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.

Hello, can I join in? I have been doing different Jillian DVDs since August last year when I stepped on the scales and was ! In combo with Myfitnesspal I have nearly lost a stone and 2 inches off my hips and tummy and 1 inch off my thighs, arms and tummy. So, if you have just started, it works! My favourites are 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30. Has anyone got her One Week Shred? I fancy giving that a go next. My husband has been doing Insanity so I sometimes do that with him but I don't like it - really hard on your knees and back. I want to keep going so I want to try some new workouts but I have found I get bored if goes on beyond half an hour! Any recommendations?

L1D4 done.
Sarahlou - Well done on the weight loss . I like No More Trouble Zones as well as 30DS. But watching with interest for some other DVD recommendations .

Right, DH has taken DS to a party (they'll be back any moment now) so I cracked on and did RI30 L2 D1 rather than have it hanging over my weekend - it would have been a rotten start to Monday morning.

It is every bit as bad as I remember, and the really depressing thing is that I don't seem to have got any better at the plank cardio circuit. Some things have improved since the first time round - my balance is better, and I can do the ab hold properly - but I cannot do that plank circuit without stopping several times because my shoulders just scream. The crow push-ups are not exactly a thing of beauty and a joy for ever either.

Sarahlou, well done on the weight loss. NMTZ is a bit long, though you can pick and choose individual circuits - I did it in December and on mornings when I didn't have time to do the whole thing I did half one day and the other half the next. I liked Killer Abs - it has everything except cardio, and it's half an hour. In spite of the title it's a pretty good whole-body workout. I also like Yoga Meltdown, which I'm doing at the moment alternating with Ripped.

Shred level 1 day 7 done.. Couldn't face running today after that. Will try to go out for a run tomorrow if it's not blowing a gale! Level 2 on Wednesday if all goes to plan... Keep it up everyone!

Hope everyone is still on the wagon, keep going!

Just finished L1D5, power cut all day yesterday so didn't do anything.

Shred L3D9 just done. Can't wait to finish and go on to Ripped in 30, mind you last time I did something to the muscles over my ribs and was in pain for weeks, so hopefully I won't do that again . . .

I don't find Level 3 all that hard though, because I just CAN'T do proper push ups I have to do all the easier versions of the plank stuff, and there are so many exercises with the plank in L3. Similarly, I knackered my knees doing the jumping lunges the first time I did L3 so I know not to do them, so there's one more thing I do the easier version.

In Level 1 there are not many "easy versions" so I think it is harder.

I still think Circuit 1 of Level 1 is the hardest bit of the whole thing.

30dsL1D10 suppose I should go onto level 2 tomorrow?

I can't do some of ripped (think I'm too heavy) but it looks great.

I'm going for a two mile uphill walk today with DS2 in the sling. I was going to take the pram and hope other people offered to share the pushing but DH has robbed it to take DS1 out. So me, plus 15lb extra weight it is. There is a cafe at the top of the hill fortunately.

30DSL1D3, I had a rest day yesterday and ran on Friday...I'm leaving it a few weeks before I do them on the same day, or it might kill me, lol.

FullOfChoc - yep that's what you're supposed to do, I've always found moving up a level easier than I thought it was going to be, I mean harder, but not impossible.

I had a rest day yesterday, and went for a run this morning, but tomorrow early doors I shall be "on it like a car bonnet" with L1D5.

Did 3 mile run today and really enjoyed it although I had to spend a good half an hour talking myself into it . Thank you for the recommendations, there is a JM box set with Yoga Meltdown and Killer Abs in plus a kick boxing workout so I think I am going to treat myself to that . I already have no more trouble zones but it is too long for every day.

Anyone booked to see JM on tour? I am going!

I have done the first kick boxing circuit a couple of times this wkend, the one for upper body. It is v v cardio but only 20 mins. Most of the moves seem to be 30 secs - 1 minute. I find it goes quicker than 30ds

JM is on tour ? What on earth does she do? Does she randomly pick people from the audience and yell at them motivate them to get fitter, or what?

