January Shred Thread

[Nightwish]

I thought I had better start one seeing as no one else has.
Please add your updates, whether it is a New Year's Resolution to get fit or you have been here for the long haul!

I have just had two days off due to my lower abs being hugely painful, thing I must have pulled something the other day.
Hopefully back on it after the child goes to sleep.

Hope all is going well for the rest of you and you are all eager to go again when the kids are back at school. My poor DS1 starts back today!

L2D5 done today. Getting better at it.

Thanks for the link msmoss, watched quite a few of her other videos linked to that one and they're really good. I'm happy to stick with just holding plank position as I'm still finding doing that quite hard. My pelvic floor's still quite weak so I find the explosive moves quite tricky! I sound like I'm making excuses now...

I reckon holding a static plank for anything over half a minute is worse than plank moves - in the same sort of way that static squat is harder than going in and out of it. But anyway, its very good for your core strength.

I rested today. Something doesn't feel quite right at the back of my knee so I opted for a brisk walk instead. I'll see how it feels tomorrow but if I'm in any doubt I'll do L1.

Hello all. I know it's nearly the end of the month but can I join you please? I did day 1 of level 1 yesterday, which was ok.

One thing I am worried about: I am having physio for my pelvic floor blinkin DCs and I seem to remember reading somewhere that crunches and sit ups are not good for your pelvic floor. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, what could I do as an alternative - plank?

D15 L3 d8 done!

Welcome Monkey I can't help with the pelvic floor question but I see a few others have mentioned it so I'm sure they'll help you!

Oops I put level 3 but was actually L2!!!

Hello Monkey - you'll be ready to roll over into the February thread with us (which someone needs to remember to set up on Saturday).

I'd not heard that about pelvic floor/abs exercises but a google 'crunch "pelvic floor"' suggests you're correct, and some of the links look to have alternatives (I've not looked into them, just about to go and do my shred). Could you ask your physio if s/he can recommend abs exercises maybe- that'd be useful for a lot of people I think.

But for those of us who are more or less ok, always good to have a reminder to Carry on Clenching! (apparently its a good idea even for blokes though I'm damned if I know what it is they have to clench!)

Hi All

I wasn't happy without my Jillian fix so I have dusted off my Six Week Six Pack, swapped anything hard on the knees for mountain climbers, and have just done day 3. It takes a little longer than shredding and I don't think it burns as many calories, but as an apple-shape, my tummy is the bit I'm most concerned with.

If anyone else is finding the Shred tough on the knees I can recommend the Six Week Six Pack - just don't do anything with squats, or the plank-jacks.

My knees are quite battered- I will do tyhe 'mountain climbers' also- thanks for the tip.

Hello World!

(as someone who writes software for a living, peculiarly nice to have a real reason for typing that. )

L2D6 of Ri30 done. I'm starting to get into the swing of this level and actually enjoyed it today. Anyone else noticed a big improvement in their flexibility through shredding?

Well done will. I've noticed a bit more flexibility. Don't know what it is with my joints/tendons - my arms are very flexible, I can do the high kicks in the L2 shred warmup pretty well - but the end stretches I get annoyed by JM saying she's not flexible as I can't go that wide. But recently I've been able to get my forearms on the floor in the stretch which I couldn't last year

L3 D18 done, my word it's hard..

Not sure about the crunches and the pelvic floor, it might be worth asking on this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/1945070-Running-with-poor-pelvic-floor-what-is-your-solution?

Not shredded today, I did L2 yesterday plus a body balance class last night and boy did I feel it this morning!
Can I ask what weights everyone uses? I have 2 sets, a 2kg set and a poncy 'almost a kg' set. I find the 2kg ok for doing the chest flies and I use the others for the other exercises, although they are a bit too lightweight. Going to treat myself to some new ones, less than 2kg but not sure what to go for?
TIA

Mumtoh - I find 1.5kg about right for some of the exercises (though there's one or two I wouldn't mind the 'almost a kg'). I also use 5lb (similar to your 2kg) and 3kgs for a few - you might find that you could go up a size for bicep curls and the like. So I'd say get some 1.5 - there's not much point getting 1kg if you've got some almost that already - and then think about a pair of 3kg.

L1D9 done. Getting nervous about L2 on Thursday!

L2 D7 finally done, am amazed that by the end of the week I'll be on L3. If it wasn't for this thread I fear I would have lost momentum so thanks everyone!
I'm finding my 3lb (less than 1.5kg) weights challenging enough and must admit I do the V raises on the chair squat move with clenched fists only and that's bad enough
Re pelvic floor; if you can contract PF muscles effectively I.e. lift not bear down I think you should be OK.
Good idea to ask gussiegrips and the PF experts on the other thread.
I think my PF has responded positively to the Shred exertion generally, when I started L1 the star jumps followed by jump rope caused some strange PF muscle 'failure'. Not leakage, more general fatigue / weakness terrifying flapping sensation and that's definitely better. I have been trying to do PFE app on phone everyday which helps.

Thanks LakeFly and msmoss I think I will ask on that thread. I think I also got PF 'fatigue' as my PFEs had been working really well and I had noticed real improvement until I started the shred this week! Might swap some of the crunches for plank instead.

L1 D2 complete. Going to have a rest day tomorrow as I am predicting I won't be able to walk much!

LakeFlyPieIs there an app for pfe? Didin't know! ( off to itunes) I think my PF is getting a bit better too.

Hello. I've had a rest day today - didn't mean to, just worked out that way.

LakeFlyPie I also do the V raises with clenched fists only and find it really hard. I've no idea how anyone gets through those with weights in their hands.

I'm still using my son's weights which I think are 1kg ones. They're like a dumbbell that you screw the weights on. So, I'm screwing two 0.5kg weights onto one dumbbell but the dumbbell itself is pretty heavy so I'm not sure if I'm actually lifting a lot more. Anyway, I'm going to invest in some Davina weights that were linked to before. Keep saying I'm going to but not doing anything about it but I WILL do it.

Have had a good day of not eating anything too terrible but have blown it all this evening with 3 glasses of wine. They're small glasses but I feel very irritated with myself now as hadn't drunk anything for days until tonight.

Anyway, need to tidy up and go to bed. Shredding tomorrow!

D16 done....fancied a change so did killer buns and thighs!!!! Think I might be feeling it tomorrow!!

Those squats with v lifts on L2 are awful! I use my 2kg weights for the first set but have to abandon them in 2nd set!!!

I upped my weights last night by 1kg each. Boy do I ache today.

Those squats with v lifts on L2 are awful! I use my 2kg weights for the first set but have to abandon them in 2nd set!!!

yes - I find the squat and row in the first circuit of L2 tough too, using 1.5kgs, the latter I do say 10 and then relax a moment. Doing the first set with weights and the second without (or with a smaller pair if you have them, or tins) is I think a good way to increase weight on these.

Not sure I logged yesterday, but anyway, L2D8 done, plus some side planks. My 'personal trainer' (ie BigChoc on the 5:2 threads ) said I could have a rest from press-ups ... so doing by way of complementary upper body work some military presses (lower reps, larger weight and not wobbling on one leg!), bent over rows and deadlifts.

L2D7 of Ri30 done.

Errol - the increase in flexibility has been very gradual but the end stretches have really helped (especially the ones in Ri30 which are good).

For weights I switch between 1kg and 2kg depending on the exercise. I have the Davina ones and find them quite comfortable.

Great to see so many people sticking with the shred through January.