The July 2014 Shred Thread - Go on, you know you want to

[yadahyadah]

Okay, it's not just 30 Day Shred anymore but if you would like to log your daily JM fix and get some tips and tricks from fellow Shredders, step this way.

Thank you!

Choc and imogen - pre 7am, I dont think I can function until at least 10,although I generally am up pre 7 am, not through choice though!

Ddas - DS2 is an early riser too, he either wakes up in the night and gets up at 7 or wakes for the day at 5. I don't know which is worse!

Welcome macnab, tango and hanbee ??

Congratulations shadows on finishing! I'm the same myself thinking it's not enough so I end up cycling to work and eating biscuits when I get home because I've 'earned'them

Hmm might try that abs thing if I get the time bimble.

So anyone else doing RI30? Finished L1 D6 today.I'm using 2kg weights, thinking of upping them but to what size ? My biggest areas that need work are my arms and stomach, although I'm worried about my arms getting bigger with bigger weights if that's possible, anyone know?

Day 8 done, looking forward to moving it up to level 2 but think I'm going to hold out and do a full 10 days on each level.
Think I'll have to have a rest day tomorrow, although I enjoy my nice early workouts I've got to get to work early tomorrow and would have to work out at 530am to fit it in....

RI30 L1D7 done. I've got the hang of all the moves but still can't get my legs as low as the "advanced" version of the hollow man (and that exercise is really evil: who invented it?!)

Bustle, I'm at almost exactly the same stage as you (but only using 1kg weights because my upper body is feeble ).

I have to exercise pre-7 am: the only times of day I can possibly fit in even 20 minutes of exercise (apart from cycling to get to places) are first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and I definitely don't have the will-power to make myself exercise after a long day at work and an evening doing household chores or wrestling DS back into bed. By that stage I want to spend half an hour slumped on the sofa drinking wine!

BRwk1 phase 1 cardio done. Feeling after effects of bad cold and an unfamiliar bed over the weekend has wounded my lower back but it did it.

Wow a 20wk baby and you're shredding! I'm impressed. My kids are 6 and almost 4 and I'm still wrecked. The 6 yr old (boy) just eyes me with a mix of curiosity and disgust My 4 yr old (girl) is very excited and keeps telling me that I'm doing a great job and "so good at your exercises" - then she annoyingly takes my weights and moves them around the room so they are never nearby when I need them

My belly ached in bed last night so am taking that as a good sign. It can't be anything I ate because I'm barely eating anything as it is!

I love to hear real life success stories so if you've previously shredded please share you experience. Will I REALLY have a flat belly by the end of this month??

Don't congratulate me Bustle, I only finished level one! Have just done 30DSL1D1. Was hard work but strangely manageable, I also found the cardio a lot easier on this level.

Someone asked me about diastasis modifications for level two abs?
Circuit one abs - crunch position, leg extended just like hers but don't bring your head off the floor. So you're only working the ash by lifting and dropping the legs. Once the separation has closed you can start lifting the head as well as the leg.
Circuit two abs - this is actually an exercise I was given to help heal the separation so no real modification needed here. I would say start off without the weight and start with legs on the floor, don't come up quite as high as Jillian because it will probably be too much initially, build up to it.
Circuit three abs - this one is fine aswell aslong as you keep movements small and take a break if it starts to really pull. Try and hold a pelvic tilt while you're doing it as it will keep everything pulled in.

Tie a scarf around tummy to keep everything held in if it makes you more comfortable and obv don't push yourself if you feel everything bulging out. You should keep the idea of belly button to spine whenever doing ab moves, if everything bulges outwards when you do a move then stop, and check the separation gap regularly to make sure it's not getting bigger. Hope that helps!

That should say that I've just done day one of level 2, I have not gone back to the beginning!!

30DSL1D4 done, it's getting easier! Feel a bit of a wimp compared to some of you on here though!

I want to add congratulations to people who can face doing this while their babies are small! My DS is nearly 4 and although I've been back on my bike for ages, it wasn't till the fog of sleep deprivation lifted that I could even contemplate doing any other exercise. I most certainly couldn't have got up half an hour early to do a DVD: sleep was too precious.

