Jillian Michaels' 6 week 6 pack - anyone want to (re)start with me?

A further NSV. I tried on my very small 7 For All Mankind skinny Roxanne in size 29. And they fit!! I had actually put them in the pile for chucking as there was no way I would ever wear them again. But no they fit.

Last time I wore those was August 2008 (pre DC and pregnancy). So over 5 years.

I did weigh about 5.5kg less than I do now. But I was less fit and most def had less muscle. All that lugging DC around and pushing heavily laden stroller over and up a gravel road every day (several times a day more like) and of course a few rounds of shred and 6w6p.

I actually cannot quite believe it. Even last autumn when I was just a little (circa 2kg) heavier than now, I couldn't even pull those jean over my thighes.

I know I am hogging the thread and going on and on but feck me. This is seriously amazing.

Am going to try lots of other clothes on from the "will never wear because I will never be that slim again" pile! Ooohhh. Wonder what else fits ?

That is certainly a NSV MrsF!

I'd love to try pole dancing too, but I suspect I'd be awful.

Well done wriggle! That's hardcore so early in the morning.

Cough and cold gone so no excuses left and I need to get back into it today.

Trucks. Pole dancing sounds good. Bet it's really hard. I've tried it once and I was really bad at it.

No one seemed to notice my tum at the party. I think they were too busy looking at my wardrobe malfunction!

Wore a pair of trousers I've not worn for 5 years. Turns out they were too big and kept slipping down. I spent much of the night showing my knickers. It was a NSV but not really the sort you dream of is it!

Still though a pair of size 12s falling off your back side isn't bad. I will temper it by saying the were by Day, Birger eat Mikkelsen and their sizes are Danish and generous. And a sort of a legging type jodhpurs trousers and elasticated waist. Still they were 12s and fell off.

L1D4 done this morning. Was up with DS at 5.40, so had a quick drink of water then put on my exercise gear (that I had put downstairs yesterday evening) and got on with it. Had to pause a few times to put slippers back on DS, fix toys etc, and some exercises were done with a toddler on my stomach! It's nice that it's done now though.

I think I'll do 15 lots of L1 before I move onto L2- she says 5x per week so 15 would be three weeks worth. 3-4 times a week is plenty for me!

Wriggle. I attempted a spider plank with a push up and fell flat on my face. 2 yo DS laughing saying "oh no mummy fall down".

May need to work on that!!

Had a look at ripped in 30. Hmmm. Interested.

Thanks for the welcome MrsF. Shocking that the nhs were no help at all with physio. Pregnancy is an absolute horror for the body for some people. Hope the coughs and colds are getting better now too.

L1D3 yesterday evening. I can do most of the exercises at intermediate level now but any crunches I struggle with. Planks I find ok, but I can't imagine ever being able to do the spider plank with a push up! I really need to work on push ups- I'd love to be able to do more than a couple of proper push ups.

I fancy Ripped in 30 too after this too. Hopefully a bit of variety can help keep it interesting. I like the look of this collection. I can see me ending up with a Jillian library at home! I just love how she motivates you- I always thought home DVDs were easy but certainly not these! Might try someone else's too- anyone got any recommendations (but not Davina- she annoys me too much).

Perhaps one day I'll work up the nerve to try Insanity!

Hi everyone. Welcome wriggle

I have had the last 6 days off due to bad cold and chesty cough. Not just me but DC as well. It's been miserable.

Hoping to get back to it by Sunday or Monday.

I think I want to do Ripped in 30 next. But I could just save my money and 6w6p again!

Argh decisions.

Trucks. Hope your back mends soon.

I can see what your chiropractor means about side lunge with a bend.

But then you can hurt yourself doing almost any exercise if you are not careful.

Trucks the exercises you copied for me for diastisis recti are the ones I have been doing with the physio. I've had extensive physio after both DC. Not just for the DR but also a problem with my SI joints (hip joints at the back). If I hadn't had that intensive physio, I would be in a wheelchair by now. Many with SI injuries end up in wheel chairs.

We had to pay for all my physio both times. The NHS offered me a wheel chair and opiate painkillers. And help with an application for a Blue parking badge!! Quite literally!

It's all fixable with physio (very expensive. We spent about £5k on physio). But hey it beats a wheel chair.

