Size 22 to 6: Five-Year Anniversary of T-Tapp!
Size 22 to 6: Five-Year Anniversary of T-Tapp!
by Charlotte Siems
This week marks my five-year anniversary of starting the T-Tapp workout. The traditional anniversary gift for five years of marriage is wood or silverware, but I’ll take better health and looking good instead!
In 2007, I weighed 258 pounds and wore a size 22W. Over a year and a half, after T-Tapping and eating my way down to a size 6, I had lost more than twice my 5’11” height in inches. That first workout happened on March 1, 2007.
To encourage you—especially newbies and those who are More to Lose—here’s a peek into the beginning of my journey, taken from posts on the T-Tapp forum:
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2-24-2007
Today I took my “before” measurements and the moment of truth hit me. I’ve been so busy with my large family for many years that it was easy to ignore the shape I was in.
Losing weight aside, I’m terribly flabby and my thighs qualify me for Queen of Cellulite. I guess I have “sticker shock” after getting the numbers.
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3-5-2007
I tried [Hoe Downs] today after Instructional #1 and I don’t know if my legs were tired, but I felt like the earth was shaking in the neighborhood on each step and I couldn’t keep up the speed on Basic Workout Plus.
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3-17-2007
I lost 14 1/2 inches and 4 pounds in two weeks doing only the Basic Workout Plus!! I did the BWO+ every day (except one day I was dragging so I only did PBS and Hoedowns) and faithfully took supplements and did the brushing.
I am a True Combo and at 5’11” I’m not quite down a size, but I have a feeling I’ll be in a new size in another week or two because my clothes are definitely fitting differently.
I didn’t change my diet except for adding more water, eating raw almonds, and cutting out almost all diet pop. In fact, I probably ate more fattening foods than usual this week because my son is playing in a basketball tournament in another city and we’re eating more fast food.
Other changes I’ve noticed:
–no more knee fat and I actually feel muscles in my legs and arms
–definite improvement in cellulite
–no more crepe-y, saggy-looking cleavage (firmed up quick!)
–virtual disappearance of chronic sinusitis
–more energy and flexibility (one of my sons said “You don’t look tired all the time now”)
–extreme difference in blood sugar issues (I’m actually eating less because I’m not having peaks and crashes)
–even my fingernails are thicker and faster-growing!
Challenges I’ve faced:
–about a week and a half of PMS-like depression (that “what’s wrong with me” feeling); I chalked it up to detox and drank water, took salt baths and cried on my husband’s shoulder
–having to look at myself in the mirror in workout clothes every day (after 12 babies and many years of ignoring the truth)
–awakening long-dormant muscles after years of NO exercise
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4-14-2007
Today is measuring day and so far I’ve lost 29 inches and 9 1/2 pounds!! It’s true that EOD works–5 inches lost this week.
Of course I’m one of those more to lose, so I have, well, more to work with. My biggest challenge is not getting discouraged day by day when I look in the mirror and see how far I have to go, but those good-news measuring days help boost my confidence.
My husband and I were talking about T-Tapp the other day and I ended up weeping when I told him how grateful I am to Teresa Tapp for giving me hope for this body.
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7-16-2007
Hey newbies, stick with it!
Back in late February I posted for the first time that I was trying to look better for two of my children’s upcoming weddings. Well, the last wedding was Saturday and I reaped the sweet fruit of my T-Tapp efforts. It was wonderful to bask in the compliments (and surprise, I might add) about how I looked. Three sizes smaller, toned and tightened…it was a great reward.
All those sweating, huffing, puffing workouts were worth it!
I started out with Basic for about a month then s-l-o-w-l-y added Instructional #2. In fact, TODAY was the first time I did the B/R workout through TTN without pausing for extra/longer water breaks.
I still have a lot of work to do but I wanted to tell you newbies that T-Tapp works (if you work T-Tapp), even for a More-to-Lose person. If this sedentary, totally out-of-shape mother of twelve can do it, YES, YOU CAN!
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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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Thank you Charlotte!
Charlotte, this is just so powerful! Congratulations on what you’ve done for yourself. And for all those who love you. And for all those you have guided to do the same! I so admire you for this …
Congratulations, Charlotte! That is such an awesome achievement. Not only is it wonderful for you, but also for those 12 beautiful children of yours who will now be following your healthy eating/exercise habits. Way to go!
What were the supplements that you took?
I took Fibertox just for a little bit at first, and also Alfalfa, which I continue to take daily, five years later!
