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!
:)

When I did it, I found I hardly heard her prattle or the music at all, I was too busy telling myself, 'It's nearly over, nearly over, breathe, breathe'. Congrats on your newly streamlined stomach

For those finding the plank twists really easy firstly congratulate yourself on your impressive core strength and then if you like you could try doing the movement more slowly so that the momentum of your moving leg isn't helping as much, and try and get your knee up and past your elbow on the opposite side, rather than just twisting it underneath you.

Yes, that abs exercise, if you watch carefuly, you need to twist most of your body. By that I mean your hips should turn as well as your kneescoming up. Also concentrate on keeping fairly low and not letting your bottom stick up.

The V raises are a killer aren't they?? I use 3 kg or more for every other exercise in the whole 3 levels....except that one. I have to drop down to the 1.5 kg or I cant complete all the reps! If its any consolation, my Dh and I shred together a lot, and he has to drop down from 5 Kg to 3 Kg for that one and still pulls pained faces for the final few reps....

notyummy, have you ever tried any of the workouts on BodyRock.tv . I am searching for a short workout to do tonight as I can't get to the gym for a few days, and some of these look pretty intense (and only 12 minutes long )

I'm scared to look now lostgirl Hang on and I wil let you know what I think once I have looked - I haven't done them before.

I have downloaded Jillians free app for my iphone and that includes some sort sharp workouts that you can do anytime/anywhere. The Burn fat/boost metabolism DVD is good because you dont need weights so can do in hotel room/on holiday.

Ok, I'm waiting for you to come and tell me the workouts are a walk in the park and that's what you do for a pre-shred warm up . I couldn't do BFBM, sin't it 40 minutes long? I cannot motivate myself to workout in front of the telly that long, don't know why, too many distractions maybe... like the large jar of nutella and spoon I have lying on top of the sideboard

No they look hard Lostgirl! I just tried a few of those reptile press up things out if interest.....I could do them but I do t think I could do that many tbh!!

I am ok with 40/50 min tv workouts, but the only ones I have stuck with for more than a few times are Jillian or Billy Blanks. Happy to run outside for ages if I ever get enough time. Managed to squeeze in a new 8 mile route today, but really want to be doing 12 or 13 miles more frequently.

I had a brief foray into running last year and that was one of the reasons I stopped , it takes a lot of time! I found in between the children, work and dh, there wasn't enough hours to run AND weight train properly so decided to just stick with the weights.

I was the other way round when pushed for time. Since having baby (4 years ago), I kept up the running but stopped the weights. Consequently, I ended up with still pretty OK legs, but an ever growing muffin top!!

Changed my priorities a bit and made myself find more time since mid January and thankfully, now the muffin top looks like I forgot to use self raising flour!
In fact, it's almost gone.

D1 Level 3 done - I like L3!

But I have really buggered my neck It has been swinging between sore and stiff for a few days, down the right hand side from behind my ear to along my shoulder tip (sometimes a bit down collarbone and sometimes a bit down blade).

I think I am going to have to stop shredding for a few days. Gutted.

Oh and the mathematicians amongst you may notice that my 30 day shred is somewhat less than 30 days ...I decided to do a week of each as I'm away next week.

YouCantTeuchThis, that sounds painful! Take care. I'm going to go back to Level 1 tomorrow, having had a week of being ill. I'd done 3 days of Level 3 before and I preferred it to Level 2. I'm quite looking forward to it .

I fely something ping in my lower back....................well, bum, actually, last night on Level 1 lunges.
Managed 5 mile run this morning and didn't feel it, but went on to do a Level 2 Shred, and lunges were impossible.
Rest day tomorrow I think. Gutted also!

greatnorthtrytorun.blogspot.com

DH brought me home heavier weights yesterday and as they are more than twice the weight of my first set I think it will take a bit of getting used to. My intention was solid L1 with new weights but I just slotted them in where I felt the others were too light (dont think that will ever, ever include the v raises mind). Could only be bothered to do L2 then L1 today but hey I think Ive done my fair share of workouts this week.

Anybody got any good tips for dieting? My hips and waist are getting smaller which only seems to emphasise the belly and when I was doing my shred earlier I looked like I had a nice healthy baby bump going on which I would be devastated if someone asked me when I was due!!!

Sorry to hear about injuries. Dh and I shredded together this morning- levels 2 and 3. It felt suitably hard after my run yesterday....

Can I ask you shred experts a question? I started this last week but I have joint problems and found the cardio section very painful. Do you think it'd still have results if I just paced on the spot or something for the 2 min cardio sections and did all the rest? If not do you have any advice on other toning DVDs I could try? Thanks for your help.

I must confess, WafflingOn, my knees really hurt when I first started. I kind of had the exercise bug really badly and carried on,(sometimes with Ibuprofen to mask the pain), because I knew I was going away with work for 5 days the following week and wouldn't be able to "Shred". The 5 days rest really did me good and I haven't had any pain since.
So, although I know the carrying on with Ibuprofen shouldn't be recommended, resting when your body is crying out for it is good. So, perhaps, try to workout which particular exercises are hurting and take it easy with them.
I think Level 1 is the toughest on the joints - all those jumping jacks!

