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Original poster

February Shred Thread 2014

475 replies

LilyJoAndMe · 31/01/2014 15:44

Starting the next thread for all those doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.
For those having problems with their knees on the higher impact activities here are some suggestions from TalkinPeace:

^The secret is to build up the teeny muscles that support the side of the patella:

LOTS of balancing and yoga

  • stand with feet 6 inches apart, knees slightly bent, lift one foot off the floor, close eyes and see how long you can hold, repeat to other side.
  • stand with feet 6 inches apart, up onto tiptoes with legs straight, close eyes for as long as you can
  • stand on one foot, move the other foot to the front, side, back, side, in smooth semicircles about two inches off the floor - five each way each side before resting.

Alternative to skipping : march on the spot, bringing your knees up as high as you can.
Alternative to running : walk at jogging pace, pumping arms up to ceiling
Alternative to jumping jacks : half jacks, pump arms alternate sides and ceiling.^

OP posts:
2tiredtocare · 26/02/2014 08:58

Ooh postman has just been and delivered my six week six pack (not literally mores the pity) so i'm ready when you are Lindt Grin

spinningirl10 · 26/02/2014 09:18

Ooh I'll be interested to hear about 6w6p.....I wonder how it differs from Ri30?!

Lindt.....I love the 90% choc, I always have a square in the evening. I really like the Lindt one with the orange bits, can't remember the name but its not 90%! I'm going to a town today with hotel chocolate so I might have a look at their choc Grin

Lindt70Percent · 26/02/2014 09:27

Good grief 2tiredtocare, I feel exhausted just reading what you did yesterday! You're obviously a lot fitter than me.

Glad to hear your DVD has arrived. I work from home so will probably give it a go around lunchtime and will report back. H has decided to work from home which I always find a bit off putting as would rather have the house to myself - ha ha!

StuntNun - Thanks for the top tip about Hotel Chocolat! I may have a look at RI30 on YouTube but our internet connection can be a bit stop ... start which is too irritating when trying to follow a fitness video. I used to do the Shred via YouTube but had to give up and buy the DVD for that reason.

Nightwish · 26/02/2014 10:15

KB&T L1D5 done.
Just had 4 days off, migraine Saturday which made ,e feel crap on Sun/Mon as well and uni yesterday. Should have been off today too but didn't go to uni as our childminder is ill and can't do the school run.
Glad to be back at it though, was feeling guilty!

Looking forward to moving up on Ripped after my next two workouts, getting bored with the two L1.

Lindt70Percent · 26/02/2014 12:23

Poor you Nightwish, what a horrible few days you've had. Glad you're feeling better now.

Just going to go and do my first '6 pack' session. Hmm

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2014 12:30

Went for walk this morning as planned, and my arms are a bit sore from doing extra tricep dips yesterday so I'm not ripping today. But well done Lindt! (my choccie recommendation is the 85% that DH found in aldi - it's only 99p for 5x25g bars and really nice!)

Lindt70Percent · 26/02/2014 13:48

Well, I've done the first session of 6P6W (can I call it that?). I enjoyed but it's like Jillian on speed! She zips through the movements so quickly which is quite tough first time round when you're trying to figure out what the movements are; it will probably be better tomorrow or the next day.

It's 10 minutes longer than the Shred but there's a lot of stretching at the end where Jillian gets quite philosophical, talking about celebrating your workout and taking time for yourself etc.

It's pretty much all abs which is great for me as I don't have to worry about my pelvic floor and I could actually feel my abs working today. I'm very glad I've done the full Shred before doing this as I remember being totally overwhelmed by this DVD when I tried it 3 years ago whereas today I was fine, just struggling to keep up.

There aren't any circuits, you go through the whole workout and then you repeat it but the second time is meant to be even faster. There are only 2 levels, you're meant to do each for 3 weeks and I she said you have to workout 5 or 6 times a week (can't remember which). I guess it could get pretty boring by the end of the the 3 weeks, I'll let you know!

Thanks for the choccie tips Errol. We have an Aldi nearby so I'll have to go and check it out. Ideally, I'd love to give up chocolate completely ... sigh.

2tiredtocare · 26/02/2014 14:33

Thanks for that Lindt i'm going to do it tonight so thats all good to know, I went in to KB&t's at level 2 and that was v fast paced and hard to keep up with but I guess you just get used to it

spinningirl10 · 26/02/2014 15:10

Sounds good Lindt, will look out for your progress updates!

