30 Day Shred - New Starts

[CatPower]

Hello everyone,

I know there are a lot of shred-heads on here already, but many of the current threads are full of people well into the programme. I just started the 30 Day Shred today. I'm 5'11", 258lbs (18st 6lbs ) and in dire need of getting fit, strengthening my core and losing some weight.

Has anyone else recently started, or are planning to?

Wow! I'm in awe of you. I can dip down until my knee touches the carpet, but there's no way I can keep up the pace of jumping the whole way through - you should be really proud of yourself - well done!

I had noticed that about Natalie with the mountain climbers, what with that and her little lapse in level 1, she's a bit of a cheater really!

hello ladies, sorry I haven't been on for a few days, I'm waiting for a new phone and never seem to get a go on the computer lol!

Moosemama: don't be so hard on yourself!

I'm also feeling less motivation now it'a getting colder and darker. Plus ds has stopped having bottles, and is getting up stupidly early, so I'm extremely tired, which is leading me to crave carbs :(

Did level 2 yesterday and found it A LOT harder than level 1 :( I don't seem to be co-ordinated enough to do a lot of it properly lol.

Olibeansmummy, its the same at the start of each level, you just need a couple of sessions concentrating on learning the moves and correct form rather than reps and perhaps watch it through without working out a couple of times to make sure you're clear on how to do them.

That must be them moosemama I can never remember any of the names.

I can't seem to stick to my diet at all at the moment, I've had chips, crisps and chocolate today. Not looking forward to the scales in the morning!

Still doing the dvd at least, although really struggled with the jumping bits today as my ankles are really hurting and I don't know why. Has anyone else had this? Am I doing something wrong? I do it barefoot at the moment so wondered if maybe my ankles would be better if I had trainers on.

Also the main bit of myself i want to change is the flabby bit of tummy just around and under my belly button. Did she say in level one that those reverse crunches target that belly pouch area or did I mishear that. If that's true I'm thinking about doing an extra set of those each day.

You definitely need trainers nicnac, I got through level 1 without them, but then had to buy a horrible cheap pair off ebay to get through the other levels. I have promised myself a decent pair as a reward for finishing all three levels though.

I have been sorely tempted by naughty food this week as well, but so far have manage to resist temptation. I think our bodies are screaming out for us to store fat to get us through the winter at this point in the year - not good for those of use that are trying to go in the opposite direction.

The reverse crunches will work that bit of your tummy, but there are some exercises in level 3 that target that area as well and mine has significantly improved since I've been doing those - stick with it and you'll have a washboard in no time!

I haven't shredded today. Woke up with a pounding head and raging sore throat, but still intending to work out - then spent the day typing the request for ds1's statutory assessment and lost track of time. Am very with myself, but will just have to get back on track tomorrow I suppose.

Mama, you always say to me to have a day off when not feeling 100%, so take the day off - you deserve it!

I agree with the exercises for the tummy in Level 3. Level 3 is much more about plank exercises and I have found that I can feel my tummy is working much harder when in a plank than when doing crunches etc. I have really noticed a difference physically since starting Level 3 on Monday, so much so I am going to say to hell with my day off tomorrow, which I normally do on a Friday because its my shopping day etc, I am so impressed with the seemingly daily change that I don't want to stop at the moment. I wouldn't say my clothes are any looser, but I can definitely see wobbly bits that were there a couple of days ago have disappeared, my bum looks smaller and I need to get some smaller bras as the cups are too big - and all this since Monday!

Had parents evening tonight, which I was dreading as last years were a nightmare - but DS, who I have to remember sometimes is still only 6, has improved amazingly since starting Y2, and I was complemented on what a lovely boy he is - I had to pinch myself to stop myself sobbing with pride! So I am a very very happy mummy tonight.

Now, if anyone can gives me tips on how to stop DD from biting, kicking and punching me, pulling my hair and worst of all, spitting at me.........

I know Overtired, but I really wanted to do a whole week without a break this week, especially after last week's debacle.

Fantastic news about the parents evening. Its always lovely to hear your dc is happy and doing well at school. We have ours just after half term, although they don't do one for ds1, because he has SEN IEP reviews instead. Ds2 always has lovely parents evenings though - total contrast from ds1!

Your dd is about the same age as mine isn't she (mine is nearly 2 years 10 months). We've just been saying very similar things on my postnatal thread - they all seem to be on a mission at the moment, with lots of 'no's' and high pitched screaming. No solutions here I'm afraid (neither of my boys were ever like this) but lots of sympathy. I've started to resort to time outs on the bottom step with dd - but since she saw her elder brother getting a time out the other day, she seems to think its a badge of honour!

Yes, DD is 2 and 6 months. I have aboslutely no idea where the spitting came from, and its only me she does it too. Same here in that her brother was never like this, which I think is why it has shocked us even more! I do time out for her, sometimes she will even take herself off there before I even say anything to her, but usually once she's there, she's quite happy to stay,until she forgets why she is there.

She's so "spirited"! Not sure WHERE she gets it from

Oh dear not looking forward to my DD reaching that age then. She is 18 months at the moment and I can already tell she is a lot more high maintenance than my DS who has always been a complete angel. He is 5 and in year one, we have his parents evening on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to it, he's a very bright boy so I'm hoping it will be good.

