapp for Real Life, Real Women and Real Results|T-Tapp Workout Inspiration and Encouragement|Charlotte Siems|Renew You With T-Tapp

T-Tapp for the Tired

Charlotte — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:41 +0000

T-Tapp for the Tired

by Charlotte Siems

Are you tired? Are you dragging through your days? It reminds me of that old song “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” except the refrain is “Are You Tired Today?”

We all know that there are many reasons for being tired: stress, hormones, overweight, pregnancy, motherhood, sleep deprivation, nutritional deficiencies and more.

As a mom of twelve, I’m extremely familiar with tiredness. Fatigue was a way of life before I found T-Tapp. But within two weeks of starting to exercise, my children said to me, “Wow, Mom, you’re not tired all the time anymore.”

But of course, even after reaching my goal, I’ve had seasons of being tired. Here are a few ways I cope with times of more-than-usual fatigue:

Definitely take care of health issues. I work closely with a health care provider for thyroid and adrenal issues.

Get more sleep. Easier said than done, I know, but let’s admit that sometimes we do it to ourselves. Starting that movie late, cruising on Pinterest, reading just one more chapter that turns into six. Try a hot bath, head to bed earlier than usual to wind down and turn off the electronics at least an hour before bed. Your body (and possibly, your marriage) will thank you.

Note: Mommies with little ones are a special case. During this season of life (and believe me, I understand), do the best you can. There's a temptation to stay up late or skip a nap just to be alone! Monitor your energy levels (and emotions) to decide which will benefit you more. Just don't let resentment or self-pity spoil the times when you're not able to get enough sleep—or alone time.

Exercise. I can hear it now (because I’ve said it): “I’m too tired to exercise.” Relax. Well, don’t relax, exercise. Generally, the less you exercise, the more tired you feel. At least three workouts a week (and four is even better) will help you have more energy. But it may take a couple of weeks to get there and at first you may think it’s not working.

When you’re really tired, first determine if you’re exhausted and coming down with a virus. In that case, rest instead. But if you’re just sluggish and draggy, exercise will do you good. Here is a list of my favorite routines when I’m extra-tired but know I need to move:

MORE Chair

MORE Chair plus MORE Step Away or Broom

Basic Workout Plus, 4 reps

Basic Workout Plus, skipping parts of Plies and the drop-downs on T-Tapp Twist and possibly Hoe Downs

Jog Rocks, believe it or not (that’ll get yer blood pumpin’!)

Primary Back Stretch, T-Tapp Twist Stretch, one set of Hoe Downs

Some version of Primary Back Stretch, then whatever moves sound fun (Torso Twist, for example)

TappCore Spine, followed by a few other moves chosen on the basis of appeal and novelty!

Eat well. This means different things to different folks. Get enough protein, not too much sugar.

Use supplements. Again, do some research, figure out what works for your body. For me, Emergen-C is a must for a platelet condition and adrenal fatigue, both of which affect my energy levels. T-Tapp's Alfalfa and another supplement, Protandim, are also staples. For my body, Protandim has done more for my energy levels and adrenal fatigue than any other supplement I've tried. Several times per week before bed I put magnesium gel (with a couple of drops of lavender oil) on my feet.

Try essential oils. Almost a year ago someone recommended essential oils to me for some menopausal sleep issues. I was pretty skeptical but decided to try them. The first night I used Stress Away on my wrists and Tranquil behind my ears, I dreamed vividly and slept all night. And just about every night thereafter. Thus began my love affair with essential oils and now we have quite a collection and use them daily. I love En-R-Gee and Peppermint when I’m tired.

Being tired is part of life and often unavoidable, but perhaps something here will help you stop the downward slide. We didn’t even mention the part played by stress and emotions, but they definitely contribute. Do what you can to care for yourself so you’ll be able to keep up with all that you have to do. Then you’ll be singing, “Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night!”

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Charlotte Siems is a home-maker, home manager, T-Tapp Trainer, teacher, speaker and author. Her story of losing over 100 pounds with T-Tapp has encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She specializes in making home management and T-Tapp "doable" for real people and real life. She is happy to be a wife and mother of twelve children whom she has successfully taught at home for 25 years.

