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.

30DS L2D5 done. That's the one Imogen. All of the exercises in the third circuit, with the exception of double jump rope, need shoulders. I, too, was born without anterior deltoids. Or pecs. I can also vividly remember my first year anatomy lecturer saying, 'If you can't palpate your lateral head of triceps you must be really unfit.' Since I was doing ballet six days a week at the time, I just took my absence of palpable lateral head to mean I was born without triceps too, as I was most definitely fit. It's a miracle I can hold this phone up close enough to my face to read, really

God, I hate fitness instructor counting. 'Twenty minutes' is most definitely more like thirty, and 'five more' is actually 'five more after these two.'

Sometimes I watch the second hand of the clock in the cardio intervals and stop when it gets to 30 secs regardless of JM. There's one, can't remember which but one I don't like anyway where it's more like 50 secs.

Yep I am weak of shoulder too! That last strength circuit of L2 Shred, the lateral raises in the first circuit of NMTZ, and the hideous plank cardio circuit in L2 Ripped, are some of my most unpleasant exercising moments!

I quite like BFBM (now that I'm fit enough to do it without it nearly killing me). It's meant to complement NMTZ - no weights, just cardio - so they would be good alternated. Same circuit structure as NMTZ. It starts off quite gently, but builds up in pace and intensity peaking in circuits 3 and (I think) 6. The one thing I don't like is the soundtrack. It is the sort of soundtrack that might accompany a hospital bed scene in Casualty or similar, with beeping heart monitors and rushing doctors! My personal theory is the music is deliberately designed to be stressful, to raise your heart rate!

ps interesting re the timing, Errol. I have often thought that to be the case (that some circuits were longer/shorter than they were supposed to be) but never tested it!

NMTZ done, ninth time (though with some interruptions from DS - more fool me for thinking it would be nice to stay in bed for a bit and do my workout in daylight since I don't have to go to work). Managed 2kg for all the shoulder exercises, though, so feeling quite pleased with myself: I often wimp out and go down to 1kg.

Urgh, that plank circuit in RI30 - combined with the crow push-ups that's why I think L2 is by far the worst.

Totally agree with you about fitness instructor counting, Elphaba. There's a bit in Shred where she says "just a couple more" and goes on to do about ten more! And NMTZ is bad - 40 minute workout, it says, when it's actually more like 55.

I'll probably be out of action for a bit. DS1 won't be going to nursery over the next couple of weeks and, being a glutton for punishment, I've started potty training. It's kind of impossible to stuff your face with chocolate biscuits when there's a toddler around, which is both a good thing and a bad thing...

Yoga Meltdown L1 D9 done. About to go and brave the supermarket for all the last minute veg and other such stuff.

I'm not expecting a lot more activity on this thread! I might manage one more workout tomorrow before MIL gets here, but that's it till the weekend. Good luck with the potty training, Elphaba.

Good luck Elphaba.

Hope the supermarket wasn't too bad, Imogen. Queues to get into the Tesco carpark here today!

Have done a Shaun T cardio today; will try to do something tomorrow before we head to the ILs (may be optimistic!) then hopefully both weekend days too.

Merry Christmas all.

Yoga Meltdown L1 D10 done - late at night, unusually for me, when DH set off to take MIL to church. Am now chilling with a glass of wine and thinking about going to bed as I'm spending tomorrow morning chained to the kitchen.

The supermarket was totally painless: I got there at 7.30, when it was still quiet, and felt incredibly smug as I drove away at 8.15 and saw the queue to get into the car park! Mind you, it was my one piece of solid planning and organisation this Christmas: everything else has been on a wing and a prayer. I was making a "stocking" for DS at 10.00 this evening out of lining silk when we realised his stocking presents wouldn't fit in a sock and looked forlorn and sad in a pillow case! (It is held together by hemming tape and willpower, but it does have his initial on it.)

I'll probably be back at the weekend, but am definitely having the next couple of days off exercise. Happy Christmas everyone - it's very nearly the big day!

Well done Imogen . Didn't manage any exercise on Xmas eve after all, but have brought my exercise gear with me (away til the weekend at various family's houses) and will try to do something at some point!

God, that's dedication, Imogen.

Merry Christmas, Shredders! Remember, nothing has calories on Christmas Day!

I've done 2 days of the shred and then it was Christmas Eve so I've left it but I'll start again tomorrow.

