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?

Sorry to hear dh is ill. Apparently there's a lot of it about. We've had a letter to say there are lots of teachers and pupils off in the infants part of our school. Thankfully, it hasn't hit the Juniors - yet.

We found out on Monday morning that ds1 has a chest infection (he's hopeless at telling us when he's ill and tends to just carry on until he collapses, which is when we find out) but have so far managed to avoid the usual sickness bugs that are around at this time of year.

Taking a couple of days off sounds sensible if you are in pain.

I have stuck to the plan I came up with yesterday and done another level 1, plus the two kickboxing circuits of BFBM. I was really stiff and sore this morning, which is a bit rubbish really, considering I'm only doing level 1. It really helped doing today's workout though and I feel much better now.

Am very of your Christmas shopping. I always end up doing mine online, because dh can never get any time off and I don't drive. Its not the same as mooching around the shops choosing bits for them all. My sister is coming to visit in a couple of weeks though and we're going to hit the shops (without men or children in tow) for stocking fillers and hopefully some festive cheer.

I would say probably 50% of mine is online shopping - praise god to Amazon!! We had a bit of good news in the last few days in that some PPI we were trying to reclaim will be paid out, hopefully after Chrimbo, so I have decided to get DH and the kids a surprise present of the PS3 Move (they have a PS3) and a couple of games. Am not going to give it to them though when they have all their presents, I might even keep it for Boxing Day - think I'm a bigger kid than they are!

Hopefully things will look up for us financially in the New Year. We have 3 PPI claims outstanding and if all 3 refund us, we will halve our debt situation, which will be amazing!

Sorry to hear DS1 has been poorly, hoping he recovers soon.

I much prefer the sound of your Chrimbo shopping trip - no men or children - wonderful! Sounds like you have a great relationship with your sister. I have a sister, but we don't get on too well, and I'm lucky if I see her 4 times a year - and she only lives 10 minutes drive away!

Definitely think I have overdone it today, I have a killer headache, which is hard because I have to drive home from work yet at 11pm and I can see its getting foggy. Am just exhausted I think, hardly slept over the last two nights, and with DH being off today, that was like having a third kid to look after.

With you get the decorating finished this weekend?

I don't get on very well with my sister either really. Like you we only see each other a few times a year and its best to keep it light and do something that keeps us both busy, iykwim. Hence the shopping. She lives about 40 minutes away. I get on better with my other sister but she lives in London and we are in the Midlands.

I hope all your PPI comes through. I suppose we should have looked into that really, as we've had a few loans over the years. The thing is, we stopped taking out PPI at some point on the advice of my stepdad, so I think anything we might have had PPI on would probably be before before the start date for claims.

Didn't even get started on the decorating. No chance it'll be done by Christmas now, as we've just got too much going on.

I am almost scared to go to bed with the amount ds1 has had us up every night the past few weeks, so I empathise with your lack of sleep. I've had a horrible tiredness headache for so long now its almost become a permanent fixture.

Do you think you might be coming down with your dh's bug? Hope you feel better soon and have safe journey home tonight.

May I join in?

Started today,as have completed couch25k running and wanted to add Shredding to my running.I am hoping to do mornings before work.

Forgive me for not reading whole thread yet,and can I ask some questions:

1.Is this an EVERY day thing for 30 days or do you factor in rest days?
2.How do you move through the levels?
3.Does anyone else have the same problem as me with out of control - eerrr- bouncing during jumping jacks,and what do you do?!!!

I'm really impressed with how difficult it is - a good challenge.I'm hoping it may improve my bingo wing.

Off to bed but hope to catch up tomorrow....

Hello countess

Welcome to the thread - don't bother reading my mahoosive posts, they're all off topic.

Well done for completely couch to 25 - I am always really impressed with people who commit to those programmes and stick with it.

Anyway, the shred. Lots of people do it for 30 days straight, but on her other dvds JM recommends at least one rest day a week.

I was very unfit when I started and didn't move up until I could do the advanced moves on each level, so did 10 days on level 1, 17 on level 2 and 20 on level 3 (I think ). I stayed on level 3 so long because I was really enjoying it though.

