New Year, new Jillian - the January Shred thread is here!

[ImogenQuy]

Happy New Year, everyone. If you've got a New Year resolution to do more exercise and think crazy Jillian may be the answer, come and sign in here for moral support, chat and a chance to moan.

Ripped in 30 L1 D2 done. Still hate cardio, but it felt like a good start to the year.

Signing in on completion of 30DS L1 D3 (session 3 for me as I'm not doing it every day). I found it easier today, DD found it harder but I think she's nursing the beginnings of a bit of a pull in her knee, she took it a bit easier on some of the more 'leapy' bits as a result.

Just did D1 of L2 (30DS) . wow! Jillian had me working a lot harder than level . I was groaning the whole way through! Took me about 35 minutes to do as DS wouldn't settle and DH is out. I've also started a 30 day squat challenge today - I have a feeling I'll be aching tomorrow!

L1D8 completed.

Note to self-dont do it with 2 year old ds in the room. Not only was I attacked by bread sticks and water from a bottle, but I stupidly asked him to pass me my weights when I was on the floor and couldn't be added to sit up and get them he 'gave' them to me by throwing then, and one bounced off my ribs. Think I'll be feeling that one tomorrow....
I wanted to do it before his bedtime though, as I find I sometimes get bad moody before I do it, and if he messes around at bedtime, I get stressed as I just want to get downstairs and get it over with

Errol, Yoga Meltdown has two workouts and you don't need weights or even trainers. It's not really yoga (which is good from my perspective because I've never had the patience for proper yoga): it's strength and flexibility training using yoga poses as the starting point. Each workout is 30 minutes, three circuits, no cardio (also good from my perspective!). Level 1 has sun salutations between the circuits: Level 2 has crazy bonus moves that I can't do (Crow and Wheel). I am noticing a slight difference in my flexibility since I started doing it - I can actually kick myself in the backside now when I'm doing the butt kicks in Shred and Ripped.

Infinity, most of L2 would actually be very do-able with a bust wrist, because there's only one move in the main circuits that puts any weight on your wrists, which you could swap for something else (obviously you couldn't do the bonus moves, but then I can't do Crow either as I have weak wrists, and I can't do Wheel because I don't bend in that direction). L1 would be more difficult as there are a couple of sets involving Chaturanga push-ups, which are evil even if you don't have a damaged wrist.

I'm planning to move on to Yoga Inferno next week, so will also report on that.

ethelb, I used 1kg on my first go through Shred and Ripped. I've now moved up to 2kg for most things, and I also have 3 kg and 4kg for bicep moves, but I still use 1kg if I'm really struggling or if I need to get the form right. You know best how strong you are: I couldn't do shoulder or anterior delt exercises with more than 2kg, but you might be able to.

Will be very interested to hear about the live shows!

Ethel I'm on the same day as you. I may try proper push ups tomorrow....

Level 1 Day 2 down! The Amazing Non-Sleeping Toddler screamed through the whole thing. We spent 40 mins trying to get her to settle before starting, and finally thought bugger this and just did it. Tolerance for bedtime shenanigans is at an all time low as this about the 4th night running of bedtime battles and/or middle of the night tantrums. Do you think Jillian would come and order DD to go to bed, stay there and Just Stop Screaming for me?

BTW, who else mentioned fasting? First Shred on a fast day! It did seem harder tonight but then day 2 is always harder with newly awakened sore muscles, not to mention the toddler chorus.

I did the tenth/last session of L1 this morning - yay!

The TiVo box was playing up, so I had to follow along on my tablet - good thing I know it off by heart by now, as I could barely see or hear Jillian.

L2 tomorrow.... I'm a bit worried to hear all the moans and groans on the thread from those of you who've already tried it. Planks, eh?

Planks and squat thrusts , I'm afraid, Cointreau. But it is less dreary than L1 - no jumping jacks, and the cardio's a bit more varied.

RI30 L2 D5 done here. I did do the crow push-ups properly today, though I can't drop all that far. But failed on the plank cardio circuit: when I should have been doing the second set of mountain climbers, I was lying on my back on the mat feeling sorry for myself. No bike today either: it's too cold and my hands will freeze to the handlebars.

I suspect a toddler is the nemesis of even Jillian - doesn't she say in the webchat that she was hospitalised with pneumonia when one of hers was small, because she was so short of sleep? I'm so impressed with people with small babies and children who make time to exercise - DS was 3.5 before I started Shredding.

I actually quite like the various plank-based moves nowadays!

ethel if you can do proper pushups now () then I'm pretty sure you'd be able to use 3kgs for a lot of moves. Nasty ones like the anterior raises keep using the 1kgs. I've got various now, starting at 1.5kg; mostly I use either 5lb or 3kgs but for some things 10lbs (some of my weights are old!) and for the dumbell clean in L3 I used a 6kg yesterday (which was fine with the right arm but couldn't quite do all the set with the left arm).

Ow. My neck hurts. I woke up with a sore cricked neck on Monday after sleeping contorted around a toddler (thanks DD), and started Shredding that day anyway. Slept awkwardly with toddler again. Shredded yesterday and finally got a child-free sleep last night, but my neck is still v stiff and painful. Is Shredding going to make it worse or just the same? I hurt my neck in the same way shortly before Christmas and it took about 4 days to calm down then. I wasn't doing any exercise then. Should I stop Shredding until it's gone? I don't want to.

Thanks Imogen, that was really helpful!

