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I’ve been experimenting a lot lately with at-home workout options since it can be difficult to make time to get away to a gym with five kids. I recently tried a workout called T-Tapp at the recommendation of a friend.
If you aren’t familiar with T-tapp, it is a short workout system that *looks* very easy and makes claims to boost weight loss, lymph function, flexibility, and more.
I’d heard T-Tapp mentioned in several places online before and was skeptical. When I saw “bio-hackers” like Bulletproof Exec mentioning the T-Tapp system and claiming that it:
- “Is the fastest weight loss workout we’ve ever seen
- Detoxifies the body
- Increases insulin sensitivity, which promotes loss of excess weight
- Reduces stress
- Skyrockets energy levels and mental clarity
- Boosts metabolism
- Improves cardiovascular function
- Helps the brain gain better control over the body (builds neurokinetic function)
- Takes just 15 minutes”
I was intrigued. To be perfectly honest, my first impression of the T-tapp system was that it was kind of an aerobic class type system that most men wouldn’t be caught doing. These bio-hackers specialized in finding the systems for health and wellness that take the least amount of time and produce the biggest results. These are people who are in excellent shape and who I’d expect to be focusing on lifting really heavy weights… and they were doing Hoedowns with Theresa Tapp.
I decided to at least try T-Tapp, though I was still skeptical (again with the whole “looking like an aerobics class” thing). I resolved to actually try the system the way she recommends and post my results.
T-Tapp Claims
T-Tapp claims to be an anti-aging weight loss and fitness system. While many forms of exercise can have weight loss benefits and muscle building effects, some of them can actually speed up aging (especially endurance activities done for long periods of time).
It claims to be low-intensity, muscle toning and good for hormone and insulin levels. For reference, Theresa (the creator of the system-pictured above) is 55 and claims to have done no other forms of exercise for the last 20 years. It also be claims to be gentle on the joints and to tone even the inner core muscles that are often very hard to target.
The T-Tapp System
The T-tapp System was created by Theresa Tapp through her work with rehabilitating patients with joint problems, edema, swelling due to medication, and more. Theresa has a back injury herself that she got as a child and that resulted in three fused disks in her back. She found that proper alignment and posture were vital for her to be pain free and her system focuses very strongly on form and posture.
The T-Tapp system is no-impact and truly anyone can do it. I’ve been doing it during pregnancy and it has been both the easiest and most effective pregnancy workout I’ve ever tried.
The basic system truly only takes 15 minutes and while it takes a little while to get the coordination down, it isn’t physically straining, though it does get the heart rate up and stretch muscles!
The focus is on proper alignment and core muscle strength rather than high impact and endurance. I think many people can benefit from this system and that it is particularly valuable for anyone with adrenal exhaustion or medical conditions that prevent them from doing most physical activity.
The system basically involves doing a series of careful movements with a focus on posture and holding a particular form during the entire workout. The most “difficult” part of the workout is “hoe-downs” which really do raise the heart rate and which she has found to help regulate blood sugar levels, balance hormones, and boost weight loss. As crazy as it sounds, I was amazed at how great they work. Here is a preview of hoe-downs:
Without watching the instructional, the hoe-downs don’t make much sense, but she explains the reason for the posture and how to do the exercises correctly.
My Experience with T-Tapp
As I said, I tried the system somewhat skeptically. I thought that the system seemed too easy to work and that it looked rather strange. I tried what she recommends for the system: Doing the basic workout for 4 days in a row and then every other day for a month.
I measured myself before and after to see if there were any size results. Theresa is not a fan of using a scale to measure progress (I’m not either) since increased muscle (or *ahem* being pregnant) can skew weight measurements. I lost 1/2 to 1 inch in most areas of my body (stomach aside). I’ve definitely become a big fan of the system, especially during pregnancy, as I back off weight training and really high intensity during this time, T-Tapp seems like a great way to keep in shape.
As for how it stacks up to the claims:
- “Is the fastest weight loss workout we’ve ever seen (I didn’t weigh myself but did notice a difference in inches and my posture)
- Detoxifies the body (Logical after trying it, especially since I had some die-off symptoms the first few days including congestion along with the sluggish lymph-drainage feeling)
- Increases insulin sensitivity, which promotes loss of excess weight (Tested this and it does)
- Reduces stress (I found that it was a great stress buster and looked forward to it each time)
- Skyrockets energy levels and mental clarity (surprisingly, yes)
- Boosts metabolism (check- I was already more hungry from being pregnant, but I noticed I was eating a lot more on T-Tapp days but didn’t gain size)
- Improves cardiovascular function (Increases heart rate, so this makes sense)
- Helps the brain gain better control over the body (builds neurokinetic function) (Yep, but takes a while to get the hang of it and not look ridiculous while doing the exercises!)
- Takes just 15 minutes (Really does!)