My stomach gap isn't there when the muscles are working. They come together completely. However because the gap was so large (8 fingers), then the membrane which holds both sides of the muscles together (towards each other) when the muscles are not working, has been torn completely around my belly button and one inch above and below.

This is what makes me look pregnant and makes my belly much bigger in the centre.

And it's getting to me!!

I know it shouldn't. But it does.

Am going to a 40th tomorrow and if a single person asks me if I am pregnant or congratulates me. I will not be happy. In fact I wish DH would go alone and I would stay at home with DC as I'd rather have a night in then the constant "oh congratulations or when are you due".

I must repeat: "I am a size 12 and not fat"!! And try not to cry

Did Blast Fat Boost Metabolism this evening, gosh I was sweaty after! Started off ok but was struggling at the end, don't think I would have had a chance if I hadn't done shred first!

Think I'll wait until the weekend for another 6w6p session now- fancy a rest day tomorrow.

Brilliant, thanks Trucks!
I have lower back problems and see a chiro once a month, who is amazing and has pretty much sorted me out, but I never thought to ask him specifically what to avoid! I'll post on the other thread now... thanks again and good luck with the return to 6W6P :)

Hiya Trucks!

I lurk here sometimes as I'm an avid reader of anything JM related!
What your Chiropractor said is really interesting. Would you mind very much if I posted that info on the other JM thread? (with due credit to you of course ) I think it would be useful for some of us on the other thread who sometimes have back trouble...

You guys are fantastic doing 6W6P - I reckon it's one of her hardest!

Yippee, glad you can get back on it Trucks. Yes, that side lunge doesn't feel good with weights.

Well, I did L1D2 today, manage the middle difficulty on most moves so feeling quite proud of myself. Afterwards had a fast walk up to collect DS from school so s bit of extra cardio there!

Had a protein shake after- only 120 cals a portion. Used them before and had really good weightloss results and it did seem to help muscle recovery. Does anyone else use protein powder at all?

Hi there, hope it's ok to jump in here- Trucks sent me over.

Finished 30DS yesterday, took a couple of months as I didn't do it every day. Started 6w6p today, again I'm only planning to do it 2-3 times a week, plus another Jillian DVD 1-2 times a week to mix it up a bit. I also walk a lot with school run and various playgroups. Plus I have a weighted hula hoop I like using in the evening if I'm not doing a workout.

I've been doing 5:2 since early July and lost just over a stone on it, plus half a stone before that from cutting out fizzy drinks. I'm now 9 1/2 st (bmi just over 21) and happy with the weight but want to tone up.

Thanks trucks:) mrs F I hope it helps you.

I have a tummy really, my waist is very defined. Its when I am side on its a bulgy thing. I think I need to up callenetics and go running. As well as the 6p6w.

Just swam today, for about 40 mins bs, punctuated with telling the dc to calm down:)

Lavender. I've had two CS as well. Overhang isn't too bad considering and is hidden even in fairly small knickers.

It's the middle of tummy around the central area (belly button height). That sticks out.

I've had extensive physio after first DC and again after 2nd. My seperation was 8 fingers both times.

Now when I test it laying down my muscles come together completely when I raise my head.

Problem is that the muscles don't function properly and sort of bow forward when I am upright. A mesh holding them together would help enormously I have been told. But I need to get back to pre pregnacy weight before they will recommend doing it. And I am 12lbs away from that.

I may need to wait even longer because my 2 yo still wants carried and I won't be able to lift for a couple of months afterwards. So may be next year

I'm just sort of desperate to look normal again.

Spanx don't hold my tummy in as it isn't just fat but muscle which is sticking out. I have tried a sort of corset thing which the physio gave me but that makes it look fm worse because it bulky and shows.

Argh.

From pregnancy I did expect weight gain (not 6 stone of it fromGD though!) and stretch marks and saggy boob and a wrinkly looser tummy. I did however not expect to look pregnant so much after the event without being able to hide it under clothes like you can with the rest of it.

I wonder what Jillian would say?? Dig deep? Fight for it?

Zing and Lavender. Thanks

Sorry. Last night was a bit ranty and drunk.

Zing wow 6 DC!!! How do you find time for a Jillian workout??!! Amazing.

And your fitness instructor friend. My tummy is like that. Out of proportion to the rest of me. I want to have the OP but I think I need my BMI to be 21 or they won't find the muscles for fat. I'd have to pay for it obviously but am prepared to do so.

