Any shred newbies?

[buggyRunner]

I started on Christmas day (stocking filler from dp I had been begging for). I'm going to combine it with running and hope it will replace the gym (as post dd2 I have not the time to go as she bf all the time!)

So I've done 2 days im on level 2 and find it tough but good

I've just done Day 1, Level 1 and bloody hell, my arms ache! i did have a brief break (not my fault, delivery at the door) but managed to complete my first time! I aim to lose 14lb by end of March, so doing this 5 days a week for 4 weeks should help me along the way! After I've done this, it should give me the confidence to join the gym - i'm so unfit that the thought of going to the gym fills me with dread!

What dumbells did you use? I don't have any so I used 500g jars of pasta sauce, hope they weren't too light for the level!

But anyway, well done to everyone who is sticking to it, I hope I'm still here in 4 weeks time! :)

I usually use tins of Heinz soup, but today bought some weights as they were on offer in Asda. They were £10 for 3 different weights and a little stand to put them on.

Ive only done 2 days so far, but have been moving TVs around today and done a fair bit of walking so not going to do it today. Was planning a day off anyway.

I can feel my arms and legs have done some exercise which is good for me as Ive never really felt it before, even after classes.

Have we decided what happens after the 30 days yet?

I did my second day of level 2 this morning (day 8 of 30DS). I survived it, but still feel a bit shakey. I think it will be a while before I can move up to level 3.

Day 15 done (had yesterday off) and I fancied a change so did level 2 and found it harder

putyourhaton - no tips whatsoever on the swimming front, but I am going to give it my best shot, I am never going to swim the channel, just want to be able to swim with my, nearly, teenagers. Only my dh knows about the lessons, not my children or friends. I have no coordination whatsoever, so I am finding it difficult to kick from the hip, keep my legs straight, floppy ankles, face in the water, breathe in and blow out through the mouth slowly for a count of three, then chin on the water and breathe in again. All while trying to stay afloat with, yes, a woggle. OMG I hope I end up being able to swim.

On the note of shredding, day 4, level 1, this morning. I am still finding the first set of cardio difficult, but the rest not too bad. Not aching as much today. I may try to do a bit of running after the 30 days, or maybe before the end of the 30 days.

Can I join? I'm on day 4 today - did level 1. Went for a swim with DS afterwards. Even after only 4 days on the shred, swimming was so much easier than last week. I feel much stronger. Not using weights for all the exercises yet. Will do that after day 5.

Also interested in what happens after day 30? Maybe one of her other DVDs. Its got to be half an hour or less though. I'm going back to work from mat leave in a week and then I'll have to fit it round working AND the baby. Still, much easier and cheaper than a gym.

She has another DVD coming out in February, it looks intense

Day 12 and day 5 of level 2 done. Still tough going! Also interested in what next although if I keep missing days at this rate I'll still be doing it at Easter!

Doing six days then a day off was a great idea. Muscles felt much stronger and I did eight proper press ups! Not very low but even so, never been able to do that before.

I think Jillian said that she always recommended a day off in every seven days training so it shouldn't really be 30 consecutive days so am going to follow that and have rest day once a week.

Anyone else doing that?

napdamnyou: that's exactly what I'm planning to do as from Monday. Mon-Sat and day of rest on Sunday. So far I've managed Erin O'Brien's DVDs (strong/fit/ageless body etc) 3-4 times a week, but I have a family party coming up in 5 weeks, by which time DS will be 6 months old, and I'd like to be more yummy than slummy, so shred it is. I may have missed this in the thread already, but is there a recommended eating plan to go with the exercise or is it simply common sense?

well done, everyone is doing brilliantly.

Catsareevil thanks for the link, dh looked a bit pale when I showed him it. Am thinking about 6 week 6 pack next....I need to get something ordered so i don't lose momentum. I have quite a good nell mcandrew dvd as a back up but it takes bloody ages.

assumpta, it sounds like you are doing really well, good for you. You have inspired me to get dh to give me a few more lessons. What a fab surprise for the dc when you pull it off.

