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

509 replies

yadahyadah · 30/06/2014 21:28

Okay, it's not just 30 Day Shred anymore but if you would like to log your daily JM fix and get some tips and tricks from fellow Shredders, step this way.

OP posts:
OwlCapone · 22/07/2014 05:01

Show off Wink

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 21/07/2014 22:55

30DSL3D3 done. I think I need heavier weighs for this level. I found 2kg hard for level 2 but too easy for this level!

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 21/07/2014 21:19

Well done Spots! My DC are very good at sabotage in the form of running at me and jumping on me and hiding my weights so I now tend to exercise when they are in bed! Good move on the subbed in exercises on circuit three. I'm doing the same ATM after a set back last week.

Right am off to do my shred as want to be out in the garden when it gets dark to see if Prickles comes back/ is ok.

jocastafantastica · 21/07/2014 20:58

Were not 'we're' - damned auto correct

jocastafantastica · 21/07/2014 20:57

Did 1st day of level 3 today and I am still alive...just! It was tough but do-able, though I know I will never be able to do Anita-style jump lunges, my knees would never take it.
itsfab how we're the homemade bounty bars? Sound delicious :)

Spotsondots · 21/07/2014 19:50

30DS L1 D1 complete, despite DS's best attempts to sabotage it by waking up screaming at the beginning of circuit 3....Confused I am currently lying on his bedroom floor waiting for him to fall back asleep so I can grab a shower. Let's just hope I can get back up!

I actually found it ok and pleasantly surprised myself that I didn't die. Sure the next couple of days will be harder with achey muscles though...Grin I didn't do the bicycle crunches though in case my stomach muscles couldn't take it, just did some pelvic tilts and the zip exercise instead.

Bring on day 2!

Itsfab · 21/07/2014 15:34

Just did day 5. It hurt in parts but it was definitely easier than yesterday and at times I was enjoying the achievement feeling Shock.

Only worry is after the sit ups I did have a bit of pulling in my c section scar area.

Having a sit down for a bit now feeling nicely warm and virtuous Grin.

Hope everyone else is doing okay.

Itsfab · 21/07/2014 14:56

I am about to do day 5 shred. I made the kids walk to the shop this morning and I carried back some heavy shopping. We were out for 1.5 hours but I assume the point of the 30 day shred is that you do it every day?

Plus DS1 and I have made bounty bars from scratch and I want to try one Grin.

SanityClause · 21/07/2014 14:22

I've lost the thread I was posting on, so can I join you?

I have just done D3L2 of the shred. I have a cough, which is hurting my lower abs, so I have been doing the double crunches with one leg, then swapping after a while. I have a lot of trouble with the plank ones where you jump in and out, (so I sometimes do the Anita option) but not the "plank jacks", strangely.

I can feel my muscles hardening up, under the flab, but the flab is still there, on top. I haven't lost any weight, either.

I always understood that if you have more muscle, you burn more calories, even when not exercising, so maybe it will start to come off as I get stronger?

Toizzy · 21/07/2014 10:32

Was also wondering if any of you use a heart rate monitor to see how many calories you burn during exercise?
I input 150 calories on mfp but it's a very wild guess

Toizzy · 21/07/2014 10:27

Just managed to do D8L1 of the shred even so i felt like i was suffocating with the heat! Had a rest day yesterday to give my abs a rest, and did the plank today instead of the push ups as i feel like that's what's hurting my absHmm ?! Pretty sure I'm just not doing them right..

Was wondering after how many days you all went up to level 2? I know i probably should in a couple of days but I'm only just starting to follow Nathalie for certain moves.Were you all doing the Nathalie shred completely before you moved on?

Anyway well done us

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 21/07/2014 09:39

Grin no problem Spots, and good luck! The first few days are usually tough but push through it and it does get easier. Hello to MindfulBear as well.

Spotsondots · 21/07/2014 09:06

Right, after some great advice from Shadows (thanks again, Shadows) today is the day! Will be doing my first ever shred after DS is safely in bed this evening (mornings not a sustainable option in this house!)

  • hello! Would you like to be my shred buddy as we are both starting today?

Also starting healthy eating today again the cake and biscuits stop here!

Will check back later once I'm all done if I'm still alive eek.

Chococroc · 21/07/2014 07:38

30DS L3 Day 4 done!

OwlCapone · 21/07/2014 07:33

I'm going to end up with two weeks off. I can't take the weights but could do everything else using my iPad. I wonder how big a bottle would I have to fill with sand to make my own weights?

ImogenQuy · 21/07/2014 07:17

RI30 L3 D1 done. Actually found it much less unpleasant than L2. My quads hurt though, which has never happened with any of the other workouts on this or the Shred (there have to be some advantages in cycling everywhere). That duck walk is a killer. I need to try Lambzig's trick of doing it in 3-inch heels at work today!

On holiday from next Monday - I'm a bit scared of taking a whole week off in the middle of a level, but it would be so much hassle to take the DVD player and the weights abroad.

