Oct 2014 Shred Thread - because Christmas is still coming...

[yadahyadah]

... And this goose ain't planning on being fat. Don't fall off the exercise wagon just because the nights are drawing in. Join us in our adoration - and autumnal exasperation - with Jillian Michaels and her many ass kicking exercise programs.

Ok interesting, it's the one thing I was doubtful about - perhaps it's because the workouts are only 20 mins, maybe the rest of the day is your rest?!

I usually have weekends as rest days and exercise Mon-Fri; today was definitely a fail rather than a planned rest! Still, as yadah said on the previous thread, the thing is to keep going and not give up altogether because we haven't achieved perfection.

That's the hard bit isn't it? Not seeing a fail day as a total failure and getting back to it the next day... That's why I like having you lot to check in with, am hoping it'll keep me on my toes!

30DS L2 D2 done. Not bad this time even though yesterday was a fast day. yadah, I hope you got a decent night last night - sleep deprivation is the absolute pits. I'm so impressed by the people posting on here with non-sleeping toddlers and babies: I couldn't have contemplated exercise on top of everything else I had to do when I was still having broken nights.

I need to start 30DS! DS2 is 6 months now and his sleep still isn't improving. If I wait as long as I did with DS1 for it to improve before starting (2.5 years!) then my stomach will have doubled in size! I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get started!

As predicted, one slice of cake and two cups of tea later I wasn't motivated to do my exercise yesterday after my friend left. I think there is a 10am cut off point for me in that if I haven't started by then, it doesn't get done.

Better today, Body Rev week 3, second cardio done. Finally I can put some oomph in the cardio rather than dragging myself through it and embarrassingly was strangely tearful at the end when she says "we got you, we got you on this". It's not even grammatical. Am I becoming brainwashed?

I have finally finished week 3! Not quite in a jillian week, but I have worked out 6 times in 8 days, so quite pleased if I can do that. Have been strangely motivated this week (again with the brainwashing). I fear that DH,s return with those lovely Aldi tea cakes may scupper the diet today.

Yadah, Imogen, hope you feel better today and are back on it.

The wrists thing is definitely still there for me, but yy to more padding, even with carpet.

Sorry missed we had moved to page 2. It is really hard after you fail on a planned day, I was definitely letting that sabotage me. Weirdly, as soon as I decided that it didn't matter if I only did 3 a week as long as I kept going, I have managed 6.

Definitely impressed with those who are doing it on no sleep.

Show me, that's 17 workouts in 3 weeks - that's amazing.

On Body Rev, it's definitely meant to be a six day, six workouts a week programme with one day rest, so my weeks are taking a month a little longer.

Thanks Show Me! it's nice to know there's someone in the same boat that it's working for. I've done a few JM dvds and always had excellent results and am hoping this is the last time I'll have to start from scratch as I'm not planning anymore kids. My DS1 used to join in with me when I did it before, it was hilarious!
Right.... tomorrow is going to be day 1, sleep or no sleep!

Welcome, sometimes. As you've done them before, you know that the first few days are the toughest, but now if you can stick with it you'll never have to go through that again!

ES&S L2 for the third time. My arms are aching a bit, think it might be doing somethign to my (puny) triceps - odd, because I didn't notice much particularly focussed on them. Not sure whether to stick with this next week or switch.

30DSL1D4. I still (and this is my 2nd shred) find the first cardio intervals ridiculously hard. But can really notice my improvement from a couple of months ago. I am "kicking myself in the butt, quite literally" on circuit 2 when I first started it was all I could do to lift my feet. Don't have the wrist issue but had to stop the shred before when my knees gave up, definitely having planned rests this time (5 days on and 1 day off).

As someone else says, if I'm not doing it by 10am, it's unlikely I'll do it at all. I'm reliant on DS (just coming up to 8mo) to take his morning nap before then. He's mysteriously started sleeping until 7am this week (with just the 3 wake-ups - this is progress!) so I have to work a bit on getting him to go to sleep and sometimes my arms are tired from rocking him before I even start shredding!

Due to a late night, an early morning and aching muscles, I have taken today as a rest day. Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

I'm also a morning exercise person. If it's not done early it won't be done at all. Partly because I can't be bothered with having to shower twice a day!

Keep it up Tango every day you'll be getting fitter and stronger. It's great when you notice you can do something you couldn't do before or when you realise that something that was difficult is now easy.

30DS L3 D7 still struggling with some of the plank moves and with a very dodgy knee but wondering what to do after shred, would really like to get rid of the flabby tummy. Can anyone recommend which of JM DVDs to do next?

kitty - if you like the 3mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1min abs format then Ripped in 30 is the next step after 30ds. The first level is maybe a bit easier than L3 shred but then it gets somewhat harder. I can't remember what it's like for knees - I may be wrong but I think it's got a few of the balancing on one leg moves which can be quite good for strengthening the supporting muscles. Whatever you do, obviously don't do moves which make the knee worse.

Killer Abs L2 D3 done. Back on track for the week after my fail on Thursday - rest day tomorrow.

werekitty, if you're doing other cardio, you might want to try Killer Abs if your main focus (like mine) is the flabby tummy. But it has virtually no cardio in it - one short cardio move per circuit - so if you want your workout to build in cardio as well as strength and abs, it's not the one for you. Each workout is about 30 minutes if that helps you decide. (Ripped is good too, but it's a real step up from the Shred and it has ridiculous amounts of planking in it.)

Body Rev, week 4, workout 3 first time done. Slightly phoned in, which may have something to do with the watermelon margaritas that DH mixed last night. Still got through it without modifiers, but my smugness about feeling fitter yesterday has gone.

L1 30DS done this morning. I even managed a few press ups (sort of)!

I find L3 of Ripped pretty tough on my knees: duck walks and squat jacks. But you can always modify.

Six week six pack is another one to look at for toning your belly. But you know what they say: abs are made in the kitchen (personally, I make cake!)

L1 D1 of 30DS done!! I meant to start on Saturday but DH had a bad back and DS1 was poorly so it just didn't happen. Feel like a big lump of wobbly jelly now but feel good for it! Bet I'll be aching like hell tomorrow! Roll on day 2!

Get well soon Show Me! It's that time of year for illness. The way my son's been coughing and spluttering all weekend, it will be a miracle if we don't all get it! It's always best to take time off exercise when you need it so you don't burn out. Very frustrating though!

Well done sometimes - day one is the hardest (except perhaps for day two ) You've done great to get started, nothing is as scary as that first step.

Planned rest day for me as we were up at the crack of dawn to take my husband to his first marathon. He was supposed to do it last year, but got injured and had to pull out. I'm so proud of him!

30DS L2D3 done. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to keep getting out of bed in the mornings to do this: there's a lovely pink sunrise now, but it was pitch dark and cold when I got up.

Also, I flipping hate squat thrusts! Plank jacks for some reason are fine, but squat thrusts are the work of the devil. The mountain climbers in L3 are easier.

On the plus side, although I still don't look great naked, I caught sight of myself in the mirror this morning in my gym kit and actually I don't look bad - very defined waist and my arms are toned, even if not slender. So JM must be doing something.

Reporting for yesterday, Body Rev, Week 4, Workout 4 completed first time. Planned rest day today as I have my crazy early start and have been at work for an hour already.

Good start sometimes, hope you don't ache too much this morning. I think if you can get through days 2 and 3 you can do the rest of the programme.

Imogen, it sounds like you look amazing. I could not describe my waist as defined yet, although I think Body Rev is having a greater effect on my waist and stomach than 30DS or RI30 did which is weird as it doesn't feel like you do much abs work at all.