Level 1, day 2 - tick - the first bit of cardio I thought, oh no! It's harder than yesterday! Then I got a second wind, so OK. Legs like jelly now, however...

napdamnyou: she has a website

sorry, that was in reply to rosalux's question, not napdamnyou.

What was her reasoning for taking a day off? I'm slightly reluctant to do that because I'm worried that if I get out of the swing of it I will struggle to re-start, but if there is an actual reason then I would do it.

I'm on day two level one but not consecutive days - just unable to do it every day but I do do core exercises in the evening.

The first one was a killer my leg muscle were extreme and couldnt walk!

I* think its brilliant. I would increase the weights before moving on to next level and make sure you are completing the movements correctly while holding in the tummy (worth asking someone to watch you). I find this impossible at mo as I am concentrating on the movements. Weights wise I'm using cans as I have no strength in my arms. I'll invest in proper weights once I've stuck to this.

Im doing 6 days on 1 day off. Sat is my day off so back to it today. I dont like the idea of 7 days a week as I think it puts too much strain on your body. A lot of other workouts suggest having a day rest inbetween each workout.

Ive only done 2 days so far and can certainly feel it in my arms and legs. Wonder how Im going to feel this time next week. Its definately better then anything other Ive tried. The actual aches in my arms and legs is making me want to do more because its telling me its working.

As for eating, Ive been keeping track of my food on Food Focus. This last week Ive been doing quite well with my calorie intake and have been under my goal line (the amount of calories to consume in order to lose weight) a couple of times and only really went slightly over my normal calories burned (this is the amount of calories needed to maintain weight) yesterday, but I didnt lose any weight at all this week I actually put on half a lb Im hoping its because Ive just started and its taking a bit of time or that Ive been building muscle up a bit.

I did a third day of level 2 this morning. I feel slightly better than I did the last 2 times. I will maybe take a day off either tomorrow or the day after and see if that helps.

day 15 level 2 done. definitely getting better but I suspect I am not doing everything correctly.

Well I've had a day off today as my back is twinging and my left lower abs are really hurting when I exercise I think it may be because I am forgetting/finding it difficult to hold my tummy muscles in while I exercise.

I am hoping my old body will be back to normal tomorrow.

Did first set proper press ups! Not exactly 90 degree but still, amazed. Switched to four pound weights but kept three pounds for side lunge things and did chest flies with BOTH four and three pound dumbbells clutched in each hand so seven pounds. Chest flies are a bit easy, possibly because am used to carting a 22lb boy about. Side lunge things on the other hand, aieeeee.

Diet all over the place, am eating more veg but still having too much bread, admittedly oatmeal healthy small slices.

Does anyone know how many calories breastfeeding a year old takes out of you?

Day 5 level 1 done. I found it harder today for some reason, and I had to get dd to mute her every now and then, especially the "for those of you on day 5,6, or 7, you will be finding this easier", I'm not! Cardio still killing me. I find the abs part a huge relief. I guess I think lying down is a rest. I worry if I stop one day for a rest day that I will make excuses not to do it the next day, plus I am afraid that it will hurt.

putyourhaton I hope I get there. Swimming and cycling were the two main things I insisted my two could do as soon as it was possible, so we started swimming at 3 months for both of them. They swim beautifully, with dd1 on the school team, and winning district levels. All gone a bit by the wayside with secondary school and not enough time.

Hi I'm having a 'day off' as I ran 5 miles thus afternoon as I've a 10k in feb so I need to up my running training. I felt every step! My legs r killing me from shred!

Btw if you want to experience a whole new world of pain go up 1 kg each side on your weights! You will feel the difference. I'm on 3.5kilo ATM and it kills

Just done L1D3 and apart from my arms I dont really feel anything. Does that mean Im getting used to it or that I didnt do it as hard as I should have done? I had yesterday off so Im thinking I wasnt doing it right Will do better tomorrow.

I think my arms only feel like Ive done something because Ive gone from Tins of soup to 1KG weights.

Well done on the 5 mile run buggy I plan to start running in Summer when the weather gets nicer and Im less flabby after shredding