Digital storage, eczema, T-Tapp, sex dreams

1) Alison is going to write a post exclusively about digital storage. I don't know when it'll post--maybe next week, or the week after--but be on the lookout for it. I'm so happy she's contributing all her wisdom, and the whole keeper vs. purger concept has already helped me immensely. The digital storage thing is frightening me, but I'm sure she'll help us wade through it.

3) Does anyone who's been doing T-Tapp want to write up their experience? I've been getting emails from people asking me if it's for real (from both a health improvement and weight-loss standpoint), because the T-Tapp website sounds too good to be true and too infomercial-esque. I figure it'd be easier to trust reviews from people we "know" from here. (My babysitter started doing the 15-minute workout last week, and measured after a week of doing it and has lost 2.25 inches off her waist.)

4) Here's one for you to comment on anonymously. Anonymous writes:

"I am pushing past the embarrassing nature of this questions because I really just need to confirm that other people have had the same experience! My 9-month old daughter sleeps in bed with me in the mornings after my husband leaves for work, usually between 6-8am. I get her from her crib when she wakes, we lay down and I begin nursing, we both fall asleep and it's great. Lately she continues to stay latched and sucking for what seems like that whole two hours, and I've started having sex dreams (about my husband, THANK GOODNESS) during that time, probably twice a week. I can only guess that it's from the nipple stimulation! I know it doesn't make me a pervert, and I know there is likely no way to stop it from happening (other than stopping the nursing/sleeping set-up altogether), so I'm not necessarily looking for advice. Just please let me know I'm not the only one!"

Hee hee.

Anyone?

"This just in") Thanks for making me runner-up for Best Family and Parenting Blog of 2007 on Performancing.com! Especially since I completely forgot to mention it while the voting was still open. Duh.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Sex dreams & co-sleeping. It's happened to me on several occasions (maybe 4 or 5 times) in the 11 months since I have my son sleeping in bed with me and my husband. It must be somewhat normal, sleeping so close to a little body. What a brave thing to post about. I think the first time it happened to me I typed it in on this site & saw nothing. I was really nervous because I was afraid I had acted out something in my sleep. It hasn't happened for a long time. The "don't co-sleep" camp would have a field day with this information.

[Rachel H.]

You're not the only one! :) The sex dreams while nursing have happened to me too. No worries.

[Julie]

The only sex dreams I have are about old boyfriends. I love them. Variety is the spice of life!

Re: T-tapp....I contacted Moxie about this somewhere around the beginning of December I think with that exact question....it looks and sounds too good to be true! I am not overweight in the sense that I have more than 15 pounds to lose, so I really was not sure if this was the right workout for me. Many of the success stories on the website were about people who had 50+ pounds to lose, or they had severe and chronic pain somewhere. I was none of those things....just used to like to workout but now don't want to be bothered with a 2+ hour workout at the gym 3-4 times a week (which is what I would need to do to lose those last pesky pounds). But going to the gym is really not interesting or attractive to me anymore. I just cannot drag myself there and I resent the time I spend there. I was slowly gaining weight and getting soft and resented that too. So I figured since Moxie said it was the best workout she knows of I'd try it out. I have been doing it for about a month - probably on average only 3 times a week. I have to say I absolutely LOVE it. I feel taller, leaner, and just yesterday two different people (who are not my husband and mom) said "Have you lost weight? You are looking skinny!" I have not measured again since I started, so I don't know how many inches I have lost. This workout is something that any fitness level can do. The best thing about it is that the more you do it....the harder it gets, so you don't have to do it as often! Traditional gym workouts had me starting at 45 minutes.....then going up to an hour.....then an hour and 15 minutes.......the more fit I became, the MORE I had to do. It kind of sucked. With T-tapp, the more fit you do, the LESS you have to do because your body is stronger and more muscles are engaged and working hard. It's just more efficient.

The cons are that yes, it can feel infomercial-y. Especially the Total Body Workout......but oh my goodness it's so totally worth it. And like with children's songs that stick in your head afterward for a long time, you'll be mumbling to yourself afterward "tuck TUCk yes you can, tuck TUCK"......but really I am kind of becoming obsessed with Teresa Tapp. You also get free training support online - find a trainer you like and email them any questions you have and they will answer them. It's a wonderful organzation, and really, they are not an infomercial org. at all. They don't advertise, they just rely on word of mouth and the number of people tapping out there is HUGE. I had no idea about this workout, but am seriously considering quitting my gym. I'm giving it another few months to see if I can really lean out and reach my goal weight/size and then.....goodbye gym. There's just no need for anything else.

