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.

Hi meggymoodle - supposed to aim for 10 days on each of the 3 levels.

I tried yoga meltdown level 1 today. Ouch. Can't do one of the balancing poses.. Can't remember what it's called but I was wobbling all over the place and then DS ran into me and I fell over!

Thanks Mooogles, that's very helpful. I have to say I do feel as I have had a proper workout having only done 20 minutes so I'll see if it makes a difference!

Well done on the yoga - I haven't a hope of that, I'm about as inflexible as they come!

I've bought the dvd, arrived yesterday, it's still in the cellophane. I'm not sure how I will be able to hack it it as I'm desperately unfit and about 4st overweight. I've been eating better this week and lost 4lb so I just need to get moving now too!

I have a 4month old and a 4 year old so just need to find 20mins in the day to do it...

I'll let you know how I get on when I try it! Any tips?

L1D3 in the bag (6.30am; the only time I get peace and quiet).

Weirdly, the sorest and stiffest muscles at the moment seem to be my calves.

L1D3 done! Couldn't get up at the 5.50am alarm call this morning at all, so did it after work instead! Think i might stick with the evenings, literally the minute i get in the door - if i leave it to later i know i wouldnt do it!

Finding it so much easier, really can't believe it!

Would love to lose a stone and a half between now and the summer, wondering if i should be dieting as well as exercising? Have cut out all bread since the start of the week and seriously curbing the sweet treats (no crisps, very little choc) - any idea if this alone will make a difference?

Waggamamma Do the low-impact/no weights alternatives I suggested upthread. If you're a long time away from exercise and still 4 months post-baby, you will find it very tough. I have a two year old and a five month old so also have a job finding the time and energy and suffucient sleep to get it done.

Cointreau - that'll be from the jumping jacks and especially the jump rope. Do add in a calf stretch at the end, which Jillian doesn't do. Are you exercising on a wooden or a concrete floor? If concrete DEFINITELY do calf stretches or you'll risk Achilles tendonitis.

ShyGirlie - it's amazing how quickly it works isn't it? Are you up to doing any more high-impact stuff yet? WRT weight-loss, have you tried the My Fitness Pal app? Free and bloody brilliant.

Can I join?
Did well for first six months of last year but then DH went ill for a month and I lost the routine of regular shredding and various other Jillian DVDs. (Happily DH is OK now!)
L1D2 done today.
Shoulders and pecs are in agony!

S'mae blodynmawr! Croeso

Waggamamma - I was about 4 stone overweight the first time I did it...I couldn't do the whole thing, so I did about half of it and skipped to the cool down the first few times.

Doing some of it is better than nothing.

I also used tiny weights and gradually moved up, I can't remember how small they were because my dog ate them, but the second ones I moved up to were only 500g, so smaller than that.

Shygirlie - cutting out bread and crisps etc will almost certainly make quite a difference. I personally don't like logging calories but using MFP for a week or so can be illuminating!

L1 D2 done.... My calves are in agony too... Weird... Never had that before. It may be the billion and one times I climbed the loft ladder yesterday putting Christmas away! Seriously over did it!
Anyway went ok today. Still only using 1kg weights. May increase for the row exercise and chest Y's tomorrow!

Well done all on your activity.

I don't like the first cardio set on shred L1, I usually swap it around with the second and so do JJs and butt kicks for the first circuit, and then jump rope and punches for the second.

So I did it for first time tonight, ds1 in bed and ds2 watching me in his bouncy chair and laughing his socks off. It wasn't too bad, although I didn't have any weights so that might explain why, I'll need to get some.

how long would you say you spend on each level?

L1 D3 done - weirdly ache during the warm-up!

Elphaba - I think you're right - it's that skipping bit which is giving my calves the workout. Yes, it is a hard floor. I have added in a calf stretch, and have just borrowed DS's massagey thing - ooh, lovely.

Shygirlie - low carbing certainly works for me; even if you just give up some of the stodge and sugar you'll see a difference.

