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?

Well done Overtired!

Nearly didn't bother - not having a great week so far - but made myself do it this afternoon before I went to fetch the boys and feel better for it.

So that's day 11 of level 2 - done.

Also happy to report that I'm finally down 2lbs this morning after what seemed like an endless plateau/marginal loss. Hoping it stays off and isn't just a blip.

Well done Mama, wish I could say I was as dedicated as you today! Knew I had lots to do - post office run first thing, small top-up shop, then home, by which time it was almost lunchtime, and I needed to get straight for work tonight, so alas no shred for me today.

However, nothing planned for tomorrow, except for a quick trip to the bank, so will have time to shred beforehand, which will be Day 10. Will do the same on Thursday, and may even have a dabble with L2 afterwards if I have the energy.

Well done on the 2lb loss, I actually am too scared to weigh myself. Thought I had done really well last week, but hadn't lost an ounce, so am not going to bother until I have reached the end of the 30 days, so will just continue to shred and follow WW for now.

Feeling tonnes better for it all though, my stomach is the flattest (still has a long way to go) its been since having DD and the legs and bum area on my trousers are definitely better, so something must be happening.......

I bet you've lots inches already Overtired. I was so shocked when I measured myself after finishing level 1.

Don't be hard on yourself for not managing to shred today - life has to come first when you have a job/house/family etc. You are managing to shred frequently, which is something you weren't managing this time say, a month ago and you're doing really well with it, which is a great big positive - be proud of yourself.

And you too Mama! I have to say this is probably the best exercise dvd I have found for quick results, physical changes, stamina etc. I am definitely feeling the healthiest I have for along time if I'm honest, although that could be down to the healthy eating.

Must say though, one thing I found out yesterday, not to shred with a hangover - ouch, that hurt!

I think you're very brave to even attempt the shred with a hangover!

It wasn't bravey Mama, it was stupidity

Managed to squeeze in another L1 today, and will do so again tomorrow, but that will be it until Monday when I say attempt L2, as Friday is my busy day and I am working all weekend during the days - can't be doing exercise at the weekend in the evening, I might get a spillage of wine from my glass ...... ha ha ha x

Day 13, Level 2 done this morning and its finally starting to feel a little easier. Am doing a bit more Natalie and a bit less Anita.

Still need to do Anita for Plank Thrusts and Jacks and not getting enough reps on the chair squats/v-raises, but overall I think I've improved a lot this week - AND - I'd lost another 1lb when I weighed in this morning.

Interesting that I've suddenly started losing weight, as I've read a few times that people don't tend to start shifting lbs until they hit level 3 and in terms of timescales, I would/should be on level 3 now. So I'm wondering if its consistent working out over an extended number of days, rather than the actual individual exercises that helps to get it moving. Does that make any sense?

L1 D11 done and felt good.

Well done Mama, doing well. Still not weighed myself, don't think I will yet, especially as dreaded TOTM next week and I usually start to gain weight from about now, sometimes I can gain up to 7lbs . No noticeable change in my trousers, although must admit that the tops of the legs aren't as tight, they tend to pucker up when I sit down, but DH said he is noticing a change in my arms, so something must be happening.

Won't have chance to do any tomorrow and am working all weekend, but I may try and squeeze another L1 in over the weekend, and then start L2 on Monday morning.

Well done Overtired. Starting L2 on Monday sounds like a plan. I had mulled over the idea of starting L3 on Monday as well, but if I'm honest, I don't think I'm quite ready for it yet. Maybe I'll feel more capable by the mid to end of next week.

Ridiculously crazy day here, been meeting myself coming back - as they say. So am glad I did my workout first thing this morning, as there's no way I would have fitted it in otherwise.

Haven't done my shred yet today, but its my official weigh-in day, so I decided to re-check my measurements as well this morning and ...

Waist - Starting: 34.5" - Current: 31" - Loss: 3.5"
Chest - Starting: 40.5" - Current: 38" - Loss: 2.5"
Right Bicep - Starting: 11.7" - Current: 11.2" - Loss: 0.5"
Left Bicep - Starting: 11.5" - Current: - 11.0 - Loss: 0.5"
Hips - Starting: 42.7 - Current: 41.5 - Loss: 1.2"
Left thigh - Starting: 24.2" - Current: 21.9" - Loss: 2.3"
Right thigh - Starting: 24.7 - Current: 22.0" - Loss: 2.7"
Left knee - Starting: 17.0" - Current: 16.1" - Loss: 0.9"
Right knee - Starting: 17.0" - Current: 16.1 - Loss: 0.9"
Left calf - Starting: 15.7" - Current 15.5" - Loss: 0.2"
right calf - Starting: 16.0" - Current 15.4" - Loss: 0.6"

Total loss in inches across whole body: 15.8"

The majority of the changes were after my second measure-up at 12 days into the shred, but my hips, waist and thighs have gone down again since then.

