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...

I had an exercise fail yesterday too - I couldn't figure out how to fit it in amongst back-to-school meetings.

Today I did 30DS L1D4 (and moved back up to my 1 kg weights) & 6W6P L1D4.

It never ceases to amaze me how day 4 always seems so much less painful than day 3 - I guess I'm getting back into the swing of things.

What is NMTZ like? I'm wondering about a 3rd circuit for my Sunday morning session, and I'm already trying to work out how to avoid Ri30.

Welcome Dawn. Yes, jump right on in, the more the merrier. 30 DS has three levels. The idea is to do level 1 for 10 days, then move on to level 2 for 10 days and finally level 3 for 10 days, so 30 days in total. In reality you should also have rest days - at least one per week although I usually take two, so to complete 30 days takes me longer than 30 days. Work at your own pace, but do it. It's not easy, but persevere and you will see results.

I also had an exercise fail yesterday - string of visitors all day and then out for dinner with friends. So 30DS L2D3 done today. Slightly fewer rest breaks which is probably why my arms ache more. I only really hate the high knees, last set of cardio and last set of abs, so I must be improving .

Hi, sorry, meant to post this morning but our Internet connection was broken ! NMTZ second half done. Hoping to do the whole workout tomorrow, but that depends on having the willpower to be up before 6. Then away at the weekend, but planning to take Yoga Meltdown with me as I'll be on my own (DH and DS staying here to keep up with DS's hectic social life).

Oubliette, I think NMTZ is really effective, but you need to build some cardio in another way, because the only cardio is in the warmup. It's quite a long workout (the whole DVD is 55 minutes) but it's broken up into seven circuits with a warmup and cooldown, so I quite often do it in two halves, as this week. Two abs circuits, three circuits on your feet with weights, two circuits lying on the floor and using your body weight for resistance. It's tough, but good.

Welcome Dawn! Stick with crazy Jillian and all will be well .

NMTZ first half done again (willpower fail: I couldn't drag myself out of bed in time to do the whole thing). Ouch. The anterior deltoids were just left out when I was constructed - I find those V-raises so hard. The same move's in Shred L2 and I hated it then too.

I hate those v-rises too. Another day off yesterday (death by PowerPoint courtesy of the PTA). Hoping to get a session in tonight whilst the DC are at gymnastics.

Hello Dawn - good luck with 30DS. It gets easier from D4 onwards, so don't worry if the first couple of days are really tough.

Just completed 30DS L1D5 & 6W6P L1D5. I'm having a rest day tomorrow - I'll be back on Sunday.

This morning I did 30DS L1D6 & 6W6P L1D6.

I was contemplating a 3rd workout, but we had this winter' log delivery and I figured that moving them to the back garden and stacking them in the shed was enough of an extra workout

I did watch a bit of Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. It looks OK (no weights, so maybe one to consider when I'm travelling).

Just done NMTZ second half. And I did Yoga Meltdown twice while I was away, which I was quite pleased with. Was hoping to bike to work tomorrow but the forecast is terrible, so I need to work hard at NMTZ this week as it may be the only exercise I get.

Well done, Dawn, stick with it!

I just did 30DS L1D7 & 6W6P L1D7.

And then I watched 6W6P L2

I'm a bit scared - it looks horrible (all standing abs and plank - with hardly any floor work).

NMTZ first half done, though I wimped out on the weights - went down to 1 kg for the second set of shoulder exercises. Every muscle in and around my shoulders is really weak and the first circuit in NMTZ is shoulders - I suppose at least it gets the worst bit out of the way quickly.

True to the forecast, it's pouring here: no bike for me this morning.

Oubliette, I've said this before but I'm in awe of you doing two JM workouts back to back. I keep thinking I might add in a bit of Ballet Beautiful or Pilates or something to the morning routine - just an extra ten minutes or so - but (a) I haven't done it yet and (b) it's never crossed my mind that the second thing might be more Jillian!

NMTZ second half done, with the dratted cat sitting on me for most of it. I'm going to have to start throwing her out while I'm exercising.

Where is everyone? The tumbleweeds are blowing through here!

I had a day off yesterday. Back today: 30DS L1D8 and 6W6P L1D8. Should be on to level 2 of 30DS at the weekend

NMTZ first half done, slightly less wimpily than on Tuesday - I stuck to the 2 kg weights all the way through. (NMTZ is No More Trouble Zones, by the way - it's a 7-circuit strength workout with a warmup and cool down and it takes just under an hour if you do the whole thing, which I rarely do.)

Dawn, you've got past the worst if you're past day 3 - from here it should be OK and you won't be as sore again. My cat is a perpetual nuisance: she's always all over me in the morning because she wants feeding, but I'm damned if I'm feeding her at 6 a.m and encouraging her to pester us at that time on weekend mornings, so I'm perpetually exercising with her winding round me and nipping at me. What sort of pet have you got?

Hi, Oubliette, glad you haven't deserted us!

30DS L1D9 & 6W6P L1D9.

I'll be moving on to level 2 of 30DS after tomorrow, but I'm going to keep doing level 1 of 6W6P for another week before attempting level 2.

Trying to remember what level 2 of 30DS is like - i fear it is the one with chair squats/v-rise in circuit 3 . At least rock stars aren't until level 3...

NMTZ second half done. Think I'll stick with this for another week and then move on to something else at the beginning of October.

Oubliette, I'm afraid it is the one with the chair squats and v-raises. And it has squat thrusts too. On the positive side, the cardio is generally less tedious than L1, and the push-ups are easier than the L1 ones.

Ha - I knew it. Stupid chair squats with v-squats - grrrrr. Not looking forward to those. Might quickly watch it through before I get started to remind myself what I'm letting myself in for (I did it concurrently with L3 last time, so I'm struggling to remember which moves belong to which level).

I did 30DS L1D10 & 6W6P L1D10 yesterday. Having a rest day today.

Hi did 30DS L2D1 and 6W6P L1D11 this morning. I found the change in level for 30DS quite hard. I think I'm going to have to use lighter weights for the chair squats with v-rise move - at least until I adapt to the new level I hope I'll adapt before I need to change level in 6W6P

Imogen - I agree that the press-ups are easier in L2. I also prefer the L2 lunges. Not sure about the cardio - I'm not so keen on squat thrusts or oblique twists.

NMTZ first half done. Groan. Bad start to the week - I managed to stick to the 2 kg weights, and 3 kg for the bicep moves, but everything was a huge struggle (especially the chair squats with V-raises which just make my arms feel like limp spaghetti).

NMTZ second half done, in spite of being savaged twice by the cat (who clearly holds me personally responsible for the rain).

Was the site down for a good chunk of yesterday?

I wasn't around yesterday, so don't know if the site was down. I didn't manage to do any exercise yesterday either. I travelled into London for a course and I was tired and wet when I got home. Plus DS was feeling under the weather and was being unusually cuddly. So I sat on the sofa with him instead.

Back to it today: 30DS L2D2 (with lighter weights for the chair squats with 'v' rise) & 6W6P L1D12.

Sympathies, Oubliette: I got absolutely soaked on Monday. What weights are you using for L2?

NMTZ first half done. Not too bad. Maybe I should keep going for another week of this: I am seeing some improvement in my poor weedy shoulders. I can reliably do the whole circuit with 2 kg weights, even though it hurts.