[anon]

I wasn't able to nurse my son (long story, not for today). Pumped instead. And this has happened to me as well.

You are not alone.

[Libaryhead]

I ordered a T-Tapp workout video on Moxie's recommendation and am sorry to say I only did it once. Am I the only one who finds the whole system incomprehensible? I used to do Pilates, too, so I understand about small, internal muscle movements that you can't necessarily see on the video, but I just don't get how to do it. Maybe I got the wrong video? Is there one for complete beginners? How hard is it to find in-person instruction? Also, is T-Tapp OK to do while pregnant? Till when? I'm 10 weeks along now and my gym doesn't offer any prenatal-specific classes.

[Anonymous]

I haven't had the sex dreams when cosleeping (still too tired to remember any dreams, and I barely ever get sex dreams anyway). But my (7 mo) son, when he nurses, has just started this lovely patting/rubbing thing on my forearm and my breast. He just loves my skin. I love that he loves my skin. I think to myself, "Why can't my husband learn to do that?" and then I think to myself BAD MOMMY because we're all supposed to maintain the party line that nursing is NOT sexual, just about nutrition, move along, nothing to see here.
And to anon @ 11:12 am, I am sometimes also thrilled to get to pump, so it must have something to do with nipple stimulation too.

This is long-winded, but no, you are not alone.

[anon]

For me it happened with the latch slipped a bit while they slept. Changes the sensation, and therefore changes the dream. Pantley unlatching and letting them re-latch 'properly' helped. Happened with all my kids, off an on. Also more when I was ovulating, just to add hormones in.

[Thy]

Re: T-Tapp.

I bought the book and the DVD about a year ago since I just did not make it to the gym anymore and wanted to try something to do at home instead and because Moxie recommended it.

It is a very good workout. I feel strong and flexible when I do it and it gives me a great posture. I did not need to loose any weight or inches and I didn’t either. The best thing with it is the 15-minute workout. Not even I can come up with a good excuse not to do 15 minutes, which means I keep up the exercising even when things get hectic around here.

On the down side is that it is oh, so very, very boring. Doing any one workout over an extended period of time would be I guess. I would also like to do some additional cardio training, like running or swimming, but the time is just not there right now.

[Felis]

Anon: About T-Tapping while Pregnant - on her website, there are "Mommy Fitness Articles" that tell you how to do it if you are pregnant.

http://t-tapp.com/mommyfitness/mfarticles.asp

Basically, you can do everything but the organs-in-place. I have the 15 minute basic plus workout, but I also have the instructional video that takes you through it move by move. It is kinda hard to just jump in without understanding the mechanics behind it. I'm 12 weeks and I'm desperately trying to find the 15 minutes to do it regularly.

[sue]

Nope, you're not alone! It's happened to me a few times while napping and nursing. Mainly I get *really* weird dreams while sleep-nursing (last night my long-dead grandmother came back as a zombie and bit me - yikes!). I'm also glad to ear other people have sex dreams about their husbands! All my friends have sex dreams about really exciting celebrities, old boyfriends, the hot UPS guy, whoever, and when it comes my turn to fess up, I have nothing to dish because all my dreams are about my husband. how embarrassing!

Also glad to hear that there's a company out there making natural excema care products. I had excema most of my life, and my kids have it, too. Finally got rid of it by switching to Charlie's soap for our laundry detergent and starting to make my own excema salves. They work really well. It's amazing to me how getting rid of the commercial lotion and mainstream detergent fixed a 20 year problem in 3 weeks (and has kept it gone for over a year now).

[Summer]

I've got to chime in about T-Tapp, since I'm the one who urged you to try it in the first place! I've now got a blog devoted to T-Tapp, http://befabulous.typepad.com/ttapper/ , and the first entry is all about my personal history and success with it. (The blog doesn't have as many entries as I'd like, but that's a function of being swamped with work.) I also was named a winner in the 60 Day Challenge over the summer, so I have a winner's page up on the T-Tapp website: http://t-tapp.com/challenge2007/summerj/default.asp
It's got photos, so you can see the changes over the two month period... and the essay posted there reveals just how LITTLE T-Tapp I did over that period.

