Is there a 30 day shred thread for March yet? If not, this can be it!

Morning

Thanks yada but any hoiking fully extended legs puts too much strain on my lower back as my abs aren't strong enough.
I suspect my slightly dysfunctional pelvic floor and lower abs / transversus combo is the issue. I'm aware that my pelvic floor muscles bear down if I try the abdo exercises which are too hard which is the opposite to what it should be doing, trying to lift pelvic floor, contract abs, lift legs and breathe is all too much!

I like the look of exercise 1 here, will give it a go.
I think Pilates style exercises are the way to go.

I also found an exercise lying flat on back with arms extended above head (resting on floor IYSWIM) and curling legs until knees are on chest which looked good, sorry can't find link now, will keep looking out for some good ones.

Morning all, just about to start Ri30L3.

Lake, I need a good lower-abs too - one that doesn't strain the lower back. Will try some extra of yadhah's suggestion perhaps with the foam wedge under my butt to keep my back flat to the floor.

KB&T L1 D8 done

I'm getting bored of this level now and I'm really missing the upper body stuff from Ri30 and Shred.

Gym later but I think I'll do something different tomorrow and then move on to L2.

lakeflypie I quite like the lower abs move where you hold weights at chest level as in a chest fly and then hoik fully extended legs up in a lower ab crunch. Mind you, my lower abs are pretty flaky so that may be too lightweight for you.

D3 L2 30DS completed. On Muvvers day n'all. Celebrated my achievement with a shower, pyjamas, wine and chocs. Haha. This workout is so intense but really rewarding too. Thinking of getting the old baked bean tins out for the anterior lifts and seated squats tho. My 2kg weights are impossible to lift through two sets of those.

Ri30 L2 D1 done, mostly OK but couldn't manage a couple of moves at all, even the modified versions. My arms seemed too short for the seated ab curl move which I suspect is due to lower abs being to weak, haven't been able to master the reverse cruch in previous circuits either. I need to find a really basic lower ab move and hammer it! The next level press up thing was a non starter too.

Awesome StuntNun, on Tues/Weds when I go to uni I have DS2 on my front and a bag of books on my back... it hurts being pulled both ways.
Intend to start back carrying him now he can sit up but he falls asleep on the school run so easier on my front and also on the train I will have to take him out whereas on my front I don't.
I keep being told by everyone I won't be able to carry him for much longer but I think it is great exercise with the added weight and walking at least 3 miles a day with it.

I followed your lead Nightwish and did a long walk with DS3 on my back. Much better than a backpack full of books!

Ri30 L2D3.
Had a couple of days off but did loads of walking with DS2 who is now over 10kg on my front.
First day of L2 KB&T tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day all, went out last night and danced the night away in high wedges so I feel my exercise is done!

I'm a bit sore after yesterday's 30DS L3 / kettlebell mash up so I just did my pilates DVD today to try and stretch out my sore legs. If I'm still sore tomorrow I might go swimming and hold off on the shred until Tuesday to allow myself to recover.

Morning ladies and Happy Mothers Day

KB&T L1 D7 done!

I'm having a golden day today.

My tummy in plank is not a good look. I tend to focus on the video and imagine I look like them. Jillian and Natalie look particularly good in KB&T!

Sounds like good advice to me

D2 L2 30DS - a trifle easier today. Think I paced myself better. Did a set of Natalie's and then a second set of Anita's just to make things manageable. Those anterior lifts and seated squats are a killer.

3 kids and 3xCS for me. Plus a general lack of hip width meant my tummy just went outwards during pregnancy - lovely at the time but not quite so cool this side of delivery.

But I feel quite happy to have the old mum tum war zone of a stomach. I just want my silhouette to be a bit more streamlined. I feel as though it is something I have not tackled through a fatalistic belief that I could not possibly make it better. Currently I am trying not to focus on results as that just demotivated me immediately and instead remembering that I enjoy feeling fit healthy and strong.

Me too, i've got 3 dc as well and NEVER look at my stomach in plank but I know what i'd see I doubt it'll ever go back entirely it was worth it though, just

IdKick I have three kids, two of whom were born by CS, and I lost two stone last year on the Mumsnet Bootcamp. I don't feel too bad about the loose flesh as I look and feel ten times better than I did this time last year. I'll keep on with the diet and exercise and either it will shrink back or it won't, at least I'll have tried to do something about it. My pilates instructor has a lovely figure but her stomach is a mass of stretch marks and wrinkled skin. Some things you just can't do anything about.

Found my missing dumbbell BTW, it was in the playroom not the washing machine!

Ri30 L1 D8 done, think I'm ready for L2, maybe tomorrow.
Errol you're right about the Lycra, will be demoting cotton joggers to pajama drawer.

NMTZ and KB&T L1 done

Do you have DC Stuntnun if ao could it be loose skin?

Also first proper kettlebell session done with my new 4 kg bell. I definitely needed it, those website advising starting with an 8 kg bell are either craaaazy or doing a very different workout to the DVD I have. The 8 kg bell is fine for the double handed leg work but there's no way I could press it above my head one-handed at this stage. I think I'll need to look at YouTube for some more instructional videos as I'm not certain of my form with the kettlebell. Tbh I hadn't even heard of them before this thread.

It's weird that a few weeks ago I wasn't doing any exercise other than walking and now I have a little fitbell rack with a couple of kettlebells beside it and a small stack of exercise DVDs.

Oh and I tried the plank naked to see what my tummy looked like. WHAT A HUGE MISTAKE! All the flab just hangs down loose with nothing inside it! I suppose that's good in that it shows I don't have visceral fat, it's all subcutaneous fat... but my first response was, "Oh my god I need liposuction." I also tried the stomach vacuum looking in the mirror and it is awesome! My waist looks tiny when I do it and there's definitely a six-pack under those abs. Just got to keep on working on the exercise and lose a bit more weight and I'll be beach ready in a few years.

Sorry for all the exclamation marks. I think exercise leaves me really pumped.

30DS L3D1 done. We get to see Natalie's tummy on level 3. AIBU to be just a little bit in love? Anita is too perfect and intimidating but Natalie... Forewarned is forearmed so I knew to vacuum before level 3 or I would have been sneezing on those Superman poses. Is it just me or is level 3 a lot more fun than level 3? After working through levels 1 and 2 it's great to know how quickly I'll improve on the level 3 exercises.

KB&T L1 D6 done

Oohdaddy, have a nice holiday!