January Shred Thread

Thanks JR and errol, is good to know I'm not alone, maybe if I'd joined a support thread years ago I wouldn't have three abortive attempts under my belt already!

I might try swapping the cardio around a bit too as I find circuit two really easy and three moderately so,I just can't do all that jumping at once, especially after the shoulder and arm work.

Not sure I'm going to manage it today which is disappointing as my next session will be the furthest I've ever gotten with it. Had a migraine looming when I went to bed and it's still there this morning. I'm hoping I can shift it by lunchtime and workout while the DC's are napping this afternoon as it's rubbish doing it with them about.

Is fab hearing about the level two and three-ers. Motivates me to get there too and with handy hints.

D5 L1 done.

I like doing it early to get it out the way although hoping to get to the gym later for cardio!

D12L2 completed - I definitely prefer exercising as soon as I get up, I get the double bonus of (a) feeling smug all day and (b) knowing I don't have to do it when I get home from work tonight!
tanukiton answers to your questions:
*I am using 1kg weights at the moment but will swap to 2kg as soon as I feel able (probably tomorrow for the first set of strength moves, then back to 1kg when my form starts to slip).

• I try really hard to stay in plank - it takes a lot of strength in the ab/core department! If I feel my back start to arch I switch to downward dog or drop to knees for a few seconds. *press-ups in Level 2 I can do. I never managed to get a really good full set in on Level 1 though! I would not go back to level 1, I am not bothered about having massive shoulder muscles and I would rather progress in other areas so that's what I am doing.

By the end of this week I will be more than half way through!

L2D4done!

I'm using 1 or 2 kg wts depending on which move.
I can stay in plank, but have ok core strength I think. Weight is over shoulders.
No cannot do press ups. I usually vaguely dunk my head towards the floor! Tbh I'm more fussed about my bum and thighs rather than arms so I'm ok with this.

d11 l2 d3. Um completed but still don't seem to be able to stay in plank
Q. for level 2ers
*What weights are you using?

*Are you staying in plank? is your weight over your hands shoulders or more a downward dog?
*Can you do all the press ups?
I have dropped weights down a peg so that I can concenrate on form..
Not sure if i should go back to L1 and build more upper body.. cardio and ab's are ok.

Has anyone moved up while still doing modified press ups?
Absolutely! I'm on my third time round (started last summer) and still can't do full press-ups. I'm determined to crack them this year so am also doing inclined press-ups with the aim of reaching the floor eventually.

I don't like the jumping jack/rope combo - I swap the rope and butt kicks over and then I can do them all. Can't do that much jumping all at once. Maybe fourth time around I will.

PS really I know I need to be starting to eat better too though if I really want to see any difference, but am a bit stuck on that at the moment Am trying to find a way to get myself motivated again...

Having an unplanned day off here, as my knee's been protesting a bit today and I can NOT afford to get injured at the moment. Tomorrow I probably won't be shredding either but hopefully getting some other exercise instead so that should be OK.

DH is just doing it next door though, OMG the thumping! Hope the neighbours won't mind!

L1D5 done. It's not easy peasy but I get through it all without stopping.

My main problem at the moment is my pelvic floor which can't cope with all those star jumps so I'm reading and following gussiegrips's advice on the Running with poor pelvic floor thread.

sally in the same, once that first strength combo is out of the way it flies by. Ill also never do a Natalie press up, haven't managed in 30yrs so not going to let the fact i haven't managed in 10 days stop me getting on!

D8L1 done for me. Was gonna move to L2 today but decided to see out the 10 days at L1. No reason other than my neurosis wont let me do more/less of each level or it wont be 'right'!

Hi.

I started last Monday, think it's my fourth attempt but has been a couple of years since then and I never made it past day 6, I think.

Had two rest days last week and did day 6 this morning so I should will be doing day 7 for the first time ever at 6 am tomorrow.