Libraryhead, I'm not surprised that you found the workout bewildering. All I can do is urge you to keep trying, and to focus as much as you can during the workout. One of the things that T-Tapp does is build a connection between brain and body (neurokinetic connection) and so it takes a while, in my experience at least, to go from the "going through the motions" stage to the "oh, THAT'S what it's supposed to feel like" stage. After years of doing T-Tapp, I'm still frequently having those "oh, that's what it's supposed to feel like" moments... I'm still building, still getting better, still able to push myself a little bit farther each time.

Thy, your comment about it being boring has inspired me to write a post on befabulo.us/t-tapper about how to beat the boredom. It is a real problem, and there are solutions.

[michaela]

Ok, T-Tappers, I am totally intrigued. Tell me what you need to do to actually do the workout -- do you need to be in yoga pants & workout gear? Do you get sweaty (ie, need a shower afterwards)? How, literally, do you fit it into your routine (ie, before work, at the end of the day, whatever). I need to actually envision myself getting thru the logistics in order to fit this into my day.

[giddy]

Another T-Tapp comment--I also tried it based on combined recommendations from Summer and Moxie. I did it faithfully last Feb through July (when a fateful summer vacation got me off my routine!) and have started up again just last week. It's definitely true that it takes awhile before it starts to feel "right"--I tried to skip Primary Back Stretch at first because I hated it but now I do it whenever my back is sore and feel so much better!

Last year, I didn't lose any weight while I did it; in fact I think I gained, but I felt much stronger and leaner. I did lose inches although nothing too dramatic (half inch here, half in there.) I think I must have replaced some fat with muscle. I'm hoping to be more dedicated this time around as I could stand to lose the last 10 pounds of baby weight. (Actually, I had LOST IT but it came back when I weaned......)

Another bright spot is that T-Tapp has defniitely been a mood-lifter for me. (That is in fact the major reason I started.)

I will look forward to Summer's post on beating the boredom, though.....Also how about something on when to fit it in. Summer once mentioned that she gets a better workout if she doesnt' do it at o'dawn thirty, and I'm the same way (I have actually tried doing the morning workouts and often end up sitting and watching, zombie-like, whereas later in the day I can manage to actually do it). But later on in the day, showers and having to get re-dressed becomes annoying.

ANYWAY. My take is that once you get familiar with the workout T-Tapp is definitely great for you. You may or may not lose a lot of weight. I suspect that if I were more dedicated and eating better, that I would lose some. I definitely feel good when I'm doing it, though, and feel stronger and like I look better (whether I do or not), and I think that alone is worthwhile. So jump in!

[Moxie]

@Michaela: Here's Summer's famous post on how to get started with T-Tapp: http://befabulous.typepad.com/ttapper/2007/12/how-to-get-star.html

I do it when I get up in the morning. I put on a pair of shoes, do my 15 minutes, and then get in the shower. You need elastic waist pants (or no pants) but I can do it without a bra on. You need to be wearing supportive shoes, though. Cross-trainers with stability are best.

If I wake up late or a kid wakes up before I do, I just do it at night before I go to bed.

[Shelley]

I e-mailed Moxie about T-Tapp about a year ago, and tried it at her encouragement -- the T-Tapp website alone looks very much like an infomercial, and reading the forums can make you convinced that people are drinking way too deeply of the Kool-Aid.

Here are the things I like:
-you need 5 sq. ft. of space, a DVD player and a TV -- NOTHING ELSE
--it's not dance-y, there's no jumping, it's literally no impact
--you can do a 15-minute workout or a 50-minute workout
--it's done at home rather than at a gym
--it gets harder rather than easier as you go along, so I know it's still working
--Teresa Tapp is MUCH less irritating than the leaders on most workout tapes

Things I don't like:
--Cheesy production values (bad music, bad logo, so-so video quality)
--The continual hawking of supplements whenever there's a water break
--it is totally confusing, trying to figure out which workout you should buy just from looking at the website (read Summer's blog for help on this)

And best of all, it works. I feel a lot more toned overall, but especially in my trunk -- there are muscles there that have never been there, even before I had a kid. I've lost inches in my abdomen especially, which is the place I was really looking to lose. It is a very well-organized, thought-out series of exercises that work every muscle in your body, and I get a much better workout than if I were trying to come up with some gym regime on my own.

