If it's June it must be Jillian - all Shreddees and other Jillian devotees check in here!

30DS L2D8 - pushing on through this week.

Slimmer I normally have 1 rest day at the weekend, and 1 rest day mid-week. So it takes me 2 weeks to do each level. I definitely need some recovery time built in.

Slimmer I started 30DS in January but as was only doing it around 4 days/week so took me until early March to get through it. I have since moved on to longer JM workouts e.g. NMTZ and various kickboxing ones 3-4 days/week. I don't do self denial or diets so have eaten normally throughout. I had dropped a dress size by March and am maintaining that. More importantly for me, keeping up the regular exercise means I feel amazing in terms of energy, mood etc.
Did section 1 of KickboxFF today but my upper body is still aching after yesterday's NMTZ with heavier weights .

Do you do the 5 days together and two days off together eg exercise mon-fri and take weekend off? Or split the rest days up?

Just started the 30 day shred this morning (though also tried it several years ago!) I sold my DVD copy a while back though so just doing it from YouTube.
Can I double check- it's every day for 30 days? No breaks?
Also, has anyone done it without the diet and still had pleasing results?

I'm on slimming world and did a few circuits classes and really noticed the weight coming off easier. The class has stopped for summer so I'm looking an alternative until September. I was shocked to find I couldn't even do 1 sit up anymore. Def want to be able to do those and a few pressups (hindered somewhat by carpal tunnel syndrome)

10 min warm up run today (getting between DS's 6pm drop off and DD's 6pm pick up 1.5 miles away

Then 30DS L2D7. Feeling surprisingly good - maybe I am getting fitter.

I did level three of Kickbox Fastfix this evening. I'm feeling pumped!

UnalignedAnt, but are you feeling that you are improving in terms of energy levels and stamina? This is the important thing. Don't worry about how you look. Concentrate on how exercising makes you feel and the rest will fall into place.

Level 3 day 4 done. Still modifying the lunge jumps for my knee. It's damn tough but in a good way.

I tried on my pre-baby Trousers of Truth (love that phrase, I think I picked it up from here) yesterday and was delighted to find they fit, with a little room to spare too. I still have a bit more belly wobblethan iI'd like so will keep on shredding.

Thanks, Imogen - that's good to hear!

L2D4. Kicked my arse today. Got to L2D8 before abandoning Jillian last attempt - determined to push through this time!

Bit disheartened by sort of mid-point progress pic as don't see much difference since D1 shot. Clothes are definitely looser though so camera must be telling fibs

Few germs floating around the family. Hope I don't get the dread lurgy

Omg my right lower calf muscle... It just went v tight and painful on the 2nd set of butt kicks last night 30ds l1d7.
so I did the kick boxing type move from the begshredL3 for the cardi instead.
have put flat shoes on today to prevent the muscle contracting and will revert to begshredL3 for a couple of days as it is I felt more knackered at the end of that each time, than when I do 30dsL1!

Oh and I was pleased with myself for moving up this week, from 400g bean can weights, to 650g larger rice pudding tins.... till I see someone else is on 4kg weights
I have very little arm strength, it's all in my legs!

Finally got round to rootling some heavier weights out of the attic so did NMTZ today with 6kg weights for sections 2 and 3. Only 1kg heavier but definitely feeling it!
Saul I like NMTZ once or twice a week plus a Kickbox cardio workout 3 or 4 times a week - Burn Fat Boost Metabolism or KickboxFastFix. As I am doing good strength workouts with NMTZ I can't be bothered getting down to do the odd strength 'floor' section in these cardio workouts so will substitute high knees or whatever instead to keep them purely cardio.
To whoever asked about creaky knees - 1000mg fish oil daily helps me plus doing the longer cooldowns in NMTZ and BFBM which include more stretching than the 30DS and some of the other JM workouts. HTH

Ok so did D1L1 yesterday and today I'm onto D2. I set my alarm early but I'm finding it difficult to get up and do it.I know one reason why. I don't want DH to know yet. But I don't really know why. I kind of feel that I want it to be just my thing without having anyone elses seal of approval right now.

I wish he'd get off to work and then I could get on with it. If he leaves in 5 minutes then I'll have enough time and if not then I'll have to make my decision ...

I haven't logged in for a while but I have been shredding, honestly! Today was day 3 of level 3 and I'm loving tue new level way more than 2. I surprised myself by how well I can do the walking planks and look forward to seeing my situps improve over the level. I find the jumping lunges very hard on my knees so today I substituted one set for the standing lunge and hammer curls from a previous level. I feel that this level is more like level 1, in that it will be easier and more satisfying to see progress.

The rockstars are definitely more Cliff Richard than rock'n'roll!

30DS L2D6. Hoping to stay motivated so that I can move on to level 3 at the end of the week tries to block out flashbacks to hideous rockstar jumps

Woke up pain free which was a blessing as long shift today, pain came back a couple of hours before end of shift. I'm going to abandon Jillian now - quite liked Bob Harper's and really love Cindy Crawford ones I did in the past - much more warming up/down and hopefully less opportunity for injury. Thanks for the thread which has helped me get me back into exercise - it's great

What are nmtz and rl30?

I bought the yoga meltdown to do next.
not sure if it will be a challenge but it was there for a fiver on amazon when I was buying the others and I needed to spend enough to get free delivery. ....

Eek - joining thread so as to commit starting tomorrow .
L1 -D1
Will measure myself to see if I really do lose inches too.
See you tomorrow,
:)

Thanks, I know the benefits of resting the muscles, it's just that jillian the fitness guru calls it a 30 day program so I wondered if we're meant to do it for 30 days straight or is it me slacking

MadameJulienBaptiste, rest is absolutely imperative for recovery and fitness. It not only makes you a more effective exerciser but it means that you are more toned in the long run. It's the repair of the muscles which builds definition. Think of it as stretching and stressing the muscles during exercise and then the rest day fixing them up and filling in the gaps. More toned, shapely muscles because you've let them heal into their new, better shape. Then you challenge them again and repeat! It's also psychologically quite important sometimes. You might find you need that exercise free day or two to look forward to if working out has been particularly tough.

I think most people build in rest days, particularly when new to a programme or building up a base of fitness. I don't take rest days BUT I do rest muscle groups. I rotate the exercise I'm doing so that for example, if I'm pushing my shoulders for 3 days in a row, I have a couple of days concentrating on lower body only and it builds in rest but maintains a higher intensity pace. I've been working out quite hard for many years though so am quite well versed in balancing it out.

Can anybody recommend which DVD to get next? I fancy a new challenge. I've done Shred, 6W6P and RI30. I want something with cardio and toning. Good all rounder. Maybe something with a lot of legs stuff if it's more specific. What about Kickbox Fast Fix? I have almost made up my mind to get that but wondered if anybody else had loved any of the others?

Does anyone else have rest days? I've been doing 5 or 6 days then a day off.

I am now on day 7 of 30ds. My fave workout so far is level 3 of beginner shred, made me sweat buckets and no high impact.
really starting to see a difference round my middle, my work dresses are looking and feeling much better.

The high impact cardi bits were really hard the first few goes and I could hardly do the push ups. Today I was jumping higher and managed all the push ups but only about 3 inch dips!
My middle age belly is shrinking. I am so impressed with the results and still have 23 days to go.