It seems to be getting harder this time round though, whereas I'm sure on previous attempts it felt easier by now. It's the first circuit that kills me, press ups followed by squat/press and then the star jumps and jump rope, the rest flies (until the bicycle crunches that is) if I can get through those but they seem to get harder.

Has anyone moved up while still doing modified press ups? As I can't see me ever doing the Natalie version so could be stuck on level one forever.

My shoulders and collarbone seem more defined, it's great I can see a difference after six workouts but that wouldn't have been the area I chose to change first, maybe seventh or eighth but not first!

L2D4 done. Getting a little but easier, and I'm getting more confident with the moves. Still in single jump ropes though.

Worldgonecrazy - I'm trying to decided between Ri30 or 6w6p next - have you (or anyone else) got any info on which is best after shred?

Did level 1 for 7 days- started level 2 tonight.

Lost 3lbs this week and have a clearly defined waistline returning (instead of having a torso that looks like a beer keg)

Just finished day 9 level 1. I'm starting to see the changes, so its motivating me on. Still going to stop on level 1 for longer than the ten days as im rubbish at the girly push ups.

And I am still off the fags...

Nightwish BFBM is brilliant, but I usually skip the second from last section - the one with "standing mountain climbers". They are just pure evil, even Jillian gets knackered doing them.

It definitely gets you buzzing, but it is slightly longer than Shred, I think about 45 minutes, so probably not ideal for those of us trying to sneak in 30 minutes before work.

She also has more of a "guru" session at the end of the DVD, which is great the first few times you hear it but then just gets a bit annoying after a month or two.

Has anyone got any of Jillian Michaels books? Was looking at master your metabolism as I'm trying to follow a healthy eating plan.

L1D6 done. Having done the whole thing twice before last year, I'm not hurrying to go through the levels, I'm planning on 10 on each. But this week I'm using larger weights for some of the moves, sometimes just for the first set.

Still doing Anita style pushups, but (due to some advice on the 5:2 exercise thread) I'm working towards the full ones by doing extra planks and 3 sets of inclined pushups - the idea is those work gradually more horizontal until eventually its the proper thing on the floor. I'll go and do those in a few moments.

Another day of Level 2 done this morning. I took Saturday and Sunday off. I was planning on doing "Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism" yesterday, but events overtook me.

My left knee is giving up again - I think wearing slight heels on Saturday set it off, and this morning it was giving me a lot of grief. That is without doing any exercises which aggravate whatever is wrong with it. I've swapped the lunges in level 2 for one set of supermans with weights and one set of leg kicks to get my bum looking good.

Keep going everyone - is anyone up for a Ripped in 30 in February?

Hi L2 D12 done, after a weekend of over indulging it feels good to be back to it.

Oh dear Cigar, let's hope you can back into it. See how you feel on level 1 and maybe do a couple of extra level 2 days.

D12LV2 done just now. Had a 2 day break as I had stuff to do in the evenings and felt like I was letting myself down. So I got up and did it this morning, with dc both moaning for breakfast.
Now time for coffee and croissants.
See how I feel and maybe squeeze something in this evening.

I found morning exercise much harder. Not sure if that's a good thing because I don't think I worked as hard.

I got up to L1D8 then came down with a nasty flu type thing and had to stop - that was a week and a half ago . Now I'm feeling better and will attempt to shred tonight. Not sure whether to count back from the beginning but will judge based on how the shred feels. Until I got sick L1 was starting to feel almost easy (though will never be able to do more than Anita press ups on my spindly arms).

L1 D4 done

Shoulders were aching last night but pushed through this morning and did all the weights and push ups which I hate on all fours!

I am totally phoning it in today - have decided I need a rest day. I'll be back on it like a car bonnet tomorrow though, have no fear!

Morning all. Not shredded since (I think) Thursday as first busy then suffering with nasty cold. Having had literally weeks of cold/flu last year as I didn't rest I am not attempting until I feel better, but still checking in with all your progress as it keeps me inspired!

I was on L2D2.