2012 NEW Jillian Michaels thread - Shred, Ripped, Killer, 6W6P, NMTZ, BFBM and other forms of JM torture!

[threestepsforward]

Here it is...hope it is recognisable to all from the old thread

Happy Jillian'ing all !!

yay!

Thanks for starting the new thread threesteps !
After a Jillian-free weekend but one full of party food, Cava & cake , back to it today. Did NMTZ, planning on a Ripped tomorrow and Killer Buns on Weds. Hope everyone's having a good day x

No problem Wasn't sure whether I should!

Of course I should have said ... recognisable to all from the old thread AND welcome and come and join us to anyone new ... (sorry!)

day 5 of level 2 done. I am going to do tomorrow, then have a rest day and then move to level 3. After I have done all 4 levels, I am going to do 1 day of each level again to bring me up to 30 days. How is everyone at push ups? I suck majorly and always have to do a modified version. I can do about 6 or 7 proper form push ups before collapsing. Is there a knack to doing them?

Thanks three steps! Day 3 of L1 RI30. Worked harder in CV stuff. Have sore throat so not on top form but twas OK....
Will do L1 again tomorrow and then try a BFBM on Weds I think

Thanks Threesteps!

CHST- I think with press-ups you just need to keep plugging away. One way of helping is to do them against a wall, then on a chairetc- basically gradually lowering the angle so it gets harder each time.6/7 full ones isn't that bad tbh- lots of ladies can't do them at all. it is just hard work unfortunately- the more you do of them the better you get. I do think some of the Pilates and yoga I have done helped a bit- lots of choyalymba (or something like that) and tricep push ups.

5 mile run yesterday and L2 6W6P today. Another run tomorrow and rest day on Wednesday.

Hi everyone. I've been lurking on the Shred threads for a few weeks, having taken up 30ds a few weeks ago, although not every day as have had a lovely bout of some nursery bug DD has shared with me. Back to it this week though. I am on level 2, and also doing couch to 5km a few times a week.

One question, can anyone explain the 'skater' move in L2 I am really uncoordinated and just don't seem to be doing it correctly.

Oh, sorry, two questions- is the double skip higher, faster or something else I'm missing?

Thanks!

Hi Cocoachannel! Well done on getting stuck into the Shred and couch to 5km, hope you're on the mend from your lurgy.

Hmm, the skaters - it's hard to explain! Have you watched it rather than doing it a few times? That might help. I also just found this on the web, which might explain it better...

Jump about 3 feet to the right, landing on your right leg. Your left leg should lift and come near your right ankle; however, it should not touch the ground. Jump again, this time to the left and landing on the left foot. As before, bring your right leg near to your left ankle, but do not allow it to touch the floor. Swing your arms to help maintain balance and increase the length of your jumps.

With the double jump rope, you should aim to jump as high as you can, and circle the arms twice I think (I never manage the arm bit!). She does this in the Ripped DVD and says she wants you to go high enough to give it some 'hang time'!!

Hope that helps!

Decided to have my rest day tomorrow so D6 of Ripped 4 done! One more day to go

p.s. hmm that description may not be exactly like the JM skaters after reading it back, but it seems pretty close...

Hi, am a total newbie to this thread but have only just discovered you.

Have Davina-ed for a few years but have only just discovered JM a couple of months ago. Working my way through it although by no means everyday. Am on day 2 of level 3 and ooooh it's sore. My lower back does Not Like the pikes which makes me think I'm doing it wrong.

Please someone tell me that EVENTUALLY I'll be able to do the sit ups like Natalie can? (Oh and don't even get me started on the travelling press ups....)

Am intrigued by the Ripped DVD - is that what one progresses to once one is Shredded?

welcome Arcadie! I always start with the modified version and work my way up...have you tried practising the exercises individually outside of your workout? You can then have a good look at the technique used. Some things I also simply cannot do...pushups (cough) so always have to modify those part way through and the pike crunches I am the same, though I think childbearing and birth has damaged my back :(
As for the ripped dvd, it has 4 levels instead of three and I find it a step up from the shred. I am starting level 3 after my rest day tomorrow.

Hi cocoachanel! I loathe the double jump rope...I just jump higher but keep the arms modified...my arms won't co operate!

Things like pike sit-ups are quite a strain on your lower back, so please go carefully! The main thing to do is to consciously firm up all your abs as you do them, as it is your abs that should support the lower back. If you are getting twinges then it may be better to do a modified version (voice of bitter experience...)

My back is playing up a bit at the moment. I have been working quite hard with double sessions and upping the weights, and it may be takings its toll. Did L2 6W6P last night which is also quite hard on the back. Was planning a run this evening before a rest day, but may see how I feel.

I think I have fairly strong abs but I find pike crunches impossible and just don't do them because I think I would do myself damage. In BFBM she shows a modified version where you keep one leg down on the floor (knee bent) and just raise the other, which I do.

I can't do proper press-ups either (well only about 5 at most) and have to do the modified version on my knees. If it makes any of you feel better, my personal-trainer-friend says not many women can do lots of proper press-ups as we tend not to have the shoulder/chest strength for it.

