2011 Shredhead part 4 - and other JM instruments of torture!

[knottyhair]

Oops we're full up again! Hope it's OK to start a new thread. Come on Jillian devotees, let's keep up the good work and the great results!

I'm doing L1 6W6P tomorrow ouchy, I'm scared to even watch L2!!

notyummy Could it be AF that has bloated you a bit? My scales are so rubbish that I can go up or down 3lb in a day.

NMTZ done today, and I'm a bit bored of it now. I've done NMTZ and BFBM 3 times each this week. No wonder I couldn't keep up with the shred! I need to keep mixing it up which is what I'll do next week.

Hope everyone had a good day.

Wish I could blame hormones but period finished last week. Boo!

Good work on the 6W6P!

Well done everyone in all their Jillian endeavours!

Hope you don't feel too disheartened about the +pounds notyummy. Weight can fluctuate loads from day to day, I bet it's a momentary thing.

Well day 1 of L2 done second time around and...arrrrrgh .... it was hard! Managed 2.5 kg on all the strength EXCEPT for the v raises. No way I could have done those with 2.5 straight off so I used 1.5 and will gently psych myself up to it over the next week!

I vote L2 the hardest Shred level, by a mile!!!!

Hope everyone has a fab weekend

Yep- those v raises are a killer. I also think L2 is hard!

Managed 7 mile run on Friday and DH and I did all of NMTZ yesterday morning. Mostly 5kg with 3 thrown in where necessary (side lunge and arm raise; surrenders etc.) Scales looking slightly more positive. Think it is more like 2lbs rather than 4 to loose. No diet today- just hangover from night with friends last night . Luckily I have done my duty 5 days of exercise already this week so can nurse my head peacefully with no sweating required!

I have to say I'm so impressed with the weights people are using at the moment!

I did L2 Shred again today and managed 2.5 for all but one set of V-raises - the second set I changed down to 1.5 kg, so an improvement from yesterday but still so hard!

I honestly want to ask how do you guys physically manage the higher weights (3s, 4s, 5s)??? I don't think I'll ever be able to, despite Shredding or doing some form or another of Jillian since early New Year!

I am, honestly, in awe

Have a good evening all!

threesteps - I have been doing some form of strength training for quite some time now. Probably not pushing myself quite as much as I could, but I think it all helped build up my strength - I namechecked Billy Blanks on here earlier, and some of his routines that I used to do (still do occasionally) included a LOT of (proper) press-ups so I knew I could do them, for example. I think if you can do things like full press-ups/tricep dips etc then it stands in good stead for some of Jillian's routines. I also vary my weights and always have a few out during a routine so I can make sure I am pushing myself for every set. For example 3 kg feels really hard to me for V lifts and I struggle to complete, however they feel pretty easy for a squat and press, so I make sure I am always swapping round. As a rule of thumb, if I am not consciously having to focus on finishing a set of reps (i.e thinking 'I am going to die....no I can do this...two more) then I know my body has adjusted to that weight, and next time I do the exercise I should be attempting with the next weight up.

Thanks notyummy, that's really helpful...

Mmm, well I'm still not there on the full press-ups (certainly not for whole sections) so I'm still a work in progress methinks! I am certain think Billy Blank would do me in!

I'm just going to keep plugging away at it. The way you explained when to move up a set of weights is really helpful too. Those v-raises with 1.5 kg are basically 'fairly' easy now, and with 2.5 are "I'm going to die" etc.! My 2 kg weights are MIA at the moment so I'm just going to have to grin and bear it!!

