The July 2014 Shred Thread - Go on, you know you want to

RI30 L2D4 done. Oof, I say. Not getting any easier. I swapped the second set of crow push-ups for a set of normal push-ups.

Shadows, I agree with you about that chair squat. I use really light weights (only 1kg : I'm very impressed by people on here who use much heavier ones) and I still can't do it. I think I'm missing something in the anterior deltoid department.

For home, cold meat is good for snacking, but that's not much good out and about. Home-made popcorn with a tiny bit of salt?

Hi everyone and hello to new people.

No shred yesterday as did that 7 mile walk into town again, this time we were going in the opposite direction so it was all on a gradual incline and I had both kids on the buggy, kept a good pace, was nearly sick when we finally got to the other end as made myself jog the last two fields which were bumpy longish grass so was really hard going.

Today have done 30DSL2D4. Felt fairly easy today apart from that chair squat move. I really struggle to get the weights above my belly button let alone any higher and by the end I was just feebly swinging them in the hope of getting some lift at all!!

Today I noticed that my metabolism has picked up. At about 3 i was trying to dig some holes for some plants I bought and I felt so drained and lethargic I could barely get the trowel in. Realised that maybe I hadn't eaten enough today as we are running a bit low on food and I normally eat a bit less on day before food shop arrives day and am fine. Came in and ate a banana, some flapjack and started to feel a lot better. Same thing at dinner, usual size plate, usual size portion and still felt fairly hungry, had seconds and some fruit and yoghurt and then felt better. So instead of now having to remind myself to eat a bit more when I've been exercising, it seems my body now needs the extra calories and is adjusting which is really great as I love food and am normally like a bear with a sore tooth if I'm dieting.

Am hoping this also means that the initial weight gain you get when you start a new exercise routine will start coming off again soon. I'd like to know what my weight minus all the fluid is, as I know the inches have started to come off.

Speaking of food does anyone have any good snack suggestions that I can eat on the go? I can't do nuts severely allergic. ATM it's either flapjack and fruit or yoghurt but I'm worried they're all a bit sugary.

Thanks mcnab, will give it a go tomorrow. Had a busy day today so not done any exercise apart from walking

I know exactly how you feel about being wobbly, I've been trying clothes on today and not seeing any difference yet; I too am impatient but this time around the weight seems to be harder to shift than when I've dieted before. I've never really done muscle building exercise before though, just cardio and even when I've been slimmer I've still not been particularly firm!

I think we have to resign ourselves to the fact that this is something to stick to long term to get results; I'm trying to convince myself that I will look like Anita by Christmas!

I'm on to week three now. It technically started Monday but I missed Monday because I was randomly away with work, so it became my first rest day in 2 weeks.

Started again yesterday but struggled. Will try again tonight... I get through it, but it's not a personal best!

Am feeling a bit trimmer, so my hope is that in two weeks I'll be even slimmer, and by holiday in 2 months I'll be in great shape.

I'm just checking in to keep my place on the thread. I'm on holiday this week so I won't be doing anything before Tuesday. I'm slightly concerned by what the scales will say when I get back.

Fuckalella you should just go for it. I don't find level 2 any worse on my muscles I find it more intense on the cardio side. I think its a mental hurdle going from level 1 to 2 but now I'm doing it, its not that bad.

Last night before bed I tried on my holiday swimwear. Feel a bit deflated (not that I LOOK deflated mind, that would be a good thing!) I still look so wobbly. Even though my 'outer' clothes are all fitting me fine now. But have only been doing it for 11 days so I will persevere and hopefully by day 30 I'll see a big change. I was reading an old thread on here where someone had asked for feedback from people who had actually completed the shred. A lot of posters replied that they noticed a real change around day 20. I'm just a very impatient person who expects to enjoy custard slices and chicken tikka masala one week and gain a totally flat belly the next!!

Did L1D9 of the shred yesterday, lost my motivation a bit but ended up doing it at 9pm when DCs were in bed! I think I'm ready for L2, but going to wait until Saturday as I'm graduating on Friday and want to be able to get up the stairs to the stage!

Well done everyone, keep it up!

30DSL1D5

I'm really struggling with motivation...it's the second week of the summer holidays and I've gone all lazy, lol

First-timer here

Not attempted any Jillian Michaels before and just completed Shred L1 D5.

Did two days, then had a rest day [embarrassed] then three days on the trot. The weights I have are too heavy though, so have taken the actual weight bits off and just using the bare hand part! After D3 I had horrible pulled bicep, but it only lasted the day.

