Hello again Natalie and Anita

[HermioneWeasley]

Back on 30 day shred after years of phoning it in at the gym. Just stepped up to level 2. It’s so hard 😭😭

Ah Jillian, my old friend. I've never finished the shred, furthest I've got is 2 or 3 days into level 3. My arm muscles were amazing!

I bought the beginners shred when I was pregnant with my DD to do after she was born. But I had my DS 4 months ago and still haven't got it out of the wrapper 🙈 (and no that's not a typo, DD is 3 now 😬). Would love to get back to it but feel like I have no time with the kids! Need to find a way to work it in somewhere though because I'm currently eating my way through lockdown...

I think 0.5kg weights (or tons of beans!) are fine if you're feeling the burn using them. That's what i would normally use, and then I have some 1kg weights that I move up to for some of the moves that I find a bit easier. Personally I think that's plenty for high rep exercises, and it's better to use low weights with good form than increase your weight and lose your form - there was one particular davina DVD that used to really annoy me because she looked like her weights were far too heavy so she was swinging them up and leaning back.

Spam Ive got three kids under five (youngest is 5 months) so I get you with finding it hard with the kids. What I'm doing just now is occupying the older two with Lego or whatever and doing it while the little one naps, or bunging her on a playmat. The older ones sometimes join in though!

When DH is here obviously he can watch the kids. I do like that Jillian is only half an hour. The popsugar ones (YouTube) have a countdown clock in the corner which is handy so you can screech 'just give me seven fucking minutes!' to the kids when you have to...

I'm starting level 3 tomorrow. The fear is not leaving my body! I also do it when my daughter naps but I only have one and she's a good napper. I have to be very disciplined in forcing myself to go straight from her room to mine to do the workout and not have a '5-minute break' on the sofa first!

I think I might get started!!! Never made it to week 3!

I've only done level one of the Shred and I don't remember the names so it didn't ring a bell at all - that's obviously a sign I should restart it at some point! I don't think I've gone past level one

Level 3 is really hard. Has anyone had success from doing this every other day? Or do you have to be doing it doing it daily to get results?

I do it five days a week, rest or yoga at the weekends

Screamer I've never done it every day, prefer to give my body some time to recover (plus it hurts too much to do it on consecutive days 😂)

'I bet Natalie's like to switch ME off right now...'
Level 3 is awful. Can't do scissor crunches, had to stop the jumping lunges early both times because my legs were killing me... It's going to be a loooong 10 days

I keep falling over in the jumpIng lunges. Like a tree being felled.

Well I did two days in a row of ripped in thirty and I’m nackered today! Need a day off!!

Aw the memories I used to do shred! I need something new to do now... I might try it again! Thanks for the reminder.

Not for me. I don't like Jillian. I think she's a nasty bully. That's not motivation, it's belittling.

Nagging some one until they cry is shit. Like a nasty school P.E. teacher.

I knew exactly what the thread would be about when I read the title . I've been doing JM a little half heartedly for a long time so this year I bought the JM VIP calendar and I love the variety. Even if there is a workout I don't like I know I don't have to do it again the very next day. I confess I never have the sound on though !

"I want you to be gargling your heart by the end of this" was always my favourite phrase!

I don't think she's a bully. Although admittedly I've never seem her on biggest loser.

I watched some of her videos on Instagram last night, there are some really good ones on the correct form for lunges, squats, press ups etc. Sounds simple but actually I've been making a couple of mistakes despite years of exercising! Worth a watch if you can be bothered.

JM VIP calendar?!

Calledyoulastnight. If you join a Facebook group called Jillian Michaels Workout Junkies there are some people on there who have worked out a 12 month calendar mixing many of her routines. This appears to be with JMs approval. You pay for and receive a paper calendar in the post from US ( a bit basic looking but v well planned ) then you either follow on the app or using your own DVDs. I love the variety and have made better progress with this than I was previously. Happy to PM you a pic to give you an idea

Gosh will join that group and thanks!

When I was a JM Junkie that is roughly what I did - I have many of her DVDs and just did what I felt like. Then I discovered kettlebells and other stuff but still think JM is one of the best

Is anyone gaining weight ?! I’ve put on 3lbs and I don’t think I’m eating enough for that the be the case, and I’m more active than pre lockdown

do you look better though?! I remember when I was doing jillian 5 days a week, I used to get frustrated that my BMI was still 24, I felt that it should be lower for all of the effort I was making! But I was slipping out of size ten.

I'm not that much heavier now but the size 12s are straining. I need to get back in to this again! I need this.

Waist is more defined

I definitely had a better waist the first time round. This time I haven't noticed much change but I'm moving a lot less than pre-lockdown as I'm used to walking and cycling to get around and also swimming which I can't do now, am busy working from home and looking after toddler so not much more time for exercise, and am eating too many biscuits!

I did day 1 yesterday. My God! Going back for day 2 today though 😂

She might be a bully but that works for me 🤷‍♀️

Day 9 today. I’m finding it much easier than last time apart from the last strength exercise, my body doesn’t seem to want to do anterior raises with side lunges, even with my lightest weights.