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

Yay, I survived!! I did normal jumping lunges though - my legs said no way could I do them one leg at a time lol

1 more L1 S&S tomorrow before another long weekend :)

Is anyone watching / did anyone watch 'The Men who made us Thin' on BB2?

One of the topics covered is the fitness industry - "exploding the myth" that exercise alone can make you thin... Well, duh!! I didn't even know that was a myth to be exploded - an hour in the gym might burn off a mars bar if you're lucky!

Our dear JM even says you can eat your way through any amount of exercise etc. and I assumed it was common knowledge to anyone who exercises?!

Sorry, has just riled me a bit as I think it's assuming most people are mugs and also, it didn't focus much on the huge health benefits of exercise and not forgetting the benefits on your general mood and wellbeing.

As you were

Hello again! How is everyone?

I decided at the last minute to do BFBM today and I had to stop half way through the last circuit :( I was SO knackered! Feel disappointed at myself as I don't usually cop out once I'm into a workout.

Does anyone else find they work well on a specific workout for a while, and really struggle for a bit when they change workout? I guess it's logical, but it seems quite extreme sometimes!!

At least I certainly feel worked out

That's it for me until Tuesday as I'm away until Monday...

Have a great weekend everyone and see you next week :)

threesteps that's why I think it is useful to mix the workouts up a bit, as you definitely get used to doing one e.g. I did 6w6p for a week & while I could feel the improvement in my ability to do those exercises, when I threw in a Shred for a change I struggled a bit.

This week has been bit of a write off, felt hugely bloated with water retention and struggled to exercise. Finished the week feeling better with a S&S though. Got my Yoga Meltdown dvd so looking forward to trying that this weekend .

threesteps, thanks for the pep talk re: weight, and you're right, my clothes feel fine. I've recorded the 2nd part of The Men Who Made Us Thin", but haven't managed to watch it yet. Did watch the first part and also the previous one he did (The Men Who Made Us Fat), and I know what you mean. He makes some really interesting discoveries I think about how that industry taps in to people's insecurities and need for a quick fix, but there's a general feeling of "oh it's not their fault, it's these evil industry people doing this to them", and it annoyed me too! And I agree with Ponks about mixing up the workouts which I have to do as I'm so easily bored. But saying that, BFBM is tough to get through even on a good day for me!
Notyummy, yup, any exercise whilst on holiday is an achievement! Enjoy the wine .
Ponks, sorry you've been feeling a bit minky, but well done on S&S. Looking forward to your feedback on Yoga Meltdown. I've got as far as reading the cover , and it looks like L1 might be half an hour of a more traditional yoga routine, with L2 being a bit more fat burning?? Hope to crack it out next week.
Well, I've had to change my plan a bit this week as I realised I've lent my Shred DVD to a friend so I did Killer L1 and S&S L1 Thurs/Fri instead. Not sure yet what to do this morning, as I felt a niggle in my right knee during S&S yesterday and it hurt to walk down the stairs last night, although it seems OK so far this morning. I want to do something though had fish & chips last night. Was planning on doing half an hour of Bob's Ripped Core, but might do 6W6P L1, and just subsititute some moves if the knee starts to hurt. Day off tomorrow as it's DD's naming day .

Ponks, looking forward to your Yoga Meltdown verdict! Thinking of getting it.

knotty hope naming ceremony went well, and 3steps hope you're having a good weekend away.

Am on hols but have brought the shred with me! Have just got it back from my friend after a couple of months, and did L1 today. As always when I haven't shredded for a while, I thought L1 would be fairly gentle but actually found it really tough! (I should really learn and not keep being surprised by that every time ).

Did one set of push-ups on feet and one on knees, so quite pleased with that - normally do all on knees.

Planning to shred x3 (one of each level) for each of the 2 weeks we're away.

Have a great week all. x

Hello JM fans. I've just started doing her Body Revolution DVDs; anyone else doing it here? Just two days into it and am already reminded about how brilliant she is at motivation; bizarre really considering she's on a DVD and not actually shouting at me in my sitting room

Bloody hope I can keep it up - I did the 30 Day Shred a couple of years back and felt great. Sadly this time round I've piled the weight on (am midway through grim divorce) and feel even more unfit starting. Just need to keep fingers crossed for no injury or sudden disappearance of mojo...

Hi helium I'm interested in how you get on with Body Revolution, I keep looking at it on Amazon & ebay but can't bring myself to spend so much take the plunge as I guess you have to be very committed to get the best results. But I really like the trailers I've seen of it.
I heartily recommend this thread for keeping up the mojo - there have been lots of times when mine has all but disappeared, but I've been inspired again by coming back on here. Sorry to hear about the divorce, hope that the exercise helps you feel a bit better.

Anyhoo I've done my first Yoga Meltdown L1 - general thought is that it isn't hugely challenging - you do a lot of the moves in e.g. S&S, and I think I prefer S&S for the mix of cardio and stretching / balancing moves. I'll probably get more benefit from it when I've done it a couple of times so I don't have to keep looking up to check my position - this is one dvd where it would be handy to have my DH around to tell me whether I'm doing it right . There are a lot of sun salutations and chattaranga (sp?) plank moves. It might actually be a good stretch / wind down after e.g. a Shred.
Oh and she recommends not wearing trainers - not sure about that for me.

