If it's June it must be Jillian - all Shreddees and other Jillian devotees check in here!

[ImogenQuy]

New month, new phase of Body Rev for me...marking my place and getting us set up with a June thread.

Do you mind if I join you? I've got lots of things coming up, including our first weekend away in 8yrs to celebrate our anniversary, two music festivals and camping in Devon with my parents so will probably include swimwear and beaches.

I've devised a sort of hotchpotch workout combining my favourite DVDs, weight lifting and running. The one constant atm is 6 Week 6 Pack which I'm doing every day for 6 weeks (started June 1st). I've done it a few times and love it.

Today I did 6 Week 6 Pack, immediately followed by Level 3 of the Shred. Mostly used 8k weights but dropped down slightly for a couple of things. I've taken my measurements and in 6 weeks aim to lose an inch from waist, gain a cm on each bicep and a cm on thighs, a cm on calves.

Right, I think Ripped in 30 will be my next to try, I did 30DS L2 again today, and Pilates last night.
I think I need to add a fourth regular workout day in case of missing one, as I couldn't do my swim last week. I will be able to do it this week but if I want to do another Shred it will have to be Friday nap time.

30DS L1D8. Definitely feeling easier now.

Tomorrow will be a rest day for me (I have a work event I can't escape from). Hoping to finish level 1 before the weekend...

Workouts 1 and 2 of Kickbox Fastfix done.
Agree with the comments about Insanity being too frantic. One of my friends swears by Shaun though as she doesn't like Jillian's habit of mixing in floor work to a cardio workout. I must admit I'm not a fan of that either so I just substitute some upper body moves or do high knees or whatever and keep the floor work effort to NMTZ twice a week.

30ds l1 day 9 for me. Hada week off it due to heavy period post mc. Seems easier tho now nearly done with l1. Had a sneak peak of l2 and it looks hard, especially as my cordination is not the greatest!

Anyone doing ripped in 30, what's that like?!

Level 2 day 7, I think, done. Yesterday's slump seems to have passed, I felt a more normal level of energy.

Blueskies, level 2 isn't too hard tbh. It feels like a natural progression. It is quite knee intensive though. You have to really watch your form. Personally, I find level 3 easier than level 2. So that's something to look forward to...

I'm about to do Six Week Six Pack and then later I'm going to do a 5k run. I've got a Race For Life (with added mud apparently) next month so am trying to stick some running into my programme. I hate running. Sadly, I'm doing the Race For Life with a group of 20 something women who are super fit. I am going to hold them back, show them what mid-30s and 2 children does to that level of fitness.

Crikey blimey, should not have upped the handweights so quickly - shoulders are screaming after yesterday's L1D6. That combined with fuzzy hangover head means another rest day for me, though have managed to sneak in a few yoga workouts thanks to YouTube. Back on it tomorrow, hopefully.

NMTZ today.
Well done on the Race for Life Saul. My sister is pestering me to do a 5K with her but despite my addiction to Jillian for the past 6 months, I still refused to be seen in fitness gear outside the house .

30DS L1D7

It was probably the last thing I wanted to do today and put it off and off, but so glad I did it in the end so I could write it up here. Thanks all for posting and keeping my motivation going!

I probably won't be wearing serious fitness gear to do the Race For Life. I've seen the footage on YouTube and can confidently assert that I won't be wearing deely boppers or a hot pink tutu either. Running tights and a baggy t-shirt will probably suffice.

Hello, I'd like to join you.

I'm a beginner at this, but have managed to get to day 5 on level 1 of 30DS on youtube. And feeling pretty pleased with myself.
I've got beyond the aching now (I was hobbling about a bit after the first couple of days). But am loving how it's making me feel now.
I hardly move in my day to day life and finding time isn't easy. But now I've done a few days of this i feel somehow more awake and lively throughout the day.

Those jumping jacks though! I can't get through that second set of them and the jump rope. But am getting better.
Level 2 also looks to be on Youtube. I may get the DVD then for level 3, but was thinking about doing the 'Banish fat, boost metabolism' one instead, as it's also on youtube.

I really want to lose weight too, so should look at eating less too, to get best results. (I don't want to just turn my flabby arms into muscle).

Oh, and I really need to sort myself out a better bra for the jumping stuff.

Well, yesterday was a total fail - couldn't drag myself out of the bed to do the cardio. So this morning I decided to go back to the strength workouts rather than set myself up for another failure. Body REv phase 3 week 10 workout 9 done (last time).

Saul, well done on the running - nothing would induce me to go for a 5k run!

