January Shred Thread

L2 D5 done.
57 day Shred sounds great Nightwish

Lindt - pleased you've found your rings.

Spinning - well done on the weight loss

L3D4 - done, slightly easier today. I've toned more than losing much weight, I need to improve my diet as well. Treating myself to wine tonight

Ah well done, slowly does it, it's a great idea to get you down onto the floor with them

Errol...well done on the extra bits, are they getting easier?

well, the press-ups are in the sense that I can do a couple more each day and then go a bit nearer horizontal each week. I need to find some piece of furniture just a bit lower than a sofa arm for next week. The extended arm planks are OK but I'm still finding the forearm planks very tough - the first 30 secs are ok but by the minute I'm breathing really hard. It takes quite a while because I need a minutes recovery after each one! And side planks are really hard - I've only been doing those twice a week though.

Anyway, the weekend is here, rest days for me.

I've looked back and can't find my measurements. So I'll do them every Friday. I measured myself on Jan 7th and since then I've lost 1 inch off my waist and bum and 1 inch off each thigh!! Also lost 5lb in weight since then

Lindt really pleased you've found your rings!!

Errol...well done on the extra bits, are they getting easier?

I found my rings!

I picked up my daughter's friend this morning (my turn to do the school run) and she reminded me that I'd given her a short reflexology treatment at the weekend and said her nanny was wondering whether I would do her feet for her. It was a lightbulb moment - I'd taken my rings off to do her feet! I'd put them on a shelf in the living room. I'm so relieved as I really had the feeling that I'd never see them again.

Haven't shredded yet today. Wondering whether to have a day off but I know I'll find it difficult to fit in over the weekend so perhaps I should force myself to do today.

Still feel quite down but have worked out it's probably PMT. Still eating crap. So far today I've had half a twix, a pain au chocolat and one square of my Lindt. I was doing so well but am falling off the wagon.

Nightwish I don't think the number of days matter, so long as you're doing it! I think I got as far as L3D4 last time but it had taken me a lot longer than 24 days and then I just gave up which I'm so annoyed about. This time I just want to keep going and if I really dislike level 3 this time I'll move on to something else. As long as I'm doing something then it's better than doing nothing!

Better paper doors than glass-panelled ones.

Anyway, L2D5 done, plus my extra planks and inclined press-ups (3x20 today)

Taunikon it sounds lovely! Think I'd worry about paper doors and toddlers!! The Japanese seem like a healthy race, maybe it's all the sushi that gives me that idea and whenever I see Japanese tourists they're always so well dressed! Probably completely different living there

not lungs lunges

d18 l2 d10 day off tomorrow or do I start l3 and have a break after? ummm. off to download and decide.
Waves to spinningirl10 Yes I do live in Japan. My house even has sliding paper doors and a big Japanese pine in the garden. Paper sliding walls and toddlers,interesting mix!!
Lindt70Percent Hope you find your rings. How about the u bend under the sink? Or did you take them off to plank?
ShotgunNotDoingThePans I heard yah! My lungs are definitely apathetic, and sometimes I imagine I squashing Gillians head between my weights. (only on bad days!)

Shotgun - Jillian does also say 'no injuries' - you're absolutely right. If you know something causes or exacerbates a problem don't do it.

It may be that if you've got back problems you might need to find some appropriate core strengthening exercises to do first/as well?

Up to L1 D3 here I think - although mine's more of a who-knows-how-many-days shred (ref post above re. age and decrepitude).

Having attempted this a couple of years ago, having to give up due to aggravating my back on L2, I'm ignoring Gillian's barks about not phoning it in - I'd rather avoid damaging myself, thanks Gill.

My version is most definitely low impact - no full-on jumping jacks u til I can do them without causing pain.

Am I lecturing? Sorry, I just think in Gillian's words there's No Shame in taking a bit longer over this and avoiding agony. As you were .

Morning all

D12 L2 d6 done!!

I've lost 2lb this week, I'll put inch loss on later but I'm seeing a difference, yay!!

L1D5 done yesterday, and I think today will be a rest day. The cardio also hurts my calves, especially the skipping.

Back on the wagon today after a week off . I have run twice though. But l3d3 done

So, L1D8 this morning. I am finding the cardio tough, it makes my calves hurt! Took my measurements again and I've obv measured in different places as bust is +1, waist + .5, right thigh - 1. My weight is the same though. Original measurements were on 31 Dec, but I had a break of about 10 days due to feeling poorly. Hey ho.

I've had the munchies tonight though, chocolate and popcorn. Had to stop myself from eating a bag of crisps. None of that will help!

I would really like to tone up my middle a LOT more, whittling my waist and flattening my tummy. Think I will unwrap the new Davina DVD I got at crimbo and also do the core bit.

Hi everyone - it's lovely to keep reading your updates.

Lindt - Hope your rings turn up soon.

L3D3 done here - still finding it really hard

L2 D4 done and I almost enjoyed it this evening.
Am finally finding the squats a bit easier, it's not a natural move for me, feels like my centre of gravity is too far forward and I'll topple backwards if I squat too low!
3 kg weights are v impressive, I'm struggling with my 3lb ones!

Lindt - losing your rings must be upsetting - but chances are they will turn up somewhere.

At least you're eating good chocolate - though have you tried the 85 or even 90%?

I only use the 3kgs for some of the moves - quite a lot of L2 I'm using 1.5kgs. On previous rounds of the shred I couldn't do the full set of military presses with those even - and I still find the first squat and row thing hard. And I have to stop for a breather in those oblique twists.

I did L2D2 today and I'm feeling pretty miserable. Kept catching sight of myself in the mirror and did not like what I saw! I still can't do the plank stuff because of my wrists so will buy a new set of weights and give the suggestion of using them for support a try. Thanks intheround and ErrolTheDragon the dumb bell recommendations. So impressed you're using 3kg weights ErrolTheDragon!

I'm even finding the cardio really difficult. Those oblique twists followed by skater are a nightmare.

Anyway, I think I'm just having a miserable day really. I drank 1/2 a bottle of wine last night and have eaten 1/3 of a large bar of Lindt 70% today which is hardly going to help with either shredding or happiness. I'm self employed but have no work at the moment and a large (for me) tax bill to pay next week. Also, I've lost my wedding and engagement rings. Can't remember when I last saw them but think it was at the weekend. No idea why I took them off, I don't usually. They've never gone missing for this long before and I'll be so upset if they've gone forever. Spent this morning giving the kitchen a good tidy and clean thinking I'd find them, but no.

Think I'm just feeling sorry for myself and am on self destruct.

But hey, at least my kitchen's looking good!

That's interesting Errol as I have the 2kg version of those weights. I hadn't thought of putting the handle down (d'oh!) so will try that tomorrow.

Well done all!

I ended up having 2 days off again Mon and Tues (my busiest days, just wasn't at home long enough) but did do a fair bit of other exercise on Tuesday instead.

Got back to it again yesterday though, and was quite pleased I got through all of level 1 doing everything (except the squat-presses which seemed particularly hard yesterday for some reason) with my heavier set of weights!

I am feeling ready to go to Level 2, but decided to put it off a bit cos I've got some other exercisey fun stuff on at the weekend which I really don't want to miss, so don't want to go into that feeling stiff and achey from starting "new" exercises just before! So will stick with L1 this week, and then (if not a wreck after the weekend!) try L2 next week.