T-Tapp Notebook(s)

I am a notebooking kind of girl. I kept notebooks before I knew they would become a homeschool method. Cindy Rushton calls herself the Notebooking Queen (love that girlfriend!), but I would have to qualify for at least a Notebooking Princess. So when I began finding out about T-Tapp I started a notebook. Just a 1 1/2" 3-ring binder, the kind with a clear cover to slip a cover sheet in.

First thing in the notebook: blank calendar pages to keep track of workouts, brushing and short notes about how I was doing ("sore knees" or "did the whole enchilada!"). Next thing: copies of the measurement chart in Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes. From the beginning I kept careful records of measurements and weight. But I didn't take a "before" photo until I had lost 2 sizes and a bunch of inches, so don't make that mistake. Even if you don't show anyone, TAKE A BEFORE PHOTO! Yes, it's a little embarrassing for people to see my befores, but it's not too bad because I don't look like that anymore!

Then I began to fill the notebook with form tips. You could do this in a file on your computer, but I'm also a book kind of girl and I like to re-read with a colored pencil to make notes or underline. I had a section for material from online classes I took from Trainers Lani and Michelle. I had a section just for encouraging posts on the forum, or things that motivated me.

Last, I had a section for goals. Most of my goals were related to an upcoming event, like a wedding or a college reunion. It helped me to have smaller time frames and an endpoint. I didn't always reach the goal by the event, but I did a short time later, and still checked it off. I still have my goals pages. I like to look back on them with the satisfaction of a job well done.

The good thing about keeping records of both workouts done (not planned, DONE) and measurements is that I could see a correlation. We tend to think we're working out more than we actually are sometimes. Or somehow it seems that time spent posting on the forum with all of our T-Tappin' friends ought to count for a workout, ha! At any rate, times of slowed inch loss led to an investigation and voilà, no wonder, I only did BWO+ twice a week for a couple of weeks, duh.

The notebook "just growed" and eventually expanded into several notebooks, most of which I still refer to. T-Tapp was very important to me and it deserved some organization and documentation in my life to keep me on track. You might not be a "learner" type like me, but even a slim folder with calendars, measurements and goals will help. Sometimes our progress is nearly undetectable until we look at the numbers (or the photos--ask any 60-Day Challenge participant who was surprised at their comparison photos), and with a notebook you'll have the hard evidence.

Losing Weight and T-Tapp

I can hardly over-emphasize the importance of T-Tapp in my weight loss. I actually did NOT start out to lose over 100 pounds and reach a size 6 (and yes, I have more than one size 4 in my closet). I started out to feel better and lose a couple of sizes to look better.

From the very beginning I was active in the T-Tapp online forum community. I say community because it is truly a great place to receive encouragement, information and accountability. I started a T-Tapp notebook (hmm, an idea for a blog post) and kept careful records of my measurements, weight and workout schedule. I'm a true Combo so I had to lose about 18" or so to lose a size, so no "2 sizes in a month" for me. My records kept me motivated even when I got stuck in a size 18 for three months. I was still slowly losing inches so I knew I was making progress. If I had been relying on how I felt or my clothes I probably would have given up in despair.

Plain and simple, T-Tapp reshaped my figure and helped me look good AS I lost the weight and that in itself was motivating. I remember how exciting it was to have a waist again. I remember the day my thighs didn't rub together any more. You can do a search under my forum name "fruitvine" and read those 2007-2008 posts and follow that journey, since I'm a real person. Someone I know said if they hadn't seen it happen before their very eyes they would have thought my photos were digitally edited and my story was "yeah, right."

T-Tapp reset my metabolism, gave me energy, resolved my blood sugar and sinus and knee issues, and made me strong and flexible. Oh, and did I mention that my hips are smaller than before I had 12 babies?! You don't get that kind of results from weight loss alone. Teresa Tapp said "IMO, too many people put more focus on food and supplements instead of moving their bodies," and I have to agree. I know that without T-Tapp and its skin brushing, my body would look very different after massive weight loss.

T-Tapp has also been the major factor in weight and inch maintenance. I recently had the experience of a medical restriction on exercise for a month. I gained a few pounds and inches (and my eating didn't change). I felt sluggish and creaky and emotional, as I am in the throes of menopause. But after about 2 weeks of *consistent* movement (MORE, OIP, and other moves here and there), the inches and pounds are coming off.

Okay, end of commercial. Actually, when I start counting the benefits and effects of T-Tapp in my life I sound like an infomercial! But I don't have to make it up--I lived it.