A couple things surprised me… I actually really enjoyed the T-tapp workout, even though I did feel rather dumb doing some of the exercises, and I looked forward to doing it. I love that it focuses on alignment and posture and have noticed improvements in my own posture (even when sitting at the computer) since starting it. I broke my leg as a child, and it was set with my foot pointing out, so my muscles have been trained that way and my left foot has always pointed slightly out. The other day, I was walking at the grocery store and noticed that my left foot was pointing forward, which I attribute partially to these exercises.
What surprised me the most though, was the blood sugar benefits! T-Tapp claims that it can drastically reduce blood sugar instantly. I found a lot of people who had first hand experience with this on diabetes and gestational diabetes forums, but wanted to test it myself. I monitor my own blood sugar periodically during pregnancy (instead of doing the glucose test) so I had a glucose monitor on hand.
To put the blood sugar lowering claim to the test, I purposefully ate a sweet potato, fruit, and honey in one sitting (I don’t normally eat this much starchy foods at one time!) and did a blood sugar reading about 10 minutes later to get a reading in the 140s. I then did the basic workout with the hoe-downs and took another reading immediately… this reading was back to my normal fasting level of 83! While I don’t have any blood sugar issues, it usually takes me over an hour to get back to a fasting level, sometimes longer with as much starch as I consumed, and I was able to do it in less than half an hour with the T-Tapp exercises.
I can definitely see the potential benefit for diabetics and pregnant women hoping to avoid gestational diabetes. I actually found accounts by diabetes who had been able to go off insulin by doing hoe-downs after every meal. At the least, normal low-impact exercise would not be harmful to diabetics and could only help.
My other favorite thing about T-Tapp is that it can be done in such little time each day and has no recurring cost like gym membership, making it an ideal system for people like me who stay at home with kids and have trouble making it to a gym each day. It also requires no equipment, extra room or fancy clothes (PJs work best in my opinion!)
I went from a skeptic to a T-tappvangelist after trying it myself. It literally costs as much as one month of gym membership where I live and takes less time. Even if a person wanted to buy all of Theresa’s materials, it would still be less than $200, which is the registration fee at the gym near me. Her products include:
- The Basic Workout Plus System (all you really need)
- The Total Workout System
- Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes (book)
If you struggle with weight loss, hormone problems, blood sugar, fatigue issues or joint pain, I’d definitely encourage you to try the T-Tapp system for 30 or 60 days to see if you notice the same benefits that I did! Not into T-tapp? Here are some other at-home workout ideas to try.
Have you ever tried T-Tapp? How did you like it? Please let me know below!
I’ve been researching adrenal fatigue, and I believe it may be the cause of my symptoms. I’d love to try this!
This is really good timing, as I am dealing with adrenal fatigue and can’t do intense (high-impact) workouts. Thanks for posting this… the winner will be lucky (and maybe it will be me! 🙂 )
I’m a runner/athlete as well as a Physical Therapist (and full time Mommy). I’m interested in trying the system out to see how it could work out. I’m always looking to incorporate new exercises into regimes for my patients (and myself) Plus, I love the focus on posture!
I needed to do low impact activities before, but now I also have adrenal fatigue so this sounds perfect!
I’m thirty eight I just had my third child he was born two months premature due to five kidney surgeries in my pregnancy,my grandson was born one day after my son and I would love to do this with my daughter as we both feel out of shape now..our babies are now seven months old and we wanna be as healthy as we can for the babies I really think this is safest for us to do.plus we dont have money to buy..
Although my “baby” is now 18 months old, I just recently have begun trying to get rid of my baby weight and get healthy. This program seems like the perfect thing for mom’s who need to get healthy, lose weight and balance within! I hope I win 🙂
I have been using the T-Tapp videos for about 14 years off and on. I love them! The exercises lift my mood and after 5 kids, helps to keep my lower abdomen flat. The exercises are also specifically targeted to give your muscles a long, lean look. I definitely have detox symptoms when I start back after not doing the exercises for a while, but they are mild and tell me the workout is doing good things for my body. T-Tapp offers longer workouts as well for variety.
I would love to try this to regain my body after having for children in the last set being twins 9 months ago. I need to get back on the health band wagon. my hips an absolute not been the same since having the boys and I would just love to get that back 🙂
I would love to
win this prize package. I recently went to my annual well woman exam, and
I was told that my progesterone levels were too low and she prescribed me some
bio-identical progesterone. I never filled the prescription because I am too afraid
of the side effects. I have been looking for ways to help naturally boost my
levels. Maybe this would help?
It very well might. Have you looked in to natural progesterone cream? When from a healthy source and used correctly, this can be a natural way to boost levels.
Hi Girls, I just saw your sight and wanted to respond concerning the progesterone cream. I am 66 years old and had never taken any hormones until I used the cream. I used it for a year and then got breast cancer. I was 58. Now, God only knows if that was the cause. But I would caution you to try to do something else.
That was the only thing that I had done differently in my life.
I did visit my surgeon recently, he is considered to be one of the best in Houston, TX., and he did say that eating sugar feeds tumors.
So for me, no hormones, eating less sugar and using T-Tapp for less stress is working. I am 8 years cancer free! Praise God!