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Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Staying Consistent with Exercise Through Soreness, Blisters and Illness

Charlotte — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:00:31 +0000

Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Staying Consistent with Exercise Through Soreness, Blisters and Illness

by Charlotte Siems

Have you ever secretly believed the myth that those who find success with T-Tapp start losing inches from the first day, have superb health and sail off to an inch loss rainbow in the sky? There’s a temptation to think that some “have it” and some don’t.

Here are some notes from the calendars of workouts that I kept during my first year of T-Tapp, on the way from size 22W to size 6. I made a small note on a blank calendar page of the workout/moves I did that day, and any notes of interest:

Shaky and nauseated

Knees sore

Knees sore and crackling (new shoes—Skechers Energy)

Tired—Sophie up last night

p.j. pants fit weird

ER for allergic reaction

Sinus pain

4 days off to heal and rest

20-minute walk—blisters! (Note: this was on the first day of the 60-Day Challenge that year and the blisters were quarter-sized. Ouch!)

Blisters still healing

Diva Derriere (first time—whew! Weak legs!)

January 2008 – the note was “sick” 18 days, “recovering” two days

Sick children

Tired

Feel weak but refreshed

As you can see, it wasn’t all rainbows and roses.

My knees were actually slightly sore for about four months. Not painful, just a little sore. I had my share of illnesses and physical issues. Toddlers were up at night, children got sick.

On a “sick” or “tired” day I either took an off day or did just Primary Back Stretch. Sometimes I did Basic Workout Plus but I suspect my form left a lot to be desired. There were many weeks of 2-3 workouts.

Sure, there were months when I made a harder effort. But there were lots of months when I didn’t. To me, harder effort means workouts 5-6 days a week, plus extras before bed. I could hold that about a month, then life happened and I was back to 3-4 short workouts a week.

The key is that I didn’t stop for very long. Yes, I was kind to myself and took days off and rested. No, that didn’t stretch beyond a few days. A whole week off was (and is) very rare.

Sometimes we console ourselves into quitting something because we think someone who has done it successfully must have had it easy or had special powers. We don’t want to face the fact that it takes plain ol’ hard work and sticking to it.

Or we fall into a perfectionist attitude that “if I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.” Perfectionism just might be a self-rejection issue. Acknowledge that, forgive yourself and move forward.

Dreaming of rainbows is great if your dream is a picture of where you want to go. Just know that it takes consistent (doable, realistic) work to get there, through soreness, blisters and illness. But instead of gritted teeth and being mean to yourself, add some love, pain relief, bandaids and rest, and you’ll be in it for the long haul.

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Ageless Beauty: An Interview with 84-Year-Old Berei From the T-Tapp Office

Charlotte — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:00:56 +0000

Ageless Beauty: An Interview with 84-Year-Old Berei From the T-Tapp Office

by Charlotte Siems

If you’ve ever done a T-Tapp Total Workout, you probably noticed a cute little red-headed woman in the background. At the time that this workout was filmed, Berei Brandenstein was in her 70’s and she kept up with the best of them. As a More to Lose woman, struggling to get through the workout, I was always fascinated by her.

Once when I heard Berei was sick, I sent her a get-well card in care of the T-Tapp office. I wanted to tell her how much she had encouraged me on my weight loss journey. I would always think, “If Berei can do it, I can do it!”

I’ve seen Berei at various T-Tapp events in the years since, and I’m still fascinated by her. Girls, this woman will be 85 years old in August! Yet she has a sparkle in her eyes, she wears classy makeup, she has gorgeous red hair, and she exudes a quiet charm. I’ve always wanted to ask her about her secrets to youthfulness, and at the recent Beauty Bootcamp I got a chance to interview her. Here’s the scoop on Berei’s Beauty Secrets:

Q: What are your secrets for looking good at your age?

A: Eating well—lots of vegetables and fruit, depending on your blood type and what your body needs. And exercising. Berei exercised even before she found T-Tapp. See her story in Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes on page 25.

Don’t use soap. Berei uses Mary Kay products to cleanse her skin. Here’s the recipe for a masque she uses regularly:

Berei’s All-Natural Facial Masque

½ avocado

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 TB honey

Mash avocado, mix in lemon and honey to make a paste. Pat on face, leave on for 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Use an astringent afterwards if you wish. You can use this every day if you want to, but use at least once a week.