As far as the health benefits part of it -- all the neuro-kinetic mumbo-jumbo -- this sounds like snake oil to me, and I'm less convinced about the health benefits of T-Tapp vs. regular exercise of any kind. I'm also really skeptical about the T-Tapp supplements (would love to see the "clinical proof" behind the enzyme spray stuff, for example). But there are lots of sincere-sounding people on the forums who claim T-Tapp has brought improvements in all kinds of health issues, from IBS to diabetes to MS, and if they feel it works for them, who am I to argue?

On boredom -- I've invested in one more T-Tapp video beyond the Total Workout (Hit the Floor), and intend to get others to be able to switch it out a little bit.

[Emily]

Re: T-Tapp (and Summer, I wrote you about this once too).

I see, intellectually, that it's a good workout. I understand that it helps me with posture and flexibility and that it is the best thing ever for my back. But I cannot get it to do more for me than that. I started last March, and was pretty dedicated about it (combining with other forms of activity). In September I decided to give it a real try, and joined an online class with a trainer. She was great, and the class was great, and I felt like I was doing good things with my body. BUT
- I miss the burn. I don't sweat with T-Tapp (in general, I don't sweat easily) or feel like I do after a run, even when I push myself. I miss those endorphins.
- I lost an inch or two total, and I think on the whole I put some weight on that I am not happy about.

So together, I see that it's good PT-like activity - life is better when I do the back stretch every morning, for sure - but I can't rely on it for exercise/weight loss. I really wish I could and I don't understand what's not working.

[PrehistoricMama]

On T-Tapp...I bought 2 of the videos based on recommendations here and reading about it thoroughly (including reviews from health/fitness literature). I've been doing the introductory video for 3 days now, and I already feel different. I have about 50 pounds to lose, but I also want to regain flexibility and strength.

I had some neck/back pain before the 1st workout, and by the time the 15 minutes was up, the pain was gone. Don't mean to sound all "You are healed!" about it, but that's what happened.

I know it's only been 3 days, but I adore the fact that I don't have to make an hour+ time commitment. I like that I have to concentrate throughout the video, instead of just going through the motions.

Teresa has some of the workouts up on YouTube if anyone wants to check them out for free before buying.

I'll check back when I've been doing it for longer, but so far, I love it and am already planning to quit Weight Watchers (which wasn't working for me, in any case).

[michaela]

SOLD! I just ordered the book and am planning to follow Summer's instructions from there. My daughter has been getting up at the frickin' crack of dawn lately, so I will either entertain her with this or (more likely) do it in the evening before the sanity-saving glass of wine.

I hope writing this here and hitting publish will inspire me to follow through...

[Shandra]

Re: dreams... I actually counted it a victory when my dreams changed from lost the baby/baby death/where's the baby/can't find my baby/lost my baby-now-stranger-teenager-to-me/did I mention LOST THE BABY dreams into anything veering towards normal. Normal for me includes the full range including sexy dreams.

So I think it's normal. :)

[Julie]

I spent a lot of time doing Instructional 1 and 2 before moving on to the total body workout or basic workout plus. Just hearing Teresa go through all the moves in detail helped me tweak my body a little bit here and there so that I could feel the burn. But ya, you don't get the drenched sweat thing you might get with a good 30 minute run. She recommends you do only t-tapp for the first 30 days, then after that you can incorporate some other beloved cardio and/or weight stuff if you choose. A big part of it is the sequence and order of moves and changing your body from the inside to the outside, so many changes you might feel before you see them.

I have bought Intermediate Tempo and the Ladybug Workout as supplements to the Total body and Basic workout plus. I hear that Tempo has fewer water breaks and ads for the PG spray. I'm waiting for them to arrive in the mail.

I usually do the workouts after Alex has gone to bed. One surprising side effect of the workouts is that my appetite has actually decreased. I am not AS hungry after doing the Basic Workout as I would be if I had just been sitting on the couch. So I'm making better food choices during that crucial window between 5 and 8 PM. On weekends I do the workout during naptimes. It's much easier for me to motivate to do it then than after bedtime....mostly b/c I like to climb into bed shortly after Alex does. But it's easier to motivate to do it because you feel so much better afterwards. And if it's a day when I don't have time to shower again, I'll just do the basic workout.....and while I get warm doing it, I'm not sweaty and it's not that gross to just throw my clothes back on and resume my day.