Wellness Mama is right. Bioidentical progesterone cream is pretty neat stuff for naturally regulating hormones. Plus, because it is a cream, its easy to adjust your dose in case of side effects. You are lucky you have a doctor willing to prescribe it. Where I live, there is a waiting list a year long to see the bio identical hormone specialist.
bio identical hormones are healthy
I’m a kettlebell-er and I’d love to find something as brief that is at least somewhat as effective!
I am subscribed to your e-mail newsletter, and subscribed to your blog. I’d do the other entries, too, if I did any Twitter or Facebook, but I don’t.
I have looked at T-Tapp, and have wanted to try her videos for a long time. I was a little skeptical as well, so it was really nice to read your review. I especially appreciate that you checked your blood sugar levels. Thanks!
I bought the program after watching several YouTube videos. The program is different than what is represented on YouTube. I found it to be very low quality and almost impossible to exercise to because there is no music and she talks continually. And, the product is not returnable, I think because everyone would return it. In hindsight, I have spent more time looking at reviews and have found them eerily similar and suspect that most reviews are paid reviews to boost sales. Don’t waste your money.
I agreed with you, I have bought some videos in the 2005 and the prices where lower and the shipping decent, now they charge $ 29.00 to 39.99 and a ridiculous S&H price of $ 30.00. I think this is a smart woman and a very greedy one.
Angela & Susan-I have to agree, the website offerings are nothing but confusing and overpriced. The production values on the videos are low and she’s not a very good instructor (e.g., form is important, but she doesn’t show you what she’s doing; she doesn’t mirror; the backgrounds she chooses are so busy as to be distracting). All that said, referring back to the original article–all you need is that one 15 minute workout video. I got the book from the library and that filled in a lot of the gaps that are left if you rely only on the dvd. Finally, I really like the workout despite all the negatives. My experience is similar to that of Wellness Mama. I follow the workout video with the sound turned down and I’m usually ahead of her at the end so I can leave the room before she does that “signature move” with her thumb. If you’re still unsure, borrow the book and read it, then decide if you want to go on from there.
Shipping and handling was $3.30 when I checked.
Nice to see a very recent comment, Dana. Are you doing this? How is it going?
Oh my gosh, I cannot believe you say this about her and her program. The prices have gone up from 2005 to now, wow and no other business’s prices have increased. I have ordered several of her DVDs and have NEVER been gouged at all on shipping.
I happened to see your post. I have the T-Tapp Basic workout DVD as well a a few other T-Tapp DVDs. All the talking on the DVD is there to ensure you keep your form, which is exacting in this program. “Tuck butt, keep your knees out,” etc. is said over and over because you WILL lose form and not get the benefits of the exercises otherwise. Even with her constant instruction, you still CANNOT skip the instructional video – this is not a dive-in-and-jump-real-fast program. I agree that it is an adjustment to not have music on an exercise video and be able to sort of zone out in time to the rhythm. I have heard people who do weight training, distance running, or high-intensity aerobics say that they found those things to be easier than T-Tapp, because the constant focus on form is simply not required. I agree that T-Tapp DVD prices are high compared to others. On the other hand, you will not use them for a few weeks, get bored and be ready for something else. I’ve had mine for nearly ten years, and no matter how long you do the workouts, you will never “master” them, so you cannot get bored. As far as Teresa Tapp being greedy – she’s been offered the big infomercials and what not, and said no. So . . . please dust off those DVDs, start with the instructional, and see how you look and feel in 30 days. I don’t work for these people, so I gain nothing from this other than I know how you feel coming to this weird program for the first time, and I’m just here as a person who has come out the other side with deep respect for what it does. Good luck to you!
Jill, would you say the results deliver as far as toned and fit? Or would you say after years of doing these workouts results are “average mom body”?
For me personally, I’d never workout in any capacity, for any reason, other than appearance-based results. And not just maintaining size.
I’ve always found it impossible to see any gains unless I literally starve.
I have to respectfully disagree…I bought the program and love it. I’m not interested in music, I want an effective workout and if you listen to what she is saying, it’s important that she is talking; she is continually reminding you of body alignment, which is essential for the system to be effective. If you don’t have the proper alignment and positioning, the exercises just won’t be effective and you could actually hurt yourself. There are too many systems out there that do nothing but play music and leave you on your own, not considering the necessity for proper body alignment. Sure, you can bounce around to great music and not pay attention to proper form, but you won’t get what this program will give you if you take your time and do the exercises properly. I love the system, have been using it a week and a half, and am getting the moves down and actually feeling energized! My stomach is even beginning to flatten some, and that is a major achievement for me. It’s an affordable, fairly easy program and I am really loving it!
I LOVE Ttapp and have had my DVD’s for years and look forward to using it. I actually love that she talks continually as it is a constant reminder me to check my posture/stance etc. I don’t need high quality to have an instructor get me to move and feel good.
I have used her system for about 5 years and it works!!! After you get the understanding behind her workouts all other workouts don’t compare. Because she really is a teacher and give sheet understanding of what you’re doing
Now I’m going to do my T – Tapp!!