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Original poster

Get a spring in your step - join the (military) March Shred thread!

191 replies

ErrolTheDragon · 02/03/2015 17:29

New thread (a couple of days late for anyone doing, or thinking about doing, the 30 Day Shred or any of the other Jillian Michaels workouts. Any questions, just ask - we're here to give encouragement, advice and sympathy to each other.

A couple of FAQs to start with:

  1. How many days at each level? - the norm is about 10, but it's not a hard and fast rule so progress at the rate you feel good with. You don't have to get everything perfect before moving on.

  2. Can I take a day off? - yes, you should have at least one rest day every week. (I always shred on weekdays and have the weekend off)

  3. Weights? - If you don't have any dumbells, you can start with a couple of tins of beans or 500ml bottles of water. Different people can manage different weights, and many of us find that we want a couple of different sizes. You want weights that allow you to complete all (or most) of a set with good form. Places like Argos, TKMax or Sports Direct usually have sets of 3 sizes (eg 1, 2, 3 kg) reasonably cheaply.

That's enough for now!

OP posts:
MagpieCursedTea · 12/03/2015 20:00

L3D7 complete!
I'm going to do yoga inferno (I think that's what it's called?) next MrsS.
I also struggled with plank jacks, it took me until D10 to be able to do it all the way through. Felt great though!

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 12/03/2015 18:46

Go easy with the lunges if your knee is hurting - go a bit slower if you need to to ensure you're keeping good form.

Plank jacks are quite good when you get the hang of them just you wait for squat thrusts and moguls if you do Ri30

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MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 12/03/2015 18:32

L2D1....I'm really not sure about it, I think what I found tough with it was all the lunging, it flew in a lot quicker than level 1, but jeez do my knees hurt, is that normal??? My right knee especially is really sore, does this go away after doing it for a few days??

I only thought I didn't like jumpin jacks....what fresh hell plank jacks is Confused I'm sure I'll get used to it! The skate was actually quite fun, if that word can be used in conjunction with JM!

drs hope you finally got to do yours, with or without your personal trainer watching you!! If my DD is anywhere near me she won't let me do it! Sits on me or runs of with my weights!!

drspouse · 12/03/2015 14:07

Well, I wasn't sure if I was going to do D2 today but DD doesn't seem to want to nap (despite swimming this morning) so maybe I won't have a choice!)

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 12/03/2015 11:47

NMTZ done. My arms were a bit sore this morning - I think I need to mix up the tabata intervals a bit more, too many tricep dips and weighted punches yesterday.

OP posts:
MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 11/03/2015 21:28

Ohh and thanks Errol will check out the timer Wink

MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 11/03/2015 21:26

Thanks folks for the advice on stretches, granny that stretch on the step worked a treat, such relief when I did it. Well done on your run today, that's a really good distance, I did 5k tonight with a small group of other runners, we did a few sprints ( pole to pole along a bypass) and it was really good way of breaking it up, I'm back with them on Friday evening and I'm really looking forward to it....it's so good to be outside running again....and hats off to you Granny on doing your shread at all hours, that is dedication...I found the bench & press tough today, think it was my weights

So Level 2 tomorrow, am going to have a sneak peek now, the skating sounds different drs [hmn] well done Magpie your so near the end, what will you do next? A different Jillian workout or back to Level 1??

Righty off to see what's ahead of me tomorrow Confused good luck with your FD tomorrow Granny I did mine today...

Will check in tomorrow to see how your all doing...and remember 'if you think your going to die, follow Anita' Grin...

grannygrotts · 11/03/2015 21:12

Well done Magpie. All that exercise will definitely not be wasted, just think how much more muscle you have and how much better your cardio fitness is.

Drspouse am deliberately not looking at L2 although like Mrs I'll probably sneak a look the night before.

Well, I managed my run first - did 3.4 miles in total, so my longest run by far this year. Did a route which took me gently uphill on the way out, so it was downhill all the way back. Then did L1D5. Still finding the arms the toughest part of the workout although the last set of cardio was done with slightly less enthusiasm.

Tomorrow is a FD for me, so I will use it as my rest day and pick up D6 on Friday.

drspouse · 11/03/2015 19:36

L2 D1 done! Think I quite like this level (maybe due to boredom with L1?) but I have yet to get the hang of the skating (though I need to know how as it's something I want to learn properly for skiing) and some of the other moves were a tad uncoordinated. A lot of this one is things I have never done or even heard of unlike L1.

MagpieCursedTea · 11/03/2015 18:16

L3D6 complete! The end is so tantalising close Grin
I need to start sorting my diet out as well. All this exercise feels so wasted with my awful food intake.

grannygrotts · 11/03/2015 14:13

Mrs for tight calf muscle try standing with toes on edge of a step and take your heel lower than the toes. No bouncing though, just gentle stretch. When my calfs are tight I also stand in front of cupboards, heel on floor, foot inclined with the toe resting a few inches above the heel against the cupboard and gently lean into it; can be done unobtrusively whilst you're out and about.

Well, I did post late last night (early this morning) but I think the site was down for housekeeping so it disappeared. Got home 10.30 p.m. from evening class and DH had dinner ready and waiting, so ate and then had to wait an hour and a half before shredding. So, D4L1 was done just past midnight. Have upped the weights slightly, but still can't do full sets of press-ups and the side lunges with arms are still killers. I was soooo pleased when she said there were only 4 more to do.