With the out of control bouncing problem - I assume you're meaning norkage? If so, I had similar issues at first, as I was a 34hh. I bought myself a shock absorber sports bra off ebay. Mine was brand new from a trader and cost £15.00. They are fantastic and totally control the bounce.

I have gone down a couple of sizes now though, so will need a new one soon. (I am using My Fitness Pal to change my eating habits and log food and exercise as well.)

Oh - and it will definitely help with bingo wings, I love how defined my arms are now.

Thanks for all your help moose! I have done my second workout and I'm amazed at how challenging it is. I could barely get onto the loo and off all morning because my legs are aching so much - and you would have thought that since I've been doing couch25k for a couple of months it wouldn't make me ache quite so much!!!!!

I would like to do 30 days straight,I think ,if I can tie it in( - I also swim and go to yoga once a week.)

I think I may have to invest in a new bra - for today I put one of the crop tops I wear for running over the top of my normal bra! I also wore trainers today as it's quite high impact and I don't want to cause any problems.

I would love to see my bingo wings gone - they are so ageing!

Sounds like you're a shred expert!! Have you gone on to a different Jillian DVD or do you still do 30 day shred?

Lol, the toilet issue is well documented in the first few days. You have to lower yourself down slowly and then get up verrry slowly.

I agree, trainers are a must. I started without them and hurt the bone I broke last summer.

I'm not an expert. I've just been doing the shred - or elements of it since the end of August.

As well as the shred, I've got Jillian's Banish Fat Boost Metabolism, which I love doing - especially the 2 kickboxing circuits. The problem with that one is that its 40 minutes plus warm up and cool down so not as easy to fit in during the week, but you can select individual circuits to do. There's no weights in it either, but lots of plyometrics, so its still pretty tough.

I've also pre-ordered Ripped in 30 from Amazon. It was supposed to be being despatched on 27 December, but I've had an email to say its going to be delayed until the start of January now.

I restarted it, doing all the advanced moves a couple of weeks back, but ended up with a shoulder injury and life stress getting in the way. I only managed a level 2 shred once last week, so decided to restart level 1 this week and do a week at each level. I am adding in a couple of circuits from Banish Fat Boost Metabolism in every day as well though, because I enjoy doing that one. I also like to do the whole of BFBM at the weekends if I can.

Level 2 is hard. So I'm dreading next week. It has lots of planks and the last circuit is horrible - particuarly the chair squats with v-raises, but level 3 is great and I really enjoyed doing it. You really start to see the results of all your hard work during level 3 as well, as it all comes together and that spurs you on.

What size weights are you using? I started with 3lbs and they definitely worked on my arms, but I'm finding a much better result now I've started again with 5lb weights.

If you want to see what's involved in the other Jillian DVDs I can recommend going to an American site called Collage Video, as you can watch clips of all her DVDs on there.

moose I can't even begin to imagine what Level 2 is like!

Injuries are such a nuisance,aren't they? I'm easing off on the running a little this week as I can't even walk after shredding as I've been getting some shin pain which I want to get settled.That's why I'm making sure I use trainers for the Shred even though I'm on a carpet and a rug.

I'm using 2.5 lb weights,and I'm finding they're enough on my flabby arm work,at the moment.But I reckon I'll start using 5lbs on chest and back work soon as I'm not finding 2.5 lbs challenges enough (at least on this level).

I shall check out that link,thanks!

Just have to announce that my right buttock is so sore it actually feels bruised !

Oh dear! It does get better, honest. Most people find by day 4 its eases up and they start to feel stronger.

I injured myself doing push-ups with the wrong form. I still have to do 'Anita' push ups as a result. If I try doing proper ones my shoulder pain starts up again.

Hi Mama - to be honest I can only wish to come down with DH bug - it might kick-start my diet!

Right, I have now registered with My Fitness and it seems that I am not eating enough, which I am guessing is why I have hardly noticed any difference at all after weeks of shredding.

Had my day off today, having trouble with my knee again, and will have tomorrow off as shopping day. But will finish L2 Saturday and Sunday and then start with L3 on Monday. Looking forward to starting NMTZ, but feel I need to get through L3 first. Loving L2 at the moment though.