Just realised that the choc I was talking about with orange bits isn't Lindt at all, it's green and blacks!!!BlushGrin

2tiredtocare · 26/02/2014 19:43

6wk6p done, really enjoyed it (if thats the right word!) but it is intense, god forbid what they do in L2 Grin

Tiredemma · 26/02/2014 19:51

New DVD out on March 3rd apparently? 7 day shred.
2 x 30 min workouts

LakeFlyPie · 26/02/2014 19:54

L1 D3 done, seem to be alternating ex / rest days ATM which isn't right! Need to step back up a gear.
I still find the 1st cardio set of star jumps and jump rope a killer, not sure if it's cardio fitness or leg strength I'm lacking but doing more of it must be a good thing.
Well done all you Shredders and thanks for keeping the thread going, it's certainly keeping me going in a week when I could have had a few days off and not restarted.

ErrolTheDragon · 26/02/2014 20:07

lakefly - well, consistently alternate days is way better than nowt! I find that with the first cardio in L1, I swap the moves around - I think its a lower leg thing more than cardio fitness.

WillColbert · 26/02/2014 22:29

Still following the thread but very busy at work (not been home long!) so haven't managed to shred since the weekend! I'm missing it and hope to get back to it soon!

spinningirl10 · 27/02/2014 07:23

Ri30 D9 L2 done!Grin

NoPainNoGainNoFunNoPoint · 27/02/2014 07:24

I've got a fair bit on today. I hope to shred but it might be a case of ignoring some of the housework to do so! Oh well, housework can wait. Grin

Is the general consensus that you don't start to see results for at least ten days?

tibili · 27/02/2014 09:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2014 10:22

Ri30 L1D3 done. Plus some extra planks/inclined press-ups.

Hello Tibili ... I think there's been a good number of people who've stuck with it all month, and also quite a few who started in January are still here, some repeating shred, some moved on to one of the other JM dvds.

As mentioned, someone couldn't wait and started a March shred thread here Grin. So perhaps we should all pile over there in a couple of days rather than starting another?

spinningirl10 · 27/02/2014 10:29

Tibili.....use as Eroll says there's quite a few of us who have done it and moved on to a different JM DVD!

I did 30ds in about 34 days and saw great results! I also tweaked my diet, so healthy eating, no junk and no wine also kept to low carbs. I also did cardio at the gym.
I would highly recommend measuring yourself as sometimes you may not see weight loss for a week but you will see inch loss......good luck!!Grin

StuntNun · 27/02/2014 11:03

What weights are people using? I have two 1kg dumbells but I don't think they're heavy enough as I'm not feeling much from the arm exercises. Unfortunately the only other dumbells in the house are DH's 10kg ones which would be downright dangerous - I'd probably drop one on my head while doing shoulder presses!

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2014 11:10

Stunt - I use 1.5kg for things like the anterior raises, 3kg for bicep curls/chest flies, and 5lbs for some of the others. I'm also using a pair of 10lb (not kg!!) for some of the Ri30 things now. I really think it's a good idea to have at least two and maybe more pairs and use whichever allows you do do the reps (or most of them and work up) with good form.

StuntNun · 27/02/2014 11:15

Ooh thanks Errol I never thought of using different ones for different exercises.

My DH used to be really into bodybuilding - following the Schwarzenegger exercise regime, had his own weights bench and everything. He's pretty skeptical that I'm going to get much benefit from the shred and thinks I should join a gym. Please tell me he's wrong.

ErrolTheDragon · 27/02/2014 11:22

Well, I'm definitely fitter and stronger than I've ever been since I started shredding.

The thing about exercise is that the most effective sort is whatever you can actually do consistently. A gym might be more effective than shredding if you can go several times a week. But if you can't commit to that, but can do 20mins a day 5-6 days per week then the shred will work better for you.

StuntNun · 27/02/2014 13:37

I used to go the gym regularly and, while I definitely felt fitter and stronger, I didn't lose any weight and I didn't really look any better for it. I suppose some people respond differently to exercise than others so it's quicker and easier for my DH to bulk up at the gym where a similar effort for me might yield more subtle improvements. At the end of the day it's for my health and as you say Errol better to exercise five times a week at home than once at the gym. The awful thing is I have a cross trainer but it's stuck down in the garage and doesn't get used. If I could get access to it then that would be perfect for my shred recovery days. I'm hoping to start pilates and swimming next week, maybe by the summer I will be ripped!

spinningirl10 · 27/02/2014 13:56

Stunt....I really believe it's finding something that works for you and that you can stick with!

I've done all kinds of exercise over the years and for now I am enjoying JM and they fit in with my lifestyle as it is now. I go to the gym but it's a small gym at a hotel 5 mins from me so I can't do the range of classes I used to do. Also, and I'm sure you know this, nutrition is key to losing weight. Anyway I would say try 30ds and see how you find it.....and take before and after body measurementsGrin