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?

Uuurgh that's D2L1 complete. It was all kinds of evil that definitely weren't happening yesterday! Feels good to have done it. Even if I did have my 6 yo DS next to me joining in telling me how "easy" it was!

Overtiredmum that's great that the shorts are fitting. It's a good feeling. Can you see a difference in your body when you stand in the mirror?

I wonder though, does anyone know what the reccomendation for maintenance is once you've reached the 30 days? Would it be to continue at L3 every day or can you do perhaps 4 or 5 days instead? (I'm saying this having deliberately NOT watched L3 yet!!!)

I have owned this dvd for a while now, have started it many times but not really committed myself to it. I really want to give it a go as I want to get fitter.

Has anyone lost lots of weight/made a huge difference to their body shape?

moosemama - 2 and a half stone wow! That's amazing! Well done. How long have you been doing it?

I am definitely starting to see a change in my body shape. My baby belly is significantly reduced, I am getting definition to the tops of my arms and shoulders. It has really only just started to change, but I think that is normal.

I don't manage to do it every day. I generally try and do it Monday to Thursday, the if I can squeeze one in at the weekend, then I do, so generally only 4 times a week, sometimes 5. Its just impossible for me to do it daily, but I am happy with the results I am starting to see, and that has spurred me to continue.

I was a 14/16 before, and am now a comfortable 14. I am not exactly dieting, although trying to watch what I eat, but I just love my food too much. I have promised that I will not weigh myself until I have reached the end of L3, but if I haven't lost any, I won't be disappointed, just to know that I can wear everything in my wardrobe would be great for me.

My stamina/endurance is much better, although I still struggle with some of it. I have never in my life been able to do a press-up and I can now do a standing/walking push-up at Natalie level, which I am thrilled about.

I am aiming to start Level 3 from next Monday. I would be very surprised if anyone felt confident to move from Level 2 to Level 3 after 10 days to be honest, I'm sure Mama will back me up on that. Once I am happy with Level 3, then I will probably try to continue 2 or 3 times a week, varying the levels, depending on how I felt.

I am so pleased I started this Had read about it loads over the last year or so but never thought it would be within my capabilities.

Well done Overtired! Such a good feeling when you start noticing how much your body has changed.

Turkey, a lot of people move on to other Jillian Michaels DVDs when they finish, but others do use the shred for maintenance. I know of a few people that tend to mix up the levels and do it 3-4 times a week for maintenance purposes.

KittWalker, I only started the shred month or so ago and the bulk of my weightloss was prior to that. I think I might have lost just under half a stone since I started shredding, but in the early days of doing it, I gained, then plateaud (sp?), then plateaud a bit more. From what I've read its a fairly common pattern. BUT the change to my body shape has been massive and I look completely different now than when I started. I'm also totally hooked and love doing the workouts.

Like Overtired, I was into level 2 before I started to notice how much more defined my muscle was, but I was totally unfit when I started, having been ill and pretty much totally inactive from November last year until May this year.

I was nudging 18 when I started dieting. Well .. actually, I was really an 18 squishing myself into 16s. I am now a comfortable 14 and my 14 jeans are all loose on the waist.

I am going to buy either Banish Fat Boost Metabolism or No More Trouble Zones (both Jillian DVD workouts you can preview on Youtube) when I have finished and I'm going back to level 1 to work my way through the levels doing all Natalie, if possible. After that I think I will mix up the new DVDs with the shred levels 3-4 times a week.

Hello! I've done my 1st shred just now :) didn't find it too bad tbh but wonder how I'll feel t

Oops sorry, I phone posted too soon.

That was meant to say tomorrow...

I'm lucky really, only want to get back comfortably into my size 10 jeans, but want to maintain my size once I do rather than creeping up to a 12 like I am now. I can't afford to buy new clothes!!

Well done olibeansmummy!

I think it depends on your starting level of fitness. I couldn't walk properly for a couple of days when I first started - and stairs (up or down) were agony - but if you're already reasonably fit, you should be ok.

Am very of your size 10. I haven't been that small for 20 years. I would be ecstatic if I ever managed to fit in a 12 again.

Well you ladies are an inspiration and I am going to start shredding tomorrow!

Good on you Kitty.

Thanks moosemama :) tbh I'm not fit at all, have never done sports etc, so I think I'll feel it tomorrow lol hope not though as I have a toddler to run around after and 3 kids with behavioural problems to run around after at work :o

Might have to start doing it in the morning though as I have tons of energy now and trying to relax! I feel like I could do it all over again but doubt I could!

Oh and go kitty!!

Absolutely, go Kitty!

I shred in the morning once I get home from the school run. DD encourages me with "chop, chop mummy!" and then I get a big cuddle once I'm finished and an enhausted sweaty heap on the floor

Mama will tell you, I was getting quite disheartened after finishing Level 1 and I hadn't noticed any physical difference, apart from the increase in energy levels, but I am so pleased I took her advice and stuck with it, as the results speak for themselves and motivate you even more.

Mama has been my driving force, thank you x

I thought I would hate working out in the morning, as I'm a night owl really, but now I wish I could, because I always feel so much better after I've done it. Unfortunately, dh does his shred before work, there's not enough space for us to do it at the same time and not enough time to do it separately.

I tend to do it at about 1.45-2.00 pm at the moment, when dd goes down for a nap. Then its a bit of a rush to get it done, shower and get to the school to pick up the boys. I'm also always an interesting shade of lobster red for the afternoon school-run these days - lord knows what people think I've been up to!

Overtired, you have kept me going to. I'm not sure I'd have stuck with it if I'd been doing it on my own.