Berei uses an anti-aging Mary Kay moisturizer at night, and T-Tapp’s Skin Saver Face during the daytime. As far as makeup, she uses mostly eye makeup (I noticed some glamorous liquid eyeliner). Seeing Berei in person, you are struck by her beautiful, youthful skin!

Keep your interests alive. Keep up with current events through the news and newspaper, whatever your interests are.

Rib cage up. This keeps you standing straight up. (Note: I saw Berei in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in February for the Public Television filming. In January at the Beauty Bootcamp there was a noticeable difference in her waistline—from doing the new Brain/Body Fitness workout, which is similar to Senior Fit. And Teresa Tapp says she didn’t do it all that much due to Teresa’s hectic travel schedule!)

Think young. It’s all about attitude. Berei says she doesn’t want to be an old lady!

Now here’s the amazing part. Berei looked gorgeous (as usual) at the Beauty Bootcamp, and she was on stage with Teresa during some of the workouts. Then we found out that she had a heart attack—four weeks before the event!

In December, Berei was hospitalized for a very low blood count and was given an iron transfusion. This caused a heart attack, and she was in ICU for a week! They did a heart catheterization and other tests, but she had no blood clots, no damage to her heart and no stents put in.

She attributes her quick recovery and minimal damage to being a T-Tapper for twelve years. In fact, the doctors said her veins were better than theirs!

Berei’s final words for us? “Don’t think that just because you’ve got a few years on you, you can’t do T-Tapp—because Yes, You Can!”

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Fifty Pounds Ago

Charlotte — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:00:54 +0000

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Fifty Pounds Ago

by Charlotte Siems

Sometimes a little walk down memory lane serves us well. Returning to a familiar place often brings back memories. Having just attended a T-Tapp event at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa in Florida, I was reminded of my very first trip there five years ago.

My weight loss had reached 50 pounds and I had 50 to go. I was worried about keeping up during the workouts, a common fear of people attending a fitness event like a form clinic.

During one of the first workouts I sat down on the steps while everyone else continued exercising, and cried like a baby. I was perfectly happy, excited to be there, yet I started sobbing. T-Tapp is so lymphatic and cleansing that it cleared out my tension and emotions like crazy. I felt a little embarrassed, but a trainer assured me that it was normal.

I took more water breaks than just about anybody else. I huffed and puffed and caught my breath, then started again.

My form had issues. I was on the front row in workouts like Critter Crunch or Total Workout Super Slow, and when I watch them on DVD now, I can see that my core was collapsed, I was flopping my arms, losing the tuck and more. But I certainly did the best I could with my body and fitness level.

I thought I needed to try to do every single rep of every single workout. After pretty much knocking myself out, I returned home sore and exhausted. I pushed myself beyond my max. Fewer reps in good form beats all the reps in sloppy form, and getting to the point of exhaustion didn’t benefit me or my form.

I share these memories to encourage you that Yes, You Can. I wasn’t perfect and yet I still managed to lose the next 50 pounds. My form left a lot to be desired, I didn’t do every rep, and I got tired, but over the long haul I stuck with it. Believe me, if I can do it, so can you.

What you are living right now will be your memories next year. I hope that your walk down memory lane will be a pleasant one when you see the results of today’s choices.

Please leave a comment below!

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T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Saturday/Sunday

Charlotte — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:14:19 +0000

T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Saturday/Sunday

by Charlotte Siems

Saturday morning at the 2012 Beauty Bootcamp began with no shower, because there was no point. I decided to eat breakfast in the room, and then discovered that I had forgotten to pack a spoon for my oatmeal. T-Tappers are resourceful, and my mirror handle worked nicely for a makeshift eating utensil:

The first workout of the day was Senior Fit, followed by 20 minutes of Broom. (Can you say sweat?) Even Gary, the camera guy, got in on the act:

We had a quick green smoothie break, and then Teresa Tapp and trainer Renee did a show-and-tell of many products they’ve discovered. While they spoke everyone did a magnesium oil foot soak in a dishpan on the floor by their chair.

Lunch was delicious salads (I got a Santa Fe salad, with various greens, grilled chicken, dressing, cheese and tortilla strips). While we ate, we listened to Kim Bright of Sweet Wheat, a company that sells wheat grass supplements. She shared her life experiences that paralleled Teresa’s, and it was an emotional, moving hour.

