The December Shred Thread - all welcome

[ImogenQuy]

I can't believe it's the end of this year already - here's the new thread for people doing the Shred, or any of JM's other exercise programmes, and wanting encouragement, advice or a place to moan (or indeed all three).

NMTZ second half, third time done. Splitting the DVD in two actually works quite well: the first half needs the full array of weights, and the second half is nearly all mat work, so they feel quite different.

Yoga Meltdown L1 D5 done. I want to go back to bed (wails) and I have to take DS to school and go to work instead.

Errol, we've done that very thing before - unwrapped identical presents from each other on Christmas morning!

Snap! We both bought each other fluffy bathrobes last year.

30DS L2D2 MOSTLY done, so I'm ticking it off. Got as far as finishing the last set of plank jacks in the third circuit before DS2 required my presence.

Getting identical presents is fine if it's something you can use two of, but two copies of the same book (or dvd/cd) isn't quite worth the amusement value. I've got the receipt but don't want to have to go back into town in the foreseeable... wonder how long Waterstones allows for a refund?

Anyway, did my KB&T L2 again today. I bought my first-ever pair of actual skinny jeans yesterday...no way would that have happened without JM in general and KB&T in particular!

Tell you what, its weather like this that makes me glad to have a means of having a good workout at home.

Think I am moving on to Ripped Level 3 today...quite worried, as everyone says it's worse than level 4.

I am double infuriated at Amazon, firstly for sending me a replacement Ripped DVD which also does not work, and secondly for arsing about with my new 3kg weights for the past fortnight - 'failing/attempting to deliver' several times (when I have been in), and now returning the package to sender as it has been 'damaged in transit'.
I have had a string of bad products from Amazon lately, but this really winds me up as I really don't need any excuses to not do exercise!

However, I shall persist with my 2kg weights and using youtube for now.

Well, I ended up working till midnight last night, so failed miserably to get up in time to do any exercise this morning. But I had this afternoon off to go to DS's Nativity, so got NMTZ done while DH was putting DS to bed. With an unscheduled break in the middle when DS suddenly decided he wanted me instead . I think that's the 7th time.

Delicious, I thought L2 of Ripped was the worst of the lot. L3 had a couple of evil moments but nothing quite as bad as L2.

Both kids in bed asleep by 7:45pm I could totally have done a 30DS tonight but I was warm and comfy in my PJs before it even occurred to me

Yoga Meltdown L1 D6 done. I'm just putting one foot in front of the other this week: I've just got to get to Thursday evening, and then DS will break up from school and I'm off work till Christmas. In the meantime I have four days from hell at work and just want to sleep. I'm going out tonight - theatre tickets booked ages ago as a pre-Christmas treat - and I quite want to go back to September and slap myself for buying them instead of giving myself an evening at home in pyjamas.

NMTZ first half (no time to do the whole thing), eighth time. Is everyone swamped in Christmas preparations at the moment? I'm uneasily aware that I haven't done much and I've only got ten days left... On the plus side theatre was utterly brilliant and I'm so glad I went.

What did you go and see, Imogen? Theatre nerd, here. Less than zero time to go

I will confess laziness over the weekend. I could have done it Saturday and Sunday evenings but I was too fecking cold to contemplate anything but pyjamas. I wish I'd got off my arse and done it though because the boys then gave me a truly awful night Sunday/Monday - DS1 because he's Sir Cling-a-Lot and just wants me, DS2 because he's got a rabid cold, kept waking himself up coughing, then, as the grand finale, coughed until he puked all over his head, neck and shoulders at 5am. Thought getting cleaned up was great japes and was up for the day. Hence, I spent all of yesterday a barely-functioning zombie, and spent DS2's only cot nap replacing his dummy every time he coughed so no window in which to get day 3 under my belt. I went out for a brisk walk with the pram, though!

I will do L2D3 today...I will...

30DS L2D3 done and done! Thank you, DS2!

Hats off to those of you who manage to exercise despite the odds and contrary small people!

Nice weather yesterday morning so we went for a walk instead of indoors exercise. KB&T L3 today, TBH I didn't think it was as evil as she makes out.

Hello all. Thought I might pop in here if that's ok, as my usual hangout (the JM lovers thread) seems deathly quiet! I've done ES&S L1 and 2 (on different days - not back-to-back!) this week. 3kgs weights. Thinking of some Ripped action for the rest of the week.

I usually alternate between JM (I have Shred, Ripped, BFBM, NMTZ, kb&t, es&s, and 6w6p) and Shaun T (Focus T25).