Welcome, SisterMoonshine.

I despise running. I do, I seriously do.

I used to live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and back then I used to run for serious distances several times a week. It was a combination of battling ptsd/pnd and the pounding of my anxiety into the fields and farm tracks, plus the lovely terrain. On an average run I saw snakes, deer, rabbits and I ran through deserted fields. It was quite lovely.

Now I live in urban hell and a run involves dodging pedestrians, traffic fumes, waiting for the lights to change, people beeping car horns and running on bloody pavement which hurts my shins.

I only run because I've got the 5k coming up next month and I don't want to let the team down. I have to admit it's good for my physique too. I lift a lot of weights and do HIIT so have good definition but am prone to bulking up if not careful. The running balances it out and keeps me lean as opposed to overly muscly. In my head I'd like to look like Anita but I'm more like Jillian. Not very flexible, prone to muscle bulk on my shoulders/arms/upper body and with a short torso and short legs. That's Jillian if she had two pregnancies with polyhdramnios, two emcs and a gingerbread habit btw.

Today's my measuring day. Come on tape measure, bring it on.

Flip, just realised I miscounted! Today was level 2 day 7, yesterday was truly day 6. Feeling a bit stronger on the plank based moves. The second set of military presses and v-raises don't seem to get any easier. I can't remember what is in level 3 apart from the rock star jump, I guess ignorance will remain bliss for a few more days yet!

UnalignedAnt I'm thinking of upping weights on some moves now too. I've been using 1.5kg and the next size up I have is 2.5kg. :-/

L1D6 done yesterday after 2 rest days and it took me a good half hour to convince myself to get off my arse and do it. Very glad I did and I will try not to take consecutive rest days from now on unless I'm really sore.

Still binging though. Sigh...

6W6P. The side planks are a KILLER on my wrists and shoulders. And she goes so fast the second time around with the exercises I sometimes can't co-ordinate quickly enough what diagonal arm/leg I'm supposed to be using. I had to pause Jillian to work a move out as she was shouting at me to "come ON!". I shouted back "OH ALL RIIIIIGHT!!!!!"

I love shouting at Jillian. And swearing. Cathartic.

It was agony, Ethel! I am puny of upper body, though, so you may fare better. I use 2.5kg on the first set of squat-presses, then 1.5kg on the second. Same with the chest flies. I don't even attempt the side-lunge-arm-raise with the heavier weights!

L1D7 done, and my bra was a mite looser earlier. Happy days!

Day off yesterday (although I spent the day chopping down a huge hedge, so not really a rest day). Back to 30DS today - L1D9.

My left thigh is feeling pretty tight at the moment. Hoping to feel fit enough to complete L1 tomorrow.

30DS L1D8

Went to SW tonight and have lost 6lb in the week - the most I've ever lost - THANK YOU GILLIAN

I still can't keep up with all the cardio - have to walk on the second lot of jumping jacks and running thingies. Shall I stay at Level 1 until I complete it?

Body Rev Phase 3 week 10 workout 10 done (with DS as an audience for the final circuit: he got up scarily early, but was quite patient about waiting for his breakfast till I'd finished). There'll be a break before I get to weeks 11 and 12: I'm away for work all next week, and will take Yoga Meltdown rather than hauling Body Rev and all my weights with me.

Saul, Jillian is my basic body type too - I think she's even the same height as me. I aspire to Natalie rather than Anita, though. Sadly unless someone works out a way of making me grow eight inches, it ain't going to happen.

Natalie is Amazonian isn't she? Tall, powerful. She's a ruddy cheater though. Not bothering on some moves and I seem to remember that during cardio on one of the levels (1 possibly) she's supposed to be squatting and punching and she's barely bending her legs). I like Basheera on 6W6P. She is properly dedicated.

I only did 6W6P yesterday and had the afternoon off to paint my skirting board. I'm doing 6W6P this morning and a medium effort run this evening when it's cooler.

TheBeagle, I love that the 2nd time round is faster. It's a proper sprint finish workout. Careful on the side planks. It shouldn't hurt. Are you locking your arm straight under you? Make sure your spine is in line, tense your core and make sure your bottom hip is pulled forward enough. Don't hunch or curl in on yourself. Try putting a mirror in front of you. It's a good core exercise but form has to be spot on during it or you risk straining your arm and often cause stress around your lower abs/groin. I find the second set of mountain climbers the peak of the workout. I know once I've given them all I've got, it's nearly over and I do the last two exercises with a smile instead of a grimace.