Holidays, what holidays? Its the August Shred thread!

[ImogenQuy]

All welcome for mutual support while gritting our teeth and getting through any of Jillian's horrendous delightful programmes.

I'm place marking for tomorrow, when I'm going to start the One Week Shred.

D3L1 done. With the exception of the press ups, managed to keep up without a break today. Less achey today which is a bonus.

KB core workout done, 5th time (and I think yesterday's lower body one was also 5th time, in fact). Not as bad as yesterday but not good either, especially since I got myself into plank and then the cat bit my wrist, which rather put me off.

MyVisions, is it just that your wrists aren't strong, or do you have joint problems? If the first, it's probably worth persevering - everyone finds L2 a bit of a shock to the system. If the latter and you're never going to be able to support yourself in plank it's probably worth trying something else.

it's probably a combination of wrists not being strong, me being a bit couple of stone overweight and shock to the system of never having done anything like that before. Damn, I wanted you all to tell me level 2 was evil and I should give up and eat cake . Oh well, will have another go later.

MyVisions - level 2 IS evil - but do it and then you can eat cake .

D4L1 done today. Found it hard today - yesterday was FD and I was intending to eat couple hours before joining Jillian, but the day has conspired against me so ended up with only option of exercising before eating. Did have to take some very short breaks but on the plus side I upped the weights on a couple of the exercises.

It is MsRaspberryJam here. I am back with a new name due to recent events. I cannot for the life of me remember the password for my old email address to receive my password reset.

I have been really unwell recently. I've been off work and sick in bed. Finally felt better today, so have done a wobbly level one of the Shred.

Feeling sweaty and a bit shaky, but proud of getting back on it.

I've just done L1D1 for the first time ever.

I'm fat, fair and forty three which is the stereotypical gallstones victim. I can't do much about fair (dying hair won't change basic biology) and I can't do much about forty four in 2 weeks so it looks like I'll have to do something about the fat.

Plus I've felt frumpy all day. So I'm now sitting here a sweaty mess, having followed Anita most of the time.

It gets easier right?

It gets a million times easier, if you stick to it.

You will notice the effects within a week. And it keeps getting better from there.

I've done L1D2. It was somehow easier knowing this time that I could survive the experience.

Amusingly DDs (4 and 6) joined me towards the end never a minute of peace and quiet . They both do karate and a lot of the jogging on the spot/ push-ups/ jumping-jacks etc are a part of their exercises.

L1 does get easier - I went from giving up half way through the warm up, to beating Natalie on some of the exercises. And if I can do it (matching elfycats description, except I'm grey rather than fair ), anyone can.

Level 2 is a completely different story though, I've hurt my knee so am doing punches instead of the majority of the cardio, and maybe three of each of the plank bits before having to give up. But, my belly has shrunk a bit, my arms are stronger and I don't look as dreadful afterwards as I used to. Am carrying on, even though I hate Jillian again.

Well, after that little hiatus, I can report that I did my last KB workout yesterday (upper body, fifth time, didn't do too badly so the weekend's rest must have done me some good) and the first four circuits of NMTZ this morning, with the intention of doing the other three circuits tomorrow morning.

Well done, elfycat! Hope MN going down didn't knock you off course...

DifferentCats (will take a little while to get used to the new name), hope you're feeling better now.

Not shredded since Friday but will be back on it tomorrow. Going to have to mix it up a bit. Saturday was a rest day, Sunday was out all day at a "do" and had a little bit too much . Monday went out for a run, first one for over a month. Was going to shred tonight, but as weather forecast is for doom and gloom with heavy rain thrown in tomorrow, went out for another run today instead. So it will be D5 L1 tomorrow. It is in the diary now, so it will be done.

Elfycat, the hardest part is to start closely followed by repeating it the second day so you have passed the first test with flying colours. Sounds like you have the family on your side which is a bonus. Like DifferentCats says, you will soon begin to see improvements.

Hope you're feeling better DifferentCats.

NMTZ second half done (with "assistance" from DS, who wanted to join in and complained that there weren't enough exercises with weights ).

D5L1 30DS done. Managed with 2kg weights throughout with exception of tricep lunges where the 1kg weights are plenty but beginning to feel easier.

Am thinking only to do L1 for the remainder of the month with the goal of completing 8 days of L1 in August (so 3 more to go) and start L2 1 September.

Imogen at the not enough exercises with weights.

We're going on a trip to Hampton Court Palace today and I didn't get up in time to fit in even half NMTZ, so I did the Ballet Beautiful arms workout online. Wow, that woman is tough. Looks like nothing, hurts like hell. Once we get back I'll do the first half of NMTZ (which surely has enough weights to satisfy even DS, peculiar little mortal that he is).

Holidays have been getting in the way again and I have not been on for a while as only managed a few days of 1WS earlier this month .
Did the whole 50min of BFBM this morning though so back on the wagon!

Hampton Court is one of my favourite places - hope the weather is kind and not too rainy so DS can have a good run around in the gardens.

Incredibly impressed with your 50 mins of BFBM Blodynmawr. Am struggling with insomnia at the moment and having difficulty today summoning up the energy to walk to the kitchen to get more coffee.

I WILL shred today. Just not yet.

First three circuits of NMTZ done. DS and the cat were both getting in the way so I gave up there (3.5 kg of cat doesn't seem like an awful lot until she comes to sit in the middle of your shoulder blades while you're doing push-ups!). Will do the remaining circuits tomorrow.

Sorry about the insomnia, grannygrotts. I have no such excuse: I'm sleeping well but I just seem to be desperate for more of it. Each morning this week I've switched the alarm up and slept for an extra hour instead of JM-ing.

Good to see you back, blodynmawr! I occasionally consider buying BFBM and then shudder and pass on...

D6L1 30DS done. Feel like I'm making progress, albeit slowly. FD for me, so looking forward to dinner now.

NMTZ second half done - cat and DS stayed out of it this time!

I sympathise with the insomnia Granny I get it from time to time due to work stress and workouts help keep it at bay. Have had a few restless nights his week due to being back at work so it is another motivation to get back into good habits!
I chickened out of NMTZ this morning Imogenas I think my abs are really out of shape and would suffer ! So did BFBM again!
Welcome newbies and hope you're feeling better DifferentCats.

Yoga Meltdown L2 done. I was disproportionately pleased with myself because I managed to get into the crow pose and hold it for about three seconds before I wobbled and put a foot down. I would have said it was totally beyond me the first time I did this DVD.

I've got ahead and created a September thread for us here.