After a short break it was time for another workout, but I couldn’t tell you what it was since I didn’t go. I had a nice talk with a couple of the vendors and then went outside to sit and reflect and process.

Dinner was a beautiful buffet (here's the dessert):

The evening speaker was Maka'ala Yates. He spoke on Hawaiian healing traditions and taught us a really cool technique for massaging someone’s neck and shoulders. The evening ended with the final raffle, with the proceeds going to medical expenses for the son of Shelly Ballestero.

I had a quick conversation with Teresa about feeling a little under the weather and she recommended a hot bath and extra vitamin D3 and C before bed. She is such a wellspring of knowledge!

Sunday will be one last all-the-way-through workout, then final measuring for everyone. Lunch will be the hotel’s fabulous Sunday buffet, then it will be time to say goodbye (although many are staying for the Trainer Retreat and Certifications). This event has had a very peaceful and loving atmosphere. I hope you’ve enjoyed the travel diary!

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T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Friday

Charlotte — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:11:45 +0000

T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Friday

by Charlotte Siems

Friday morning dawned not-too-early on the first full day of Beauty Bootcamp. The first workout was at 9:00am, so there was plenty of time to eat breakfast and find a good spot to work out in the Baranoff Room of the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.

And boy, what a workout it was. Teresa Tapp focused on moves and principles for adrenal fatigue, and we did the improved (and final) version of Senior Fit. Since many of the attendees deal with issues relating to adrenal dysfunction and low thyroid, this was great information. It lasted two and a half hours, but there were water breaks and kick-outs between each move.

Lunch took place in a beautiful reception room, and we enjoyed salad, rolls, our choice of entrée (I had grilled chicken, mixed veggies and yummy grilled potatoes). While we ate, Tera Warner of Green Smoothie Girl spoke about what and why we eat. I have to admit I started out a little resistant to her message but by the end of the hour, her passion won me over. I plan to try her 3-day Green Smoothie Challenge soon.

The two-hour afternoon workout was Basic Workout Plus with tweaks, then Lunges through Thread the Needle. Lots of sweating and groans, but good stuff!

Dinner was a gorgeous buffet, with good conversation around every table.

Then we were entertained and educated by the B*ra Ladies from Livi Rae Lingerie. They spoke about all things b*ra, including the fact that the vast majority of women are wearing the wrong size.

A group of women was selected to come on stage. They had all filled out a form stating the current size they wear. Having everyone lined up showed the different sizes and shapes. Then they were “diagnosed” with the correct size and there was lots of laughter and jaw-dropping. Being part of that group was an experience I won’t soon forget! This presentation was hilarious, but very informative!

The evening finished up with trainer Kirsten giving a talk about a subject dear to my heart: chocolate. The last thing on the agenda was the first raffle results. Then to bed, to bed, so we can get up early to do it again tomorrow!

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T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Thursday

Charlotte — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:59:21 +0000

T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp: Thursday

by Charlotte Siems

Here’s the first report on what’s going on at the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa with T-Tappers gathered for the 2012 Beauty Bootcamp!

On Thursday morning I got up at 3:15am to get to the airport in time for an early flight. After good flights and a quick cab trip from the Tampa Bay airport, I arrived to find that my room was one of the few ready. We got a great room location just around the corner from the workout room—yayy! I wasn’t sure who my roommate would be yet

Next it was time for the “before” measuring for my list of ladies. By 2:00 it was hard to think of anything but food, and fortunately the lunch buffet began. Wow. Gorgeous, fresh food—mini chicken kabobs, salads, shrimp in a tomato sauce and lovely dessert. I wasn’t sure I would like “minted fruit” but it was delicious:

After lunch we listened to introductions and testimonies from everyone present. For three hours. But the time flew by because everyone’s stories were so compelling. We had a bathroom break somewhere there and Teresa Tapp accidentally left her microphone on when she left the room, but fortunately it was turned off before, well, anyway, it was turned off.

Then it was time for finger foods and dessert: an assortment of cheese and crackers, hummus, veggies and more.

After this light dinner we listed to Venus DeMarco describe her experience with natural healing from breast cancer. She was funny and smart, and we learned a lot!

Finally, we had a blast watching Brent Hardgrave cut hair! Yes, he got on stage and entertained us by cutting Jennifer and Tiffany’s hair. Brent was charming and witty and we were absolutely mesmerized by his cutting techniques and knowledge.

