2011 Shredhead thread Part 2 - 'Well on our way to being totally...shredded'.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

Thought I might take the liberty to start a new thread as can't seem to cram another post onto the old one and I have some positive news to start a new one with! :)

I have lost weight - almost as much as Jillian claims you will and have 2 days left!

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Everyone is doing so well - putting me to shame with talk of Level 3 going on!
:)

think i meant "lets" not "let's"

Well done everyone and keep going everyone

The dreaded Shred time is looming bub had a late lunch today so may leave it a while longer....

Feel really unmotivated this week (see above). Have to pop to shops before I shred so may see if I can find some shiny new heavier weights which will draw me to the DVD player like a magpie!

Hope everyone is having a good day.

Thinking of you Febes x

but not bub, gah!

Well done BalloonSlayer!

Just want to come on here for a general shred rant, hope you don't mind.

I'm on level 2 day 3. I must really be very unfit as I can't seem to keep going for 2 circuits in a row, even on level 1 and I find that relatively easy now. I get bored and have a little flop down on the sofa between circuits. Why am I so effing lazy? This must be why I am not getting any thinner. Stamina, that's my problem.

Can it be that some people just have different muscles? You wouldn't expect a sprinter to be able to run a marathon but they are both fit, yes? I have always been more of a sprinter than a long distance runner but everything in running is about going a long way for a long time, rah, rah, it is so annoying. Should I really be trying to change my body type? I'm also a good jumper, maybe I'm just not cut out for these stamina exercises?

I can do all the more difficult moves bar press ups, so why aren't I getting fitter?

Sorry for that rant.

Honesty - are you doing the modified versions? It is more a matter of training the aspect of fitness (aerobic endurance, muscular endurance, strength, power, flexibility, speed) which is weaker - Shredding works aerobic and muscular endurance mostly. So a sprinter couldn't run a marathon because their aerobic endurance may not be their strong point IYSWIM. Sounds like you have good muscular endurance and strength.

Maybe try a more aerobic workout instead, or alongside, or power-walking or running! You'll soon see an improvement.

Boredom and distraction...I can't help with those, they are my personal albatross too

Well done balloon slayer... you've put me right off level 3 though
I was just checking in to ask, do you all do every day with no rest days?
and to mention that I saw a little difference in my body today.
I was putting my clothes on in the bathroom and saw hollows in my armpits! now, I haven't seen those for a good 12 yrs!

Honestybox I think the fitness comes from doing the workout in one go....
Have started off doing mainly the easy versions so I'm able to get to the end. Then do the harder way, a bit more each time
I'm on the same day as you, and am really sweating by the end and can hardly lift the weights in the the V raise things. ( first day level 2, stopped using the weights in the last circuit ). However am noticing improvements to my strengh, fitness and my body.

Honesty, I embarassingly thought I was quite fit before doing the Shred. The 20 mins (any level) has me in a pool of sweat on the floor by the end. I don't know what the magic formula is but it does seem to test anyone who does it. If you carry on I reckon in about a week's time you'll be feeling more boingy and ready to speed through it (although still ending up in a pool of sweat on the floor!).

Balloon you are Jillian's top girl - do you feel good/different from the start?

I found a pair of 2kg weights in town today, half price. They definitely felt heavier so I bought them and plopped them in my rucksack and sprang onto my bike and nearly tipped straight over the other side!

I have NOT been using 2 kg before, they must have been 1.5 kg (DP's weights). I was a sweat monster by the end of level 3 today

I'm pretty sure I've actually finished my 30 days, but I never kept count so I might just carry on until I collect my pension...

threesteps - 'pension' lol! and well done on completeing what could be 30 days!!

Balloon - congrats on completing 30 days that is fantastic too. You should do one level per week as you say for another month. When you go back to level one, come and back and tell us how you went. I think you will be every pleasantly surprised

I have just completed all levels again in one workout. Today in level 2 towards the end I really felt it and was sweating like mad. Apart from a bike ride and a bit of walking this week I had not done any other exercise

I too find the mountain climbers abit it is like Jillian is jumping them like a mad woman, but my girl Nat is 'step, touch, step, touch' which is far easier. In level 3 when you are in plank holding your weights and you have to oull the weight up and then hoik your leg up I really feel like I have to grunt like a man to get through it. God knows what the neighbours think.

Febes - am thinking of you.

Those of you looking to go back and shred for the second time, if you want to keep seeing the results then you need to make sure that you find level 1 as challenging as you did the first time otherwise you will just maintain what you have achieved so far but won't see anymore changes. You can do this by either doing the harder version of the exercises if you were doing the modified ones the first time round, using heavier weights, adding light weights when doing the cardio sections, or each time you do the cardio section count how many jumping jacks etc you do and your aim is to try and do more reps of them in the same time period the next day. This means not going at the same tempo as Jillian does, just go as fast and hard as you can.

Conquita, it's great to hear how you are getting on. Have you had any thoughts about what you will do when you move on from the shred?

Thinking of you Febes, hope you are ok.

Morning! Wow, everyone's doing amazingly well! Can I ask a question.... have woken up with very sore throat and headache, which I know means I'm coming down with something. Feel quite rough. Would you still Shred? I think I read somewhere that you shouldn't do anything that gets your heart rate up if you have anything wrong below the neck, or am I imagining that? Thanks!

Only you can judge whether you should shred or not. IF you decide to try then take it slowly at the beginning and you will soon know if your body is up for it or not! Don't be worried about taking days off, listen to what your body is telling you. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi all!