Welcome, MindfulBear. Most people do 10 days at each level and then move up to the next. It certainly makes you much stronger and fitter, and some of the people on this thread have had great results looks-wise as well. I haven't, but then I haven't been trying to lose any weight so the results were never going to be dramatic.

MindfulBear · 20/07/2014 23:03

Hi! I'm new to this and not started yet. Planning to start tomorrow (Monday morning) at the same time as getting back on the 5:2 wagon.
Does The Shred actually work and is it really only 20 mins a day? Will I really see a difference in 30 days if I follow it? Just seems a big promise!!!

Do I just do the shred level 1 for 30 days (or should I expect to move up to level 3 in that time?)

Some inspirational stories to get me through Monday please Smile

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 20/07/2014 22:31

30DSL3D2 done. Actually didn't find that too bad. Still subbed in different exercises for the ab moves but managed the plank ones unmodified.

Had a good day in the end. I've sat and made a list of all the me things I'm going to do, from stuff around the house, to books I want to read and doing some studying. I've cleaned whole house and chucked out 6 bin bags. Then DD and I made crispie cakes and we all watching Piglets Big Movie.

OwlCapone · 20/07/2014 20:34

Er... It is their fault when they lose them!

Itsfab · 20/07/2014 20:02

Agree with charging for lost stuff but for braces is not on imo. Hardly their fault they need them.

Itsfab · 20/07/2014 19:35

Yep, I am an inadequate mother as my kids could do more than I let them, I am sure of it. Will definitely consider getting him working on the iron. He did do one a while ago.

I have seen more of him now he has no screens Wink.

OwlCapone · 20/07/2014 19:02

itsfab I taught my DSs to iron their own school shirts by the time they were 13. They earn a nominal £1 per shirt which gets deducted from their bill for lost Oyster cards, orthodontic braces and other stuff :)

They also earn back time on the Xbox during a ban - DS1 is currently raking the lawn to earn back time. I'm happy as I was going to pay him to do it and I don't have to deal with a bored teen. He's (mostly) happy as he gets to play on the Xbox.

I have shredded. I managed the modified squat thrusts and one round of walking press ups. I attempted the modified plank jacks but had to stop as my right arm felt like it was going to give way.

Spotsondots · 20/07/2014 19:01

Thanks very much for the info, that's really helpful. Smile

ShadowsShadowsEverywhere · 20/07/2014 18:11

If you look at last months thread I put some mods on for the ab moves if you have diastasis. I can also link you to another thread where I posted loads of exercises that you can do along side the shred to keep the separation closed.

Basically if you've ever had diastasis then you are at risk of it coming back as soon as you start putting pressure on the abdominus rectus which is the 6 pack muscles. Sit ups, crunches, planks all put pressure on those muscles. You can tell which exercises are the put pressure on ones as your abs will bulge outwards. The muscle which you need to keep strengthening and which reverses the separation is the transverse. It's like a corset all the way around your body. When you do exercised that engage the transverse muscle your tummy will go in rather than bulge out.

If you've got 1cm separation you're probably ok to do the shred but keep checking the separation (someone posted a link upthread) and if it starts to get bigger STOP. Ideally check it the morning after each workout. Try and do transverse exercises as much as you can, like pelvic floor exercises that you do whenever you remember, you can't over exercise the transverse. The one to do as much as pos is as follows:

Stand up, feet shoulder width apart, arms by side. Place one finger in your belly button. Now imagine there is a string from the inside if your belly button, to your spine and out a hole in your back. You're going to visualise someone pulling that string and pull your belly button in. Your spine shouldn't be bent or curved, you shouldn't be holding your breath and the top and bottom of your stomach shouldn't be moving a lot. You may feel it tighten in your sides and back - this is normal as it's where the muscle is.

Pull it as tight as you can and hold for as long as you can.
Once you've mastered that you can do a more complex version. Pull it in as before and now pulse it at the point of your belly button. Keep the muscle contracted the whole time and pull it as tight as you possibly can on each pulse. Contine for as long as you can.

The best way to prevent separation returning is to recondition that transverse muscle to engage automatically. ATM it won't be. So if you spend several days making a conscious effort to engage or contract that transverse muscle whenever you bend, lift anything, carry anything it will begin to automatically work with you other core muscles when you lift things, which will ultimately keep your core strong and prevent separation. If you think about it, what is the point of doing exercises to strengthen that muscle if the rest of the day you are pushing your abs outwards (which happens if transverse isn't engaged) whenever you bend down or lift anything or twist. That's all putting pressure on those abdominals and risking a separation returning. So if you can do exercises every day, retrain that muscle engage when it's needed you should have a really strong core and be able to shred without risking those abs bulging out.

Don't do what I did and think it's gone forever and go crazy with ab exercises as mine came a bulging right back out again. The 5 months pregnant look is not one I'm going for ATM Grin

I hope that helps.

Spotsondots · 20/07/2014 17:09

Thanks Imogen (and shadows in advance!) Smile I will have a read back and get myself informed! Hopefully I can then start shredding!