Get a spring in your step - join the (military) March Shred thread!

[ErrolTheDragon]

New thread (a couple of days late for anyone doing, or thinking about doing, the 30 Day Shred or any of the other Jillian Michaels workouts. Any questions, just ask - we're here to give encouragement, advice and sympathy to each other.

A couple of FAQs to start with:

1. How many days at each level? - the norm is about 10, but it's not a hard and fast rule so progress at the rate you feel good with. You don't have to get everything perfect before moving on.
   
   
2. Can I take a day off? - yes, you should have at least one rest day every week. (I always shred on weekdays and have the weekend off)
   
   
3. Weights? - If you don't have any dumbells, you can start with a couple of tins of beans or 500ml bottles of water. Different people can manage different weights, and many of us find that we want a couple of different sizes. You want weights that allow you to complete all (or most) of a set with good form. Places like Argos, TKMax or Sports Direct usually have sets of 3 sizes (eg 1, 2, 3 kg) reasonably cheaply.
   
   That's enough for now!

[ErrolTheDragon]

Link back to the February thread.

[MagpieCursedTea]

On a rest day today but marking my place ready to start level 3

[ElphabaTheGreen]

Place marking for if/when I ever escape from my no-sleep vortex.

[ErrolTheDragon]

I started my week of Ripped in 30 Level 4 today - some of it is quite evil!

[Dancingwitch]

L1D9 done today.
Well done Octonauts. I have started the Shred many times but have never managed to get all the way through.

[Toizzy]

I'm hoping on this thread as I have joined a few previous ones but then don't come back to post
I am still doing my workouts , finished the shred a while back and currently alternating RI30 and 6W6P (which i can't do 2 or 3 days in a row because it makes my back sore).

I have been wondering if anyone here is able to do the super advanced version of spider planks in 6w6pL1 so that I can give them a virtual round of applause?

[CheshirePanda]

Hello all
Ri30 L1 D3 done today, and I quite enjoyed it. I'm relieved as i enjoyed shred but was rather meh about this to start. My buddy Raspberry is putting me to shame, racing ahead so I will have to work hard this week. I had a hard mountain bike session on Sunday so I'm a bit behind. In (belated) answer to Raspberry's question I find the sideways lunge things difficult to do without getting my knees over my toes unless i do that statically (if that is a word). The flies just hurt my elbows a bit.
See you all tomorrow!

[ErrolTheDragon]

Welcom Toizzy. I didn't like 6w6p so not me, for sure! If it's making your back sore, then can I suggest you have a look at the January thread - Elpheba posted lots of really good advice about the abs exercises, some of Jillian's moves are better avoided or modified. (the advice was so good it was C&P'd into the Feb thread, can't remember now who did the posts so might be harder to find).

[OublietteBravo]

Really must start doing this again. Marking my place in the hope that the new thread motivates me to dust of my DVD and my weights...

[OublietteBravo]

Dust off even

[Jacksterbear]

Checking in! Hope it's ok for me to do my usual part-time membership on here, as I like to alternate between JM and Shaun T!

Tooizzy, L1 6w6p hurts my back too, with all the sideways and backwards leaning. Have you tried L2? It's really different and I much prefer it.

In my JM DVD collection are: 30 day shred, ripped in 30, killer buns and thighs, extreme shed and shred, no more trouble zones, banish fat boost metabolism, and six week six pack.

[Jacksterbear]

Sorry, Toizzy I meant.

[MrsStevenPatrickMorrissey]

Thanks Errol marking my place on the thread. Have D5L1 of 30DS done, jeez I really felt it today, for some reason it was the jumping jacks&jump rope, was fine for the first set but the repeat set I found I struggled with...but I do like it, is level 2 as cardio based as level 1?? I'm not a fan of the JJs I have to say!

[OctonautsAgain]

MrsS I finished L3 yesterday, so did L1 again today (was planning on rotating) and it's hurt my knees much more than L3! I'm sure it's all the blooming jumping jacks. I find th L1 cardio exhausting. Will have to rethink my strategy!

[drspouse]

Place marking too, have also entered no sleep cycle (probably more to do with slightly poorly tummy/too many thoughts in head rather than children).

[Dancingwitch]

L1D10 completed this morning so I'll move onto L2 tomorrow. Slightly nervous!

[drspouse]

I thought I'd done L1 D6 already but according to the last thread I haven't, so that's me over half way through L1 now anyway.
Did someone mention a yoga version? That appeals to me for the future (Pilates would be even better!)

[ErrolTheDragon]

I don't like the JJ/jumprope combination in shred L1 - I swap the moves around and do the JJs with the shadow boxing and the jumprope with whatever the other thing is. If there's something that is too high impact, hurts knees or shins then do modify/substitute/swap - just so long as it's similar intensity and you don't 'phone it in'.

Ri30L4 D2 done. I'm going to swap around the cardio tomorrow in that - the second set (burpees and 'crossover plies') are both tough, the first set (plie hops and 'JJ with kickout') aren't so bad so I'll swap the two plie things and see if that works better.

Still - when I was 50 I didn't know what a 'burpee' was, and would have probably been quite surprised to find I could do any when I was 54!

[MagpieCursedTea]

L3D1 complete!
I have discovered some muscles in my inner thighs that I didn't know were there, but they're quite sore so they must exist.
Loving the supermans, quite fun and feel very effective.

[CheshirePanda]

I agree with you Errol, the jumping jacks in 30DS are tough on the knees and ankles, and the jumping lunges are terrible for me. I also swap them. Good riddance!

Anyway, Ri30 L1 D4 done today. All good. And I took the (financial) plunge and bought a new pair of running shoes. I almost fainted at how expensive they are, although the nice shop owner gave me a good discount because he lives in the same road as me - we had a nice chat and I said I'd seen him out running lots :-). So, here's hoping they are going to allow me to get back to it without the usual ankle problems.

[chicaguapa]

I'm on L1D? of 30DS. I've lost count but I think it might be D6. I'm going to do one more day at L1 and then move up to L2. I'll be doing it all through April as I go on holiday on Easter Sunday and need to get some fat off.

My tip fwiw is that if you're on L2/3 and don't feel motivated to Shred one day, just do L1 as it's better than doing nothing.

[MsRaspberryJam]

I'm checking in! Was up first thing doing Ri30. I thought I'd try level two to see how I liked it. Answer: I didn't. I'm sticking to level one!

How many days are you aiming for on each level, Panda? I'm thinking I might do seven each. I know exactly what you mean about the side lunges. What heaviness of weight are you using? Could you try going down or using none to get the form right?

That blooming Jillian and her form!

[blodynmawr]

Checking in.
Still doing NMTZ every day.
May try Ri30 thanks to Raspberry and Panda.

[drspouse]

Ok L1 D7 done! I am going to try really hard to do it tomorrow (even though I'm taking DD swimming in the morning) and Friday (will have to start it the second she goes down for her nap so as to catch the end of DS' nap!) because my DM is coming for the weekend on Friday evening and rather like DS, anything that doesn't directly involve her is met with comments and interference. DD is less bothered and would happily watch/giggle (much like DH).

[ErrolTheDragon]

Ri30 L4 D3 done. It was better with the swap of the plie things.

Jillian goes on about form in the lunges because it's important! I find that if I think about where my butt is going then the rest follows more naturally. But yes - if you're struggling then ditch the weights and make sure you nail the lunge. Also don't feel obliged to go at quite their pace till you're happy with the move.