Working out - like many other things is personal to each and every person. But as a former gym rat, if you are having a hard time finding the time as a new (or not-so-new) mom, it's worth a try, and can be challenging for people who are relatively (or even extremely) fit. I have found Summer's blog extremely helpful and am waiting for her new post. Every body is different. Every person has a different fitness level and more importantly a different muscle memory. I did not expect to lose many - if any - inches for a while since I didn't have that many to lose in the first place. It gets you moving....and as a mommy that is so important.

:) Good luck and I am LATE for a meeting!

[Cecily T]

Yay! I was on the brink of writing Moxie for info on T-Tapp b/c as a fitness instructor, it DOES sound way too commercially, pie-in-the-sky too-good-to-be-true on the website. It also doesn't explain very much about the technique on the site. I'll be checking out the Youtube videos for sure.

Umm...the topic says something about eczema, and I don't see an item #2 in the post...is something missing?

[Carrie]

Where's number 2? I would love some eczema info.

Yes, I have the sex dreams. As another poster said, they are much better than the lost the baby dreams.

I'm a gym rat but never lose any weight. I may have to give this T-Tapp thing a try. I'll never give up the gym, though. Cheap child care for "me time"!

[Alice]

T-Tapp comment.

Disclaimer: I am a T-Tapp Trainer.

I have to say that you have to be careful not to latch on to the 'quick inch loss' part of the program. I am what is known as a slow loser. Very slow! Being a combo body type will do that (body typing helps you recognize your best features, and what moves are great for your problem spots, and just make syou feel good about yourself.)

I have just finished a long Bootcamp (where you do the workout day after day). I have NEVER been able to do this in my 5 years of T-Tapping, because I get bored, very bored. So I changed things up. Variety with the different workouts helped.

Most people that you read about who do an insane 14 day bootcamp lose bunches of inches. Well I lost about 2 inches in 14 days. Am I disappointed? Sure that I didn't lose 15+ inches, BUT I feel awesome!! I feel so wonderful in my skin, and that is saying a lot for me. Feeling great about who you are and your body is the best thing about T-Tapp. I don't know why this happens but it does.

Please, PLEASE DO NOT do a 14 day bootcamp. I have been doing this for 5 years and this is the FIRST time I have done it. It is hard, and your form will suffer a little.

I tell you what you need to do the workout - a bra, knickers shoes and socks and a full length mirror. Seriously. I work out 10 times harder when I can see my body. Not pretty but it makes you work!

In the ideal world this is the order that I would highly recommend you are introduced to T-Tapp.

The workout IS very overwhelming even for those who are Pilates fans. The instruction on the 'Instructionals' (of the Total Workout) is great, IF you have an idea of what Teresa is talking about.
So if you have the patience, here is what I highly recommend.

1 - Get the book --- fantastic reference material, but it's hard to workout from it.
2 - Get the 'Yes You Can' DVD --- It gives you a wonderful overview to the program, you get to try a couple of exercises are introduced to Teresa and the workout cadence.
3 - Step Away the Inches. --- Great way to start the program. (Also whows you what you can do when you are walking around your neighborhood with the kids.)
4 - MORE program --- This has great instruction, goes slow and is 20 minutes long. (You can do MORE a minimum of 4 days in a row and that's considered a Bootcamp.)
5 - Then get into the Total Workout
6 - Add other workouts.

Yes that seems an excessively slow introduction to the program. But by doing that you will also add variety to your program.

When you get to doing the Total Workout, you have already got MORE and Step Away, so you can design a weekly program that gives you variety, by throwing either of those in during the week. Plus go to the website and check out the 'Try before you Buy' section to get some floor exercises which you can add too.

This will keep you mentally challenged - the physical challenge comes from going to you max every time you workout (this is much easier said than done.)

I cannot recommend highly enough getting onto the forums and asking for help, searching the databases and lurking. They are the most friendliest bunch of people I have met!