I was in my room by 10:30 and gave momentary pause to the fact that I was about to sleep in a room with a stranger, but by the time I went to sleep, Hannah was a friend! That’s the way it goes with T-Tappers, especially at T-Tapp events!

Stay tuned for more…

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Thinking Yourself Thin (or Not)

Charlotte — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:00:08 +0000

Thinking Yourself Thin (or Not)

by Charlotte Siems

A few years ago researchers studied 84 female housekeepers in seven different hotels who typically clean fifteen rooms a day. The women were measured for physical health variables affected by exercise.

Then two Harvard University psychologists told half the women (untruthfully) that their daily work alone constituted enough exercise to make them lose weight and stay healthy.

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In 2007, Psychological Science reported that the women in the group who were told (and believed) that they were getting enough exercise lost weight, lowered their blood pressure, and had significantly healthier body-fat percentage, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio, while the others had no changes.

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Wouldn’t it be nice if we could think ourselves thin? color:#333333">

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Wait a minute, can we?

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Well, sort of. Sitting on the couch and consuming a half-gallon of ice cream every morning will definitely have a different effect than lacing up your shoes and doing a vigorous workout every morning. The little things you do every day do matter.

But all things being equal, what effect do your thoughts have?

What would be the difference between:

Doing a T-Tapp workout five days a week, eating moderate portions, and constantly thinking (and saying), “I look terrible! I’m so fat. Look at these thighs. I look pregnant. This probably isn’t working. I’m not losing inches as fast as she is. I’m sick of this. I don’t wanna work out.”

Doing a T-Tapp workout five days a week, eating moderate portions, and constantly thinking (and saying), “I’m moving towards my goal. I can see myself thinner. I feel great! I can’t wait to see how this is healing my body. I’m so proud of myself.”

Why don’t you try the experiment? Be your own researcher.

Catch yourself when you think negative thoughts and immediately switch them around. Think thin thoughts, kind thoughts, good thoughts.

Better yet, believe the good thoughts and take action. We don’t act on what we know. We act on what we believe. Our actions are showing what we believe.

You’re moving towards your goal. You can see yourself thinner. You feel great! You can’t wait to see how this is healing your body. I’m SO proud of you!

Please leave a comment below!

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Check back here on the blog later this week for daily news from

the T-Tapp Beauty Bootcamp in Safety Harbor, Florida!

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A Big Secret for Success in Weight Loss (and Life)

Charlotte — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:00:49 +0000

A Big Secret for Success in Weight Loss (and Life)

by Charlotte Siems

One hundred pounds gone. Now that it’s been nearly five years since my weight loss journey began, it’s easier to look back with new perspective. With some distance and personal growth, pieces of the puzzle have clicked into place and it's easier to see why I reached my goal.

For instance, at the time it didn’t occur to me how important thoughts and mindset were. But instinctively sensing that discouragement or overwhelm could creep in, I surrounded myself with success stories and support, then stuck to mostly shorter workouts.

You’ve heard me say that consistency was one of the most important aspects of shrinking from size 22W to size 6, and that’s true. But there’s something a bit deeper going on with that. It’s a secret that applied to every individual workout and every bite of food.

In fact, this secret affects everything you want to do well—whether it’s losing weight, homeschooling, mothering, marriage or business. This one principle can determine whether you will succeed or fail.

It’s a simple change in perspective, a truthful way of thinking that can change your life, and it is this:

The little things you do every day matter. Even when it doesn’t look like they matter.

A choice to exercise, even for five minutes. A choice to skip exercise. A choice to eat three cookies….or not.

The trick is that even when you make the right choice, you don’t see the results right away, today. Maybe not even in two weeks. But you'll see the results in two years.

We are so used to instant results in our modern world. Email rather than snail mail, microwave rather than campfire, car rather than covered wagon.

All those daily choices have subtle, tiny effects. By the time you see the results, the choices are ancient history. At the time you made the choices, nobody noticed but you. But everybody will notice the eventual results.

We want to tell ourselves that the little things don’t matter. But before we know it, the days pass and the months fly by and we’re left wondering how we got here.

If you plant tomato seeds, you’ll get a tomato plant. All the rationalizing and excuses in the world won’t change it to a watermelon plant. The law of sowing and reaping is absolutely unchangeable. You can’t escape its consequences, no matter how much you might wish to do so.

