Success! Flat Stomach finally!

I'm 36, have 3 kids through c-sections in 2000, 2002, and 2004. I was never overweight, but had tons of fat around my mid-section, and they bunched up when I wore jeans. Finally, I wanted to change that fact! I stumbled into one of the best kept secret in the weight-loss/fitness world 2.5 years ago (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to mention the specific program or not, but check on my profile page or my blog for this info). I only do 15 minutes of it each day, and do the dry brushing to tighten my skin all over. I tried the longer one-hour program, but it was too much for me (I'm not very fit at all!) so I stick to the short program. The first six months, I became very tone-looking all over but my weight didn't come off at all. Then I stumbled into Calorie Count and the rest is history. I love this program, it's working smarter, not harder. I'm a homeschooling mom to my three kids, and I don't have time going to the gym, or working out hours at a time. And I love to eat!

May 9 2008 - size 4 jeans 122 lbs. http://photo.xanga.com/Inknlink/6164718807852 3/photo.html

July 9 2008 - size 4 jeans 118 lbs. http://photo.xanga.com/Inknlink/007f519883636 5/photo.html

March 11 2009 - size 2 jeans 113 lbs.  http://www.xanga.com/Inknlink/photos/ce397236 116905/

So what did you do/change?

1. T-Tapp 15 minutes a day http://www.t-tapp.com

2. Use a natural fiber brush to do whole body dry brushing each day.

3. Count calories (I was eating a bit too much before).

The knowledge I gleaned on the Calorie Count site, I figure if I only eat 100 calories extra each day, I would probably gain around 11 lbs. a year. So, with the tools on this site, I am able to stick to my needs very closely, and even have some deficits some days to lose some more fat.

What exactly is fiber brushing?

Something that sounds kinda ridiculous. :3

It's using a natural fiber brush like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Yerba-Prima-Botanicals- Brush-Bristle/dp/B00014F9SI

And you use it to brush your skin from your feet to your neck. Just dry brushing. There's a copyrighted brushing method which I used on T-Tapp web site, but I think you can just brush upward and it'll be fine. Pretty much brush with long, smooth strokes about 20 times on each area, it stimulates the lympatic system, makes your immunity stronger, get rid of cellulite, and tighten the skin all over.

Original Post by cherry_:

Something that sounds kinda ridiculous. :3

 Do you mean dry brushing?

http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/Healin gTechniques/Dry_Brushing_Technique.htm

I seriously doubt that by brushing your body you could tone your muscles and get rid of cellulite, as that website says.

If one would wanna tone and get rid of cellulite, just do strength training, imo :/

Wow! You look gorgeous!

Congratulations on the fab stomach!

Thanks rubynoodles!

Cherry_: I totally understand the doubt. I was that way at the beginning too. But the result speaks for itself. I just update my current picture, and I sure hope my skin doesn't look 36 years old. I wear no make-up, I just ask my 8-year-old to take a picture of me.

I'm amazed that people will one day start exercising, clean up their diet, and try some crazy gimmick and when they get results they always credit the crazy gimmick.

I haven't bothered to visit the website, but I wouldn't be so quick to discount all homeopathic remedies as crazy gimmicks.

Original Post by floggingsully:

I'm amazed that people will one day start exercising, clean up their diet, and try some crazy gimmick and when they get results they always credit the crazy gimmick.

 Yup.

No offense to the OP, but by going on her personal website and reading through her other posts on CC, I think it's a same bet to assume that she is affiliated with "T-Tap" somehow.

After googling it, I have seen it is indeed a home-based business. It is great to have a home based business, and I am NOT knocking anyone for having one, however I think it's safe to assume business promotion here.

And if it works, great! But counting calories and exercising works too. We are all examples of that!

Original Post by poofyball:

I haven't bothered to visit the website, but I wouldn't be so quick to discount all homeopathic remedies as crazy gimmicks.

 Claiming the brushing your skin will 'tone your muscles' is about as gimmicky as you can get.

Original Post by igloogal:

 

I think it's safe to assume business promotion here.

Good call.

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by poofyball:

I haven't bothered to visit the website, but I wouldn't be so quick to discount all homeopathic remedies as crazy gimmicks.

 Claiming the brushing your skin will 'tone your muscles' is about as gimmicky as you can get.

What biological study did you conduct to come to that conclusion? Why don't you denounce acupuncture, God, and chiropractors next?

(I'm just being cynical because I know you can handle it, and I couldn't resist)

I'm doubtful of muscle toning, which I don't even see the OP as having mentioned, but its effects on skincare aren't necessarily so misleading.

poofy - if you go to the link in #6, one of the benefits listed is toning muscle.

I don't think anyone has a problem saying that brushing or massaging your skin will have a result on your skin's complexion, but listing it as a part of your weight loss strategy is pretty suspect.

Sorry to have to disappoint you. I'm not affiliated with T-tapp at all. It's just that I'm short on time, and I don't have a whole lot of time exercising for hours and going to the gym, and I find that T-tapp works for me with just 15 minutes a day. I see so many posts on people working so hard, and then burning out, I just thought that I might share something that's shorter and easier, simply more doable. Skin brushing helps with the loose skin. I also see so many people saying after losing 20-30 lbs. they have skins hanging, well, I just know that if they do this skin brushing thing, it'll help them tremendously. Nothing is harder on one's skin than pregnancy, where the skin around the abdomen is stretched out slowly to the point of a huge balloon for 9 months, and then one day, like a balloon, pop! when your baby's born, all those extra skin just hangs. If you've ever been pregnant before, you'll know what I mean, the skin becomes less elastic, dry, maybe even looks darker color, and has stretch marks all around. Well, think, times three...... and for others, maybe less times, maybe more times. I cited that site on post #6 is because it's free. The one I'm doing is T-tapp's copyrighted moves. I'm just saying you don't have to pay to get benefits from dry brushing. You can use the free one, don't have to buy from T-tapp.

I was pretty skeptical myself, but after seeing other people's results, I had to try myself. Before staying home, I worked as an attorney. I don't get carried away easily by fads, myths, etc. I need proof. I'm not saying this is easy, you still need to get yourself to do it daily to see results. It's not some pill you can take, and poof! you're thin and you're fabulous. But at least it's doable. 15 minutes a day. Not 2 hours. But it took me 2.5 years in all to get here, it didn't happen overnight.

Found this:

http://www.squidoo.com/t-tapp

Original Post by poofyball:

What biological study did you conduct to come to that conclusion? Um, any anatomy text book should explain how muscle tone increases.  Why don't you denounce acupuncture, God, and chiropractors next? If any of them claimed to increase muscle tone, I would.

dry body brushing can actually help with cellulite. it improves the circulation and also its massaging which helps too. So i guess less cellulite could certainly make you look more toned.

plus have you ever tried body brushing- you get an arm workout just trying!!!

Original Post by poofyball:

I haven't bothered to visit the website, but I wouldn't be so quick to discount all homeopathic remedies as crazy gimmicks.

Given that homeopathy = diluting something so extremely that there's none of the original material left in an average sample then giving the patient "medicine" that is simply water, I will happily discount homeopathy as a crazy gimmick.

If other natural remedies want to remain respectable, they'd be best not to align themselves with the insanity that is homeopathy.