I have bought some trainers off ebay so hope they wont take too long to arrive. I'm going to try doing my shred after the school run today and really hope my ankles will get through it. I've also bought a better sports bra as the one I'm using has a clasp at the back and I don't have a mat to use, so I have a big bruise on my back where it digs in when I'm doing floor exercises.

I have a permanent bruise on my back from my sports bra during the crunches as well nicnaci - and we have carpet in the living room!

I need to invest in a new one that doesn't have any metal bits in ready for my MRI anyway, but its not an easy task when you're a 34H. Actually, I think I need to re-measure, as all my bras (which I spent a fortune on using my birthday money back in June) are now too big in the back and cup.

My dd is being unusually quiet an compliant so far today - she slept through last night without even disturbing as well, but still looks really tired. Its nice and peaceful, but I have a feeling she might be coming down with the same thing I have.

Day off today in the end - I woke up with my ribs, arms and legs absolutely screaming at me when I got out of bed, and although it eased off a little, I decided to have a break - just as well as I don't know where I would have found the time. I did however walk to school this afternoon, weather has been lovely, although a little chilly, but definitely wanted to make the most of it, so in the long run as I have SOME exercise, as opposed to none.

In a funny sort of way though have missed not shredding today, so will definitely be kicking DH out to work tomorrow morning and the kids back up the stairs after breakfast so I can get on with it.

DS breaks up for half term on Thursday, so I have no excuses not to shred every day between now and next Friday - won't be able to shred next weekend as I am working both Saturday and Sunday , so am planning ahead.

Evening Overtired.

I got back into it and did day 15 of level 3 this morning and it actually felt easier again, so I'm thinking rest days at level 3 are possibly a necessity to let your body heal and recover.

Managed to do Natalie for everything except the pike crunches and push ups today, so am finally feeling like I am almost ready to move on.

My Banish Fat Boost Metabolism dvd has been despatched and should be here tomorrow! AND I have pre-ordered Ripped in 30, which comes out on December 27th in the UK.

I had a look at quite a few different dvd clips on www.collagevideo.com and discovered that Ripped in 30 is another one that uses the 3-2-1 method of circuit training in short sessions. There are 4 levels of it and you do a week at each level. People have had some amazing results from it on My Fitness Pal.

So, I'm planning to start level 1 of the shred again on Monday and attempt to go through the whole thing in 30 days doing Natalie. I know I won't be able to do the push ups straight away, but intend to start as I mean to go on and just do as many proper 'manly' push ups as I can and hope I build up my strength along the way.

I will do BFBM three times a week as well if possible and then start Ripped in January 2012.

My weight is finally shifting now, so I'm a happy bunny. I felt like I was stuck at just over 12 stone forever, but have dropped to 11st 9lbs in the past couple of weeks and am losing just over a lb a week at the moment.

Oh - and I have a 30" waist! Its was 34.5" one week after I started shredding - I can't believe it!

Well done Mama, thats fantastic!

Still not weighed myself, not much point as I am not really dieting. But at the same time, I am not eating anything like I was before I started shredding, just don't feel hungry once I have shredded. I don't really feel any difference in my clothes, but definitely am more toned, although I did measure my waist last week and then again today and have lost an inch, which is pretty good.

I'll definitely take a look at the video link later on. I plan to do Level 3 for the next 2 weeks, because I still feel I have a long way to go, and then like you, start from the beginning and work right through 30 days.

OMG! I couldn't resist, decided to have a go at my new dvd before I did level 3 of the shred today. Just the warm up and circuit 1, because on the dvd it advises you to build up to doing the whole thing gradually.

I really enjoyed doing it. Circuit 1 is kick-boxing based though and I've never done any before, so its going to take me a while to master the form and foot positions.

Went on to do level 3 of the shred and found the first part really easy, because I was so well warmed up from BFBM, but boy - around half way through I seriously ran out of steam! By the end of the last circuit my legs were shaking and I was seeing silvery stars! Only managed jumping lunges on the first set this time as well, because me legs were already starting to go.

Anyway, I got through it and at least I can say I did 4 circuits instead of three today!

I have watched BFBM all the way through and it looks really good. Plenty of moves I recognise from the shred, with some new ones thrown in to keep me interested.

There are 7 circuits in all, but you can just select any of them from the main menu, which is great, because you can either work on specific problem areas or just do as many circuits as you have time for.

Caught dh trying to take a sneaky photograph of me in my workout gear today as well. Fortunately it was blurred so you couldn't see my face, but I was actually shocked at how different I look. If someone had shown me that picture I would have insisted it wasn't me, because in my head I'm twice that size! Perhaps its time for me to invest in a full length mirror!

Well that's day 6 of level 2 done. Still finding it hard, I often have thoughts of 'why am I doing this to myself?' and wanting to just give up and go back to slobbing out an eating loads whilst I'm doing it, but I push through it and once I'm done I'm really pleased with myself and it's over with for another day then anyway.

