May 30 Day Shred - come one, come all

If I haven't done the shred in a while I leave it a few days between day 1 and day 2. After that I don't really ache again.

I feel your pain MsInga. Day 2 hurt waaaaay more than day 1. And the baby woke up at the end so I couldn't even have a little lie down. Ouch ouch ouch.

I'll try to get some proper weights then. Hopefully these aches will have died down slightly by the time I use them!

I hope it does wear off, I hurt everywhere from the neck down.

MsInga - typically people ache badly for 3-4 days and then it wears off and it's never as bad again... which is a good reason to keep going!

30DS L1D2 ow ow ow ooooooooooooow. That is all.

They're a good starting set for these high rep routines. 1kg for anterior raises, maybe try 3s for bicep curls/chest flies, 2s for most of the rest. I noticed a set in TK max which started at 0.5 - really wouldn't bother with that since the water bottles/cans work fine for that weight if you need to start there.

I have the 1, 2 and 3k weights, from Argos I think. At the moment I'm sticking to a combination of 1 and 2.

Just done L2D2 and can definitely feel I'm working my shoulders and upper arms! Those planks are hard!

Gwladys you can get sets of 1, 2 and 3 kg dumbbells at Argos, Tesco etc. I use them all, I need the 1 kg ones for the jumping jacks with weights, the 2 kg for most others and the 3 kg for some of the static exercises like the one where you hold them over your chest while you do leg raises.

Amelia the plank jacks on level 2 are really tough at first but you feel so proud of yourself when you can do them at last.

Just to clarify I only did 2.5km total not 4.5 times as I seem to claim above -seven Gillian sessions are good but not that good!

Well I should have done day 7 I think of level one today but went for a run instead. I have been secretly scared of running round the park as I hate starting running, it's always so hard... Well my watch wouldn't light, my phone was flat so don't know how long it took and didn't do couch to 5k as I planned but I ran round the park 4.5 times plod plod plod.

It's about 2.5 km so got further than I thought I would. Could have done the extra.5 but the dog can't poo on lead and was desperate to stop ( that is my excuse anyway). Anyway I credit the shred with so how making my first run easier:) I could hear the mighty Gillian intoning during the inclines!

Don't get off the wagon hinkyhonk, I always get off the wagon but not this time! What motivates me? When I exercise I eat better and drink less, I want to be around for the children ( and self obviously although self lacks discipline and loves whisky) and want to be a fit sporty mum running, swimming, canoeing, and playing with them as they grow up. Dunno how old you are but I think if I get and stay fit the next twenty years 40-60 will be greatly enhanced.

It's nice when you find that some real-life activity is easier . My feat last month was weeding the entire garden and not having any aches afterwards - squats and lunges instead of bending over or kneeling!

I did day 1 of level 2 today. Parts of it were fine but some of the moves that needed shoulder strength defeated me today. Up again early to do it all over again.

At the moment I think I prefer level one, but it was getting a bit easier and I have done it quite a few times now over the years! Hopefully level 2 will grow on me.

Although my attendance is patchy, I ran for the train last week and I was noticeably quicker and less gasping for air so it's definitely doing something even if it's not decreasing my weight!

Well done everyone!
Gwladys - yes, do get some weights. You may want to keep the beans handy for the anterior raises for a while though . Somewhere between 2-3kg works for most people I think. You might want to get a couple of sizes.

Some good results here! I did 30ds L1d5 today - have been alternating with running too.

Am down a couple of pounds but more importantly definitely fitter - more stamina, feel stronger and more energised in general. L1 now feeling very "doable" also side lunges with anterior raises still kill me. I have 2kg weights though. Dh said he can see more definition in my body already and my mum tum is shrinking. I love and hate Jillian in equal measure!

Here you are! Sorry I'm late, can I still join in?

I started the shred today - like a pp I weighed and measured myself this morning and nearly cried. I'm the heaviest I've ever been and a stone or more heavier than DP (in my defence though he is quite small and I did only give birth 8 months ago!)

Didn't find it too bad, apart from the press ups which I just can't do. No upper body strength at all - definitely hoping this will change. I had been planning to do it every day for the 30 but having read through the thread will now try to have a rest day or two every week.

In terms of diet, I'm cutting down (drastically) on sweet stuff, which is my downfall. But don't want to go too mad as I'm still breastfeeding. Will try to eat more protein than carbs as well though, and plenty of veg.

I'm just using tins of beans for weights though - should I get proper ones? Didn't buy them with the DVD as I thought my mum had some I could have but she's given them away.

Good luck everyone - hopefully we'll all see results soon!

Lambzig that is fantastic. How long did it take you to get from 16-12? I'm starting at 18-20 :(

Good idea Stuntnun best to just go at your own pace, no good going mad and then ending up with an injury! Lambzig thats brilliant , im loving hearing about how well everyone has done, did day 8 of 30 DS L1 earlier on and it is getting easier, press ups are sooooo hard though but im still managing 5 and then doing the modified ones!!! Im not bothered about losing loads of weight but need toning up, especially legs and arms.

Leesmum not every day, not even close, I started at the beginning of April iirc. I have seen big changes actually: noticeable biceps, triceps are toned so bingo wings are gone, top part of my abdomen is flatter, lower part is coming in incrementally. The biggest difference is to my legs which were flabby in a skinny-fat kind of way but are now looking more shapely than flabby. There is still work to be done but there is definitely progress. I have also dropped from a size 12 to a size 10 without losing any weight so I guess that shows how much toning is possible. The changes you can't see are probably more remarkable; that overall improvement in strength, balance and flexibility that makes everything else easier such as climbing upstairs, running around after the children. I helped my FIL move a sofa last week and not only was I much stronger to be able to lift it, but I didn't break a sweat or get out of breath. You do see the progress as you do the DVDs as well, for example the double jump rope on level 2 seemed impossible at first but now I do it in the level 3 warm up and it's no problem. When I finish my first time through the shred I'm going to work on my press ups and sit ups since I'm horrendous at those then start again from the beginning, trying to emulate Natalie a bit more.

I've fallen off the wagon. Only shredded twice in the last week. Arse. Nearly finished level 2 so need a big push to finish. Any ideas for motivating factors?

Brilliant results so far lambzig.

Waiting to put the DDs to bed before doing shred. Might even do L2D1 eek! :)

Hi, yes lots off' but the waist measurement was the most drastic. Overall have gone from rapidly heading for a size 16 to a small 12. Still weigh too much though.

Agree with the love/ hate thing, some days I happily chat along to Jillian, others I curse at her. I'm finding it strangely addictive.

I am careful not to put my knee over my toes and have been putting a cushion under my knees when I do my "push ups" (I should call them "flop downs" really - I will try the box push ups the OP suggested tomorrow), My knees are definitely hurting less as time goes on, maybe it's just because I have never really done any exercise before so the muscular support is weak.

MsInga I haven't lost a pound since starting but I have lost a couple of inches off my waist at least. It's amazing how fast it works.

17cms? Wow that's amazing, well done. What about the rest of you? Did you measure anything else?