I'm going to try doing all three 20 minute workouts today. I'm trying to combine this with alternate fasting and it's a fast day today, so it might be difficult! Hopefully I'll be able to do it sooner, rather than later. I've got my heart rate monitor on too! I always forget to use it.

Does anyone find some of the moves really hurt their lower back? The ones where you have to balance on your lower back and use your ab muscles kill (are they knee sprawls or something?!) and I am using a yoga mat. Wondering if I should put a towel out or something...

Good luck everyone who is exercising today :)

Cardio plus a bit of yoga done.

Amazing Non-Sleeping Toddler here as well who likes to tag-team at night with Amazing Non-Sleeping Baby. ANSB also thinks 4:30am is 'morning' Not knowing exactly what's going on with your neck, I'd say leave off shredding until it resolves as press ups and any overhead shoulder stuff may exacerbate it. Take ANST to the park for a brisk walk instead to try and wear her out not that that has ever worked with mine

Infinity Lower back pain is virtually always an indication that you're not engaging your abs as you should be to support your back. If you go to a decent yoga class, they'll talk about 'holding your bundas' throughout all moves, which is yogi-speak for draw in your abs and engage pelvic floor. If in doing this you get a decreased range of motion in the exercise, so be it. It will actually be more effective an exercise for you and less risky/painful.

Ahh okay, thanks Elphaba. I will make sure my abs are held in throughout! I might be a bit guilty of letting that slip.

Workout 1 done. Kept my heart rate at around 160 throughout, but it's struggling to come down from 100 now, so I'm going to give myself 5 minutes and then do Workout 2. God knows if I'll manage all three, but I'll give it my best shot!

And this time, abs engaged. I'm really bad at that. I walk around letting them hang out as well, my physio hates me...

Infinity I find doing one workout (which might be a longer one like NMTZ or KB&T) fine on a FD, and on the morning after still fasted which might be expected to be harder. Sometimes a dogwalk too after that. Not sure how I'd be with say an hour of moderate cardio.... I think a lot of people find that a shortish session of intense exercise can suppress appetite but a long moderate one can make you feel hungrier. Moseley's 'Fast Exercise' book talks about research on this effect IIRC.

'Abs engaged' is a good habit most of us don't have! Something I found quite helpful was on an earlier thread someone recommended the move - essentially exhaling really hard while contracting abs and then hold in. I found it made me more aware in general of the importance of getting the breathing right during abs moves; it's also something you can do during the day (I've just done a couple while sat typing this).

Oh yeah, and pelvic floor. We all used to have one of those pre-kids, didn't we? Regular reminders to 'clench' can be helpful!

Ah yes Imogen I fell off the wagon way back in late summer. The intervening months were not kind to my waistline (but delightful in other ways). DS became mobile and then I went back to work, and I de-prioritised the old shred.

Back to it. L1D3 done.

ethel I use 2kg for everything apart from the anterior raises in L1 and can just about do half of the push ups on each circuit before 'phoning it in' from my knees

I fear I'm going to have love you and leave you.
I just can't coordinate naptimes of DD & baby and rather then getting stressed about it I decided to leave it for a few more months.

i bought a Salsacise DVD (in the post!) so in the meantime I can do something, with kids awake.
DD will like it anyway, she loves Rio & Rio2 and shakes her little booty to the Samba!

all the best, keep motivated, you are all an inspiration!

see you around

Just done my second day of the Shred Level 2. Used heavier weights (2kg) for some moves rather than 1kgs throughout, and also did a very small push up in the walk out push ups instead of just holding plank, and am feeling it! My least favourite part is when I remember - having really gone for the cardio in circuit 3 - that the final set of abs are not on my back but in plank. Ouch.

I'm on a fast day today, but I find working out the day after a fast day much harder. Now I make sure I have breakfast first (I usually work out first thing), otherwise I really struggle and get despondent.

Hi peeps
Feeling a bit guilty for not checking in....there is so much activity happening on here. I did L2 D3 on Monday, which was hard but ok. Since then have a bit of a virus or something, as does DD, so no shredding for the moment. I actually feel like I'm missing out a bit! (Jillian, what have you done to me?). On the plus side I've got no appetite so not eating much. And it's giving my knees/ankles and wrists a rest.

panda. Rest up till you're properly recovered.

I'm ill as well, so I'm mostly sleeping instead of shredding, lol.

30Ds L2 D3 here.
Ethel I use 3kg weights in L1 and move up to 5kg for some moves in L2.
Sarahlou looking forward to the Sheffield show review!

Jaysus, blodyn, you must have arms like Popeye!

I can only dream of being able to life a 5kg weight...I find the 1kg weights pretty heavy! Kudos, Blodyn!

Got all 3 done this morning, 550 calories, and fitted in a short walk this afternoon, and got all my work done. Feeling pretty proud now :) Whether I'll feel the same when it's time to do it again in the morning is anyones guess...

Thanks for the core information, Errol. You're a font of knowledge! I'm going to practice that move, and get my hands on Moseley's book, too.

I'm 5' 8'' and quite big . Apple shaped - good arms and legs but carry all the weight around my middle and arse.
I find the strength moves the easiest and the cardio the biggest challenge!
I would emphasise I don't use 5kg for all the L2 moves, just some of them e.g. bicep curls, the floor exercise where you lift up your legs, eventually the military press move in L2 circuit 3.
Kudos to Infinity for getting all 3 workouts done in a day!

L2 D5 done here. Getting easier each day. Currently using 2.5kg weights but need to buy some bigger ones i think got bicep curls in particular.. Even managed some squat thrusts today! ??