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!

L1D7 of 30DS done today! I'm scared the closer I get to L2!
Hi granny I agree about the side lunges with shoulder raises, I don't like them neither, it's the whole get your 'touce' out as you do the side lunge thing, I'm so preoccupied with keeping my knee from coming over my toe I forget to raise my weights!!! I definitely find my stamina has come on since I started doing it. The workout does fly by though. I was so lazy yesterday, did nothing but watch films with the dds for the day, it was rotten weather to be fair. More than made up for it today, ran early this morn (for 30 minutes, was very pleased) and then did JM this eve, and fitted in an hours trek today as well. Ready for bed now!

Hi jocasta congrats on your upcoming nuptials

L2D2 done. A huge improvement on D1! I used weights for most of the moves (as opposed to none at all which is what happened on D1); I managed an approximation of the walking push up (as opposed to being very confused); and I held the plank position in all of the moves even if I couldn't necessarily get my legs to do what they were supposed to do.
It is so much harder than L1 in that there is cardio wrapped up in strength and strength in the cardio sessions but, given it is all over & done with in 24 mins, I can't complain!

Mrs I'm hoping to keep on running even though I've started the shred. Maybe fit in a couple of runs a week although. Do you ever just do your 30 min run and then shred straight afterwards - was thinking that this would be easier as otherwise my legs will have stiffened up. Will be a bit of a shock to the system, but as the whole idea is to train the muscles to adapt, should be do-able.

Off to get some heavier weights tomorrow. Not sure my arms will thank me in the short term.

Dancing I have a link to L2 but not actually watched it yet - do I need to do the full 10 days on L1? Was contemplating only doing 6 days of each (then a rest day) so I could finish the programme at the end of March but perhaps I'm being too optimistic ...?

May even buy the DVD too - watching the exercises on my little netbook is not easy!

granny - I use lighter weights for front raises than for most other moves , there's more leverage. As to how many days per level it's really up to you

I've only started back at the running granny so Saturday was only my 3 run really, and by the time I get back in the door there's somebody looking for food or something from me!! so don't get the chance! But that's a good idea, you would be well warmed up for the exercises. How far do you run granny?

I've started changing the weights around too Errol I usually use heavier weights for chest rises & bench & press, Bigchoc posted a really good exercise on the 5:2 thread for bingo wings! Did that y'terday and I can feel it today

D8 for me today...

NMTZ done - quite enjoyed it. I'll have to go and check that other thread, thanks.

I've been slacking lately! Planning to work out as soon as I'm home from work. Writing this so I don't wuss out

MrsRJ - noted, we'll expect to hear from you later.

I did it! Thanks for the support, Errol!

I feel much better for it, although it wasn't the easiest. That's day seven of level one done. I'm catching up with you, Panda!

Well done.

L1D3 done. FD for me today and I lugged my new hand weights all the way back home so my arms were tired before I started. I now have 1kg, 2kg and 3gk weights. Just need the muscles to grow into them, lol.

Used the 1kg weights today and really noticed the difference (even though they were only slightly heavier) especially on the side lunges where the arm raises were a struggle. The exercise where you lie on your back elbows slightly bent and arms over chest I doubled up and used the 1kg and my old 0.6kg ones but I could have managed the 2kg, so will have these to hand for tomorrow.

Mrs up until knee surgery nearly a couple of years ago I used to do long distances so starting from scratch with walk/run for me has been hard. I only started running about 8 years ago and even though I am a slow runner I found it was the best way of beating stress, so I have missed it. I am up to 2 1/2 miles without needing a rest, and when I do rest then I do walking lunges. I have a 10k to aim for in July.

Now off to have my calories for the day. Stirfry, yum.

Hello :) Can I join in?

I completed the 30DS over 6 weeks in January & February and have moved on to NMTZ and BFBM, alternating each DVD over 5 days a week. I'm not loving the longer format - NMTZ is an hour from start to finish, not 40 minutes! - but I feel great.