I am obviously really pleased, but also really shocked at how much I've lost off my waist, chest and thighs.

Dh wants to move up to level 3 at the weekend, but I haven't decided yet. I am getting pretty bored of level 2 now, but its still a good challenge, so I feel I could get more out of it if I carry on improving my form. Might wait and see how he copes with level 3 tomorrow and decide afterwards!

Was so buoyed by my measurements this morning, that after I'd done level 2 (and done nearly all Natalie, with just Plank Jacks and Lateral Crunches as Anita) I decided I would do level 1 when dd was napping this afternoon.

Went all the way through level 1 no problem, doing Natalie for everything except the push ups (can only manage the single push up needed for the walk-out-push-ups in level 2 at the moment) but its made me realise that I need to get in some extra cardio sessions, because I was puffing like a steam train through some of it.

Wow, well done Mama thats amazing. How do you feel in yourself?

I didn't take measurements when I started, but hoping I can have some of your success and it will certainly spur me to carry on. Am going to L1 tomorrow morning, and then start L2 Monday.

I'm feeling great thanks Overtired. In fact I don't think I've felt this well in a very long time, possibly years - great timing as my neuro appointment is in the next fortnight!

That said, I'm exhausted this evening after doing both workouts, running around after dd all day, doing a stack of housework and washing, then the school run, followed by all the after school chaos and homework with ds 1&2.

Early night for me I think!

That's great, renewed energy and feeling well is always useful when you are non-stop like you!

I didn't shred today, had loads to do, but feel pretty sluggish today and fat, although TOTM in about 5 days so am thinking it might be early - hopefully, anyway, because I don't feel any different today physically and when I read your measurements I feel worse because I don't feel anything happening, but I'm just impatient and haven't gotten past L1 yet - I am stepping up my game from Monday L2 Monday to Thursday without fail, and if you think I am waning - give me a kick up the bum!!

Working all weekend isn't going to help to be honest. I'll either be really busy or really quite, and I need to be busy, because if its quiet I get bored and then start to eat. If I have no-one in I might take myself off for jogs around the floor - how funny will that look on CCTV??

Sorry, I hoped my measurements would be motivating rather than making you feel worse.

I don't think I changed massively doing level 1. I was into level 2 when I first measured and noticed inch loss and my scales refused to move at all until this week.

I was just the same the week before my TOTM and worse once it started - I actually dreaded working out, but without fail I felt so much better once I'd done it.

Lol at your cctv jogging shenanigans!

No no no! You have motivated me enormously, if anything, its just what I needed to get me going again. Think I'm just hormonal!

I am now also in the middle of organising a halloween party in 6 weeks time (I have NO idea what I am doing!) and also a christening the week after, so hopefully by upping my game, I hope to feel/look better.

Thanks mama x

Gosh, is it halloween in 6 weeks - what happened to the rest this year!

I love organising parties, sounds like you have a busy couple of months coming up.

Have done day 15 of level 2 today. Dh refused to attempt level 3 after I said I wasn't going to start yet - the rat! So I haven't been able to get an idea of how hard it is.

There is a crazy lady on Youtube who has video'd herself doing all 3 levels.

Me too, I love a list I do, and have various "lists" going on at the moment . Saddo! Am working today and its pretty quiet, so that usually helps me to get stuff done. Am currently on Party Pieces looking at decorations (not started the jogging yet!!)

Oh yes, I've seen her. What on earth would possess someone to video and make publicly available their 30DS torture in all its sweaty glory! Still, I found it encouraging to see someone who is obviously much fitter than me sweating, puffing and struggling - does that make me a bad person?

Well I have so far managed not to do my shred today. First thing I'd forgotten that all my workout gear was in the wash, washed it, then forgot to dry it and on top of that have been feeling really exhausted and achy all day and had a minor neuro episode, which really brought me dow, because its the first one I've had since May.