The good news is that sowing and reaping works with the good stuff, too. Seeds are tiny little things. Starting small and working up is okay. Fifteen minutes of exercise daily has different results eventually than fifteen minutes of sitting in front of the computer daily. That’s true even if you didn’t notice a single difference today.

More good news is that you do have a choice. You can choose wisely in the little things that matter every single day. Like a snowball rolling downhill, those little choices will eventually gain some momentum and you’ll start to see the difference.

Remember today that the little things matter. This should be encouraging, because you can do little things. Your success is not dependent on a huge, overwhelming undertaking. It’s actually the crop you’ll harvest after planting many, many little seeds.

I'd love to hear what you think. Please leave a comment below!

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Climbing Back on the Wagon

Charlotte — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:00:01 +0000

Climbing Back on the Wagon

by Charlotte Siems

You made the resolution to start back on T-Tapp and lose some sizes. There’s a freshly dusted workout DVD and new water bottle sitting on the cabinet. A brand new pair of Skechers Energy 2250 shoes are waiting to be laced up. You have high hopes and gung-ho determination now that you’ve climbed back on the wagon. Now what?

Getting started on your workout plan and STAYING started are two different things. Some people have more time available because of their season of life or their circumstances. Some people love to exercise and they do so every day for long periods. But many people have circumstances and motivations that don’t allow for a super-charged workout schedule. In the big picture of their lives, exercise is important but has to stay within parameters that make it possible to stay on the wagon through daily life.

Here are some tips to help you turn your resolution in to an exercise revolution:

Get ready. Make sure you have what you need. Check your shoes—is it time to replace them? Do you need new socks? Would a new workout outfit give you a boost? Look at your space and determine the best place to do your workouts. Your bedroom might be obvious, but if someone is sleeping there every morning when it’s time for your workout you may need an alternative.

Get started. If it’s been a while since you did a T-Tapp workout, start with the Instructionals. Yes, I know you already know the form and the routine. But even T-Tapp Trainers go back to the Instructionals and review periodically. You’ll hear things you never heard before because you’re in a different place. Try this: just WATCH the Instructional and maybe even take notes of things you never noticed before.

Get realistic. When we realize we’ve gained some weight or inches there’s a tendency to panic and throw ourselves into running faster and jumping higher to get it off—quick! While T-Tapp offers the possibility of quick inch loss, there’s no guarantee of overnight results. Consistency brings results in health and inch loss. And that brings us to the next tip.

Get consistent. I attribute a large part of my success in going from a size 22W to a size 6 to consistency with T-Tapp. Not being a person who has time or motivation to exercise for long periods daily, consistency looked like this: mostly short workouts done several times a week. Maybe trying to do too much is what caused you to drop off the back of the wagon in the first place. Short seasons of harder effort and more workouts are great, then usually life happens. Better to drop back to consistent short workouts than sit in the dust.

Get moderate. A big problem for busy people is the mental struggle of trying to maintain a long-term demanding workout schedule. Perhaps their body can handle it, but mental burnout can cause them to quit completely. Starting slow can help you acclimate. Continuing moderately can help you stick with it rather than flame brightly and fall like a shooting star.

Get positive. At first you feel positive and hopeful about working out. It’s easy to put in the DVD and push play and whistle while you work. But after a while you have different thoughts. “Ugh. Time to work out.” “I don’t wanna!” “This is SO hard—I can’t do it!” You don’t have control over the thoughts that pop into your head. But you certainly have control over what you do with them. Choose to replace them with positive thoughts. “Great! Time to work out!” “Here we go!” “This is a challenge—but I’m up for it!” You’ll be amazed at what a difference your thoughts make. Try it when you wake up in the morning. Instead of “Let me sleep!” or “Fifteen more minutes,” think “I’m up!”

Getting started is a great thing. Staying started is even better. You may already be overwhelmed by the number of sizes you want to lose, or by the number of workouts it’s going to take to get there. Don’t go there. You may not have the belief yet to get to a size 10. But you believe you can do a 15-minute workout today. So climb back on the wagon and do that one workout. Do the same tomorrow. If you fall off the wagon, dust off and get back on in a way that allows you to stay on. Just like a pioneer going on to a new place and a new life, you’re in it for the long haul. Wagons, ho!