Starting from the Bottom

[acox68]

Hello fellow t-tappers!

I used to post here several years ago......my name is Andrea. Some that have been around a while may remember me. I did t-tapp for a while and quit because I couldn't get rid of soreness from the workout or the way I was doing it.

Well, fast forward a few years later. I'm in my 40's now and experiencing some health issues due to my weight and lack of fitness (feeling 80, high BP, plantar fasciatis, no bladder control, hormonal issues). I have to admit - I'm in pretty bad shape due to not looking after myself these past several years. I don't have much muscle tone, and very little physical activity wears me out these days...

Being at the bottom for a while now has finally made me realize that there is no where to go but UP! I decided to reclaim my life for the better about a month ago and started watching my diet. It feels like I have waken up from a long, strange dream. I almost gave up on myself. I want to lose about 118 pounds or several dress sizes.....right now I'm at 264.8 and a Size 22.

Regarding t-tapp exercises.....from now on, I'm only going to my PERSONAL MAX (which has always been recommended, but I was always too stubborn to follow....I'm really good at "overdoing" things, i.e. all-or-nothing thinking). Now I'm just taking it one day at a time, one workout at a time. I'm doing t-tapp every other day and to start all I can do is hoe-downs. They are relatively simple for me and it's something I can commit to without getting discouraged. My next step is to do the MORE instructionals. DH is supposed to find my MORE DVD which is somewhere in the basement waiting to be found.

Does anyone have a good recommendation about how to transition between the hoe-downs and the MORE DVD? I'm not up to a full workout at this point. Is it better to do more reps of one t-tapp exercise and master it, or fewer reps of several t-tapp exercises?

Well, wish me much success on the re-start of this journey.....I'm going to blog my journey somewhere because while I want to get to my goal and keep looking forward, I never want to forget where I came from....this is a place where I never want to be again.

Andrea

[daisy_s]

Welcome back Andrea, you already have done the most important part of your journey - starting it! Stay around, ask questions, share and you will be on your wo way in no time (I speak from experience)
I suggest that you start with More instructional, but a few moves from it. I'd do PBS (it is a killer one on that dvd - I sweat buckets from just watching it) for a couple of days and you may add some HD here and there. Then you can add moves one by one. I'd give a few days for each new move. Then you will know what to do, if you feel enough strength, you can add another one, if not - stay at the same level or back off a move (I hope trainers will correct me if I am wrong). This usually puts me back on the train when I lose my stamina for some reason.
I wish you luck on your old/new t-tapp journey. You know, time will pass anyway, it is better to do something than nothing. I hope I could help a bit!

[BlessedMama]

Welcome back, Andrea! Yes, I agree with Gergana--you have already won over half the battle!

Gergana has given you great advice--just take a move or two at a time, even if you can only do 1-2 reps. If that seems to be too much, go to every other day or even every two days, meaning you'll do a workout every 3rd day. You likely have some adrenal issues so it's important to really listen to your body!

When I had an adrenal crash 2 years ago, I started back up with MORE Chair! So do what you can and remember this is a journey to health, not just about inch/weight loss.

And as an aside, don't get too hung up on the scales. I lost 8 sizes and only 30 lbs.! I have lost some more in the past few months due to a way of eating we're doing as a family, but by now I'm just not as excited about the scales as the way I look!

HUGS to you and don't be a stranger! You know the forums can be a tremendous source of encouragement!

[acox68]

Thank you Gergana and Trisch! I'm getting ready for work right now, but was very happy to see your replies this morning. It means a lot to me.

I did some hoe-downs last night and can tell that after doing them for 2 weeks, my fat is not so "flabby" or "giggly". That is very encouraging.

Gergana, I will do as you recommended.....and thank you for your inspiring thoughts!

Trisch, I do have some adrenal issues. The chiropractor gave me some supplements for that, but I haven't been taking them as they are so expensive. I'm going to at least start taking that one again and see where I am in a month's time. If I can only purchase one supplement, that would be the one to take!

Well, better finish getting ready for work....I can't post from there, but will do my posting in the evenings or when I'm off. I plan NOT to be a stranger!!

[daisy_s]

You are very welcome! Glad I could help some!

[Insideout]

Hi Andrea,
Just wanted to add in my welcome and encouragement. It is so easy to get side tracked and let time slip by and before you know it one week turns to two, etc. We all know how it goes. As long as you keep moving forward and keep coming back to T-Tapp, you are making progress. Time is passing whether you are T-Tapping or not so might as well feel good each day.

Good advice about adding in a move or two each time. Don't feel like you have to go all gung-ho and burn out before you even really get started. Even if you just do PBS and hoe downs for two weeks, that is more than you were doing before.

So, welcome back. Glad to see you on the T-Tapp wagon.

[acox68]

Thank you SO much Elizabeth for the encouragement! I need a LOT right now. I'm on a lot of medications and they make me feel tired and lazy and sore. Maybe that's why I could never do t-tapp for very long? Anyway, I am slowly building back up my strength and stamina.

My friend at work just bought some t-tapp DVD's (I told her about it) and we are going to compare notes each week. SO exciting to have a real live person to compare notes with. LOVE it!

I have been just doing hoe-downs but I've been sick with bronchitis and it doesn't take much to wear me out. DH is looking for my DVD's that are somewhere in the basement......hopefully I can get back to MORE instructional soon - even if it's just a little bit here and there from the DVD, it will keep me going.

Again, thank you all for your encouragement and positive thoughts. I really do appreciate them.....xoxo

[bambipei]

Hi Andrea,
This is my first post here, but after reading the great replies, I thought I'd tell you what I've been doing, since you sound ALOT like me! I have been doing PBS from MORE and then the chair workout on the MORE dvd. I have been doing this for 6 weeks, and tried to do MORE instructional last week. NOPE! Not yet! Sooooo... I have added the lunges right after PBS (I still take an extended water break after PBS), and then I do chair. WHEW! Those lunges are hard for me! I KNOW this is the beginning of a long journey for me, so I'm just being patient with my body. I have just recovered from adrenal fatigue myself, so I know to be patient, and appreciate all I read and learn here! OH, and I wanted to say that I have seen alot of toning in my thighs from chair! Love that!

[BlessedMama]

bambipei, good for you for listening to your body!

When you think of T-Tapp as a journey and not a sprint, it helps you be patient while you build the strength and stamina. I love that T-Tapp is able to help me rebuild health and not just a thinner body!

Andrea, if you at least do PBS, TTT stretch and a HD that will help get you in alignment for the day, help you feel better, and you won't end up doing what Elizabeth said! It is easy to sometimes end up skipping lots of days/weeks before you know it.

How wonderful that you have a friend to compare notes and help one another with accountability!

HUGS!

[acox68]

Hi Bambipei! Thank you for your response and welcome to the boards! I tell you, I must have a hard time listening to my body sometimes becasue I've been doing HD's every other day, even with this bronchial cold. I just don't want to be "behind" and let days/weeks go by without doing something. Anyway, I'm so happy to hear of your progress! I'm sure I have t-tapp chair around here somewhere....our house is topsy-turvey right now because we had some renovations done and had to clear out 3 rooms of the main floor.

Trisch, I think this time it is easier for me to think of it as a "journey" and not a sprint. That will help me as I try to focus on listening to my body. You are SUCH an inspiration to me and I thank you for that!!!!!

Well, I did a set of HD's today and a little bit of housework and laundry. My strength after this bronchial cold is finally coming back. I've had it for over a week now and am FINALLY starting to feel more "human" again.