Many congrats! You are definitely an inspiration to me. I don’t know how I found your site but b/c of your story, I checked out T-Tapp and ordered the Fit and Fabulous book and the BWO + dvd. I am probably considered a “less to lose” – 5’4″ and 132 lbs beginning but I need some encouragement. I began BWO + in November(I did it every day except for about 2) and had some success. I lost about 5 inches overall(not a whole size but I was still glad) and saw definite toning. I did not diet but lost about 4 lbs. I was really encouraged! I kept it up all December and January, at least every other day. The progress not only slowed, then stopped, but it reversed. I didn’t weigh myself but my clothes were tighter, not more loose. I decided I needed to do the Total w/O so I ordered that dvd. I was faithful to the boot camp (4 days in a row, then EOD). However, I didn’t see progress. AT all. I returned to doing the BWO + EOD for 2 weeks, and finally weighed myself,. Yipes! 135lbs! And it is not muscle b/c my clothes are not loose! I am really discouraged. I decided to add 3 treadmill workouts a week to the EOD BWO + to see if that will help. But I gotta admit, I am really down. I was drawn to TTapp b/c it seemed to offer results w/o hours of workouts. Like you, I am a homeschooling Mom and a speaker with a busy schedule. (however, I only have 4 kids) As objective as I can be, I think my form is decent. I do get into muscle activation and I work up a sweat during workouts. I just need to know if it will eventually get me where I want to be – just doing the BWO+ as the site claims – or if I will have to do more to get results. And maybe this added treadmill will do the trick. Help!!!!
Thank you and May GOd bless you,
Suzanne Chambers
Georgia
Hi Suzanne, You could have several things going on. As a Less to Lose person, results can be slower in coming. Form is definitely important and we are all progressing in form, never perfect. Common form errors are straightening knees, knees coming in, ribs sinking into hips, losing the tuck/curling the core of the body. If you have gained inches, it is very possibly form.
Any chance you live near a T-Tapp Trainer? Honestly, doing the Total Workout EOD for any length of time would be too much for me personally. When really activating muscle, even BWO+ should be pretty tough.
I have never used a treadmill, and not much extra walking either so I can’t vouch for the results personally. If you’re leaning forward on a treadmill, shoulders come forward and that inactivates abs.
Several trainers offer video review of form or perhaps you can attend a live event somewhere near you. Hope this helps!
thank you for replying so quickly. I will work on my form and cross my fingers. I really want to see results! I will stick to the BWO+ EOD and see if I can get in touch with a T-Tapp trainer. I assume thelocationswill belisted on theTTapp site??
Charlotte – thank you and congratulations! It couldn’t have been easy (the proof is in the blogging) but you did it. You are ALWAYS an inspiration. Considered a “less to lose” I got discouraged last year and stopped. Always in the back of my mind … 6 months of no excersizing is exactly that. I read your blog faithfully, go on the T-Tapp website and am ready to jump back on board. I am so hopeful and I know I have you for inspiration and advice. You are so giving … that is encouraging too. Thank you again.
Dear Charlotte,
You are as pretty from the side, as you are from the front…look at that gorgeous chin line and bone structure. (My father was a photographer, so I notice people differently sometimes.) By the way, I thought you were pretty even when you were bigger, but I know how important it is for US to feel good about ourselves, as well as to BE healthy. Have a great week!
Powerful story! You inspire me! Congrats on 5 years. I just started up again, doing the Hit the Floor for Lower Body and the Total Workout. I forgot how tough it is!! But keeping it up. Have some big family events this summer and I just want to feel good.
Thank you for being honest and open with your story.
Hi, my name is Melissa and I am a stay at home mom with 11 children. I am 180 pounds overweight. That’s right, I need to lose 180 pounds to be where I want to be. I have numerous health problems including diabetes. I read a book called Eat to Live and The End of Diabetes by Dr. Joel Fuhrman which I started eating according to his plan. On my facebook Eat to Live group, someone recommended T-Tapp. I clicked on the link she sent me for hoedowns. I tried them. Then I clicked on the video of you telling your story. You have inspired me to do it. I bought the T-Tapp more. My body is so gross and I am in so much pain, I did the instructional video once but I couldn’t do all the excersies, too much. Then the second day and third day I did it. Today is the fourth day and I will be doing it later. I have a lot of hope now, between Eat to LIve and T-Tapp, I can see me regaining my health. Thank you so much for sharing.
Melissa, you’re in a good place: ready to change! T-Tapp is all about growth. Best wishes to you on your health journey!!