Lavender. I low carbed for the first 7 months of this year. I did it hardcore at under 20g of carb per day. I lost a measely 7lbs. Fatty foods do not make me feel particularly full so I was eating v low carb and burning fat as fuel. Unfortunately it wasn't body fat I was burning but the fat I ate. I tracked on mFP and I could easily notch up 3000 cals a day on low carb in order not to feel hungry. I gave it a good go but it wasn't overly effective for me. I feel less deprived on 5:2 than low carb.

Mrs F, will the muscle separation change, or do you have weight to lose to have an op, if that's what you want? I have had 2 cs, and have an overhang which is slowly - very slowly- getting better but I have quite a lot of loose skin at the side- sounds lovely, eh?! I am on the LC bootcamp with BIWI on here and that has worked wonders and I strongly recommend it.

I think Pilates and/ or callentics have been the best thing, done every day, inconjuction with other activity or not, for the tummy, plus drinking enough water, low carbing. I also self massage my body and use lots of body oil and lotion, manicures, pedicures, clothes that suit me, and hair done. I look nice- obviously I might be a surprise when naked! But seeing as I am married my dh has seen it all. So I keep up the illusion, sometimes with the aid of spanx.

I think I need to do something else as well as Gillian 6p6w, and keep forgetting to do Pilates in the evening. I am very boring at the moment as I am off alcohol for a bit to loose weight, so go to bed early.

and someone a vaguely know came up to me in Tesco on Monday and patted my belly "oh, how lovely that you are having another one"

I happened to met her a few weeks ago too. she did the same thing. I told her both times that I'm not pg just fat.
she was very apologetic and embarrassed.

I just laughed.

I actually don't care anymore. I don't even get upset.
at least I have a good excuse and 6 beautiful children to show for it.

MrsF

a friend of my is a fitness instructor and health fanatic.
after her DC4 was born she couldn't wait for the muscle separation to return to normal and started exercising way too early - this damaged and set the muscles 4 inches apart!
no-one needs an extra 4 inches around the waist and she is tiny so looked quite out of proportion (as the rest of her body is incredibly fit and toned) - but it was a huge problem from the core strength POV!
(both personally and professionally)

she had an op done to bring the muscles back to pre-kids position.
her abs look great now!

so do investigate what's available!

I have an overhang above C-Section scar . It's lopsided. my belly looks like a crooked smile.
I don't know if it will ever look reasonable.
and I have so many stretch marks from 6 pgs that I worry that if I ever loose weight my skin will look very wrinkly, like deflated balloon.
in fact that is part of the reason part of me prefers to stay fat

it's shit, isn't it?

Evening all. You sound like you live in lovely climates. Although wearing a bikini in public is non longer an option for me. My tummy will never look that normal again. Even a tummy tuck couldn't help that mess

Been at Jillian again and digging in and digging deep over the last few
Days.

Results are good. Cannot fault the Jillian Michaels workouts at all. It will certainly help make the best out of the mess that pregnancy, gestational diabetes and birth (cs's) have left me with.

In fairness it's pretty good compared to how it looked the only crappy area is my tummy for just over the belly button to just over pubic hair/bone/cs overhang. The rest of me looks good.

I do need a fricking miracle for the tummy though. Any of you know of any??

Oh well. It is what it is. And I'll just have to learn to live with it and disguise it best I can.

Problem isn't just saggy skin and overhang, it's that around my belly button my tummy sticks out in a pregnant sort of looking way. I know it's the muscle separation. I thought exercise and weightloss would make it better but it doesn't. I just look more pregnant as the rest of me shrinks. It's the only area not to lose any inches.

Can you tell it's pissing me off??!!!

I've been bad and had wine so am laying it all out there.

I know you can get some sort of mesh inserted through belly button to pull it all together to look normal but I need to get BMI to 21 first otherwise I am worried doctor/surgeon will tell me I'm just a fatty and to go lose weight.

12lbs to go.... Ho hum. Pls help me find the motivation to pull myself up by bootstraps and fend off the "when Are your due" comments without either eating every biscuit Waitrose w
Sells or committing murder!

Anyway back to . Not a fast day here clearly. Tomorrow is thought. My thrird this week. Polishes halo.

Must dig deep, bring it and stay with it. Listen to my inner Jillian Michaels....