I'm only on level one but it's so hard! I have to have fairly frequent breaks during the cardio sections and the push-ups are a bitch.

I had a baby almost 6 weeks a go and im very very wobbly so I'm hoping it tones me up as my muffin top and jelly belly are horrible.

Does anyone else do it alternate days? I'm doing couch to 5k and was hoping to do them both and just take it in turns.

Hi ImBrian

You're very soon post-partum to be doing both Shred and C25K. I'm guessing you haven't had your six week check either?

I'd honestly hold off on both until that, as you're risking abdominal problems (you'll probably still have some linea alba separation going on) and prolapse by doing two relatively intense programmes so soon after giving birth.

Have to say, I thought the same thing as Elphaba when I saw your post, ImBrian. I think I messed up my stomach muscles exercising too soon after DCs.

Still away visiting family, with no DVDs and patchy/slow internet access, but did manage a home-made tabata session yesterday using a timer and some JM-inspired moves including jumping lunges and push-ups - and really aching today!

NMTZ done, tenth time. Think I'm going to go back to RI30 now and alternate it with Yoga Meltdown L2.

Well done, Jacksterbear, I'm not that dedicated! Family have been staying with us and I just gave up on exercise while they were here. I thought I might get back to it yesterday but DS slept in and the lure of staying in bed was just too great.

ImBrian, I agree with the others - 6 weeks post-partum is very early. The main thing I remember about that time is how unbelievably weak I felt, even though I'd stayed fit through pregnancy, and I think that was my body's way of telling me to rest and recover.

Well done for getting back on it today Imogen. First time after a break always the hardest! I like Ripped, but haven't tried yoga meltdown.

Another tabata session done on Sat, including burpees and high-knees (quite nasty done in 4 minute tabata circuits, it turns out ); back home yesterday so did L3 shred (easiest one IMO!) today.

Have been given the original Insanity box set for Xmas so looking forward to trying that!

God, I feel fat. Christmas + sleep deprivation + looking after toddler/baby solo + 'oh, go on, I'm breastfeeding' are a lethal dietary combination. It's my birthday next week as well so I can't see it letting up or me getting back on the exercise horse before 5 January when DS1 will be back at nursery. The freeeeeeeezing cold is also not conducive to getting into exercise gear in the evening either.

Well done to those of you managing it. You're making me feel guilty enough that I may shift my lardy arse into gear.

RI30 L1 D1 done. I hate cardio. It reminds me of school PE. (Tabata circuits sound utterly hellish btw Jackster: I hate high knees even for thirty seconds!) What's Insanity - do I even want to know?

Yoga Meltdown is a bit odd: I quite like it, but it's definitely not yoga - it's a sort of body weight training class drawing on yoga poses. It's good when I'm travelling for work, though, as it doesn't need weights or trainers, so all I need to take is the DVD and I can do it on my hotel room floor. L2 looks pretty evil, especially for someone inflexible like me.

Why are you doing all the childcare solo, Elphaba? Don't beat yourself up, anyway: Christmas is hell, sleep deprivation is worse hell and breastfeeding makes you hungry. You'd have to be superhuman to stick to any sort of diet.

Back to work today. Sigh.

DH working during the day, and working away a couple of nights a week, and very little family support. I decided to have DS1 home from nursery from 22 Dec until 5 Jan as we get half of the nursery fees refunded. Every little helps when you're on maternity pay. Fortunately, DS1 has been very good, on the whole, and was blissfully ready for potty training - he's been dry, but for a few tiny accidents that have bothered him appropriately, since Christmas Eve

We just had a big walk, with him on his balance bike (so a brisk walk for me) with DS2 in the sling so that will have to be my paltry excuse for exercise for the day. I'm with you Imogen - hate cardio. I almost find it irritating that you feel quite good afterwards

Yoga Meltdown L2 D1 done. There are a couple of poses in here that I'm just not going to be able to do - my wrists aren't strong enough to do the crow pose which involves, essentially, standing on your hands. I'll stick with it for a bit as I can feel the rest of it doing me good (read: hurting!) but might start looking for something else to alternate with Ripped.

Well done on the potty training, Elphaba! We have no family support either so I sympathise.

Work beckons. Still, I'm off tomorrow and Friday - could all be worse!

The January thread is here. Happy New Year, everyone.