Just been looking at Jillian's other workout dvds on youtube with dh. I reckon I'm going to buy Banish Fat Boost Metabolism first, as its supposed to help you drop lbs more quickly and I still have a stone and a half left to go. If I'm still alive after that I'll go for No More Trouble Zones to deal with all my left over wobbly bits. Am a bit worried about it, as its an hour long, as opposed to the short 20 minute burst of the shred, but I'm not intending to do it every day. I thought perhaps I'd do it at the weekends and maybe once in the week if I have time and throw in a couple of shred levels during the week to keep me going.

Hello Shred experts.
I was wondering if I could join in.
My copy of 30DS arrived yesterday. I had a go at it, although I don't think I can really call it level1 day1! I think was getting a lot of the moves wrong, and some of the cardio bits were quite painful without a good sports bra. (I don't mind hard work pain, but bouncing 34fs is totally avoidable with a trip to a good sports shop.)
So, after my PT session at the gym I am going to watch the dvd again, and just practice getting the moves right rather than doing the routine. DH says he will help me after work if I am still struggling. Hopefully I'll be able to get L1D1 done by the end of the day...
If you have any advice about getting the moves right please share!
A little bit about me - I have 2stone left to lose. I've lost 9lbs in the last 2 1/2 weeks through good old fashioned calorie counting and going to the gym/ swimming. I'm size 14 and flabby all over at the moment having gained 2stone whilst giving up smoking. Even when I'm thinner my limbs hold fat, so I'm looking to tone up and lose inches as much as losing lbs.
I hope you all have good days!

Oh, I forgot to ask, I don't have any weights, but I was planning on using 1L bottles of water. Will this be ok? I tried cans yesterday, but it felt a bit light. Or will I get so knackered when doing it properly that even the cans will feel like death?

Right then Olibeansmum and MeanMrsMustard as the newbies we could do this together with help from the experts! They are such an inspiration and prove that it does work! L1D1 for me today. I will report back later

I have about 2 stone to loose 2 and a half if I can do it, all post baby weight. I have 3 children and have never quite got back to my pre pregnancy weight between the children so over the last 8 years it's crept up. As we have now finished having babies I need to sort this out once and for all. As a result of weight gain I have also lost a lot of confidence and self esteem.

I am a member of Slimming World too but haven't really had a great start (I love my food). I think I am going to try a lower carb diet (red days on SW) and together with shred I am hoping for results.

We are off to Oz for 3 weeks over Xmas and I would really like to be a bit lighter and more toned.

MeanMrsMustard I bought my hand weights for about £5 in TK Maxx the other place to look is Argos.

< waves at kitty walker> yes let's get to it :)

I'm pleased to report I feel fine today except for a slight twinge in my stomach muscles when I move funny. A bit disappointed tbh as you feel it's working more when it hurts lol!

Am about to do day 2 but have blown the diet eating chocolate after an extremely stressful day at school ( I support 3, yes 3, autistic kids!)

Hi and welcome MeanMrsMustard. I had a similar problem when I started - (34hh at the time). Bought myself a lovely shock absorber brand new off ebay for £15.99 There are quite a few 34fs on there and so much cheaper than somewhere like Bravissimo.

I have this one and its fantastic.

Water bottles or cans will be fine to begin with, I also know someone who used weighed rice in bottles to get the right weights. You will need proper dumbells for a couple of the moves on level 3 though.

I spent the first few sessions concentrating on getting the moves right and dh and I spent a session correcting each other's form as well, as it makes it so much more effective if you're doing it right and is far less stress on your knees etc. My best bit of advice is that you need to really concentrate on keeping your knees behind your toes and to do that, you really need to stick your bum right out!

Sounds like yourself, Kitty and I have a similar amount of weight to lose. I'm using My Fitness Pal to record my calories and exercise. I found it invaluable in helping me to rethink portion sizes and make good healthy calorie choices, rather than just counting the calories within bad choices, iyswim.

I am by no means a shred expert - but there is another really long thread on MN for true shredheads that are lean mean shredding machines, if you need any more technical advice.

Olibeansmummy, its good that you aren't suffering too badly today I'm sure - it means you are probably already much fitter than you thought. Kudos to you for doing such a tough job. I have one autistic ds and he's hard enough work on his own some days - not sure I could cope with three. I think I would end up reaching for the chocolate as well.

Oh, almost forgot, Day 8 - Level 3 done!

Sounds like all going well for everyone!

L2 D6 done, struggled abit today as have had a really bad head, but I got through it x

Well done Overtired - not least of all for managing all those planks with a bad head!

Yeah it's bloody hard work moosemama! School habve admitted I shouldn't be working with all 3 but it all comes down to funding of course ( my hours are made up of all 3's allocated funding, but in reality they get me all the time and I get 300% of the work!). Today has been especially difficult ad they've taken turns having tantrums and generally whinging lol.

I've got a calorie counting app on my phone too, I find it really helps as I think twice about eating something when I have to record it fir prosperity lol

Sounds like you are a victim of the wonderful world of SEN funding.

We're just starting out on the statementing route for ds1 and if we don't get above the school SEN budget funded hours for 1:1, I can see a similar situation occurring for him. Fortunately he doesn't tantrum or meltdown at school very often - he saves that for home!

I take my hat of to you olibeansmummy People like you make such a huge difference to children like my ds1 day in day out and yet are never appreciated enough for it.

I never thought I would get on with calorie counting and at the grand old age of 41 I had never tried it before, but its so much easier with all this computer wizardry to add it all up for you. Its pretty much second nature to me now and I find myself weighing and recording things without realising I'm doing it. I'm also getting to be a dab hand at grabbing something, weighing it and realising its bang on the right weight, so I have obviously learned a lot about portion control since June! Was a bit at how bad some of my favourite foods were at first though - and I thought they were fairly healthy.