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!
:)

Level 2 Day 2 done this morning. Still hard work. Must order BFBM - but worry re the cardio - as some of the cardio seems to adversly affect my calf. Mind you - it's not expensive so may get it and give it a go just to change things up a bit.

Didn't run yesterday and won't have time today (busy week). Hope to get out tomorrow for a run as i want to keep it at 2 runs/week.

Knottyhair where didn't i go? :) highlights included South Bank, Kensington (obligatory Harrods visit), Covent Garden, Oxford St. Went to see Legally Blonde at the Savoy which was FANTASTIC - would highly recommend it. Spent the whole show with a big grin on my face.

Flatmouse, sounds like you had a great time, and covered some ground! Love the South Bank and Covent Garden. Go for it and order BFBM. There are certain circuits that are more cardio-based but nothing too bad (if you don't count standing mountain climbers - yuck!). And you can select which circuits you want, if you don't want to do the whole thing or if you're short of time. I'm awaiting delivery of "6 Week 6 Pack" now. Not that I'm expecting a 6 pack in 6 weeks, but I need variety or I get bored.

Joby, I might just start doing that, and giving them a kiss after a workout!

Oh Knotty I'm waitingfor 6W6P too. Perhaps I'll start a new thread for it when I get going (or maybe just lurk here for extra motivation!

Hello Shredders!

RL has got in the way big time recently so have not had much time to Shred at the moment. Managed once level 3 on Sunday and one level 1 today.

I've officially done my 30 days (I think) so am just going to drift between levels as and when I can until massive work on the house is finished - will be a few months I think.

After that "I'll be back" with a vengeance [and hopefully not with guns the size of Arnie's].

Everyone sounds like they're doing great, woo hoo

Threesteps x

Have done it! Couldn't decide so ordered both BFBM and 6W6P!
Reading the reviews am quite excited to mix it up a bit! Hope calf holds out.

I started level 3 today and loved it!! So much better than level 2. The moves I didn't like were the mountain climber plank thing and the side abs in the last circuit (not so much didn't like as couldn't really do it!) quite liked the cardio and the popping movements.

Just done level 2 day 1. Lordy!! I couldn't do half of it as just couldn't seem to get my limbs to do what natalie & anita's were doing, even on the Anita version . In particular the pendulum lunges - my feet kept sliding & kept losing my balance & was all over the place! So much plank work too & I'm not great at pushups so find the plank position really difficult to hold.

Just hoping that it gets easier as level 1 doesn't seem too bad now I'm used to it.

Did Level 2 again this morning - unfortunately my neck gate-crashed the party and is very achy now :(

Zeeky it does get better - re the lunges - are you wearing trainers? also Jillian recommends you keep feet hip width apart - helps with balance.

I found all the plank work hard on level 2 first time round - but after level 3 (not trying to scare you), i've found i've really strengthened core and upper body and can now last alot longer and achieve more.

Zeeky, have you got a mat as well? That does help you not to slide around too much. And like Flatmouse said, keep going and you will see improvements with the plank work - I did and I'm a real wuss! Flatmouse, good on you for ordering the other DVDs, we'll have to compare notes with JelliBelli. I've just done Level 1 today, as I remembered it being less hard on the legs (which it sort of is!) and mine are very achy today. Only managed half a set of Natalie style push-ups and had to resort to Anita for the 2nd lot . But I did use my weights for the cardio bits , and managed my heaviest weights for the side lunges which I never could before. Also I used to be nearly weeping by the end of the bicycle crunches and this time they were fine, so some improvement I guess! Have a good day everyone x

flatmouse...I feel you on the neck straining detail. I pulled mine on the first day and spent the entire day holding my upper frame in the oddest fashion and looking like I was trying to disguise being 'under the influence'. My OH was like "what the fuck is wrong with your head? Maybe this shredding isn't such a good idea??"

Level 1, day 6 here and FINALLY ACHE FREE, HUZZAH!

I'm still struggling with a lot of the exercises...ALL the abs ones, press-ups are still a slog and I often run out of puff during some of the cardio...BUUUT everything seems to be gradually getting a wee bit easier and I'm feeling a bit more trim which almost makes up for me hankering for an ice cold bottle of dry white after a long day.

I am hoping to buy a mat and a new pair of trainers within the next few days...my budget is extremely tight right now but if anybody can recommend anything they've seen online that would be really helpful...

Cheers shredding dears.

Level 3 day 7/8ish. Can now finally do rock star jumps, but have given up on the pike and scissor leg thing for the ads. They're just too intense for my knackered pelvis, so am replacing with some ads from level 2. Hopefully no pain tomorrow....

