New term, new Jillian - the September Shred Thread!

[ImogenQuy]

Setting us up for tomorrow - all welcome to record progress with crazy Jillian's range of workouts (not limited to the Shred). Come on, you know you want to...

Can I join? New shredder but started a few weeks ago. It took me 3 weeks 4 days to do level 1 (I only did 2 days the first week) but I'm determined to do level 2 a bit quicker. Shame it's so hideous

Just marking my place - I get back from holiday tomorrow and definitely need to get back to my Jillian DVDs. Aiming to start on Thursday.

Yoga Meltdown L1 done. I didn't do anything yesterday as I left the house at 6.15 a.m and didn't get home till nearly 11 p.m. (work, gah). Day off today to see DS back to school.

Welcome, iheartpedropony! It is hideous, but it gets less hideous over time. L2 is harder in some ways than L1 (though it doesn't have as many push-ups), but it's also less dreary.

Thanks for the new thread Imogen.

Well, the last 4 days of August were a washout as I caught DGCs cough and cold. So back to Jillian yesterday with D7L1 30DS and D8L1 today. Managed a couple more press ups but as a result the squats were harder.

Welcome Iheartpedropony the more the merrier. I only got up to the second day of L2 last time I did 30DS, so aiming to nail it on to L3 by the end of the month.

Can I join? I've done level 1 of the shred more times than i can count but am up to day 7 of level 2 so feeling good! Thinking of trying ripped in 30 if I ever make it to the end of the shred but not sure that will ever happen!

Yoga Meltdown L2 done, not especially well - I was very stiff this morning for some reason. Plus the cat was being unusually affectionate and came and climbed on my stomach while I was doing a bridge - it's amazing how much harder it makes it.

grannygrotts, hope the cold is now gone. The end of L1 is in sight.

Welcome, SevenNationArmy, and well done for getting most of the way through L2! Hang in there. Quite a few people on these threads have moved on from Shred to Ripped in 30: it's quite a good progression as the higher levels of Ripped are a bit harder than Shred.

Day 7 Sevennationarmy that's brilliant. I did day 3 yesterday and my stomach (abs?) are sore today. I might take today off or might do it when the kids are asleep if I feel too guilty.

Granny two in one day?! That's amazing. You will fly through the levels.

What's yoga meltdown like Imogen? I guess less dreary is one way to describe it!!

Ihearpedro - two in one day - only in my dreams! They were consecutive days. D9L1 completed today. Well done on completing your third day of L2. It IS getting easier, right?

Have increased the weights to 3kg for backward rows and fly presses. Still only on 1kg for sideways lunges - if I try to go up to 2kg then good form goes out the window. All the rest 2kg weights.

Welcome SevenNation - day 7L2 and feeling good is music to my ears. Hoping I can say the same very soon.

Please please please can someone give me a huge kick up the bum. I really need to start the shred again. Haven't done it since may and then I didn't do it for longer than 10 days. im now even more determined to start again and finish it.

OK - first day back after just over 2 weeks off. I'm going to start counting from the beginning again.

I did 30DS L1D1 using my lightest weights (0.5kg), but following Natalie for everything except press-ups. It was harder than I expected - I've definitely lost both muscle tone and fitness.

Then I did 6W6P L1D1. Which went surprisingly well.

I expect to feel a bit tired and achy tomorrow, but I'm pleased to be back doing some exercise.

I'm having a day off today as I've only just finished work and won't be home for a while yet! But determined to get back to it tomorrow, don't want to get out of the habit!

pedropony it's the arms that get me! Far too much plank stuff in level two for my liking!

Yoga Meltdown L1 done. Another inadequate day - don't know what's wrong with me this week (except that DS is back at school and we're getting back into the routine, so I'm feeling a bit all over the place).

pedropony, the first thing to say about YM is that it's not really yoga - if you're a fan of actual yoga this will make you cross. It uses yoga poses as a starting point for a sequence of resistance moves using your own body weight. I'm not a real yoga fan, and I find it's good for keeping a basic level of fitness going when I can't quite face any of her other DVDs - there's no cardio involved which is always a plus for me, and it stretches out stiff muscles. And it's great to take away on work trips because you don't need trainers or weights: you exercise barefoot.