Thinking of putting in a run before shredding tonight - though I may change my mind if I don't get home before it goes dark.

Well done to all those who have already shredded. I should really get up early to do mine but I am not a morning person ..

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 11/03/2015 13:54

I just searched the app store on my ipod and chose the first one - think it's just 'tabata timer'. It's free and very simple - there's a bit of info written by a non-native English speaker (perfectly understandable but quaint wording) but it's essentially just got a 'start' and 'reset' button. Hit start, it does a few coundown bleeps then there's 20 secs during which you go all-out at whatever exercise you're doing, a couple of coundown bleeps to a 10 second break, then that repeats x8. Very simple but it does the job. When and if I run again I'll use it to do some timed sprint/walk intervals.

I wasn't quite sure what I was doing so I posted a few questions on the 5:2 exercise thread which have been answered, here if anyone is interested. (there's lots of good exercise advice there BTW, regardless of whether you do 5:2/IF or not)

OP posts:
MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 11/03/2015 11:47

Thanks drspouse it's my calf, will try that before and after my workout

Errol tell us more, what is this tabata app and where do you get it????

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 11/03/2015 10:23

Morning all. I had a change from Jillian this morning - I got a simple tabata app and did a few circuits. Made quite a nice change from being yelled at Grin.

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drspouse · 11/03/2015 10:00

Shin or calf MrsSteven? If shin, toe taps (50 each leg while brushing teeth), if calf, stretching by standing at the wall and sliding down with feet flat.
My left knee is a little sore today which is odd as it was the right one I bashed on the coffee table while doing butt kicks yesterday.

MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 11/03/2015 09:08

D10L1 for me today, level 2 tomorrow.....yikes! Might watch it tonight just to see what's ahead, and get some idea of what to do....anyone any advice on how to make a tight (and a bit sore) lower leg feel a bit less tight, have a run planned for tonight and don't want to miss it, it's slighly annoying, will it just work itself out? really don't want to take a rest day yet....

drspouse · 10/03/2015 22:24

So true errol. I used to cycle to work (I am not going to do that with hills and two DC in the workplace nursery) and it was just how I got to work so easy to do.

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 10/03/2015 22:11

drspouse - the most effective form of exercise is the sort you actually do consistently - so finding a combination which suits your life is sensible.Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 10/03/2015 22:09

Well done! Glad you two enjoyed the Ri30 L2 - it's a bit marmite, I like it too (mostly) but not everyone does.

OP posts:
CheshirePanda · 10/03/2015 20:06

And I did mine too. Ri30 L2 D1 done. I liked it more than level 1 I think. Mostly. Right Mrs RJ....we are even-Stevens now. I did 5 miles of walking and 2 miles of running today, which was nice in the sun. Probably won't be able to walk tomorrow. Whichmight be an issue because Ive promised DD I'll take her to JumpNation tomorrow, which is basically a massive area of trampolines. we will see how this pans out...

MsRaspberryJam · 10/03/2015 18:38

I did mine too. Ri30 level two day one. Level two was a fun change. I enjoyed the jump rope with kick outs and also really liked the crunch where you climb up your own leg.

drspouse · 10/03/2015 18:08

L1 D10 done! With my new weights too. Quite looking forward to L2.
I've decided to try and do 5 days a week exercise, 3 of which will be Shred. One will usually be Pilates and then either more Shred, swimming, or a long walk. I'm going back to work soon so a more general aim will be easier to keep too I think.

Original poster
ErrolTheDragon · 10/03/2015 15:33

I don't know which of those spectators sounds worse!

I did most of NMTZ this morning - but it was such a glorious day that DH and I decided we should go for a walk, so I missed the last two moves of the final circuit. But they're relatively easy so I think the walk more than compensated.

Definitely getting to the sort of weather where a bit of running doesn't sound like madness. I'm also a late starter on that front, and slow, but sometimes it hits the spot. I can't run on pavements though - hurts my hip - so I have to wait until the canal towpath is no longer a mudbath. It's about half a mile walk to get to it, which serves as warmup/cooldown, then what I was doing last year was doing a steady jog out and then doing 'sprint'/walk intervals home. I'm sure most people can jog faster than my 'sprint'! Grin

For anyone wondering what an 'FD' is, alluded to a couple of times upthread, some of us are also doing 5:2 and it's a 'Fast Day'. MrsS - I don't seem to find it makes much of a difference, maybe because I always shred in the morning before eating anyway. I'm fine with it the next day too. But we're all different - maybe you need to alter the time of eating relative to exercise in some way to suit you.

OP posts:
AndHarry · 10/03/2015 14:52

I've had spectators this week. Yesterday morning DD (2) woke up halfway through and commentated on my performance from the vantage point of her highchair, starting with a demand that I put more clothes on Blush

This morning, MIL arrived just as I was doing my burpees. Thankfully I'd gone for a run before starting so I wasn't in my usual laundry-minimising JM uniform of sports bra and knickers!

MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey · 10/03/2015 13:48

Thanks MrsRJ, I just finished mine at lunch time there, and for a fleeting moment did think, should I just give it a miss today and tackle the ironing! But I did it, and feel so much better for itSmile....looking forward to hearing your update after your workout Wink

Right off to do the pesky ironing....Grin

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