Hi all, had a couple of days off after finishing L2 on Sunday but did L3 day one last night. I can't do the plank thing as my weights are wrong shape so going to get some wrist weights. Am still doing Anita so to speak, those jumping lunges Natalie does look scary!

claireDeLoon I'm the same with those jumping lunges, wobbly enough with Anita.....

Im working up on the jumping lunges but can only do half jumping then start doing the easier ones, better than what I could do at the start where I was unable to even co-ordinate a single jump!!!
Hubbys on hols so have done 1 single shred all week so far, plan on having a go after lunch.
From next week I am going to do a week (5 days) of shred, a week of 6W6P, another week of shred then a week of BFBM then repeat to get the best of all DVDs.

I still do Anita style lunges, although I must admit I haven't tried again since the beginning , probably should have another go at the Natalie style. Blimey Susall, hats off to you for trying a week of BFBM! I think I'd pass out! I was thinking of roughly one day per week of each level of Shred, one day of BFBM, one of 6W6P, then maybe a Davina to mix it up a bit.

Those jumping lunges are HARD. I consider myself fit [modest emoticon...] but I can only just finish the Natalie ones. I think they are probably awesome for legs and cardio though. Everytime I do them I want to DIE - is that enough for you Jillian??! What makes it worse is that DH and I usually do levels 2 and 3 together back to back, so I have already done a fair anount of hard work before I get to the jumping lunges....I can't do the easy version though because I get competitive with him. I think he finds those ones easier than i do - but I find most of the abs work easier then he does, so it all works out in the end!

Just done day 2. Had a brief try at the Natalie style jumping lunges then immediately reverted to the Blessed Anita. Argos do 2.5lb wrist weights so will walk down and get some later.

I still have to do all the plank stuff on my knees, I do try the proper ones but I think at 13st plus it's just I'm too heavy for shoulder muscles to take. Still losing weight with WW so will keep trying as the weight comes off and my strength improves.

Claire - the jumping ones are relatively hard core/high impact - if you are carrying a bit of weight still you are probably right to be slightly cautious as you wouldn't want to knacker your knees and have to stop altogether. Once you have lost a bit more I bet you will be whupping Natalie's arse

Morning. Feeling quite pleased as I've just done Level 3 and managed nearly all Natalie moves, except for half a set of the plank things with weights. I even managed the jumping lunges, although I got significantly less co-ordinated as they went on . Also found that the rock star jumps hurt my right knee (never has before) so I substituted them for one set star jumps with weights and one set of butt kicks with weights. Also did my weekly weigh in and have lost 2.5lbs, and am only 1.25lbs off the healthy BMI range - 1st time in years! Hope everyone is having a good day.

Well done on the weight loss Knotty - that is great!!

I am hard core low carbing at the moment (Dukan attack) as I want to be lean for a big 'do' tomorrow. It does make a big difference to how much I can do exercises wise those. Only short 4 mile runs, and one shred at a time!!v Did level 1 on Tuesday and level 3 on yesterday and they seemed much harder work than usual. Have dropped 3 pounds since Wednesday morning though, so will be worth it...

Back on my normal (relatively...) healthy diet as of tomorrow evening!

I bought the Jillian Michaels book "Winning by Losing" and am waiting for my "30 day shred" dvd from play.com

I had a go at the circuit training she advised at the gym last night (I assume it will be similar to the DVD) and I was really out of breath by the end and felt it was a much tougher workout than my normal weights and cardio.
Her circuit trainig was non stop 3 x 15 of approx 20 different exercises.

Level 2 day 2 done. Didn't shred yesterday as go to Zumba on a thurs. Wore trainers today (haven't been since recovery from knee injury) & found the plank position & pendulum lunges a little easier as my feet weren't slipping around so much. Could still barely even do the Anita versions of the jump plank thing & plank jack thingy. Sweat was pouring off me too especially after the high knees!

Just thought I'd check in.

Well done everyone, great to see people are doing so well.

I am still doing Level 2 the second time around but haven't managed to Shred for 2 days this week - (one day due to sick DS2, the other day due to sick DH ). I was quite distressed by this because I have really noticed the lines on my stomach coming to the fore and was worrie they'd disappear!

I think the reason I like Level 2 so much is I see such a difference in my stomach.

Shall try to shred at the weekend if possible to make up for the missing days during the week.

Level 1, day 8...it's not really getting any easier and I'm starting to worry that I won't be able to take the pace of level 2...argh!

I had a lot to drink last night (vodka, lime and soda) and I'm a bit disappointed in myself for that as I'm meant to be calorie counting.