Personal note: I am a trainer, but am human, I fell off the T-Tapp train badly while pregnant. I didn't want to do it because I was bored with it, and feeling crappy about myself. My daughter is 13 months old now, and I'm finally back on the train, and I feel great for it.

T-Tapp works, but ONLY if you are consistent and patient. 2 things that the majority of us have problems with.

Good Luck.

[Laura]

When I first started nursing and my nips were soooo sore, I had a dream/nightmare that crazed pointy-toothed kittens were gnawing on my nipples. I woke up in a cold sweat!

I've had the more thrilling type, too. Nothing wrong with that!

[Julie]

Alice....when are there going to be some clinics in Southern California?????? I'm dying to attend one!!!

[AK]

Um, what about the eczema? Whatever it was to be, I would be interested.

[Julie]

Number 2 was there this morning...but now it's gone. Something about if your child has eczema to email Moxie if you are interested in being contacted by a company who is demoing a new all natural (? I think...don't remember) cream for that. Strange that it was there and now it's not.

[Tzipporah]

WHat happened to #2 - Eczema? Your list goes from 1 to 3...

[hedra]

My guess is that Moxie pulled the 2) item after getting enough people (or more than enough) to try out the cream. Otherwise, she'll have 12,000 emails asking about it. I'll suppose she'll clean up the post later.

As for the health benefits, I know next to Nada about T-Tapp, but if it works the small muscles in the core, with rotation and smooth movement through various positions, then it probably has similar long-term benefits to tai qi, which has been shown to do things like change blood sugar processing in diabetics, improve digestion, improve liver function, yadda yadda, presumably by improving circulation and providing 'massage' (by rotation/flexion of core) of the organs. BUT, if the organ function wasn't 'part of the problem' then tai qi (or T-Tapp) won't give you the same solution as it would for someone for whom that WAS the main issue. Kind of like getting chiropractic adjustments won't make some huge change for you if your spine wasn't out of alignment for long or significantly (at least in any immediately obvious sense). You still might get other benefits, regardless, but results will vary by not just whether you're doing it and how much, but whether the systems it affects most directly were the ones that were central to whatever health issues you had. If that makes any sense at all.. The 'wow this really makes me feel better' vs. 'okay, it's good but not life-altering' kind of reactions ring a bell - people who do tai qi say much the same things.

Still sticking with tai qi, for me. Like the meditativeness, and the type of movement. Sweating optional, but I can break a sweat just by 'deepening' my stance.

[Simone]

Had the sex dreams, too. Not ever while *actually*, since that was always a big logistical nightmare for me and I never got to do it while sleeping, but during the timeframe that I was, I know I had more of them. Though, I still get them, and I think if I thought about it hard enough I could trace it to hormone levels, which would make sense about the nursing thing. So yeah, normal. Woo hoo!

As for T-tapp, never tried it, or heard of it before Moxie. But, I used to be skeptical of those "as seen on TV" informercially type of things. UNTIL, I bought one. What I can say is that any of these programs can be sucessful if you work it into your life in a way that's manageable and can be implemented long term. I did Slim in 6, and LOVED it. No, I didn't do the crazy supplements or even the strict diet. But did the workouts (love Debbie Sievers), and got over the cheap production stuff here, too. But I took what I could from the program, and ended up 20 lbs. lighter in 6 weeks and now, 8 months later am down 43 lbs. My husband took to the tape because he can pick it up anytime and it's pretty straight-forward. So I imagine the T-tapp thing to be the same type of thing for people that take even a piece of it seriously.

[pnuts mama]

just wanted to chime in with shandra that it was a welcome relief to go back to boring sex dreams (ahahaha) vs. "baby in peril" dreams for awhile. although we never really did nurse while i was asleep deep enough for a dream, that i can remember, but honestly, all that sleep deprivation has really taken a toll on the memories from back then.

and thanks, ladies, for not making me feel like such a dull person that when i *do* have those dreams, it's about the guy sleeping next to me, and not some anonymous stranger. normal is nice.

[Moxie]

I took off number 2 about asking for eczema cream testers because I'd gotten way too many and didn't want anyone else emailing in only to have their hopes dashed.

But we will be posting the results of the eczema cream testing once it happens.