Welcome Countess, good to have another regular on-board and I feel your pain!

Hi Overtired

Its more common than you might think. I found that once I'd removed all the chocolate comfort food I stuffed in the evenings, the rest of my diet was way too low in calories and now I eat far more than I ever have but have lost 3 stone since June.

I still struggle most days though to eat back enough of my exercise calories and find my net cals can be horribly low some days. I often have to stuff a handful or nuts or some peanut butter on toast just to top up my kcals.

Loving level 2?!! Are you mad? Dh was grumbling only this morning, because he does 1,2,3,1,2,3 in rotation and had done a level 2 this morning. He reckons its not getting any easier and every time he does it he hates it a little more!

I am waited with baited breath to hear how you get on with NMTZ. I decided against it when I bought BFBM because some of it looks so hard on the clips I've seen - you're definitely a braver woman than I am!

I have done my level 1 and 2 circuits of BFBM again today and have come out in sympathy with Countess as my backside is really sore from all the side and back kicks in BFBM. Have to say though, I love doing them and despite the pain, my rear end is definitely looking a lot better.

3 stone?!! Thats amazing! To be honest, a stone would do me, I would be happy if i could comfortably wear all the clothes in my wardrobe, but be toned!

To be honest, its years since I've calorie-counted, following either Cambridge or WW. I love Cambridge but this time of year, loving my food and drink the way I do, think I would just be miserable. I thought I would test myself tonight and put my days food in to see how much over I was, and, including the 3 small peanut cookies I had, and without exercising, I was still nearly 300 calories "under" my daily allowance, which totally shocked me. To be honest, I am so sick of being able to walk around a supermarket, picking up food knowing it was X amount of points, I think the change might do me good.

So ultimately, I plan to eat sensibly this weekend, but not restrict a G&T or glass or two of vino if I want to. But then seriously knuckle down next week and see how I get on. I could do with a good detox between now and Christmas. I have my works Xmas party on 2 December, but am thinking of giving that a wide-berth and just working that evening, if I go I will consume far too much wine, and then be hungover the following day for my wedding anniversary and taking the kids to see Santa, so think I might steer-clear and be a good girl. I missed all the Christmas parties last year, thanks to the snow, and I can't say as I missed anything.

Its been easy really. I would never have believed losing weight could be this simple and wish I'd done it years ago. I don't really miss all the sweet stuff I used to eat. I ate it mainly for comfort or through boredom when I was ill and 5 months on my eating habits have changed so much that I naturally go for the healthier options these days.

I've gone from squeezing myself into a 16, when I really should have been an 18 to now being a small 14 almost 12 on the bottom and 14 on top (blooming chest won't go down enough for me to ever get into a twelve on my top half). I still have another stone to lose though!

I credit the shred with giving me a reason to stick with it all though. The changes to my body since I've been shredding are so huge that its a massive motivator to keep going.

I am 367 kcals under tonight as well, but am just not hungry so won't eat them back. Have you read some of the stuff on the community boards on MFP? I've really found it helpful in terms of learning about clean eating and good vs bad calorie choices. I love the phrase that many of them use 'abs are made in the kitchen'. I also love reading the success threads, they can be really motivational and sometimes humbling as well.

I don't do Christmas parties really. Dh always goes to his works do on his own, as do a few of his work friend/colleagues - he wouldn't go at all if he had a choice, but all of the management team are expected to show their faces. I would like something nice to wear to MILs Annual Christmas Eve do though. We arrive and leave early, as we don't like the dcs in bed late on Christmas Eve (lord knows Christmas is disruptive enough for ds1) but I still like to make a bit of an effort and dress up-ish. No-one who will be there, except for my SIL and MIL has seen me since before I lost the weight, so it will be interesting to see if anyone comments. I predict not, they're a funny bunch!

I know someone who does SW and is always saying that you need to eat enough.Is it all to do with keeping the metabolism going so the body doesn't go into "starvation mode"?MFP sounds interesting.