Welcome Harry - can I ask what you think of bfbm? I'm wondering whether to get it to go with nmtz.

It's the first one I haven't been able to complete first time: the second-to-last circuit is an absolute killer for me but I managed it the second time around. It's definitely supposed to go with NMTZ so get it if you can. Loads of cardio but with resistance so I burn afterwards.

That's fantastic granny I'm in the same boat really, I only started running about 6 years ago, and I find it's great head space for me, Im managing about 2 miles at the moment, and that takes me around 30 (and a bit!) minutes or so, Im a slow runner too, but I prefare distance over speed, I'll keep chugging at it. I really should sign up for a race of some kind too, keep me motivated, 10k in July sounds good and good on you with the weights, I used heavier weights for nearly all of it y'terday and I really feel it this morning, am thinking maybe use the lighter ones today, don't want to put myself off?? How do you find doing the shred on FD?? I found it tough yesterday for some reason.

L1D9 for me today....

Just wanted to say well done to everyone. I think we all know how challenging it is finding time for these workouts and then making yourself do them. Everyone deserves a congratulations!

I'm writing again to commit to another round after work. Starting level two of Ri30. Nobody let me chicken out!

Thanks MrsRJ, I just finished mine at lunch time there, and for a fleeting moment did think, should I just give it a miss today and tackle the ironing! But I did it, and feel so much better for it....looking forward to hearing your update after your workout

Right off to do the pesky ironing....

I've had spectators this week. Yesterday morning DD (2) woke up halfway through and commentated on my performance from the vantage point of her highchair, starting with a demand that I put more clothes on

This morning, MIL arrived just as I was doing my burpees. Thankfully I'd gone for a run before starting so I wasn't in my usual laundry-minimising JM uniform of sports bra and knickers!

I don't know which of those spectators sounds worse!

I did most of NMTZ this morning - but it was such a glorious day that DH and I decided we should go for a walk, so I missed the last two moves of the final circuit. But they're relatively easy so I think the walk more than compensated.

Definitely getting to the sort of weather where a bit of running doesn't sound like madness. I'm also a late starter on that front, and slow, but sometimes it hits the spot. I can't run on pavements though - hurts my hip - so I have to wait until the canal towpath is no longer a mudbath. It's about half a mile walk to get to it, which serves as warmup/cooldown, then what I was doing last year was doing a steady jog out and then doing 'sprint'/walk intervals home. I'm sure most people can jog faster than my 'sprint'!

For anyone wondering what an 'FD' is, alluded to a couple of times upthread, some of us are also doing 5:2 and it's a 'Fast Day'. MrsS - I don't seem to find it makes much of a difference, maybe because I always shred in the morning before eating anyway. I'm fine with it the next day too. But we're all different - maybe you need to alter the time of eating relative to exercise in some way to suit you.

L1 D10 done! With my new weights too. Quite looking forward to L2.
I've decided to try and do 5 days a week exercise, 3 of which will be Shred. One will usually be Pilates and then either more Shred, swimming, or a long walk. I'm going back to work soon so a more general aim will be easier to keep too I think.

I did mine too. Ri30 level two day one. Level two was a fun change. I enjoyed the jump rope with kick outs and also really liked the crunch where you climb up your own leg.

And I did mine too. Ri30 L2 D1 done. I liked it more than level 1 I think. Mostly. Right Mrs RJ....we are even-Stevens now. I did 5 miles of walking and 2 miles of running today, which was nice in the sun. Probably won't be able to walk tomorrow. Whichmight be an issue because Ive promised DD I'll take her to JumpNation tomorrow, which is basically a massive area of trampolines. we will see how this pans out...

Well done! Glad you two enjoyed the Ri30 L2 - it's a bit marmite, I like it too (mostly) but not everyone does.

drspouse - the most effective form of exercise is the sort you actually do consistently - so finding a combination which suits your life is sensible.

So true errol. I used to cycle to work (I am not going to do that with hills and two DC in the workplace nursery) and it was just how I got to work so easy to do.