2013 NEW YEAR JILLIAN MICHAELS FANS!

[threestepsforward]

New thread for the Julian Monkeys!!

Here's to a new year Shedded and Shredded, Ripped, with Killer Buns and Thighs, a 6 Pack, a Revolutionised Body and No More Trouble Zones

Any practitioners of Insanity, Turbofire and all other such insane DVDs come and join us too if you like

Evening all, back to Killer L2 tonight and it was soo hard. Maybe I was a bit dehydrated as v busy at work today but there came a point where I had to lie on the mat panting instead of thrusting my bum skywards.

Small observation re Killer L2 - Natalie seems quite unimpressed to be doing the beginner versions, she looks like a sulky teenager at some points!

Peggy - good luck in your race! I used to run but 10k was my limit so I am v impressed by the 10 miler / half marathons!

threesteps - hope back continues to cope - you are like my DH though, he is in denial about how bad his back is and continues to insist he is getting better (3 months of taking painkillers every day .... hmmmm). See a physio or chiro - you know it is sensible!

MissT Oh I want a dance studio too, when I did aerobics / step etc I used to like being at the front so I could check my form in the mirror - also I think it can help you balance. Where I exercise I can see my top half reflected in the glass on a picture & it does help me. Sometimes I even go to do the star jumps etc in the kitchen in front of the oven to inspire myself! OK that sounds bit mad.

Ponks thanks for the pep talk, I think you may be right and there is a leetle bit of denial going on! But...I've done 2 days of normal stuff now without pain killers (only had to take them once or twice in total) and it really does seem fine.

I think because I've had the same thing on and off for years I imagine it will eventually sort itself out. I'm not going to be silly though - if it goes again I'm booking straight in for an appointment.

Keep going with Killer 2, I think it's the hardest of the 3 levels, especially the final cardio bit in circuit 3, ooof!!

Have a good day everyone :)

Ooh yes, the back. A subject close to my heart at the moment! I would also advocate getting it seen to. I have struggled on since last August with varying degrees of pain and loss of mobility. I saw a physio who eased the worst of it and finally succumbed and saw the GP in Dec. If I am honest, i think I have probably made it worse by soldiering on and determinedly exercising until v recently. The physio who saw me on Monday was so alarmed that she rang the spinal consultant and told him that he had to see my earlier so I now have an apt in 2 weeks. It is likely I will need an op. Don't delay!

notyummy Sounds painful.

threesteps No painkiller is good, isn't it?

Ponks Natalie is really stroppy doing the beginner version

Whenever I do crab-move I always think of MissTFied "I was not made to be a crab." Couldn't agree more, although in the past few months I got much better.

Good luck Peggy!

I am just plodding on with Body Revolution. Nothing to report.

"Bobbing" sounds great. Wish I had more time. And strength. I still finish every exercise session hurting everywhere (in a good way).

Well done with plodding on Gingercat! I can't do those crab kicks fast at all, they seem to kill Nathalie when she makes her double-time them

Notyummy, glad to hear they're pushing your appointment forward. You poor thing though, how is it feeling at the moment?

I have a question (apologies if it seems a bit tactless). I know you've said you've had lower back problems going back a few years (like me). Do you think what you are suffering now is the same root of the problem? Or a different cause maybe?

One of the 2 chiropractors I saw years back did an amazing job (and focused on my neck area bizarrely) and I had no more problems for ages. I will book the appointment and hope they can repeat the miracle. I can't do it next week as I'm too busy, but will do in the week running up to Easter.

Back feels fine today, which is helpful re the denial! But you and Ponks have actually made me see sense!

Going to do pilates stretches only today, trying to be sensible!

Have a good day everyone :)

Just called and booked an appointment for the 28th...and I'll definitely go.