Toying with the idea of NMTZ later today, to "complement" my BFBM effort yesterday!

Hi all, so glad that there's a new thread, as the old one was taking about 5 mins to open.

Arcadie, I think Notyummy's advice re the lower back stuff is good. I asked my physio about it, as I found the pikes and particularly the "hollowman" from Ripped very worrying, and she said that it was all about making sure that your core was strong (zipping up your pelvic floor) before you undertook these kinds of moves. She also said to moderate the legs if the pressure is just too great.

CHST, I can't do proper press-ups either; I try, but only get down a little way. It tires me and tests me, however, even doing that. I am wondering whether to trade down to the modified version though, in the hope of building up the form in my arms before starting the hard version again.

Finished Ripped today - yay! What next...?

I too can't do full pike crunches. I have a pronounced curve in my lower back which means i can't get my back fully on the floor. So moves like these (ditto windshield wipers and scissor kicks on the floor) are impossible without using my lower back. I too do one leg pike crunches, I put my hands under my bum for scissors and I do normal reverse curls for windshield wipers.
I cannot do more than two press ups. I modify too but try to get my knees way back.
Will be doing something later when on line shopping has arrived!

Morning! Great to see so much Jillian action going on, and it's such a good place to come for advice as well . I'm OK with the pike crunches but I always do modified press ups. I can do only a few "proper ones" but I don't get down very far so it feels more like cheating than the modified version! The moves I struggle with are anything involving a bridge type position, I just can't get my hips up very high. But I just "give it all I got" so to speak and hope for the best. Did L1 Ripped this morning - still feels like a good workout even after doing all the others. Used 3kg for most moves and 5kg for the second strength circuit. Think I might add weights for some of the cardio moves next time round.

Off out for a Thai meal for DS's birthday tonight. Hope you all have a good day xx

Hi everyone. I can do about 5 proper press ups but then have to go on the knees. Pike crunches are okay. L2 of Ripped again. The middle circuit with the awful crow things (which I find the harder ones easier for some reason!) I hate. I find the crunches where you pull up the leg difficult. But I really like the last circuit.
knotty wow on 5kg, thats my aim, I really enjoy that circuit too. Hope everyone has a good day.

So just finished BFBM.... Still hate it... I love it when it is over for another week....circuit 6--jump squats, skiing, scissor kicks, skaters, standing mountain climbers... It's heart attck inducing!!!
Have a lovely Thai meal knotty!
Off for a shower and then some naughty but nice lunch which may well include some blue cheese!!

Ps great to see we are almost all alike in our push up inabilities!

Thank you so much for the welcome and the helpful answers to my pike issues. I think I'll avoid them full version for a while as it really does feel like it's my back taking the strain even with my abs (flaccid puny things) engaged.

Next question (and bear in mind that I am a total novice at this whole exercise thing so sorry if this seems BLINDINGLY obvious) I ache today. A lot. Do I exercise through the ache or do I take a day off? I know I'll feel initially better afterwards but am I just setting myself up for injury or is the whole point to tough it out through the achey body so that you build up the strength?

Oh and I've just spotted the weights issue. Blimey. Really people do these exercises with 5kg weights in each hand? REALLY?

I have 1.5kg which for some of the curls seems a bit weak and easy but when it comes to the rowing stuff (Shred L2) it's all I can do to finish the circuit.

Hi Arcadie most people seem to agree you should have at least 1-2 rest days per week but apart from that (unless the aching feels like something is actually injured / not right IYSWIM) I'd say keep going. Oh and I started with 1kgs and am now on 2kgs nearly a year later so not everyone is using crazy weights!

After my smugness yesterday re not finding BFBM too bad, have just done NMTZ all the way through and it was HORRENDOUS. First time JM has actually reduced me to tears .

Hello everyone. I woke up this morning early(!!) and lay in bed thinking about how excited I was to be getting up to do my Level 4 Ripped. How sad is that?

I still have trouble with push ups, especially the ones with the renegade row in. I can't balance on the weights so have to put them down and it all gets confusing. This morning I just did normal push ups instead - they're hard enough.

Like others, I also have lower back problems which mean I can't do a sit up, and when I do pike crunches my legs do most of the work. It's not a question of strength because I find the other ab work fairly easy.

Am thinking of getting NMTZ to add to my collection.

Wow, so busy on here, how good are we??

Worldgonecrazy I'd definitely go for NMTZ, it's a really good DVD. I'm looking forward to getting through ripped so I can do some Killer and go back to NMTZ and BFBM

I'm another who can barely do a normal push up. I'm almost always on my knees for them. Same problems with lower back and pike type exercises. I tend to put one leg down for them too.

Hi Arcadie I agree with Jacksterbear and would definitely aim to have a day off a week, but if it's general aching (rather than injury), try and push through it if you can bear it! When I started Shred, I was walking like John Wayne for a good few days

Happy birthday to your DS Knotty... have a great meal out!

Ooo, meant to add: 9pm on BBC2 tonight - Horizon: The Truth About Exercise. Includes a study suggesting many could benefit from 3 mins high-intensity exercise a week! (tabata notyummy? )

Might be worth a watch or recording