I agree with jcb that Level 1 is the worst cardio on the joints. I am currently doing Level 1 the second time around and I still find it hard - the first time my shins and ankles were so painful I stoppe being able to do some of the cardio.

Why not have a look at some of the cardio in Levels 2 and 3 and see if you can use some of those, Waffingon? Otherwise, yes I expect that the strength/abs on their own have got to do some good - they are bloody hard after all, aren't they?

Just done Level 1 again. What a difference a week off makes! Feel decidedly shaky, although didn't actually get very sweaty! Found the cardio OK although I had to stop to blow my nose - nice. Managed only one set of proper press-ups, then had to revert to Anita. Still hate those side lunge things in circuit 3 - can still only do them with 1.5kg weights. Tried 2kg but can't get past about 10 of them.

Oh dear me. I haven't shredded for at least 10 days, mainly due to hideous lurgy. Thought it was bubonic plague, as felt so dead, but it turned out to be a cold. So, I'll have to get back into it next week.

Hope there's a trace of vestigal shred fitness left! Off to Longleat Centerparcs next weekend, where there'll be a whole lotta cycling up hills - I need to be fit!

Just done L2 day 7 and felt like my body had changed so tried on a pair of jeans that I haven't been able to wear since having my kids (oldest 3.4) and they fit!!! I have been low carbing and shredding since January and have gone from a size 22 to an 18 and lost 11kgs .

I swapped the second set of dredded plank crunches and plank jacks for regular jumping jacks today cause I just can't do 2 sets of them!! But I did do most of everything else and am now able to go lower in my squats. I feel I am ready to go up in my weights (currently only using 1kgs in each hand) for some of the strength moves.

Jillian Michaels has just tweeted that she's rehearsing today for a new set of DVDs and Anita and Natalie from Shred are back, doing "Killer Buns!"

(And I don't think she means cupcake buns!)

I just started Nell McAndrew's Peak Energy DVD just for a change, I lasted about 16 minutes which included a warm up, it was horrible. Jillian is so much better with explaining and the fact you can hear her clearly. I ended up doing a pilates dvd so I am ready for shredding again all the rest of this week.

Some of you have mentioned motivation and actually being arsed to do the shred consistantly. I read this in a magazine recently which is written by a personal trainer. I thought it might help those of us who sometimes don't feel motivated to exercise and put off till tomorrow what we could do today:

"Motivation is about feeling - determined, enthusiastic, frenzied, angry and is therefore fickle and unreliable. You can't count on it being there because we know feelings or emotions do not last, and if your exercise regimen is based on feeling motivated it won't last either.

Consistency however, is about doing. You don't need to plug it in and recharge it every two hours. It is that steady, yet relentless journey to an end. It doesn't require profound thought. You quite literally just do it.

Here are some tips for consistency:

1. Don't think, just do. Just put on your gym gear, head out the door and get over it
2. Don't start bargaining with yourself. No trade-offs: "Maybe I could skip this morning and go for a run at lunchtime." Just get on with it.
3. If you feel yourself wavering, apply the 10 minute rule. Start your workout and train for just 10 minutes. If you don't feel like continuing after 10 minutes, then go back to bed and treat yourself to a lie-in. Trust me, it doesn't happen.

It is all a matter of being consistent with the right habits.

Being consistent is about establishing a routine, not constantly reacting to what's happening around you. You can improve your consistency by being properly prepared in all aspects of your life, not just exercise and diet. So don't just make sure you have plenty of good food in the fridge and clean gym gear ready to go. Be organised enough to keep your car full of petrol, pay your bills early and complete work projects on time as well. "

febes Well Done!! conquita so true!
Weekend off for the muscles to heal (OK - entertaining/drinking/etc) back to Level 1 day 2 today. Found it alot easier than Friday - still can't do press ups but i am alot stronger this time round - so maybe by 3rd time through i'll manage a set of "proper" ones!

I always seem to get cramp in my feet during Level 1 - must be to do with how i tie my trainers!

Off out for a run at lunchtime. I'm still on 1kg weights - and the only place i could do with going up at the moment would be the chest flies. The rest i'd struggle if i increased the weight. (Such a weakling!)

flatmouse I get crampy feet too! Sometimes have to march for a few secs. Had friends to stay so no shred Sat. but did some of the exercises for 10 mins in privacy of bedroom on sun am. Also had lengthy trampoline session with babes as finally some blue sky hurrah! V true conquita. I am not managing every day due to life & stiffness/joint pain (mainly knees) that I'm nervous about making worse. Maybe I should be more focused & just press on through? It's easy to find an excuse... My shoulders are now really knotty & uncomfortable & I'm only using light weights
febes you must be really pleased with that result, well done.