Hello Jacksterbear, welcome! I haven't done ES&S - what's it like?

Yoga Meltdown L1 D7 done. Did something at my knee trying and failing to do a camel pose properly. I'm so inflexible it's really not funny.

I went to see Behind the Beautiful Forevers at the National, Elphaba. Really recommend it. I tend to go alone in the evening after work while DH looks after DS - I love the theatre so and it's the only way we can manage it. Hope your DS2 is much better now and lets you get more sleep. I remember baby colds and they were grim. (My baby is now well past that stage and agitating to be allowed to wear nail polish to his school Christmas party .)

Thanks Imogen.

I am never sure what to make of ES&S. It's a "fusion" workout and L1 in particular has quite a few random Kung fu, yoga etc moves that I don't really "get", tbh! . There is also a massive jump up from L1 (easiest JM by a long way IMO) and L2 (one of the hardest). L2 reminds me a lot of KB&T L2 / Ripped L4. There is some stuff in there that requires quite a lot of strength, balance and co-ordination! I find it easier now than I used to.

Theatre trip sounds lovely.

Errol, I find L2 of KB&T worse than L3 I think.

Elphaba, hope you've managed to get some more rest.

Thanks once again to DS2 for letting me complete 30DS L2D4. That last circuit is a bitch.

I'm in the north west so the Southbank is probably a bit too much of a hike for me in the evening. Certainly saw a few shows there in my yoof though. Have standards remained since Nicholas Hytner's departure or is he still there...?

I say YY to the nail polish, Imogen. We say NO to gender stereotypes on MN!

Has anyone tried the 7 day shred?

NMTZ second half, eighth time.

The objections to the nail polish weren't gender related - he has his own collection of polish (peel-off, water-based, because I don't want to use remover on him), and he's allowed to wear it at weekends, but normally we have a rule that he can't wear it to school. I relented for the Christmas party though. Apparently the teaching assistant admired it very much .

The National has done some amazing stuff over the last few years. I feel really privileged to have seen it. It's a bit soon to say how it's going to go now that Nicholas Hytner's gone: he's been gradually handing over the reins in the last year. But Monday evening was encouraging: it was directed by Rufus Norris who's taken over from him.

I haven't tried the 7-day shred but I do actually have it - I was thinking I might have a crack at it over the Christmas holidays.

L2 shred done yesterday (agree with you Elphaba, re the last strength circuit) and BFBM today.

I haven't tried the 7day shred either.

Good going on NMTZ, Imogen.

Ooh,I was just coming on here to ask about 7-day shred, after seeing that it exists.

It sounds great for a quick fix - not sure about doing two workouts in one day though? JUst because it probably means showering twice a day, and I'm a bit lazy for that...

I can't find Ri30 Week 3 on youtube, so I've gone straight on week 4 while I wait for a new dvd...completed day 3 of it today. My muscles hurt like they haven't since I started shredding, so it must be doing some good!

KB&T L3 again today.

What's the format of 7 day shred then - 2xper day for 7 days? Don't think I could contemplate that unless maybe DH and DD had gone away for a whole week somewhere.

Sounds a bit grim. I'm guessing you'd have to low-carb as well, since I assume it's a temporary 'quick fix' jobby to get yourself a bit more in shape for An Event.

I cannot conceive of going low carb. I'd rather be locked in a cage and prodded with red hot pokers.

Nothing for me today Naps got all ballsed up by DH forgetting his laptop and me and DS2 having to get it to him, then me hitting a fatigue-wall in the afternoon. Will see if I can get day 5 in tomorrow during first nap to justify stuffing my face at work's Christmas lunch

Yoga Meltdown L1 D8 done. No knee disasters this time.

Elphaba, that's exactly how the one-week Shred sells itself - quick fix for a high school reunion, apparently! It's one cardio workout and one strength workout every day for a week. I totally agree with you about low-carbing: I wouldn't do it. (But I've more or less got to a place where I accept the weight I am: I'm so old now that if I did go on a diet and lose those last few pounds, my face would age by about ten years.)

Is the last strength circuit of L2 the one with the squats with anterior raises? I loathe those: the anterior deltoids were left out when i was constructed. I really struggle with the shoulder exercises in NMTZ as well, even with very light weights.

Is BFBM any good, Jackster? I'm casting around for the next thing once I'm bored with NMTZ: I want Body Revolution but it's unavailable at the moment.

A bit of low backache this morning, debating whether I CBA to should do any exercise this morning. I can't face it anyway until it's halfway decent daylight which it isn't yet here. Oh well, nearly at the shortest day.