Question for BetterWithCheese and yadah (and anyone else who's done RI30 L2). How much jumping is there? I have to go away for a work conference for all of next week and was planning to take the DVD, but if my bedroom's above someone else's I don't want to be making too much noise! I did L2 of the Shred while I was away on a couple of work trips, but couldn't possibly have done L3 because those rock star jumps would have brought the ceiling down in the room below! (I could practically feel the house shaking when I did them, and I exercise in a ground floor room .) If L2 of RI30 involves a lot of leaping I might stick to L1 for another week.

Hi everyone :)

I'm on day 10 of extreme shed and Shred. I'm doing it every day, when I get home. No visible results yet but I'm getting a bit better at the moves. Hopefully I'll see a change!

Imogen - there's no jumping on level 2, I'm pretty sure. Just the jump rope kick ups and high knees that might be a bit noisy, but nothing like rock star jumps, lol.

30DSL1D1...I've gone right to the beginning so I don't die, lol. I just didn't feel up to ripped after a couple of weeks off.

Thanks, tabulahrasa. Glad you're back: this thread is filling up with impressively sporty types who actually enjoy exercise, and I was feeling like the lone representative of people who dislike it but accept the necessity for doing it.

Haha - I had a brief read through before I posted, it's ok, I'll join you in the I hate this but want to fitter corner, lol

Excellent, I was going to say we can stand shoulder to shoulder, but I think slumping shoulder to shoulder on the sofa would be much more in the spirit of the thing!

Don't congratulate me too hastily. I've done my first ever shred and I'm not convinced I'm up to the challenge, I skipped a few reps and didn't feel I was doing the exercises properly enough... Felt knackered enough afterwards, maybe neeed 1kg, not 2kg for some exercises though!

Thankfully not too sleep deprived, DS isn't a bad sleeper and has a good long morning nap so can find 20 mins to do some wobbling in the living room. Maybe the shred is too much and should go back to my preferred exercise (errr, walking).

Convince me that I can do it again tomorrow!

Tango, don't be hard on yourself...
It's supposed to be a challenge - otherwise it wouldn't do anything for you!
You've done the most difficult bit by actually starting the Shred and you've done Day 1. I promise you that it gets easier - by the time you're on day 4 or 5, you'll feel like an old pro!

Keep on going, you can do it!

Imogen... I quite often don't even make it to the couch, I just kind of collapse on the floor after the cool down, rofl

Tango - it gets easier honestly and I still after months don't do anything more than badly attempt the exercises slower than the DVD anyway, lol, but, it still works.

Tango, day 1-3 of the Shred is really hard even if you're quite fit to begin with - if the cardio doesn't make you ache, the weights do (and I think for things like the side lunges with arm raises you need lighter weights). Judging from these threads most people seem to find it gets better around day 4 when the initial aches wear off and you start to know the moves and find it all a bit easier.

I also do everything slower than the DVD! I'm forever scrambling into position when she tells you to move to the next exercise.

Thanks all! That's the encouragement I need, really appreciate it!

Laying out my kit for the morning. Bring on day 2.

Shred, D6,L2 - done

Very stop/start - had forgotten loads of the exercises, so had to rewind a few times to catch up! Enjoyed it though!

30ds L1 D6 done. Think can see it making a difference!

& shadows thanks for the abs modification tips!

Imogen, good we can spur each other on ??

Shadows, why not, it's an achievement!

IfYouCould, what is extreme shred? Sounds terrifying.. is it JM?

Fast for difference ddas!

Didn't do anything today as DH had the day off work and I had a lie in and then went to a cafe for cake. Whoops. Although I did have a shower without children hanging out of me for the first time in two weeks and I got to

1. Shave my legs, whoop!
2. Look in mirror, during which I saw my stomach has shrunk and arms looking better.

I think I'll have to accept that I'll nevet have lovely, thin, lean arms. I am short - 5 2", but I have a strong build and will just have to do the best I can with what I have. My arms are lookin g more toned which I'm happy about and hopefully I may stretch to weari ng a short sleeved dress on holidays next month instead of sweating miserably in a cardigan.,

RI30 L1D8 done. Definitely getting much easier now. Two more days before I have to face L2.

Glad it's making a difference for you, Bustle. I'm also never going to have lovely lean arms (in fact are you me? I'm also only 5'2"). I have a weight-lifter's general build, though sadly without the strength. Mine are still quite wobbly in spite of all the push-ups, but when I lift them you can now see some muscle definition along the top of the arm and shoulder.