I've been a sweaty mess at the end of L2 with the upped weights so it's obviously challenging me. Finding the strength sections so much harder than the cardio ones. Just like Shred the first time round

Just checking in again to say keep it up! Feeling much better but not yet up to "doing Jillian" so to speak. Got to go into town first thing tomorrow but may try either a Davina or a Level 1 Shred (without weights in cardio) on Wednesday. All this talk of weights is making me hanker after a workout, but I fear I would dissolve into a coughing heap of mucus (TMI? ). Did my fortnightly weigh in on Saturday (just to check I'm maintaining OK) and I've lost nearly 3lbs in the last 2 weeks. I think my appetite has been curbed a bit by feeling rough, but I've been nearly at my MFP allowance every day, so maybe I need to adjust my settings or something. Or leave it until after Christmas to allow for festive biffing . Have a good day everyone xx

Hello all - this thread is my conscience at the moment! I struggled to get up this morning and was a bit tired after a long run yesterday - 10km so not in notyummy's league but long for me. Anyway, I did 3 circuits of BFBM with the warm up and cool down, which was not too bad.

Level 2 of the Shred kills me threestepsforward. I have chosen not to download it to my ipad yet. I much prefer doing level 3!!

knotty just wondering if you have your MFP "lifestyle" setting set at sedentary or moderately active (forget the exact terms as haven't done MFP for a while now). I used to have mine set at sedentary on the basis that I would rather underestimate my activity levels than overestimate them, and also that it made me feel better to actually log things like the school run as exercise rather than just have it included as a background level of activity, IYSWIM, however I always lost more than the predicted levels, e.g. was losing 2lbs a weeks on the "lose 1lb a week" setting etc, so think I should actually have had it on the "moderately active" setting as the sedentary one is designed for total couch potatoes!

Well done everyone for keeping on at it!

L1 6W6P done today for the 2nd time. Found it quite hard, after a week of very little exercise due to work/poorly DCs/bad cold etc.

Jackster, yes I have got it set as sedentary, for the same reasons as you, but I do only log my workouts, or if I walk into town (about half an hour). I think it is probably that, but I think I'll leave it until after Christmas to allow for a mountain of cheese & biscuits a bit extra. Good on you for doing 6W6P - I really like it and am definitely missing Jillian .
Ouchy, well done on doing some BFBM even though you were tired - 3 circuits are still worth doing!

L2 6W6P done. Hard.

2 days low carbing and low fat starts Wednesday. Usually works so hopefully those extra pesky 3lbs will be gone soon.

Well done everyone - great stuff going on at the moment with all the BFBM and 6W6P'ing!

Knotty glad to hear you're on the road to recovery - good luck with the getting back to it on Wednesday

L2 for me today and managed 75% of the v-raises with 2.5 kg, I will get there, I will ... You'd hardly believe I've been through Shred before (albeit with lighter weights) judging by the state I'm in at the end!!

Happy Mondays everyone

Hi everyone. Been MIA the last few days. Did L1 6W6P sat and yesterday and L1 shred today. I am feeling slimmer (no weight loss though!)and feel so much stronger. I did 5 full press-ups, which is a record,woo hoo.

notyummy the discription of going up weights is really helpful. I did Shred L1 today with 2kg and for some could go up to 3kg. Will get some this week.

Hope everyone is okay

Good work ladies! Got up early this morning to go for a run before work but it was throwing it down with rain, so managed 30 minutes on the cross trainer instead. Felt a bit like cheating, but better than nothing! Planning a run tomorrow. Low carbing starts tomorrow.....prepare for some complaints from me I know it works for me though....and last time I kept it off for nearly 18 months so not just a matter for piling it straight back on. We are only talking about a few pounds here, so not that big a challenge (I hope!) Trying to catch it early so I hit 40 in the NY looking as good as possible [vain emoticon]

Huzzah! I did it! All the way through L2 Shred with 2.5 kg. My second set of v-raises was a bit slower than they were but my thoughts were quantity not quality .

Good luck with the low-carbing notyummy, and feel free to vent on her, we'll cheer you up!

Great news ThePaxton - hope you're not disheartened by no weight loss as it will be likely that you'll have built muscle, which will weigh more, definitely concentrate on the feeling slimmer bit, brilliant news!

Nice one 3steps. I struggle to do all the v raises with 2kgs - can just about do it on a good day; on a bad one have to drop down to 1kgs for 2nd set!

