The November Shred Thread: all Jillian Michaels devotees welcome!

[ImogenQuy]

It's cold, it's dark, but that's not going to stop us pounding on through Jillian's many evil exercise programmes however much some of us may hate them. The goal is to be in shape and looking fabulous at this year's Christmas parties! Come on, you know you want to...

I'll join!!
I had all intentions of starting yesterday.. But at tail end of a cold which has left me wheezy.. I'm considering starting tomorrow and missing out the cardio for a few days so I don't have an asthma attack!

Yay a nov thread. Thanks imogen have been away blissfully exercise free. Am trying not to think about tomorrow morning's assault.

30DS L3D2 done. The muscle I pulled last week doing her f**ing one-legged burpees with pushup is still hurting, so I think I'll stick to the Shred tomorrow too before I go back to Killer Abs and have another go at the sodding burpees.

Welcome Poppiesway. I don't know anything about asthma management, I'm afraid, but during the summer when it was stupidly hot I skipped all or some of the cardio sometimes - it was definitely still more effective than not exercising at all.

Hope you had a lovely time, yadah.

Just the people I need to talk to. Is it possible to do any of Gillian's dvds with dodgy knees? I can't do any squats or lunges at the moment. Jumping around, running etc is fine, as is upper body stuff, planks etc but anything requiring flexing of the knees is agony at the moment.

Being treated by the physio and have been cleared for exercising but just not anything that hurts! And the weather is turning me right off running. I wondered whether it's worth unwrapping the GM dvds that have been sitting on my shelf for about 3 years……..

I'd like to join please I need to start shredding again with some clean eating.
What size weights does everyone use x

Thanks ShowMe, I thought that might be the case. I could try with the shadow boxing, and run on the spot instead of jump rope. Maybe I'll get the dvd on and just watch it through from the sofa to decide

At least in my own living room I can skip what I can't do, rather than feeling like an old crock in a group exercise class when I can't do half the stuff.

Hi I got to L1 D3 30DS and gave up, my excuse I need a sports bra I can't do star jump without holding on to my boobs. I used tins of beans for the weights

Shameless place marking as its a crazy start work day for me. Thanks for the new thread Imogen. I have that crazy obsessive tendancy tidy mind too, it was bugging me.

I'm place marking too. Although I might fit in a session this evening (if DH gets home in time to take DD to her swimming lesson).

Hi everyone!

I've done 30 ds and have recently started ripped in 30.I thought lvl 1 was quite easy but lvl 2 is so hard, no way am I going to be doing it for just a week.

I exercise with 1.5kg but sometimes grab my dp's (who also does JM ) 2.5kg for some exercises.

30DS L1D5 = done. First time in ages since August I've managed to do 2 consecutive days!

Hello all.
Well, my current go at Ri30 hasn't been going to plan (should have been on L3 by now) - last week I did two days of L2 but then we were doing more spring cleaning and somehow my exercise gear got boxed in behind a load of stuff moved out of DDs room, and she was on half term.... anyway, I did L1 again today, will prob do that tomorrow and then hopefully 3 days of L2 and carry on from there.

Welcome Annabel- the thing to do with weights is use whatever suits you that allows you to complete the sets with good form. You'll probably find that there are some moves (eg the anterior raise) where you'll want a low weight but others (eg bicep curls) you could manage quite a bit more. I've been doing this for quite a while and today used a range from 1.5kg up to 8kg(just one of those not a pair). If you don't have any weights then the sets of 1/2/3kgs might be appropriate (sports direct/argos/tk maxx usually have some) but if you've done this sort of thing before you might want a bit more.

MrWilly - sports bra is the most essential piece of kit IMO! - but if you don't have one you can always sub in some lower impact cardio for the time being, it'll still be way better than not doing it at all.

CQ - dodgy knees come up a lot - one of the things that has been suggested is that it helps if you can gradually strengthen the muscles which support the joint. IIRC balancing on one leg at a time can be good as it requires lots of small adjustments. Anyone starting JM remember - aching muscles are fine, but you should avoid hurting your joints - if you're not sure about squats/lunges practice them slowly to make sure you're doing them properly.

30DS L3 D3 done. I will know I'm really fit on the day I can do those jumping lunges as effortlessly as Natalie. Back to Killer Abs tomorrow. (Showme, you might want to try that one interspersed with the Shred: I've found it has made a difference to my waist, even though I still don't have a six-pack.)

MrWillyWonkasbitch, if I did those rock star jumps without a sports bra I'd have two black eyes! Definitely get a sports bra before you try again. (Ebay often have brand new ones much cheaper than the shops, by the way.)

Toizzy, if it's any consolation I thought L2 of Ripped was the hardest of the lot. Best of luck with it.

Ah well bit of a fail here - period induced. Am thinking of putting aside body Rev for the winter and doing Shred again as I am feeling quite oppressed by the routine of finding the time required for a 30-40 min routine at the moment. Don't hate me lambzig for postponing its completion. It is just feeling like I need the zing of spring to help me charge my way through it. I must be part bear, as the approaching winter is definitely making me feel increasingly hibernation bound.

I'm in! Am on Level 2 30 DS this week...

I did L2 of Ri30 today after all - had a bit of a back twinge which I think was probably caused by doing the second strength circuit of L1 with quite big weights (6kg pair for the deadlift/row, 8kg for the swing/good morning) so I thought I should avoid that.

Killer Abs L3D4 done. There are a couple of moves I just don't think I can do without hurting my joints - the clapping mountain climbers and some weird hops in bear crawl position (where all four limbs come off the floor at once). I've religiously tried to do them properly and it's hurting my elbows, so I think I need to do the modified version.

yadah, I'm part bear too - weekday mornings are feeling like such a treadmill at the moment and I'm really struggling. I get up, do my JM, empty the dishwasher, make coffee, drink coffee and post on here, get DS up, dressed and breakfasted and myself showered and dressed and then head out to work by 8.00. I don't want to do any of it: I want to hide under the duvet till March. And the diet has gone completely to pot: between dark mornings and work pressure, I can't face two fast days a week. Maybe I'll feel motivated to do it in the spring.

Errol, I'm in awe of your weight choices - I was feeling quite pleased with myself for getting up to 3 or 4 kgs for a handful of moves!

PS ShowMe I meant to say congratulations on completing the Shred!

Congrats Showme, well done. what next for you?

Yadah, I am horrified! I have to go into the unchartered territory of Phase 3 by myself? (I am far too anal 'tidy minded' to be able to start something else without finishing Body Rev.

I am having a slacker week. Admittedly I usually take Mon and Wed off as they are crazy long day in London days, but I also skipped yesterday due to feeling cold and it was foggy (pathetic excuse). Will try again tomorrow.

30DS L1 D1 done. I couldn't do all of the cardio moves; by the second circuit my legs were knackered. I loved the ab work but I know my legs and abs will kill tomorrow.

balls - try swapping the jump rope and butt kicks (so jumping jacks & butt kicks in circuit 1, the jump rope and boxing in circuit 2). I found this made the cardio much more doable in L1.

Thanks Oubliette, will do. (Great name BTW) I ended up stepping from side to side with the odd half-hearted kick towards my bum. I was very proud that I managed to do the final jump rope section. :)