I need a Shred buddy

[Brahbrah]

I had a Shred buddy but she knackered her knees. It turns out I have no self-motivation at all as I haven't done it once since she stopped.

Anyone looking at a neglected copy of the 30 Day Shred and want to buddy up? We had managed to get to day 10 and had just moved up to level 2 when we stopped, but I'm happy to start again at day 1.

Not much required, just a daily check in to say, 'yep, done it for today, how about you?'

Whaddya say?

Shredded, day 8. I actually enjoyed it today! Glad you are feeling better Keepcalm, and woohoo for the fixed dishwasher Supersal. Day 9 for me tomorrow - are you moving on to level 2 shortly then?

Brianstorm, please check in or I shall be forced to look sternly at you!

Just wrote a message, and then accidentally deleted it!

So, sorry for radio silence - a lot going on with our family at the minute - but can confirm that I have kept on Shredding every day, today being Day 10. Really starting to find it a chore, whereas I started off finding it a novelty even though it was tough. Now I dread doing it. And still find it as hard...

Plus meant to be moving on to Level 2 tomorrow and am properly dreading that! Has anybody went from no exercise to just 10 days of Level 1, and then been able to move to Level 2? Anybody? Watching it now on the DVD to try and prepare me and am

BadPoet - please don't look sternly at me - scout's honour I've been keeping up! How are you finding it now?

SuperSal - good news on all fronts for you now - update on Day 10 please!!

KeepCalm - glad you're feeling better

Pat - I'll PM you my address so I can get one of those lovely certificates

Also, am investigating what you do after Day 30 - will update if I hear any more. Think I might have to go back to Day 1 again for 30 days anyway, and follow Natalie - try not to look at her at the minute in case I go blind...

I am checking in because I am just about to start. And today I really, really don't want to do it. I need someone to look sternly at me! Weird, I did enjoy it yesterday and probably had my best workout so far. Will report back.

Do it!

I might try and start again tomorrow. Back much better, but have been up most of the night watching Scottish election results [political geek] and am knackered and in need of sugar and carbs. Have no energy to expend.

Thanks KeepCalm! I did it - day 9 - and quite enjoyed it again. It's as much the faff of getting changed, clearing toys off rug etc that puts me off. Plus we ate the beans I'd be using as a weight last night so I had to find another can!

Delighted to hear you might start again tomorrow! Def. take today off. I listened to the Radio Scotland election special and muted Jillian while I worked out.

Brian - also dreading level 2. I am not going to look before I start (on Sunday), just keep up as best I can.

Shredded, day 10. One third of the way there. Level 2 tomorrow . If I find it too hard I'll drop back to 1 for a while. I'm trying to tone up for a hen night too, but mine's not until July.

Supersal - face bra reminded me of Ally McBeal . I think after shredding and a long walk no need to feel guilty about running!

Brianstorm - good luck if you move up today! Hope you are OK.

Keepcalm - do you think you will be able to start this weekend? And SNP majority

Where is everyone else? (apart from Pat who I know is just perfecting our certificates - and bootcamping)

Day 1 Level 2!!! Sweat is literally dripping off me, am wrecked but the time seemed to pass far quicker as I hadn't a clue how to do the actual exercises. Not as hard as it first looked, but then again I'm still stubbornly Team Anita

Really have to say thanks to you all for keeping on posting - I need to be shamed into this! Loving the updates. Face bra...

Oh also, found the official Shred thread which was full of amusing and inspiring stories. Killian is her official nickname now and I'm sticking with it! Seemed to be a thing that losing weight won't necessarily happen, but inch loss does, so I am putting up my measurements to make me confront my pregnancy non-weight loss

Upper Leg - 23.5"
Waist (fattest part) - 37.5" (that's without holding my breath)
Bust (with bra, I might add!) - 39.5"
Upper arm - 14"

So girls, this is at Day 10 - I'll measure myself at Day 20 and Day 30 too to see if it's made any difference. Weighed myself the other day and still resolutely 10 stone - a full stone heavier than my normal happy weight.

Oh and an update on what to do after - seems to be a mixture of:

1. Doing Shred from beginning again with heavier weights and only follow Natalie
2. Doing Shred 2 and 3 alternating 5 days a week again with heavier weights and following Natalie
3. Getting Six Week Six Pack, and alternating with Davinia's Superbody, Shred or some other cardio - ie C25K to make up 5 days a week
4. Other recommendations are Billy Blanks Tae Bo to alternate.

Apparently across these you could keep up the 20 minutes or so workout (ie not time intensive), but keep your body on its toes. The key to the exercise part seems to be changing what you do every 3/4 weeks to ensure it doesn't get used to it. Eating well is also crucial - the 80:20 rule - ie exercise only can shift 20% of it alone. Saying that I haven't changed my diet one bit because I love my food and figured I would rather exercise than start watching what I eat, or, God Forbid, give up bread!!

Hope I'm making sense - there was just a lot to take in! Plus there was one really helpful poster LostGirl who took the time to explain any questions.

Sorry - this is the link in case you're curious - it's a continuation from lots of other links.

