The November Shred Thread: all Jillian Michaels devotees welcome!

On a frustrating hiatus as DH has been struggling since Saturday with a migraine, so I'm looking after three boys by myself ATM. I was on a bloody roll too

I will be back as soon as DH is up to helping with bedtimes again...

30DS L2 D5 done.

Gingerbread, you are right, my knees were really sore on L1 but I'm managing L2 no problem. I do have an old injury to left shoulder so do struggle a bit with all plank excersices but am battling through for the moment. :)

D1L1 Shred (again). Another lazy week last week but one in which my mood was becoming more and more erratic - kind of gnashy. I realised that quite apart from fitness and weight control exercise balances my mood immensely. So I am back huffing and puffing away. Feels good this side of the routine. 5kg weights! Zoinks that sounds fantastically hardcore.

Hugs for you fullsteam

I'm doing ok just did L1 D10, although actually tried a L2 last week, tough but managed ok.

I'm really having trouble with my knees/shins. I cannot do jumping jacks anymore otherwise I get shooting pains down the outsides of both legs. I substitute with butt kicks or vigorous marching on the spot. In fact I think I prefer level 2 as it's more intense on the arms with the plank type expercises and less jumping jacks, which is fine by me!

Hi all I am going on holiday in less than 4 weeks I need to get firmer quick! I can't find my shred DVD but I know it's here somewhere so I'm not buying another one.

I need to exercise but I also have a neck / shoulder injury are there any that won't effect my neck so much?

How have you all found no more trouble zones? Can you do selected circuits or do you have to do all?

I mainly need to work on belly and thighs, but crunches hurt my neck!

I only use the 5kg for the first strength exercise in circuit two, L1 (dumbbell row exercise for the lats)! The rest of it is 2kg all the easy. I refer back to my PP about being weak as piss.

Full stream sorry to hear about your dog,

Elphaba, 5kg weights is hardcore I am dying with just one!

Have lost count of days at level two but did double jump rope for both on Thursday so pleased with that. Couldn't manage it today but DD has a cold and think I am fighting it off! Lost 2.5 lbs this week so really pleased with this especially as feel fitter and some clothes looser, and possibly butt looks tighter wishful thinking but I don't care

30DS L1D6 done like a done thing. It's amazing how quickly it works, isn't it? Feeling so much fitter generally, even noticeable when I'm heaving the DCs around. My pre-pg trousers are sliding down and needing constant hoiking up and my tummy is noticeably diminishing! I probably could progress onto L2 now but my sloth need for order that I share with Imogen forbids me. Besides, DS2 is now 15 weeks old and I'm mentally battening down the hatches for the four month sleep regression, because DS1's was utterly horrific. I won't thank myself for pushing myself into extremes of exercise if I'm subsisting on five hours of sleep, snatched in half-hour chunks

Thanks very much guys. I really appreciate it. xxx

Oh, and sympathies, Fullsteam Losing a beloved pet is heartbreaking.

I can do splits in all directions, bend backs, crazy arm stuff, but as a trade-off, I'm weak as piss, hence my being reconciled to the fact that I'll never be able to do full press-ups. I'm a rubbish runner as well, probably because I've got unstable joints from being bendy, so I'm slow and start hurting very rapidly.

Didn't Shred last night due to pounding head. Went to baby wearing fitness class today but didn't get much of a workout as 2.6yo DS1 had to come along as well so I had half an eye on him a lot of the time and had to intervene occasionally to alleviate boredom and destruction. Toying with the idea of Shredding tonight to make up for it...

Fullsteam. Re counting the days - if I was you I'd do 10 days at L2 and then decide whether to stick with it a bit longer or go onto L3. I don't think you have to be too prescriptive - it depends what motivates you I guess, if you want to feel you've done 30 days or if you want to progress with shred and then maybe move onto one of the other dvds.

Imogen - I'm flexible in some ways not others - my arms are almost too flexible (though handy for never needing anyone else to scratch my back) but I can't do anything like splits - JM says something about not being very flexible herself during the cooldown when she's waay more than me!

Did 30DS L3D7 today, and even did level 1 beforehand as a warm up. Hard work but feel good for doing it.

Sorry about your dog, Fullsteam :(

Hi guys, sorry for disappearing for a few days.

We did have to put our dog to sleep on Monday, so it's been a tough few days :(

Anyway, I've still been pushing on with workouts, in fact having done 5 days of level 1 last week I decided to try out level 2. It's a killer!!!

Today I did 30DS L2 D4, it's gradually stating to get a bit easier. I do prefer it to level 1 as I do really feel like I've done a proper workout.

Question: how do I record my levels now since I skipped 5 days out of L1? Do I just do L2 for 15 days?

Gingerbreadpixie, hello :) How are you doing?

My last shred day was that long ago this thread had disappeared from my 'I'm on' section! Just marking my place to say that I'm finally well enough to continue shredding and will attempt L1 D10 this weekend! I will make it to L3 by Christmas if it kills me!!!

Did my Ri30L4 yesterday and today.

I have actually managed to kick myself in the butt of late. I think my round of KB&T really did help - my jeans agree. I havealways had sturdy short legs and I had wondered if all this leg exercise would make my thighs more thunderous, but they seem to be stronger yet more compact!

Wondering whether to do KB&T again or maybe a week of NMTZ next (or maybe another go at ES&S)

Flexibility/length of quads rather than thigh-age, I think. I'm a very bendy Wendy generally.

30DS L1 D5 done. Actually keeping up with Natalie with some of it - I was kicking myself, quite literally, in the ass!