30-day Shred - class of June 2014

Am trying to decide whether I can rip today. I shut my thumb in the hinge of the back door last night in a bizarre pigeon based attack incident. So painful, I ran round the lawn screaming and then fainted. The whole nail is black and my thumb is twice the size of the other.

I am not sure if I can do plank position without using my thumb and the last strength circuit might be tricky.

Such is my obsession, I am feeling really upset about missing it on one of my planned days.

Can I join? I just shredded for the first time tonight! (shredded? shrode?)

I've only borrowed the dvd so really hoping it does its thing in a month!

Arya, I have v weak arm and shoulder muscles so I use 1 kg weights (which I bought on Amazon for £9.99 including delivery). Someone less weedy would probably go for 1.5-2 kg.

30DSL2D6 all done

Arya - its fine to start with tins or bottles of water, but you'll get better results if you get some weights. What size obviously depends on how strong you are to start with, and also most people find that it helps to have 2 or 3 different sizes - small for eg the anterior raise, larger for chest press/ bicep curl type things. What you want is weights that allow you to do all (or most) of the reps with good form.

Flatmouse - I still can't do proper full press-ups... I do the modified ones in the JM (concentrating on good form) but then on alternate days do some inclined press-ups - gradually increase reps/decrease angle. I was dong quite well with this earlier in the year but then hurt my back a bit. Press-ups are really demanding because you need upper body strength (shoulders, triceps) and also a strong core (lots of planks are meant to help with that). Dodgy knees... be very careful with the form of squats and lunges! Always remember to lead with your butt, and also try to keep your legs and feet coplanar so there's no twist at the knee or ankle (not sure if I've explained that well). Mine are holding up ok, touch wood despite being 53 - though really deep squats do remind me to take my codliver oil, like a creaking door!

Arya I found the first 3 days a killer. I gave myself 2 days off and felt much better

It does get easier yes! Although there are always some in every level that you HATE!

Oh I don't have weights, does it matter ? I have been using tinned coconut milk - low fat obviously.

Hello all I am on day 3 or 4 of level 1, it hurts oh how it hurts.

I was doing it in March / April, then went on holiday and stopped.
I thought because I had done it before I wouldn't find it too hard. I am still following Anita especially for the press ups, and I really struggle with that cycling move at the very end.

It's going to get easier , isn't it.

I'll join if i may? Have done 30DS before (all way through) and lost loads of inches but no weight. Since then i've done WW and lost loads of weight (2stone +) - now i'm back to do the shred again!!
I am at the same time doing the current FB 30 day Abs challenge (although started a day late).
Am basing rest days for 30DS on the abs challenge rest days - so today is a rest day!
Things i notice - top of arms/chest really hurting from appalling attempts at press ups (i just can't do them - not sure if all lack of upper body strength issue, or part technique). Knees are old and creaky (the knee circles in warm up - creeeeakkkkkk, click, click, creeeaaakk, and same again in the static lunges with bicep curls!). Calfs were tightening a little on the aerobic bit. Still - i KNOW i can do this :) Back to it tomorrow!!

RI30 L3D7 done. Ouch, doesn't get any easier. There is no exercise in any of the circuits that is a breather or enjoyable. It's all painful and hard.

Ri30L1D5 - done

30SL2D6. Less good than yesterday - copped out of the second set of squat thrusts and followed Anita. And my ankles are hurting again. I was planning to have Saturday off but maybe I'll have tomorrow instead.

Duck walk that's what it's called. I think the heels have your calves in the right position (contemplates doing it in heels tomorrow. I did it again later this afternoon, it looked strangely elegant.

Having today as a day off, ankles still hurt a bit

I have to say the only way I manage to do the Shred is to get up early and get it done before I've even had my coffee - then I have coffee and shower before DS gets up and I feel virtuous and ready for the day. I couldn't do it after a day at work.

I typed a long post last night ... my new laptop is currently for some reason having the same parental controls applied to it as DD's, which stops her doing anything after 10pm. Hmph. Still, better that than allowing a teen to be on FB all night . Actually she's quite sensible - not a 1D (or any other manufactured band) fan, thank goodness! She's 15 and seems to be over the (quite mild) 'kevin' stage ... she's more likely to rant about the stupidity of her classmates nowadays which can be quite amusing.

I'm resting today, well you know other than doing normal stuff - I think maybe I should get a day where I literally rest, lol.

yadah - DS is 18, he was a breeze compared to DD, I'm expecting a fabulous evening with her as she'll be shattered because I'm evil and didn't give her any time off school. It's a bit like having a giant hormonal toddler really, say no or let them get overtired and you get a big tantrum.

I'm pretty sure most of my efforts are uncoordinated flailing tbh, though I've never actually tried doing them in the ladies to see, rofl

Not exercising today as I leave home at 6 on wednesdays, but for Yadah, just did the strange crouch walking thing (RI30 L3, circuit 1, strength exercise 2) in the ladies at work. It is much, much easier in 3.5 inch heels.

(not sure why I did that, they have floor to ceiling mirrors and wanted to see what I looked like)

30DS L2 D5 done. I'm finally getting the hang of the oblique twists - I can't do them fast and get them right, but at least I'm doing roughly the right move instead of some uncoordinated flailing about! I also managed two sets of squat thrusts (although I may not have been jumping my legs very far on the second set...)

Still can't do the double jump ropes though. I'm doing single ones instead in a rather feeble way.

I know, tabulah, I end up doing mostly on my knees, but then that feels a bit too easy, iykwim.

Rest of L3 not too bad though, seems to go really quickly which is a good thing oh apart from the scissor leg crunches which are quite painful!