[veggiewarrior]

I'm a huge T-Tapp fan! Amazingly, it has done all it's promised for me. I'm in the "little to lose" catagory. I went down 2 pant sizes. A very tight 6 (I really should have been in 8s) back down to a size 2. Before I get lynched for admitting those numbers I'll say that I am extremely short and petite. If you're over 5' tall a size 6 is quite small. It wasn't on my tiny frame and I had no muscle tone or energy. I haven't done any measuring or weighing but I am now able to wear a pair of pants that I haven't fit in for several years. It's the one pair of "skinny" pants I never donated. What I love about T-Tapp is that I can do it without changing into workout clothes. I wear whatever I happen to have on (jeans, dress pants, even skirts) and just change into socks and athletic shoes. That really helps me. I think the kiss of death on other workouts I've tried has been the need to change clothes and wear a sports bra, then feel stinky afterwards and need to change clothes back (and take a shower). I don't have the energy for all of that. The initial cost was very high for us (we're on a really tight budget) but it was way less than joining a gym and is worth every penny.

[mollyball]

I bought the T-Tapp book to start, but when I watched the free DVD at the back I was really grossed out by the "organs in place" exercise. So grossed out that I wasn't able to make myself do it. Now, I'm pretty squeamish, but still--it did seem a bit weird. Didn't it? Did anybody else find shoving their organs "into place" sort of weird? It turned me off the whole experience, to be honest. But after hearing about everybody's great experiences, I really want to try again. But still.. organs in place? I don't know...

[thalia]

I haven't done t-tapp, but the organs in place exercise alone is enough to make me deeply sceptical as it's utter nonsense medically. Also, not clear to me that she does videos etc in non-US formats, which rules it out for a considerable proportion of non-US ppl. All in all, not convinced, much as I'd love an exercise routine that I could fit into looking after the baby!

[Shelley]

I share your rolled-eyes reaction to the organs in place thing -- but what that does is sort of help you locate your stomach muscles. Here's a quote from one of the forums:

"She explained to me that when we do OIP we are really moving our transverse abdominus muscle. That is the muscle that forms the bottom of our internal girdle. As we age, gravity pulls on our body, and this muscle "falls". So, in OIP, we manually pull the muscle up back where it is supposed to be to complete the bottom of our internal girdle."

I don't know about the non-US formats of DVDs, but I know they have some with German and French voiceovers -- I'd call the office on that one.

[anonanna]

Re: the dreams:

That time of the morning (6 to 8), I find to be the most active for vivid dreams of all types. I think the nursing is only coincidental, or perhaps only a small part of the equation. Either way, totally normal, not weird.

[anonymous]

I find that masturbating while pumping gets me an extra good letdown. Hey, why not, it's not like anyone is watching. Have to have that hands-free bustier though.

[Anon]

That's amazing! That's why I have those intense dreams about ex-boyfriends and my husband. And they are mighty sexy and they do happen when my son co-sleeps. Very interesting.

I used to get a tingle up and down my left leg when I'd nurse that side only and fall asleep when he nursed the right side.

Does anyone else find that if they have to pee even a little bit that nursing makes the needing to pee more intense and sort of fluttery? Or am I crazy?

Fascinating.

[Lisa C.]

I'm a T-Tapp fan but I've fallen off the wagon big time. I'm a combo bordering on long torso and what Alice said upthread is really true for me. I lose inches, but fairly slowly and with little size change. I was really hooked in by the "lose 2 sizes!" thing and while I understand why that didn't happen for me, it took some of the shine off the program. Intellectually I know it's a good workout, so that's not my problem with it at all. I also echo the other comments on boredom - it can be a very, very boring workout.

The thing that turns me off the most to it right now is the level of concentration it requires. Whenever I think of doing it I just get so discouraged because I know I don't have the mental wherewithal to really do it right.

I still think it's a very worthwhile program, but I wish I'd had more success with it.

[marypoppins]

Wished I had the sex dreams. In a year, I've probably had 2, and no sex drive even though my periods have started recently. Very very little self stimulation either. Just not feeling horny at all. Gosh how long does it take to get your mojo back? Still breastfeeding way to much at a year. Imagine this contributes heaps.

[Kay]

@Laura - re the dream/nightmare that crazed pointy-toothed kittens were gnawing on my nipples - it happened to me in real life!

We got a small kitten so now there are four in the bed.