And good work notyummy and ThePaxton too! notyummy the personal trainer I had a session with a few weeks ago was enthusing about the benefits of the cross-trainer- v good cardio + resistance training at the same time! Good luck with the low-carbing notyummy.

Wondering whether to purchase 2.5kgs or 3kgs weights? I feel like 2.5kgs would be a bit pointless when I have 2kgs ones and there's so little difference, but on the other hand 3kgs are quite a leap up from 2 and I might not be able to do anything with them!

Thanks Jacksterbear! Feels like a bit of a personal milestone so I'm dead chuffed!

Just seen all the typos in my post

Re your weights, could you look at getting weights that you can adjust by adding or removing? I'm not sure what combinations they sell them in but might be useful? I know what you mean about the 0.5kg rise, seems so little on paper, but seems to make a big difference in practice!

Hope everyone's having a good evening, will check in tomorrow

Well done on the 2.5 kg Threesteps.

Re the weights Jackster - for most exercises a 1kg step-up is quite manageable I think (although, don't get me wrong - you will def feel it ) I think the exercises where you use smaller muscle will be a challenge with that size of step up (i.e v raises or side lunge with shoulder raise.) I have 1.5kg, which I don't use at all anymore except with cardio, 3kg, 5kg and 7.5kg. I have pondered whether a 4kg would make a step up possible for the ones where I can't manage 5kg (v raises, surrenders.) Would have thought what threesteps suggests would be good - or the ones that strap to your wrists that you could use in combination with your other ones.

Well done on feeling slimmer Thepaxton. It has been 15 1/2 hours since any carbs passed my lips (I realise I have been asleep for 1/2 of that ) and I have been for a run this morning - surely I will be a size 6 by tomorrow?!

notyummy I always think I should be immediately slimmer after exercising and eating well. Especially when I have just done a load of squats or lunges - why are my thighs still huge??! Honestly! Good luck with the low carbing.

I did Level 3 of the Shred yesterday and going for a run at lunch today. Think I will try for all of BFBM tomorrow morning as I have a day off. Will need to try Level 2 of 6W6P at some stage...

Well I had lost a kilo by 7pm yesterday so it must be worth it! Am hoping for 2 kilos by tomorrow morning and then I will wean a few complex carbs back in. Low carbing does work for me, but the really hardcore approach and 'proper' exercise (i.e Jillian or a run of 5 miles or more) don't mix well. No carbs def impacts on endurance and strength! I managed 3.5 miles yesterday and that was enough - I was also giving blood last night and I know from previous experience that I mustn't do too much exercise on the run-up to that or my iron levels are not high enough to donate.

That's great notyummy.

Ouchy I so know what u mean re expecting thighs to be immediately slimmer!

Ouchy I'm also going to work myself up to L2 6W6P. Scary! 3steps well done on the 2.5k I can't imagine doing those v-raises with 2kg, I have to drop down to 1kg. notyummy Well done on weight loss. Before the summer I low carbed and lost 1/2st. I might have another go as I'm not losing any weight and have about 1 and 1/2 st to lose.

Rest couldn't be arsed day today. Did L2 shred yesterday and L3 tomorrow morning.

Morning all!

Everyone sounds like they're doing great

Knotty, are you back in the world of exercise yet? How are you feeling?

3 more L2s for me and then up to L3 (thank god!). Expect I will be starting L3 on Tuesday as will be away part of the weekend seeing family who are over from America...wonder if any of them are Shredders!!

Have a good day everyone

OUchy - sounds like you are on a roll! I will be doing NMTZ this weekend, and possibly a double shred too....it all depends how my knee is feeling after I go running today.

Well done on nearly getting to L3 threesteps!

Am back on 'good' carbs as of this morning....craving salad and veg. Really pleased with the results of 48 hours of dedication though - 5 lbs gone! I find I can keep it off as long as I don't run off and eat a whole pizza to myself. I had been 'treating' myself a bit too much, which is how the little extra had crept on. I will stay away from bread and only small pasta/rice portions etc. Works for me.