So, I think I'll most likely have to chalk today up to a day of rest and get back on track tomorrow - unless I suddenly find I have a surge of energy and feel like making myself feel worse again.

Dh attempted level 3 this morning with all 3 dcs joining in. They were making the house shake with all their jumping up and down and as I was trying to catch up on some sleep (it was 8.00 am!) I had to come down and see what on earth was going on!

Have to say, it looks very tough and dh wasn't even managing to do some of Anita's stuff, let alone Natalie. Am now thinking I will carry on on Level 2 (which I am sooo bored of now) until Friday, when I will have been doing it for 20 days and then move on to level 3 next Saturday.

Poor you Mama, hope you are feeling better today. They always say you shouldn't exercise unless you are feeling totally 100% anyway. Bet that was quite comical to watch DH and your lovely DCs jumping around though, hope you took some pictures for those all important blackmail moments!??

Well, I started L2 today and WOW! I loved it, although it was tough, so am not sure that I enjoyed it because it was different, or whether its a genuine passion for planks [sceptical]. After having 3 days of not shredding at all, I was really dreading it, thinking I'd struggle, but I got through it without any breaks at all, although I didn't manage the walking push-ups things at the start, but I did manage to "Anita" it and hold the plank. I tried one push-up but nearly fell flat on my face so will leave that for now! I feel great though, tops of my legs ache abit when I stand up, and my arms feel a little heavy, but I had so much energy afterwards, even my DD wondered what on earth was wrong with me! Plan to do it every day til Friday, although I do have a few days off so I have no excuses not to fit them in over the weekend.

You have inspired me topush myself this week - thank you x

Hi Overtired

Well done for moving up to level 2. I enjoyed it when I switched up a well, its so different than level 1 and as you said, it does give you a real boost. I know I generally feel better after doing it than I did before I got started.

You should be ok after doing it. IIRC, I had some soreness in my shoulders, but it was nothing compared to the funny-walk variety of soreness I had when I first started level 1.

Another bad day here, mainly due to school/ds1 related stress.

Woke to really bad stomach pains, a pounding headache and upset stomach and was sure I would have to miss another day. BUT took a double dose of zantac, ate some plain porridge made with water, rested up in the morning and managed to squeeze a level 2 in while dd was napping.

I found it really tough today though and wasn't sure I was going to get through it all - which was really disheartening after working my way up to doing Natalie for everything but the plank jacks - but in the end I actually did circuit 1 twice, as well as finishing the rest of the circuits, because the school SENCO rang just after I'd finished circuit 1, so I had to start over!

Felt ridiculously weak though and had to resort to a few less reps of most things than usual and using lower weights for the chair-squats/v-raises.

Still, have felt much better since getting through it and am pleased I haven't had to miss another day. Still planning on sticking with it until Friday, then going for level 3 on Saturday.

Would say I'm hoping for a better day tomorrow, but ds1 has a paediatrician's appointment which is promising to be a bit of a battle, so the stress is still marching on.

How are you feeling today Mama, better I hope. How did the paed appointment go?

L2 D2 down and feeling pretty good. Shoulders burnt doing all the planks but still got through it ok, even managed a couple of press-ups on both sets of walking push-ups, not a great deal, but more than yesterday!! Must admit, there is NO way I could be doing Level 2 had I never done Level 1! Am getting stronger with the cardio too.

A lot better thanks Overtired, still very tired, but feel like I'm pulling out of it now. Did level 2 this morning, still not back up to doing Natalie, but had a good workout anyway. I can still only do a very poor push-up during the walking push-ups, am ok with girly knee push-ups as in level 1, but find them really hard once I've got straight legs and am up on my toes.

My pet hate for level two is the oblique twist jumps, for some reason I just find them really hard.

Paed appointment went well thanks. He listened to everything I had to say, disagreed that ds1's weight was a problem at first, but then backed down when I pointed out the only other time he's been on such a low centile was after he was seriously ill when he was four and a half. He finally took ds's digestive symptoms seriously and did an examination, during which it surprised both the Paed and myself that ds's abdomen was very tender and in some places actually painful. He's ordered a raft of stool sample tests, checking for possible pathogens and enzyme levels, so hopefully something will show up and we might get some anwers.

Sounds like a very productive day for you Mama, glad the appointment went well and things are looking up.

I have to agree with the twist jumps, tend to give myself 2 black eyes, and I struggle with the double jump rope, for some reason I managed about 2 and I then went back to the Level 1 version. We will get there!