Thanks guys :)

threesteps- not tactless to ask at all! Basically I hurt it 4/5 years ago lifting squirmy toddler out of the bath and twisting at same time. It did seen to go back to normal after a while but that was def the start. My job also involves a lot of sitting- driving, meetings, computer etc. That is really bad for lower back discs and has taken its toll. I think the original prolapsed disc had healed but a combination of poor posture and probably some exercises that didn't help restarted it. I'm now at the stage where I can't sit for more than 5 minutes and have a lot of both numbness and pain in my right leg.

Ponks: "Where I exercise I can see my top half reflected in the glass on a picture & it does help me. Sometimes I even go to do the star jumps etc in the kitchen in front of the oven to inspire myself! OK that sounds bit mad." No, I do the same! Can see my top half in the glass of a picture and, for floor work, have a handy glass-fronted cabinet! Slightly less daunting than seeing one's full-on reflection in a mirror, nice and shadowy!

3steps well done for making the appointment. So for you and notyummy with your backs.

L2 6W6P done today, really enjoyed it. Thanks for the replies re goals everyone, still thinking it over and will formulate a Plan...

Happy exercising all.

Oh lordie notyummy, the more you say the worse it sounds :( The unable to sit comfortably must be hellish. (I had that recently for 1 evening and it was not fun). Have they given you some good painkillers?

I don't drive, but I do spend most of the day working at my PC (on the sofa), so I know for sure my posture at work is poor. Will be honest with the chiro and do what he recommends re exercise and posture.

I don't know if the pilates stretches I do would help you, but I've found them really beneficial.

Take care of yourself x

Jackster well done with the 6W6P session! I'm a bit goal-less and aim-less at the mo so know exactly what you mean...

(p.s. that last stretch in the pilates DVD where you sit with your legs apart and bend forward - do you love it? That is my absolute favourite - I can feel myself stretching a little further each time!)

Have a good evening all :)

Thanks for the good luck wishes everyone! I haven't really done any formal training other than my usual runs so I don't expect I will get a very good time - am hoping for 1hr 10ish I think? (Not a fast runner!) I'm confident I'll be able to plod my way round the whole thing, though!

I did S&S 2 and KB&T 3 this morning. Ouch, what a combo - I had to do one-legged mountain climbers twice, and frog planks into squats in S&S as well as frog hops in KB&T...

Ponks, I definitely think KB 2 is harder than level 3. L3 has a killer first circuit but then it gets easier, and the last circuit isn't bad at all - whereas L2 seems to have nasty moves sprinkled throughout and then a horrible last circuit! So console yourself that you are probably doing the toughest bit!

Thank you for your input re. Bob weights, MissT and notyummy. I do try and use mainly 4kg for Jillian although have to go lower for some moves. I only have 1kg, 1.5kg, 3kg and 4kg at the moment, so I reckon I will try and use a mixture of 1.5 and 3. (Who am I trying to kid, it will probably be mostly 1.5!)

Excited to hear about your Plan Jackster!

notyummy, I am glad to hear your appointment has been moved forward - hopefully you can get to the bottom of things very soon. Must be tough knowing that an operation is probably looming, though. threesteps, very happy to hear you have that appointment, back pain isn't something to mess with! Look after yourselves both of you x

Evening all, I've not posted much lately as I've not been doing much...

Jackster, threesteps I very much get that feeling of feeling a bit goal less - I felt really motivated doing shred but since then I don't feel like doing one workout x 10. I've got too many dvds now to distract me!

I've made a sort of plan for the next two weeks to try and keep me on track. I'm going to try and combine killer with 6w6p as I'm midway though them both and I'd like to 'officially' finish them. So I did L1 6w6p and killer L2 tonight but tomorrow I'm going to try to take a leaf out of MissT's book and workout in the morning. It will hopefully set me up for the day :)

I've joined the slightly injured ranks - after Killer L2 last night my knees felt a bit stiff, so today I just did a quick Shred and could definitely feel something not right in my knees when doing lunges. Bah.
[Incidentally did anyone hear Jeremy Hardy on radio 4 tonight doing a routine about how when you are middle aged your knees suddenly go for no apparent reason? ]

I'm going to give my knees a chance to recover - have a long weekend away with DH so at least I won't be feeling guilty about abandoning Jillian!

