Lovers of Jillian Michaels meet up here

Hello all
Sorry I've been AWOL from MN for a while - had a lot of work so went cold turkey, but I've been Jillianing pretty consistently. I've just done L2 of KB&T, which I enjoyed more than L1, though it was too hot this morning and I really did phone it in on some of the cardio type things - got through 3 pints of fluid during it. Will see what L3 is like next week... then two week's holiday.

Still trying and failing to do full push ups. Not quite sure why I decided to do KB&T now rather than something with more upper body/core, which I probably need more but heigh-ho - I'm finally out of bloody bootcut jeans and into straight legs, my thighs are definitely a lot less thunderous yet stronger!

So glad to have found you ladies - can I join in? Finished the 30ds about 2 weeks ago. I'm away on hols at the moment and my good intentions to continue have evaporated in the heat. Going to start again on my return home but this time with heavier weights (was using .5kg) and am going to take measurements as a motivational tool. I love GM and was amazed how easy it was to fit it in.

Me too, apple

Good work apple and stuntnun.

Ripped L 3 just done. Ouchy on the triceps!

Off on hols on Sat. Need to decide which exercise DVDs to take!

30ds L1D7 today. So good to hear of others' improvements - v.inspiring. I'm doing ok on the cardio and leg stuff, but my arms are pathetic! I'm like a tyrranosaur - huge butt and puny little arms .

Ri30 L1D2 done and I'm getting back into the swing of it. I want my abs back, that 30 second plank is tough now. I'm definitely getting better at press ups though although the improvement is sloooow.

Loads of great work going on! Am going to have to purchase a Bob DVD, just so I can keep up with the gossip .

My fave JM workout, Ripped L 2, done today. "Two minutes of cardio in plank? Who does that?! ME, that's who!"

Zac is indeed a wuss. He's a bit rubbish in the Cardio Rev one as well- always the one not holding the squat properly or some such. I think he's only in there because Bob fancies him....

ifyou- sounds like you are doing really well, especially given the fact you are managing some challenging conditions.

That martial arts DVD sounds tough i'dkick

I did both levels of 'bobs workout' yesterday. It was sooooo hard. In the second bit the bloke keeps on slacking off so it's not quite as bad, but the first one is nasty!! Did 45 mins on the cross trainer today and plan to do NMTZ tomorrow before I depart for 3 nights camping with limited exercise options and lots of eating and drinking! May try some Pilates but few

I did killer abs level 1 again last night. It was painful! Sweated so much that it was dripping off me.

Tonight I'll try running again. I have to be careful due to the conditions, so I'll do 3 x 2 minutes with a 2 minute rest between each, I think. Not long, but enough.

My diet is okay, I think. I have two yoghurt for breakfast. Soup for lunch, usually followed by gluten free popcorn (the 120 calorie stuff) in the evenings. then a fish fillet and fish cake for tea.

Need to increase fruit and veg, but calorie wise I think it's not too bad.

You lot are so inspiring. Maybe I can do this in time.

Ouchy calves this morning though!

*undeterred by mud etc.

No JM tonight as we walked up a hill today for a couple of hours and I'm shattered now. I was wearing my 20 month old son on my back and we got all the way up to the top undetected by mud, brambles and nettles. Job's a good 'un!

idkick that's great re the clothes sizing, well done.

I only do DVDs. Don't really have the time or funds for the gym as have 2 DC, one with SNs (who has only just settled to sleep!). I used to run, but it started really hurting my knees so I stopped.

Agree with notyummy, you need to keep pushing yourself (although I'm still at the stage where 3kgs is pretty challenging!). I never thought I would be able to do 30 seconds of proper push ups but now I can!

L1 ripped done today. It was a real sweat fest in this heat!

Pre-breakfast 30ds L1D6 this morning. Would usually at least have a coffee first (as recommended upthread somewhere) - but had run out (argh!). Tough, but got through - no phoning it in!

Ifyou that is fab - sounds like you are really going for it! And that's amazing progress Idkick - hope that will be me in a few months' time

wedont- I have a job with a long commute (I work 4 days a week) plus often extra hours required at home evening and weekends. DH is in the military and is home probably 6/7 days a month at most. Because of this I can't get to a gym- no way the cost would be worth while as I would be able to go at best once a week. DVDs do it for me, but you do obviously need to push yourself! I do a mixture of JM and Bob, plus sometimes if time I will do an additional 15/20 mins of less high impact stuff (callentics/Tracey Anderson) whilst watching tv in the evening. I tend to aim for 6 days a week, although don't always manage to fit that in! Generally 3/4 short workouts (30 mins or less) and 2/3 45-60 min workouts a week. Am in my mid 40s and 5ft 10 and generally maintain the 'right' weight for me with this routine whilst eating what I want. I tend to go on body fat and how my clothes feel rather than weight- am a 10. I find if I go through a social period and drink more alcohol and eat more snacks than usual then now I am in my 40s I do notice the difference! So I am just a bit more careful with my diet for a week or so if that is the case.

I think the key is to keep challenging yourself. So once you feel you can start to do something reasonably easily then up the weights. Having some heavier weights is important to making some of the JM exercises really effectively. 1/2/3 kg will only get you so far.

Usually I just do JM, but yesterday I went for a run.

I made about six minutes of actual running, in 2 minute bursts with a break in between.

Pretty terrible, but I have fibromyalgia and arthritis, so I'm surprised i could run at all! Tonight I'll do JM again.

Thanks for the encouragement!