I woke up one night to sharp pain that I thought was my daughter slipping off my nipple. When I quickly tried to detach her, there was only the kitten staring at me. I can only imagine she must have decided to try it out!

[whererumojo?]

@marypoppins. I'm hearing ya. No mojo here either. My poor husband is gagging for it. Oddly, felt quite horny 2 weeks after birth - seeing him all caring with the baby but was way too battered and bruised, obviously. Since then, a combination of sleep deprivation, a touch of PPD, huge, dripping boobs and probably hormones, means I am so not up for sex. (it probably doesn't help that I need to pluck my eyebrows, get my roots done and shave my legs - although DH doesn't seem to mind). Hope my sex drive didn't come out with the placenta.

[super wicked anon]

Hmmm... I had trouble nursing my son. Here's the thing, for reasons I don't want to get into now, I'm super protective/sensitive about my breasts. My husband doesn't really ever get to touch them, not even during sex, b/c it makes me *very* uncomfortable (mentally, not physically) When my son was born, nursing him was sort of an invasion of that space, and I hated it. But then I was plagued by guilt for *not* nursing him. I tried to tell myself over and over that nursing was not sexual, but it didn't feel that way (mentally) and I was too ashamed to talk to anyone about this. Now I'm pregnant again, and facing this pressure to nurse again... and this post is totally freaking me out. I know it's supposed to be light-hearted, so I don't want to rain on that. But this is a problem for me, and I have felt secretly crazy over this, for such a long time...

[Dawn]

re: sex dream -

I read this yesterday and when I woke up this morning, I started laughing b/c SAME THING just happened to me!

Not a horrible way to start off a day :)

[sam]

@super wicked anon - I think everyone wld agree that nursing is absolutely NOT sexual and this sex dream thing does not happen to everyone. It's never happened to me.

If you decide not to nurse your baby DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. You must do whatever makes you feel happy and healthy in order to raise a happy and healthy baby. Babies do just fine on formula. Don't beat yourself up if you choose not to. Good luck!

[cloud]

super wicked anon- lots of babies eat formula and do just fine. If you really want your baby to get breastmilk but really can't face nursing, have you considered pumping? I have several friends who have had to do this due to the baby having early problems latching and then never really taking to the boob. They say it is a pain, but doable. Also, you could always mix a "baby cocktail" of breastmilk and formula. Getting some breastmilk in will give you a lot of the benefits (like fewer ear infections). It doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing.

Of course this only works if you don't mind it when you touch your breasts.

Personally, I think the most important thing is for the baby to have a mommy who is as unstressed as possible, and if the breastfeeding thing stresses you out, there is no shame in formula.

[rudyinparis]

Just want to chime in with support for Super Wicked Anon. Oh, what a bummer that you even need to be thinking about this at such a happy time. Pumping may be a good option, just like Cloud says. But nursing and breastmilk may not work for you at all, and you have your own reasons and those reasons are no one else's dang business. You take care of yourself, okay?

[Julie]

I agree. We pumped and gave bottles exclusively, though A nursed at night. He's 2+ years old (weaned at close to 12 months) and the boobs are still off limits. It's just TOO WEIRD for me. But then they were never super-sensitive anyways. It bugs my husband that the nipples are a no-man's land....but hey. It's either play by my rules or don't play at all. He usually shuts up about it after a little while.

Don't feel pressure to nurse if the sensation makes you crazy. LOTS of babies get formula, or a combo between breastmilk and formula and they grow up to be happy, healthy contributors to society. Do what's best for you and don't apologize to anyone about it.

[yet another Jen]

Hey, anonymous pumping masturbator, that is so totally awesome. Way to make pumping less of a chore! And the fact that you get more milk that way, well. Win-win.

And I agree with the comments supporting super wicked anon's feelings about nursing. If nursing is going to make you feel uncomfortable and weird, that's your business. Plenty of people who don't have breast issues give formula. You should go ahead and do what's right for you, and if people give you a hard time, that's their problem. Your issues are none of their business. Having said that, I am suddenly wondering if maybe feeding your child with your boobs would be a way to help overcome whatever the issue is? But if that's not going to work, forget I said anything! And also, if you decide to go the formula route and you ever feel bad about it, just come over here to Ask Moxie and we'll all make you feel better. A happy and comfortable mama is the important thing, not formula vs. boobie juice.