Missed it again yesterday, we were celebrating so I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Promise I will be back on it today though, does anyone know if level 3 is on YouTube without paying for it? imogen be proud that you did it! Better than making excuses like me!

Back today after one unplanned and one intentional rest day. 30DS L1D2 & 6W6P L1D2. Not ready to triple up on a Sunday morning at the moment - maybe next week...

Yoga Meltdown L2 done. I'm wondering whether "cat yoga" will catch on - try to do your poses with the cat winding round you asking for attention. Crow pose with the cat nudging my wrists was particularly challenging - I threw her out in the end.

Going to switch to Yoga Inferno tomorrow and do that for the rest of the week, then maybe switch to something else next week.

Oubliette, I"m so impressed that you can do more than one JM DVD in a day - I tried for the One Week Shred last month and it nearly killed me.

Hello all. I'm still Jillianing. I have found my favourite with NMTZ so have been sticking with that for a few months now and always feel I get a good work out.

I did it! Level 2 is over! Finished that today and also had a quick go of 6w6p, that is awful! Won't be doubling up again that's for sure!

Well done Seven

6W6P takes a big of getting used to - I think it is my favourite Jillian DVD so far (although I've not yet tried NMTZ or Banish Fat Boost Metabolism).

Today I did 30DS L1D3 & 6W6P L1D3.

My current goal is to finish both 30DS and 6W6P before I go on holiday on 18 October - wish me luck!

30DS L2D1. Actually made me feel sick towards the end. My back feels a little cranky - the second set of abs where you hold the weights chest height and bring the legs up pulls in the small of my back so I may need to modify/substitute that one.

Congrats Seven. I really really hope L2 gets easier, not feeling the love for Jillian today.

Oubliette it's a big step up! Much quicker paced but I think I liked it, I'll definitely give it another go at some point. Good luck with your goal, the thought of a holiday would definitely keep me going!

Granny well done for getting to level 2! Level 2 does get easier but I never really liked it that much. I did L3D1 today which was so hard but I enjoyed it much more, hoping I'll be able to stick with it!

I did 30DS L2D7. It is getting better!!! ??
Its still hardcore though. I still lower my weights for the third circuit and have to stop during the double skips.

What's level 3 like? Hard but enjoyable sounds ok.

30DS L2D2. Actually think it went worse than yesterday. Had to take quite a few very very short breaks and finding balance difficult on those forward/backward lunges. Slightly demoralised that it's way way more difficult than the 5km run I did on Sunday - and just exactly the reason I need to persevere.

Iheartpedro - L2 getting better? I am holding you to that . I'm on 2kg weights but drop down to 1kg for the static squats.

NMTZ first half done . Not too shabby - used 3 kg weights for all the bicep moves and 2 kg for the rest of it. I chickened out of Yoga Inferno because she makes me do squat thrusts. Yesterday was an exercise fail: I'd been out late on Monday night, and it was my fourth late night in a row so I just couldn't drag myself out of bed yesterday morning.

grannygrotts, hang in there - it really does get easier. iheartpedro, L3 is more like L1 than L2 (same cardio moves but with weights), but with the scope to damage your back quite seriously in the abs moves - lots of double leg lifts. Watch Anita: her form is much better than Natalie's.

Congratulations, Seven, and good luck with L3!

grannygrotts keep going, it does get more bearable if not more enjoyable! My arms are weak which is why I don't enjoy it but they definitely got stronger over level 2.

iheartpedro I do like level 3! It starts with my least favourite circuit which gets it over and done with I suppose. It has nowhere near as much plank work as well which is a big plus for me!

imogen well done on NMTZ! I did 30DS L3D2 today and I am aching all over! I've planned a day off tomorrow which I think I'm going to need!