My eating isn't going to be good today as it is cake day at my ds's school tomorrow, so making cakes with him later then we're all going round to my mum and dad's for a roast dinner. Going to borrow an ankle support off my mum as it's still hurting, in the evenings especially but I'm still managing to do the work outs now I'm wearing trainers. I've also got my new sports bra now which is a lot nicer to my back so hopefully my massive bruise will fade soon.

A bit disappointed that I'm half way through now and still have my fat podge on my tummy and my weight just seems to be stuck at around the same couple of pounds up and down each week.

Well done nicnac!

I totally understand what you mean about questioning why you are doing it to yourself. I even had the odd day early on where I've plopped on the floor and cried to dh that I couldn't do it and I wanted to give up. The thing is though I feel so much better about myself now, even simple things like standing up and realising I automatically stand straight and tall instead of slouching and its not a huge effort are really motivating me right now. Dh says he feels the same, we can actually feel our muscles working as we're moving around. Can't imagine ever going back to being a slob now I know what it feels like to get fit - its really reminded my why I was addicted to exercise in my teens and early twenties.

I invested in a new non-clasp sports bra yesterday as well - and some new trainers (which I'd promised myself when I got to the end of level 3). Sportsdirect have a really good sale on at the moment, got some tshirts for the boys for christmas as well.

Don't worry about your tummy - leve 3 will deal with that. I've lost another inch off my waist and two inches off my lower abdomen doing level 3 and my lower abdomen stubbornly refused to budge throughout the lower levels. My weight didn't start moving until level 3 either - much like you, same couple of pounds up and down over and over.

Also don't worry about your diet today - one day off every now and again kickstarts your metabolism and stops it thinking you're going to starve - so enjoy it!

I find it really helps to log my food in My Fitness Pal, as I can see one bad day isn't a disaster, so it helps to keep things in perspective.

So, ever the masochist, I did BFBM warm up and circuit 1 today before I did level 3 of the shred. The good news is, I definitely found it less exhausting than yesterday, the bad news is, I still couldn't manage Natalie all the way through.

So that was day 17 of level 3 and my last day of my first round of the shred. I'm going to start again at level 1 tomorrow and force myself to do all Natalie, even if I can't keep up the reps. Strictly 10 days on each level this time and interspersed with learning the circuits for BFBM.

thanks moosemama it really helps me getting your feedback on here. Go you, you're doing really well I hope I can follow in your footsteps. Although the idea of doing a level even harder than level 2 seems impossible at the moment! ha

Hello ladies, have you all had a nice weekend?

I have to confess last week was a terrible week for me diet and exersize wise :( I haven't shredded since Wednesday! I'm starting afresh today though with sticking stricitly to my diet plan and doing level 2 shred EVERYDAY.

Hi oilibeansmummy

Forget last week and just get straight back into it - you'll be fine.

My new sports bra arrived this morning and its too big! I ordered a 14, but I think they might be american sizing, because its so big, it doesn't even touch my ribcage. Will have to send it back and get a 12, I know it'll really be a UK 14, but it will say 12 in it and thats gotta be good for my motivation!

day 7 level 2 done. Going to try and squeeze in another tonight though as I'm going to be out most of the day tomorrow. I've joined that myfitnesspal, thanks for the tip it looks really good. I'm under the same username if anyone wants to find me on there.

Hi folks

Well my first day of starting the shred fell by the wayside today. Had a really busy morning, so decided to shred at dd's naptime, but she had other ideas and tool an absolute age going to sleep, leaving me without enough time to get through all the workouts I wanted to do.

Still, I did the warm up and 3 circuits of BFBM and certainly sweated enough. Am just annoyed because I want to do make sure I get in some resistance training as well as the cardio.

Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I'm back! Got my TOTM on Friday - a whole 7 days early grrrrrr, did L3 D5 Saturday and really struggled, so had a rest day yesterday and did D6 today. Really enjoyed it.

Feeling slightly demotivated that I really don't seem to be feeling any difference in my clothes, but will keep going, I am determined not to quit THIS time......

Still here, L3 D7 done and feeling good, better than I did yesterday. My aim is to keep doing L3 until next Friday, and then restart all over again doing all Natalie and then try another of JM DVDs, not sure which yet.

Hows everyone else doing? x

Evening Overtired.

Well I finally got around to starting again at Level 1 today. Did all Natalie .... except for the second set of push ups.

I seem to have developed a pain under my left scapula. It only hurts occasionally when I'm not working out, but it really hurts every time I do a push up and its much worse if I do full on proper ones instead of doing them on my knees. Managed to get through the first set of reps, albeit very slowly and without going too far down, but just couldn't do it on the second set and had to drop onto my knees. So frustrating - not to mention painful.

I suppose I've been lucky not to get any pain or injuries up until now (if you exclude the first couple of days when I very first started shredding).

Not sure what to do about it though. Have googled and read quite a bit of stuff on the net that says push ups are the ideal exercise to build shoulder strength and help recovery from shoulder injury, so am wondering if I should just push through it, but stick with Anita just for push ups until it improves.

I think I did it doing the dumb-bell cleans in level 3 with bigger weights. From what I've read, this sort of pain/injury is usually caused by locking out the arm when using overhead weights.