No shredding tomorrow; going for a run.

Hi all,

I tried the shred a couple of years ago but didn't get past L2 as I ended up injuring my knee whilst running. I am now very unfit and very overweight - I'm eating well, running again and want to try a JM dvd again. I picked up No More Trouble Zones, Banish Fat Boost Metabolism and Six Week Six a Pack in a charity shop and DP says if I choose one to start tomorrow he will do it with me. I wondered which one is best as a beginner/unfit mummy and is there one which is kinder to knees than the shred? I need to lose a lot of weight and tone up all over but my real problem areas are my tummy and upper arms.

TIA

Hi Rugby. TBH I didn't like 6W6P and it's not such an all-round workout as shred/ripped; NMTZ is good for strength/toning but IMO harder than the shred - its not really got cardio, think the BFBM has that (I've not tried it myself) so maybe you could combine the two. With NMTZ you can either do the whole thing or select various circuits to focus on specific areas - I can't remember how it is for knees but maybe if you have a scan through it you could work out which ones you might want to avoid to start with. If your knees are dodgy, some people find the sort of moves where you're standing on one leg are good for strengthening the supporting muscles - but main thing is to be really careful about form.

Hard floors... get a mat and decent shoes! There's no point making the impact harder than it has to be.

RI30 L1 D5 done - eek, that means L2 on Monday.

Rugby, I like NMTZ - you mention that you're running so you're getting the cardio in other ways. The DVD's well set up so that you can do individual circuits or the whole thing. You need weights, though, and if you do do the whole thing it takes 50 minutes, so more difficult to fit in than Shred or Ripped. And although there aren't many high-impact moves, there are a lot of squats and lunges, which might need to be modified.

Diolch Elpha bore da!
L1 D3 done - I'm a first thing in the morning kinda gal otherwise it won't get done at all!
Wagga - I usually do 1 week of L1, 2-3 weeks of L2 and 1-2 weeks L3. I use 1.5kg weights on L1 then progress to heavier ones during later Levels.
Rugby. My knees are dodgy too and I swear by 1000mg cod liver oil every day plus a good mat like Errol said.

Also agree with Errol that if you are running then I would do NMTZ as well for toning and not bother with 6W6P or BFBM. I think Shred L1 is on YouTube if you want to try for free.
HTH

Gah. 30DS L2D8 done. Really felt it today for some reason.

Gargling heart, feeling like I'm going to die etc

L1 D3 done... upped the weight a bit in the back row and chest Y's to 2kg... so fleeing virtuous. Had a quick scan thru L2 to remind myself what particular torture is in store when I move up... squat thrusts... chair squats with V raises are my particular 'favourites' not!!
BFBM is VERY high impact and ALL cardio...if you have dodgy knees I wouldnot recommend it except for the kick boxing circuit...

Did L1 D1 yesterday - thighs quite "taught" this morning. I feel this is going to hurt significantly today - is it right to do 2 days continuously?!

Thanks all. I think I'll try nmtz as you suggest and see how I get on. I can look for the shred on youtube for days when I'm short of time or fancy a change. I am doing a bit of running, not very far yet but I'm building up to a half marathon in May. I have also started cycling a couple of times a week, just for the 30 min school run but it's more than I was doing. So I'm doing some cardio and really need some strength/toning so NMTZ sounds good. I'm trying to find a balance between doing enough that I see a difference in my weight and fitness and stay motivated, and not doing too much so I get injured or can't keep it up and give up. I'm so fed up of being overweight (have over 4 stone to lose) and flabby .

Hi all, can I join you please?!

I have just done D1L1 of 30DS, i do go to the gym regularly but have only been twice in december because i have been so ill. so i am noticeably more squishy
It was really good though and surprising how hard you can work in 20 mins!

Just picked up a pair of 3kg dumbells for £6.49 in Aldi. That's a cracking good price in case you want to check your local! (They were in the random middle aisle, natch.)