Well done on the double-session PeggyO! The doublers on here at the moment are very inspiring :) Doubling Killer with anything is a serious accomplishment!

Good luck with your early morning exercising fading. I just can't function to exercise before the afternoon. A mix-up of 6W6P and Killer sounds like a very good project!

Ponks, oh dear re the knees :( Your weekend away comes at the right time I reckon, enjoy and have fun and hopefully the few days off will do the trick :)

All good here. Stretches yesterday and L3 Shred and stretches today. So far so good. Also moved a ton of furniture around which was stupid but I bent and lifted in the correct way (thanks Gareth from the Office ) so I'm hoping all will be fine.

Might do something over the weekend but will see how I feel tomorrow.

Have a great weekend everyone, yay it's the weekend

Evening all,

Hi fadingblonde. Killer and 6W6P sounds like a good doubler, and will def wake you up of a morning!

Sorry to hear about your knees Ponks, but at least you can rest them this weekend, you lucky thing.

Threesteps, will you stop moving furniture! DP made me help him move a very heavy thing up the stairs today. We had to stop two stairs up to have an argument as I was worried I'd do my back in. I so want to avoid the injury bench, also I'd just worked out and was a bit weak with hunger - my porridge was cooling and waiting for me. I get rather grumpy when hungry.

I Bobbed again this morning. It was so good. I thought my muscles would be too sore but I was pleased to find I managed better than the first time.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Hello everyone,

I had my 10k this morning, and managed it in 1 hour 2 minutes - 8 minutes faster than I had predicted! It was SO wet though, it started to rain heavily as we reached the start line and just kept on going. By the time I got home I was soaked to the skin and so cold I couldn't feel my hands!

fadingblonde, much respect for combining 6W6P with Killer! I do love them both but find them challenging individually, let along together! I am a huge advocate for working out first thing, it seems like less effort somehow as I just get straight out of bed and do it and then I have a lovely, satisfied glow for the rest of the day.

Hope you're had a lovely weekend away Ponks, and that your knees feel better.

threesteps, glad to hear your back allowed you to do some more Shredding - I echo MissT though, STOP lugging heavy stuff around!

MissT, I have my first date with Bob bright and early tomorrow, I can't wait!

Well done on the 10k Peggy- so wish that was me! Good luck with Bob. It's deceptive. To begin with you think 'this isn't too bad. It's not that fast etcetc ' And it keeps on going. And going. And he finds fiendish new ways to torture you....

4 mile walk in the rain followed by my Callenthetics. So bored.

Evening all!

Well done Peggy, I'm seriously impressed. Looking forward to hearing how you get on with Bob.

I've managed to finish my 'plan' for this week, just hope I can keep to it next week. So far I've found that combining 6w6p and killer is working quite well as I don't seem to be duplicating many moves. This is my second attempt at 6w6p (I gave up on it in december) and this time round it seems to have clicked somehow. I can almost keep up with the second circuit now :)

PeggyO Congratulations! Wish I could do it...

Have just done Workout 7 of Body Revolution, and it nearly killed me. I may have to do it for 3 weeks instead of 2. It is just all planks and push-ups, and no matter how much I do these, I still find them really hard. Funnily enough it is my arms that hurt, not my abs.

Ooh gingercat well done on workout 7. It sounds like Bob! That man loves his planks and push ups!

Congrats PeggyO on your time. I'm dying to know how you found Bob this morning. I have been doing him every day now for the past 4 days. It's just like notyummy says. You think it's not bad at first, then with about 20 mins left, just when you're thinking time to wind it down, he steps it up! Bad Bob!