I'm afraid I put my copy of Kick Box Fast Fix in the charity shop bag! I just couldn't be bothered. But I am a well-known hater of cardio.

First day if level 2 on the Shred I dont think I'm coordinated enough for it, I spent half my time trying to work out which way my arms and legs went on the twist and skating thingies

L1 D5 done. Another day off yesterday due to hoping I can manage to do it continuously this week.

Ps anyone tried JM's Body Revolution workout? I watched some of it on YouTube- it looks right up my street. I may give it a whirl after I've completed the 30 DS.

youbethemummylion - Skaters, I've found it doesn't really matter what you're doing with those, as long as you're giving it a bit of effort and your arms are moving you kind of get into a wee rhythm and I can't see why it would matter if it's not that graceful (I'm not anyway, lol) because as far as I can work out it's the jump and keeping moving that's the important bit.

The twisty things...they're evil, she might as well tell me to flail around uselessly, I mean it gets a bit easier, but they always get me - as in halfway through I suddenly lose all track of where my body and arms actually are and have to stop and go...WTF am I supposed to be doing here?

I can't remember which DVD or level it is, but I can't do the faux running man either, I start off fine and then suddenly realise I've switched which arm goes with which leg and can't get it back without stopping and sticking the correct ones out to start again, only to find myself wrong about ten seconds later.

Yoga Meltdown L2 D6 done. Feeling very stiff this morning: it took ages to get into it. (It didn't help that DS wet the bed so I was up at 5 sorting him out, and didn't really get back to sleep afterwards).

mummylion, the twisty things are evil. I did eventually crack them but not till about day 7 (I am really uncoordinated). The good thing is that once you can do them, muscle memory kicks in and you can still do them the next time you do the Shred!

tabulahrasa, I think that's Ripped L1. I can't get the arms and legs right either: I figure it doesn't actually matter provided that I'm doing roughly the right move at the right pace.

JustOneMoreGin (great name, by the way) I haven't tried Body Rev but a couple of people on these threads last year were doing it and were really impressed. The trouble is it's so damn expensive. I'm looking for it on Ebay but even there it seems to go for £50 or more.

Imogen - does the yoga meltdown leave you nice and sweaty? Is it a good workout?

I don't mind the twisty things but there is an ab move in RI30 L3 or 4 where you sit up and swing an arm out at the same time and I just flail around on the floor for a minute like a dying fish because I just can't get it - gives my DH something to laugh at

30DS L2D10 done - plank jacks and squat thrusts at Natalie-level Nothing like a squat thrust to make high knees feel like a doddle.

Walk yesterday was cancelled in the end (not by me, I hasten to add - I was all psyched up to go with DS2 in the sling) so I shall have to start L3 with extra fervour tomorrow.

Imogen - it's that when I realise I've lost co-ordination then it puts me off my stride, I get better the more days I do something, but I clearly have a brain arm and leg disconnect, lol.

Hi all. Can I join you? Just completed day 4 level one, not finding it too bad. I have a question for anyone who has done this before- does it help the mummy tummy pouch? I'm not particularly overweight (within healthy bmi) but would like to lose some weight to look my best. I've lost 3 lb since New Year's Day on 1200 cals and ideally would like to make it up to a stone, but I'm more concerned with inch loss than weight loss. I'm just worried I'll never shift the old pouch and I would love to be able to wear a bikini thus summer.

L1D6 done, starting to feel very nervous about L2 looming close!

Having a rest day today. Yesterday I went on the turbo trainer (bike) for 25 mins, did L1D 8 and then a short run. Today I am knackered and can't be bothered. So I've had a packet of wheat crunchies instead. Tomorrow I will be back to it, with 35 min walk to nursery, run home and then walk to and from nursery later on, before shredding. Can't decide if I am glad a new routine is coming, to beat the boredom, or scared or what horrors lie in store for me!