Late to the party as ever, but please can I join your thread? Just shredded day 4 level 1, so only a beginner. Strangely it seems to be getting harder but early days I guess. Am a serial failed dieter but enjoy exercise when I can get motivated. Am hoping you might help keep me on track.

Hi Mummyrev - of course! Anyone can join, I felt quite late to the party too but am posting away daily now. I found some bits got harder too, particularly the strength moves, maybe I was doing them more effectively? But by the end of the first 10 days I was enjoying them. I find this thread really good for staying on track.

Did I say enjoy? Shredded - level 2 day 1. In many ways, better than expected, I was able to keep up mostly. But in interests of honestly I have to admit that I gave up during the last 2 plank moves - plank jacks and plank twists and just stared miserably at the screen. It's not just that they were hard - although they were - but it make me really dizzy to be in that position. (I've had lots of inner ear problems). I'm really not sure I can do it and I wonder if I should sub another cardio and another abs exercise? Apart from that I am just trying to convince myself that I did that vast majority of it and it's not a waste of time...

Thanks Brian for posting that link! Really interesting reading. And well done for posting measurements, I haven't taken any although I did take some photos. I tried to take an underwear shot myself & it didn't come out too well and dh took some clothed ones. I was scrutinising them yesterday and I am sure that there's a difference in the back view (as it were) but I was wearing a different top and jeans!

Sounds like a good choice supersal, but I know what you mean - the convenience of the shred is really appealing to me too. It's a sneaky little programme - lures you in with the promise of a better body in a month and already I know that I want to continue fitting exercise in. I think maybe there are subliminal messages buried in there.

Shredded, l2d2 (that sounds pleasingly Star Wars-y). Whoof. I sub'ed ordinary jumping jacks for the plank jacks and was able to do most of the plank twists so I feel a lot better today. I'll never look like Natalie anyway.

DH did level 1 yesterday, he found it tough. He said it's the speed & the fast transitions that made it hard, he says that men do a lot of posing flexing & tensing in mirrors in the gym. We're awaiting delivery of a set of hand weights, 1, 1.5 and 3kg.

Any updates from anyone else?

I am so sorry I haven't posted lately! I have been shredding though, promise.

It's just that the days and weeks have been so mixed up, with school and holidays, I kept forgetting or getting side tracked and not posting!

Anyway - normal service resumed. I'll post after tonights shred. 78 days to the start of the summer holidays ladies! Think thin thoughts!

Sorry, gone a bit AWOL too.

Have not shredded since thurs (level 3 though again, i kinda like it!) as I have classes at the gym on fri,sat,sun and mon........phew! I am a sweaty heap after circuit training tonight so NO CHANCE of a shred. Will be doing a shredathon tomorrow night though as I thought I might double up level 1 and then level 3 straight after.

You guys are doing brilliantly, badpoet I am very impressed and check out Brian with all the research
I have to slightly disagree with the 80:20 thing though, I have shifted 21lbs since Feb by purely exercising like a mad thing. i haven't counted calories at all, even had wine and all sorts of chocolate things. i suppose I have eaten LESS as I am now busy every evening so less time to pick and also your metabolism changes as you build more muscle. I have ground to a halt now in the last few weeks, at just under 11 stone. I need to be 9 and a half in an ideal world but 10 would do nicely thanks(I am 5ft5). Suppose I am going to have to bite the bullet and reign in the eating a bit, btw this website is a good free resource for planning your eating and exercise www.foodfocus.co.uk

Supersal- My running is the difficult thing for me to fit in, I was all geared up for a run on saturday evening and then the heavens opened!

Welcome mummyrev

I'm done.

I have to say, it's getting easier! I can do far more push ups now, than I could a month ago! Still make my arms shake for about an hour afterwards though!

Will check in properly tomorrow - but have still not missed a day - and have literally just finished L2D4. Still wrecked, and knees starting to go a bit, but nearly half way there!

Read through what you wrote but don't have time to reply - good to see you again Maureen, and welcome MummyRev

L2D3 here, I missed yesterday because I wasn't feeling well (and because dh got up early and nabbed my shred slot! It's going to get competitive here ) - I still feel a bit rubbish today but decided the shred wouldn't make it any worse. I get low-key migraine-y headaches sometimes.

Still subbing the plank jacks but more or less making it through everything else - well as much as I did on level 1 day 3 anyway! Abs still the trickiest for me and I know I got better with those. Do you all do it straight through or take a breather?

I have proper weights now, sticking to the (pink) 1kg ones for now. I think I could have done some level 1 with 1.5 though, may do that some time.

supersal - how are you now? We'll get through it, somehow!

Brian - yes, nearly halfway! And I've read a lot of people prefer 3 to 2 so that's something to look forward to! Well done and keep going

Hello Maureen! I read your motivational speech this morning and it worked a treat. Thank you! How many days have you done now?

Pat. re: food/exercise - good to know. I haven't changed my eating at all. I'm 5'5'' too, haven't been on the wii fit weighed myself in ages and am going by how I look and feel at the moment. Still v impressed at your varied regime!

Right, must do some work.

My copy arrived yesterday! And DH on three day business trip so will start tonight..