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!
:)

Did Level 1 again this morning, as I feel slightly ropey, like another cold's on the way . But I did do Natalie versions and used my weights in the cardio bits. CherryDrops, I found Level 1 so hard at the beginning, but 2 months on having gone up through the levels, it's so much easier! Stick with it, the achiness definitely gets better.

Oh thank God, my body's woken up a bit now so am definitely going to do it again tonight - I'm even strangely looking forward to it!

Will get measuring and (groan) photographing tonight.

jcb69 thank you for the boost - you are right 1lb a week is good , and hopefully permanent and I shouldn't take it for granted. I also noticed I had some wrinkles in my bra today too (which I only bought the other week) so I guess I am still shrinking slowly. I think i need to stop obsessing about the weight and inches and only weigh and measure once a fortnight or something and not have a sneaky peak each day.....

CherryDrops stick with it. I think you said you've read other posters' difficulties over the first few days so you know it will get easier. I wish I had taken a photo when I started, I need to see my progress now to help the feeling that it's slowed down for me and comparing now to a before photo would bring me to my senses I think!

I was just wondering (having completed Level 1 Day 5) where did you shredding experts notice the changes first?

My wedding dress has no sleeves to cover up my old lady bingo wings and I would really like to have toned arms esp in the photos.
I've been watching the weight and sticking to WW propoints for the most part so hopefully I'll drop a few pounds at the same time.
Even though it's getting very very slightly easier, the side lunges with the weight lifts are so hard I want to cry.
I suppose if it doesn't work I could always wear a nice cardie.
Onwards and shredwards.

LL I found in the first week that I was starving, I guess from all of the extra exercise. Once I was underway, though, I was able to be more strict as I kept thinking of how hard I was working and how it would be wasted if I sat and stuffed my face

You could still do the punching cardio - more to keep the heart rate up than anything - but L2 has more cardio that you should be able to do (the lovely plank exercises...)

What are you wearing on your feet?

Eyes - I substitute the weight exercise for the back with a tricep one, and in L2 you will feel it more in your arms and shoulders.

Hooray!! My DVD came today and I plan to start Monday.
Anyone got any tips for success ?

Yeh! My tip is start today tomorrow!!

OK, more seriously, be prepared to be a bit sore for the first few days. If you can, initially at the end do some extra stretches. I did and i wasn't painfully sore afterwards.

I exercise in the morning and I found I was less sore after exercising than I had been before exercising.

I strongly advise you to take your measurements with a tape measure (don't worry about the scales too much, at the same time as your fat is going and you get lighter you are developing new muscles and they obviously weigh something). I wish I had a before photo too.

The most important thing is to stick with it. It will be difficult at first and you'll not believe her when she says about your increased endurance by day 5/6/7. It's true. You really will, and that may only be this time next week ! The pain will pass and it is slightly addictive (but don't tell fitness freak DH!!).

LL I think it says on the front of the DVD box that you can "lose up to 20lbs" (in the 30 days preumably).

3lbs is fab , well done! It's a surprisingly good feeling to start working with Natalie and not Anita or Jillian isn't it?

Thanks jellibelli love the name.
Have you noticed a big difference?? Is it really worth it?

AnyoneforPimms I started with 30DS on 21 January and I have definitely noticed a significant difference since I started.

I was fed up with looking/feeling mumsy and overweight and having in-your-face norks and I had a 'moment'. I can't remember where/when but I had it! After my 'moment' I knew I wanted to shift the weight and I knew I would. It was a combination of things but reading everyone's successes with 30DS on MN got to me and was my final piece of jigsaw to set me on my way. I have exercised almost every day since (am now doing Jillians 6 week sixpack) . DH has been away since before i started and his reaction when he returns in a few weeks will tell me what I secretly know but am in denial about - a major change. I am now feeling a little frustrated that it is not quicker, but trying not to and to recognise small changes in the right direction. I want to shed the blubber to show off my muscles underneath.

DH will help me do the 'couch to 5k' on his return - to do the timekeeping for me. Having watched him going out running for years I am finding myself looking forward to running with him. He will be over the moon when I do and we live in a fab place to go out and enjoy the scenery.

As I said upthread I am 5'1" and I started off weighing 10st 3lbs (BMI 27.05). Today I weighed in at 9st 8lbs (BMI 25.34). The weight change (9lbs) isn't huge but it definitely feels significant to my frame. I have lost 12inches or so from my body and most of that from my torso. My arms and legs are definitely firmer and I find chores (like digging the garden) significantly easier. I have not been dieting as such as I always feel that 'dieting' feels temporary and this for me is a change for life. Sometimes if am out with friends I have cake and sometimes I can easily decline.