Thanks for all the congratulations < preen >

I do feel fitter than before I started. I did start from a woeful level of fitness though. I look quite slim ( am 9st 5) but I have often thought that if had my fat:muscle ratio measured the results would be horrifying, as I am,sorry WAS ridiculously weak.

I haven't lost any weght although I said I didn't want to, I only wanted to tone up, that was a big fat LIE of course. I think I look trimmer.

I think I will take your advice, Lostgirl and start again at Level 1. I couldn't do it all before and when I did it the other week I still struggled with some of it. You've made me realise that doing 10 days of it doesn't count for much if I am still struggling . I think that Level 3 hasn't exercised me as much as Levels 1 and 2, and that is probably because I couldn't DO a lot of it.

I also need to properly address the eating and start eating less, and more healthily, too. I think I need to stop eating like a teenager (crisps, pizza, McDonalds) and start eating like an adult (chicken, salad, couscous) - after all I am 46!

Well done everyone for all your hard work, it sounds like everyone's doing brilliantly.

conquita I am considering trying L1 and 2 together < tremble > Do you do the cool down for the first and the warm up for the second when you do two together?

Disheartened Flatmouse here. I know i shouldn't be, but having had such marvellous inch-loss results for the first four weeks i am gutted to report NO overall inch loss this week. In fact according to my tape measure i am +1 on the bum (where i need to loose the most!) but balanced by -0.5 on each thigh.
Also my weight-loss this week is sadly negative - and we all know what a double negative is :(

As Balloon said, i don't feel Level 3 is as effective for me as levels 1 and 2 were - i am improving and i can really feel abs/core area, so definitely doing some good there; am doing about the same mix of Natalie/Anita (emphasis on Anita) that i did for the other two levels.

Still, have completed Level 3 day 6 today, so only 4 more days then back to level 1 with the aim to manage it more Natalie-style. I am also determined to get out for a run tomorrow and bring running back in to my weekly workout.

I will NOT give up

I've had to stop shredding for the moment as my knee is too sore. Managed most of level 1 day 7 on Wednesday bur really struggled with high impact jumping jacks & butt kicks. Didn't shred yesterday as go to Zumba, but after pushing two DS's in buggy & on buggy board through mud to & from park my knee is completely knackered - having to limp around. So couldn't go to Zumba :( & can't shred for forseeable future :(

lostgirl do you have any idea what could have caused my knee pain. DH was telling me that it may not be my knee but a diffent part of my leg that is injured but you feel the pain in the knee instead? It got gradually worse from last thurs (day4 level 1) until it was too sore to shred mon & tues.

Will I ever shred again??? :( :( :(

That's the attitude Flatmouse! The tape measure might just be showing you a bit of water retention perhaps?

I went to pilates last night, was quite good I'm hoping it will make me more flexible as well as improve my core strength. I get occasional bouts of sciatica (fine at the mo though) so it should all be great for that!

Sorry Zeeky cross posted, ouch that sounds awful. Would a knee support help you in the short term with walking around?

Flatmouse, don't give up, you can do it! Zeeky, you poor thing, take care. I've weighed in this morning, and have only lost 0.25lb (it was 2lb last week). But I'm pre-menstrual so I guess that could be something to do with it. Having said that, according to the tape measure, I've lost half an inch from under boob area, 1 inch round the belly and half an inch round the hips. But gained an inch on one calf! Am turning into Fatima Whitbread . Hope everyone has a good day. Thinking of you Febes.

Thanks for all your encouragement. I think I need to get through the boredom and distraction albatross and do the workout without stopping, like you've said. Fear this is a lifelong project.

Zeeky, I was starting to get a sore knee so took a few days off shredding. I'm now doing it barefoot instead of with trainers. I'm finding it much better as I tend to land much less heavily on my feet. I feel more in touch with what my body is doing without the shoes on.

Flatmouse I expect the + 1" on the bum is because it is perter.

I did Level 1 again today and although some of the weights bits I still couldn't complete, I managed all the cardio which I never could do when I did it the first time around. I seem to remember after Day 1 I was ready for a lie down after the warm-up. And I NEVER managed to do the first set of cardio (jumping jacks and jump rope) and it was no real problem today.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that I enjoyed it but it was . . . OK.

I also woke up with sore throat & sniffle so decided against shred for today.
zeeky I had knee trouble & some kind wise soul on here (sorry I forget who) suggested extra calf warm ups. It did help a little but I couldn't manage every day as too sore. I have done 2 days of Level 2 with no probs. I think I prob was going over toes too much despite trying hardest to do it properly.
Honesty would it maybe be better to just 'march' for a few seconds when it gets too much, keep moving but a chance to recover?

Thanks everone for tips. Got a support strap on my knee now which helps a bit. I think I will see how it is on Monday & if ok will try shredding. I usually wear trainers but will try without to see if that helps & will do some extra stretches. I was surprised when I first did the shred at how few stretches she does to warmup & cooldown. Maybe I need more which is why my knee is suffering.

Think i'll go for Balloon suggestion of pert-er bum as opposed to Claire suggestion of water retention, as that made me liken my bum to a camel's hump!! LOL

Am suffering today from a serious bout of cannot-be-arsedness...

I want to sit on the couch and eat my own weight in crisps...Thai Chilli Sensations to be precise

I won't...

I may even shred. Maybe.