Today I didn't ache SO much (Day 3 Level 1) and I reckon a soak in a VERY hot bath last night helped.I increased my weights to 5lbs for back and chest and biceps but the rest still on 2.5lbs.I think my shoulders are weak - years ago I used to pump out press ups like nobodies business but I have to resort to the easier version halfway through at the moment.The cardio is fine except the jump rope which is murder on my trotters.

I also managed to get out for a 30 min run today and my shins seem (touch wood) OK at present.

It is quite amazing how quickly you can train your body (with some effort),isn't it?I'm asthmatic,over40 and overweight and 2 months ago I had difficulty running for 60 seconds....quite literally.

Don't know about anyone else,but exercise has always been my choice of drug - I just love the high!!!!

Missed not shredding today, and my knee really playing up, it only ever plays up when I don't shred - most odd! So looking forward to shredding tomorrow morning. Now THAT is something I never thought I would admit to - me and exercise have never been great chums!

I'll certainly have a read through the forum etc on MFP and start from scratch Monday for diet, and L3 shred.

Have a great weekend all! I have three days off now - whoop whoop!

Countess, if you are still achey try having a protein rich snack after working out. Say a handful of nuts, some cheese or even a milkshake. Your body needs the protein to help repair muscle and it really does help.

Enjoy your long weekend off work Overtired.

I have been out for a meal for the first time in months this evening and eaten lots of naughty things, so am hopefully going to do a level 1 shred and the whole of BFBM tomorrow. I say hopefully, as dh and I are planning to work on ds's Statutory Assessment Request all day with the intention of posting it on Monday and somehow we also have to buy a birthday present for MIL before Sunday and take all the dc's library books back, so its going to be a busy day.

Hi folks

Have done a full BFBM, but am too tired to shred as well after staying up till stupid o'clock talking to dh last night. Dh, dd and ds2 did it with me which was cute, funny and annoying all at the same time. At one point even the dog got involved. Ds1 hid in the kitchen with his Pokemon trading cards!

Had only gained 6oz this morning after last night's blow out - so that's not too bad.

Hope everyone else is having a good weekend.

moosemama the aches seem to have decreased considerably.

I have now resorted to calling J a lot of horrid names throughout - it certainly helps!
Know what you mean about involvement - being the weekend,today(day 4)was done with DD's.They informed me it was "easy Mum".Well,I suppose it is if you have little sit downs for three quarters of it and don't use weights......Normally I only have to contend with the cat walking across my arms and trying to sit on my belly when I do fly's.....

Overtired hope you have a good weekend off!

Tomorrow I go swimming with DD's and I do a mile swim.I am also planning to go out and try new running shoes.It's going to be interesting fitting in my shred too!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

Lol I do that. Have to control myself when dd is with me, that's why I prefer to shred when she's napping!

Ds2's version of the exercises are really funny too, not to mention his little 'rests' like your dd's. He has hypermobile joints and can get into some quite spectacular positions with little effort - not the right positions of course - but spectacular nontheless.

I am going to struggle to fit in my workout today. Its looking like I will have to do it this evening, but I know I tend to wimp out if I leave it that late. Just off out to buy a stack of family birthday presents, then have MIL's birthday to go to. I like to be home on Sundays, so am not very happy that we're going to spend the whole day dashing around elsewhere.

Enjoy your swim.

Did my swim and my shred (rather late in the day,but I'm a determined little bugger and won't miss a day easily!).Didn't do my run though as fell asleep on the settee ran out of time.No mind as I'll be going out for a run definately tomorrow and I felt it was more important to get my shred in.

I'm enjoying it,and this week my swimming costume seems looser round my bum (annoying actually as it keeps riding up as I swim).Now it seems DH may have to treat me to a new swimming costume to join the running shoes.

Off to bed now as I think -at least for tomorrow - the only way to fit in shred is by getting up earlier.

Still loving it!

Greetings all, well bad news from my camp - I have torn a ligament in my knee and I need to "rest" it! Am missing my shredding but I know I must. I think tomorrow I will watch NMTZ and see if there is anyway I can miss lower body parts out and just do other parts. Am truly gutted. Pain isn't too bad, I have a massive support on it now, which is helping. I overdid it yesterday with the shopping with DH and suffered alot last night, and had a restless night sleep with pain. I will probably have this week off and see what I can do next week.