Great to read all your stories, clearly some experienced MNers here! Hello Bimble, I've seen you on 5:2 thread

Bit worried about L2, you all make it sound very challenging....

30DSL1D7 done. Feeling like I might be up for L2 in 3 days (not before!!) still find circuit 1 v v hard.

I had all-bran and banana for breakfast. Wish I'd had Nutella instead of what basically amounts to cardboard!

Clapping T Rex! Yes!! I just go for a higher jump or I just stick with singles, depending how knackered I am. It's already easier than when I first did L2 though so I am confident it is at least doing something.

RI30 L2D3 done. All sorts of bits of me hurt that didn't hurt with any of the previous workouts! I can't work out if I'm doing the exercises so badly that I'm hurting my joints or whether they're working little muscles that I don't normally use.

I also cheated: I swapped an extra set of plank jacks for one of the sets of squat thrusts. I really can't do squat thrusts. I'm also still getting nowhere with the crow push-ups: doing them on my knees doesn't actually seem to make them any easier, so I figure I might as well stick with failing to do the advanced version. It feels less feeble than failing to do the beginners' version.

Another one here struggling with the double-jump-rope, always have. Just can't do the arms, feel exactly like Yadah said above!

Anyhow, 30DSL2D10 done earlier this evening, which is 10 days over all, 5 @ level 1 and 5 (so far) @ level 2.

Going to see if my DS's will let me get away with doing it before sorting their breakfast out tomorrow morning and without them watching and interacting - wish me luck!

Night all.

Done it! Felt ok and it flew by!

I'm the same macnab it's the only thing I've stuck with and can actually see myself doing to the end. Although I've got 25 days to go so we'll see. The banana sounds yummy, I'm going off to bed before my feet take me into the kitchen to find munchies!

Night all

Did day 2 of level 2 this evening. Amazingly found it manageable or at least a bit more manageable than yesterday. Thanks for the description of the double jump rope. Still cant really manage it! Just did normal ones but was bouncing quite high (for me, weak pelvic floor etc!!)

I feel great that I'm sticking with it, almost strangely addicted to it. But I've let my diet slip the past few days, need to reign that back in I just cant seem to stop myself sometimes! This evening when I got in from work I was starving so I ate a (huge) banana and put a bit of peanut butter and a bit of nutella on each bite It was yum but not exactly good was it!

Everyone is doing so well! I'm about to do L1D5.

Really can't be bothered but it's only 30 minutes and if I don't do it, I'll feel all crap and guilty in half hours time.

Wish me luck!!

Thanks for the encouragement, yadah and Lambzig. Onwards and upwards - I'll try again tomorrow. My poor knees aren't liking this level, though: they were fine all through the Shred and L1 of RI30, but they're telling me today that middle-aged joints aren't meant to do this kind of stuff! And Lambzig, also well done on bikini. I won't get that far but am aiming for not too self-hating when wearing clothes.

Well done, Tango, that's awesome! Both impressed and envious.

macnab, I didn't really manage the double jump ropes at any stage - at best it was one-and-a-half jump ropes (I may have moaned just a bit on earlier threads about my total inability to do them). If there'd been a real skipping rope there would have been a lot of comedy moments!

30DS L1D10 now complete. Next step - level 2 (but not tomorrow as I have a full day at work, and then I'm giving a tutorial in the evening).

L1D6 done.

Did 1 week dieting+walking, 1 week healthy eating+shred+some walking and am weighing/measuring fortnightly. Cheating a bit because was pre-menstrual and just back from hols when I did my "before" weights and measures but am down 6lbs and 2 belly-inches already!

Yes definitely, you are meant to stay in the air long enough for you to turn the rope twice, eg do two rope swinging motions with your hands for each jump. As owl says imagine the rope going under your feet twice (and yes I know that would be practically impossible.

Not sure that description helps.

I am still however totally confused about the double jump rope manoeuvre

I think you need to imagine you are trying to jump and get the rope under your feet twice before landing on the floor. So yes, jump higher and move your arms faster!

Thanks private and imogen !

private I hope you're right, my bingo wings are ridiculous but for some reason they've never really bothered me! But I really want to tone my legs, I haven't worn a dress without leggings/tights in literally 7-8 years :( that's my number one aim, to have nice legs!

Going to do L1D5 this evening, DP has started it with me so once DS is asleep, we will do that. Nothing but rock and roll in the Northman household

thanks yadahyadah any chance you can explain the double jump rope thingy?!