I have changed bra size (down in back and cup!!) and they are still shrinking (hurrah!) and I don't feel like they take over my frontage now. It feels like an enormous change to me and yet no-one else has mentioned it. I am beginning to think that buying new clothes might be fun...

Ooops! Sorry about the enormous post, it grew as I was replying - it was cathartic for me . So in brief, yes I have noticed many changes and yes, it is defintely worth it. You are doing the hardest bit now so stick with it.

I failed! :(

I had such a busy week I basically lived of crappy food and cookies. No sport either. So only did the work out twice last weekend and never since.
Can anyone motivate me to get started again please? I feel like such a loser not being able to stick to twenty minutes a day, feeling quite disheartened somehow

Gilmore, if you are away posting elsewhere on MN consider your wrists firmly slapped . NO MORE PHONING IT IN!!!

(need to go and eat but brb to actually be helpful)

Come on Gilmore, you CAN do it. It's twenty minutes, TWENTY MINUTES. And you'll feel so good afterwards, honest!

Gilmore sometimes life doesn't go as we would like it to. Fact. You had that week last week, however, a new week starts tomorrow. So commit to finding yourself 20 minutes out of the 1440 you get given each day and just do it. Honestly, getting into the routine when you feel like you can't do it and everyone is else is doing sooo much better than you is the hardest bit.

Forgive yourself your busy week and not ideal diet and let it go. Just stop worring about it, it has gone and you can't change it. Look forwards not backwards.

Have you got a target to head for? That may help you. DH has been away for a while and I am focussing on getting back into some old clothes (!!*) by the time he returns.

• Not so I am wearing old clothes but to be slim enough to fit into them again after some years of being too 'round'.

Aw, you are all very very lovely! Thank you so much for all your support. I don't have anyone here for support (DP can eat everything he wants and gets skinnier
It's definitely helping. Tomorrow is my birthday and DP and I are planning a trip. So I didn't want to do it at first but maybe I will actually get up half an hour early and do it then. Might be a nice start to the week and a 'new year' if that makes sense. I let myself go in the last few years so tomorrow might actually be the right day

Well my insane shred plan went out the window last week, all 3 levels 5 times a week , though I did do sunday and monday. It was taking so much of my time up and was finding it hard to fit in. I am going to cut it back to 7 workouts a week, will do 2 (max) a day if I have time. Im going to treat it as the start again and take my measurements tomorrow and once I finish the 30 days I will move onto the 6W6P with a couple of BFBM thrown into the mix if I have time.

Gilmore it's your birthday tomorrow so treat yourself to some time for YOU and do it. You're important and you deserve it. You really will enjoy the rest of your day if you do 30DS as you will be feeling a) energised and b) self righteous .

When I started I felt better and keener to exercise as soon as the aching wore off. I knew this was going to work and I agree with LL when she said If you know you want to get fitter, look better, or lose weight, then you know it's going to involve effort. Frankly because I'm lazy I want the quickest, easiest solution - and I really believe this is it. I too am lazy and kidded myself that I was a curvy lady - which I was but i was curvy because I was carrying extra pounds not because I was Jessica Rabbit. Now it's starting to look good, I really am beginning to appreciate my body.

Gilmore, spend 20 minutes and come join us on our journey to have more energy, youth and sparkle .

And have a BRILLIANT day tomorrow!

3 days in and the aching has pretty much gone, I felt quite good when I woke up this morning! And I don't know whether it's all in my head because I know I've done some exercise, but I feel that my tummy is looking slightly better already. Even if it is all mental, at least doing the shred is making me feel better about myself.

I'm definitely finding it easier now, the first time I did it was pretty hard but it's already getting much easier each time. Gilmore you just need to get through the first two days - day 1 you need the motivation to start, day 2 you need the motivation to do it again despite the sore muscles. After that, you realise how great you feel afterwards and you'll be hooked!

I managed 6.5 circuits of BFBM before figuring I was on borrowed time until I got called upstairs to read DD's bedtime story, and fast-forwarded to the cool down. Phew! I think I'll end up cutting it down a lot of the time, as it was surprising I could fit all of it in this evening - I figure I will either do 3 or 4 circuits at a time, or fast forward between circuits so I do them all, but only once through rather than twice. I really like the kickboxing stuff, and still really really dislike mountain climbers ... am also thoroughly freaked out by Kristin's punches, she's like some big jerky green insect. Yikes.