I started my calorie count with My Fitness Pal today and after all my calculations, I am 3 calories over [sceptical], 50g over my carb allowance and 20g over my protein allowance . Do I really need to take all 3 figures into account when calculating my calories, or can I just stick to counting calories and keeping it low fat? Thats probably a question for you Mama!! Any advice/help gratefully received xx

Oh no Overtired. I'm sorry.

I know its hard, but please don't try and get back into shredding too quickly or you may find you end up having to have longer off. I broke my foot last year and had quite a lot of ligament damage in my ankle and lower leg. I hate to say it, but it took months to heal properly and the ligaments took longer than the bone (I was in an aircast from June till September for the break). Definitely err on the side of caution in terms of how long you rest it for.

Do you know how you did it? Was it one of the shred exercises?

Don't panic about the calories being a few over or under - most people say stick within 100 kcals of your target. The majority of people don't worry about protein either, but its a good idea to keep a close eye on carbs and fat and go into settings and select sodium tracking as well, as that makes a huge difference to how the scales read. If you do go over on the carbs, as long as they are good/complex rather than simple carbs its not a disaster.

I have also learned not to be too restrictive on the fat - just keep sensibly close to your goal. Apparently we have sensors in our upper digestive tract that check for fat as food leaves the stomach. If we keep everything low fat and therefore don't eat enough fat in our meals, these receptors send messages to the brain to tell you to eat more, so you just end up hungrier.

Basically you are looking for a reasonable balance of everything and MFP has worked it out for you, but going over on protein within reason isn't bad especially if you are either workout out or healing.

If it helps, I'm not shredding - again, thanks to a horrible stomach bug. Oddly, I seem to be the only one who has it. Usually the dses bring them home from school and everyone except me catches its off them, so lord only knows where I picked this one up.

On the bright side, I suppose if I can't eat and have to keep running to the toilet at least I should lose a few more pounds!

Thanks for that Mama - by good/complex carbs, you mean?? My highest carb today is a jacket spud for dinner with baked beans. Then breakfast a small banana, which had more carbs in than the slice of Kingsmill bread I had!

I guess its all a learning curve. Bread is most definitely a downfall for me, but its only when you have to work things out like this, that you realise the content of foods. I mean, the carb content is the same for a slice of bread than it is for a Muller Light yoghurt - do figure?!!!!

On the plus side, I haven't been at all hungry today, and also weighed myself for the first time today in months and was prepared for a massive shock BUT am half a stone lighter than I presumed I was, and although after months of shredding, I hadn't really restricted my diet at all, and I haven't actually gained any weight, so not too bad I guess.

As to how I hurt my knee - yes I did it shredding, but I can't say it was any one exercise that did it, it would have been Level 3 as a gradually felt I was having problems with my knee, but it got progressively worse, although I never suffered on the day of shredding, but always on the days I didn't. I had Thursday and Friday off, and by Saturday I could hardly walk

Potatoes are usually thought of as simple carbs, but the jacket adds fibre which means they can then count as complex, baked beans are generally considered good carbs, as long as the sauce isn't too high in sugars.

Some mfp threads about it here:

confused about carbs

good carbs vs bad carbs

complex vs simple carbs

I've reached the point where I can take or leave bread now. For the first few months I avoided eating sandwiches for lunch as, being veggie, all my meals are quite carby anyway, even just from the vegetables. Now I do eat sandwiches again, but not every day. I love a two egg omelette with 20g feta and a stack of spinach folded into the middle for lunch or a big salad with cottage cheese and black pepper and chunks of apple and nectarine. Its a bit harder now the weather's turned though, I think we all naturally crave carbs at this time of year.

Do you think you perhaps over-extended your knee at some point and then each subsequent shred tore it a little bit more? I suppose the pain the day after would be when it seized up and became inflamed. Have you got any pain relief for it? I found alternating the higher strength ibuprofen and co-codamol helped me get some sleep when my foot was at its worst.