January Shred Thread

L1D2 complete here, DS1 (5.5) joined me which was amusing.
Amazing how it makes you aware of muscles you didn't notice before!
I'm making a lot of involuntary noises sitting to standing ATM and fear it'll get worse before it gets better.

I'm also thinking about C25K, am really not a natural runner but have been inspired by all of the rav reviews on the C25K site.

Need to go and keep moving to avoid seizing up altogether.

Level 1 day 5 done, althought technically as I didn't do it yesterday should today be day 4? Suppose we count rest days as 1 of the 30 days?

used lighter weights for some of the exercises as recommended (the squat and press and side lunges and arm raise) and that made a difference - still feel like it's working, it just didn't feel like it was doing me damage any more!

L1D1 today so just checking in for now, im another returnee, I did the shred before ds1 and it worked well then I'd just started it in the summer when I damaged my wrist so have been waiting to be able to start again. Fingers crossed tonights the night, ive got a lot of weight to lose and a lot of toning to do, 30 this month, this is my year!

L1D2 complete

Could feel myself starting with excuses..but got a grip and just did it. Feel great now, and definitely saw an improvement from yesterday.

Woke up and I feel stiff as board. I went to the cinema last night so sitting still hasn't helped either. Please tell me that it's working?!

Also woken up feeling a bit like I'm getting cold probably lungs starting to clear.

Day 3 for me today - and as I can't move my arms without wincing in pain, I have declared it a Rest Day. I'll be back to it tomorrow though!
This is my 3rd time of doing the Shred. I do love a bit of Jillian - last year I followed the shred with her Six Week Six Pack which was brilliant and gave me a lovely toned stomach. Unfortunately I've eaten loads of pies and done bugger all exercise since July so it's back to a wobbly mass again.
I did my measurements yesterday so I will record them here & compare at the end of each level:
Weight: 8 st 3lbs
Waist: 29.5"
Chest: 34"
Hips: 38"
Thigh: 20.5"
Fat: 31.3%
BMI: 22.4
Resting pulse: 80.
I'd ideally like to lose half a stone but more importantly get my BMI down to about 20.5 and my pulse down to about 70.

May I join you?
Have done a couple of 7-10 day efforts at Shred before, never got past L1 though.
Did L1 D1 yesterday and feel like someone has shortened my thigh muscles today, it's those evil lunges.

Does anyone else find the cardio leaping about, especially star jumps (can't bring myself to call them Jumping Jacks) a bit challenging in the pelvic floor department?

When I'm doing it (which I will next week) I just do the weekdays and have the weekends off. We usually do something active as a family on one of the weekend days. I've stuck to 10 days per level but there's no rule.

Can i join in please?!

I was going to save the shred for feb but ive had to cancel my gym membership so i started it today. I must admit i watched a bit of it on youtube a while ago and thought 'that looks too easy' but OH MY GOD im aching now!

Got my DH to do it with me too.

I haven't taken measurements but im hoping to lose 1.5 stones in around 3-4 months and am doing SW (sort of) too. If i can lose half a stone doing the shred ill be well happy.

Good luck everyone!

I think I will do a Sunday as a rest day but I think I will stick at level 1 for longer than the ten days before moving up to the next.

Just found this thread, hi! I started the shred on NYE, ached like buggery next day, but arms and shoulders only. I thought I was quite fit as I do kettle bells and body balance but I found this tough going. Not yet done day 4, psyching up for later...

What does everyone do about rest days? I was thinking I'd do 6 days then rest, then go up a level?

Ok day 3 done...I still cant do all the press ups! Defo getting better though.

My stomach and thighs are feeling it lord knows what they will be like tomorrow when I wake up.

Thanks Errol. I'm back at work on Mon - day 5, hopefully I won't be too achey then.
I'm feeling v unfit.

If you don't feel achey for the first 3-4 days you aren't be doing it right. Nice warm baths/showers, and the promise that it does get easier and you will feel more toned/strong.

Just done day 2, level 1. Feeling achey but determined to tone up. Healthy eating plan also started yesterday, drinking lots of water

Until you can get the lighter weights, probably better to use tins with good form for the anterior raises than trying to do them with the full weight, or reducing the weight for everything.

Same with me on the push ups!

leastaccomplished

I'm just proud that I can do 30 seconds of Anita press-ups, big result from a year or so ago, Natalie press-ups or 'man press-ups' as we call them at my bootcamp may well get added to my list of things to achieve in 2015.

It's mainly that the anterior raises that kill me with the weights, tins wouldn't be heavy enough though. I can take the dumb bell bits off but then they are 1.5 kg and that feels too light for the bi-cup curls and the chest things, what I really need is to break open the piggy bank and get some 2 kg weights.

i'm on my 4th time round now, don't bother using the workouts in order either, eg did L2 yesterday as i knew my cardio was good, but needed more toning, if i've not been able to run, i'll get a few L1s in, as the cardio is great in that
L3 is for when i'm alone in the house and no-one can hear me screaming feeling i really need pushing

Has anyone made it past level 1 before?
yes, I've done it all twice through. Not all at Natalie level - still can't do proper pushups!

Also what weights is everyone using? I only have 2.5kg and find them really tough
Not surprised! I mainly use 5lbs (which is ~two and a quarter kg); I found those too much for the 'anterior raise' type things, I really wasn't doing them properly so got a pair of 1.5kgs too. I've also got some 3kgs which I use for the chest flies and some of the bicep curl type things.

I'd suggest that if you're struggling with those 2.5 weights use bean tins/bottles of water for the harder moves for now.

Hello everyone!

I've just finished day 5, definitely feeling a bit stronger, have also managed two days without any sweets, chocolate or crisps which is a minor miracle for me.

My starting point measurements are:

Hips 95 cm
Waist 86 cm
Under Chest 84 cm
Boobs 99 cm
Right thigh 58 cm
Left thigh 58 cm

Feeling oddly impressed by my symmetrical thighs, don't think that's ever happened before. I took these three days in as I wanted to wait until I was cutting out junk food.

wherearemyshoes great work, that's a brilliant start!

lobsterkiller I used to smoke loads, now I exercise I found a great way to try and stop taking it up again as I used to fear exercise because smoking made me feel so unfit in the lungs.

Has anyone made it past level 1 before? I was watching her pep talk bit whilst putting on my trainers earlier and some of the clips looked quite scary.

Also what weights is everyone using? I only have 2.5kg and find them really tough but it's frugal January so I'm stuck with them - ouch.

Does it genuinely work? I very half heartedly started doing it once but it hurt

yes, it works, in terms of getting fitter, stronger and more toned - not necessarily weight loss unless you combine it with some modifications to your way of eating. It does hurt typically for the first 3-4 days but then it gets easier. When I say 'hurt' I mean muscular aches - if you're hurting your joints then you need to check you're doing the moves right and/or use lower impact versions esp of the cardio intervals.