I'm really getting into the music on it now. There's this guitar strumming bit I like at 30 or maybe 40 mins left when you're doing some weighted lifts or whatever they are called.

I have abandoned Jillian's S&S for the moment!

Hope you are all well and are looking after yourselves.

Thank you everyone for your congratulations! I think I'm still on a bit of a post-race high today, I love it!

My Bob session this morning was brilliant, I really enjoyed it! I stuck with 1.5kg weights in the end as I chickened out wanted to ensure I would be able to keep good form all the way through. I suspect I could go heavier next time though (although my arms were properly shaking during the T-stands so I'm a little worried of falling flat on my face!) I've found some 2.5kg weights that I had forgotten about so I might try using those for the bicep curls, deadlifts and things like that and then stick with lighter weights for all those isometric extensions.

I agree with notyummy and MissT, Bob is a sneaky monkey. Especially when he promises that second water break, and doesn't deliver it for aaaaaages! Then there's all that plank nonsense right at the end when your arms already feel like they are about to give out. I really loved the crunches section though.

I'm not sure when to do it again - I have heard trainers (including Jillian!) say that you need to rest muscle groups for 48 hours after training, but then loads of her DVDs tell you to do the same routine for several days in a row I am still keen to try the full S&S so perhaps I'll do that tomorrow, kick off my half marathon training on Wed, and Bob again on Thursday.

fading, I only really got into 6W6P on the second time around too. Somehow it feels quite different to Jillian's other DVDs, I think maybe it's because it's just one long circuit rather than 3/4 shorter ones.

gingercat, well done on workout 7! I suspect we will both have very sore arms tomorrow...

Woohoo on doing Bob peggyo! It does feel good to have completed something like that doesn't it?

He is indeed a sneaky monkey. I like it when he says 'I'm the good guy, remember?'! The more I do it though, the more I know when the torturous stuff is coming up so I prepare myself for it!

Good for you!

Hello everyone :)

PeggyO big congrats on finishing your race faster than predicted, that is fantastic!

I am sending you, MissT, Gingercat and Fading virtual deep heat waves as it sounds like you are all going to need it for the aches tomorrow

Notyummy hope you are doing okay and managing to avoid going round the bend with boredom!

Well no massive fall out from my furniture lugging session (I won't do it again!), just the ongoing stiffness/discomfort. But I took yesterday off just to be safe. Today I did L2 Shred with light (1.5kg) weights, feels okay still.

Until my chiro appointment I think I'm going to stick with Shred and light weights as I know the exercises and I know which ones to substitute to avoid hurting my back.

I'm longing to get properly stuck into a new 'project', but I'm just going to have to be patient and see if the chiro can sort me out.

Hope everyone is doing okay :)

If I ever survive BR I can see a Bob obsession coming on .

Today was workout 8. My arms are going to fall off. I had to dig out my smaller (2kg) weights at one point. Why on earth would you do warrior 3 with weights?! JM is crazy. She was also hoping that star jumps will make us sick. Well not quite.

Thanks for the heat waves threesteps, I need them.

Am too tired to write more

Wow I'm seriously impressed with all this bobbing! I caught one of his workouts on the fitness channel and it looked pretty torturous

I think I'll be needing the heat waves threesteps, I've had low level back pain for years (I think from twisting getting dds in and and out of car seats) and I'm a bit paranoid about making it worse. I'm quite feeble doing supermans/swimmers as I'm not sure if they strengthen the lower back or strain it?

Hi all.

Congrats on your race time PeggyO! Great feeling to beat your time especially in bad conditions.

All this Bobbing sounds very impressive - I haven't even googled it yet to see what the sessions are like but they sound HARD. I'm sticking to Jillian at the mo.
Well I would if I felt up to it ... had long weekend away with DH but unfortunately something we ate must have disagreed with me as I spent most of Saturday night vomiting ... . Have taken couple of days to recover & hopefully get back into things tomorrow. Meanwhile DH is Shredding solo.