Back to something more cardio tomorrow I think.

knotty hope your knee is ok - having been through a lot of knee pain earlier this year I sympathise muchly!

Well done on BR Helium I hope you get great results- perhaps a good destresser as well?

Interesting feedback on the Yoga meltdown. When my back feels more flexible I may give it a go. It feels ok at the moment actually- feel like I am able to do most things, but am steering clear of Ripped as it doesn't work out well for it. Back from holiday late yesterday. Did first 5 circuits of NMTZ this morning and it felt hard- but good hard! Suspects thighs may feel it tomorrow.

So far I'm impressed with it (early days though!) but mainly because she says that for Weeks 1 & 2, it is VERY low impact. Which it is. I'm so nervous about getting injured and then... well, that being that; that I am happy to keep the impact to a minimum for now. I remember when I did the Shred what an amazing feeling it was to suddenly start to feel so much STRONGER than I had done previously (I did it a few months after having my twins and I'd been bed-ridden for months during the pregnancy so was very weak physically).

Re. splashing out on the DVDs, it kind of shows how desperate I am - I SO need to makeover myself and know that within a few months I'm going to be keen to get out there dating - right now I just don't have the confidence. I'm also 43 and if this is anything like last time it will help me not to feel such a wizened old hag!

What is the S&S? I haven't tried the Yoga Meltdown but that sounds good - is it more 'yoga' than 'meltdown' or the other way round?

S and S= Extreme Shed and Shred. More meltdown than yoga I would say. I don't find it really, really hard, but there are two levels of just over 30 mins each and the most I have ever done is 1 full level plus one circuit of the next. Those who have done both complete levels back to back may differ in their opinion on how hard it is!

helium are you me? (apart from the twins that is)
I've been making myself over this year being similar age & having felt wizened fat & frumpy .... getting back into exercise has been fantastic - as you say the great thing has been feeling stronger (though so is the dropping dress sizes bit).

Hi Helium . Well of you having Body Revolution - I'd love to do it but can't afford it at the moment.

Ponks, good to hear your feedback re: Yoga Meltdown - I thought the 1st level might be like that - think I might try L2 first and like you say, keep L1 for when I need a good stretch. Totally agree about how good it feels to feel stronger. I've still got a few lbs to get off but I did catch sight of my arms in a shop window the other day and liked what I saw . Notyummy, glad your back's feeling better.

I ended up doing most of Bob's Ripped Core on Saturday - quite liked it. I must admit I started off thinking "it's OK but I'm not getting out of breath at all" but by the last couple of segments I was, and some of the moves were really difficult! Nice to mix it up a bit. Had Sunday and Monday off and did 6W6P L1 this morning - knee is better thanks Ponks, although still a bit niggly, seems to be mainly when in a lunge and that leg is bent behind me IYKWIM. Loose plan for the rest of the week is to do 6W6P L2 and probably Killer Levels 2 & 3. Have a good one x

Hey everyone and welcome Helium! I'm a big believer in the psychological benefits of exercise as a mood lifter and energiser, so I hope you start feeling those benefits, as well as the physical ones, soon.

Just popped in to share my Lesson Learned for the day: do not attempt the walking plank push-ups from L2 Shred on a sisal/seagrass-type rug with sweaty hands. You will end up with some nasty friction burns on the palms. :-(

Everyone seems to be doing a great job, keep it up!

Thanks for the welcome. Feeling slightly sheepish because I gave myself a rest day today after getting out of bed and feeling unbelievably stiff and sore. With BR you are meant to workout every day except Sunday - in my defence I actually started on Sunday rather than Monday so effectively was one day ahead. You do a different circuit workout on Monday and Tuesday, then cardio on Wednesday, and repeat again for Thurs-Sat. So tomorrow I HOPE I get out of bed early again and make myself do the cardio... :)

Hi everyone :)

Welcome Helium! I think it's gingercat who posts on here who has done the full Body Revolution. Well done you and don't worry about the day off, sometimes your body just needs a day to regroup...

Jackster, ouch on the walking plank war wound!! Do you shred in bare feet - I can imagine that kind of flooring would be hard on them too!

Thanks guys for the yoga meltdown report. I'm really tempted to get it and like the idea that section 1 gives you a really good stretch session :)

Notyummy you're right - S&S is no way as tough as other of her DVDs, even the 2 levels back to back is manageable if you can fit it in time-wise. But... I really, really love it!!

I did L3 Killer today and did well. Tomorrow I'm going to do 1 or both levels of S&S, L2 Killer on Thursday and then the bastard BMBF again on Friday - I will not be beaten this time around

Everyone sounds like they're doing great - keep it up!

Afternoon! Well, after going to bed ridiculously early at 9.30 last night, I was up at 5.15 (this is SO not me) and did the cardio DVD. I've just had to go onto Amazon to buy a DVD driver for my laptop so that I can do it in the kitchen from the laptop rather than in our sitting room which has original floorboards - I swear the whole house shook for 30 minutes... too embarrassing for words.

I have also already got twinges/pain in my left foot - bloody typical.

I so want to do this, please ancient body, don't let me down!

Helium, well done you on the cardio!!

I have floorboards too, although I'm on the ground floor so you think it would be okay ... not! Even with the mat down, I have to be very careful where I do my cardio bursts to avoid the squeaky / weak floorboards!

Fail today, darn! I ended up heavily involved in the garden so was 2+ hours out there this evening instead of JM'ing, and I just didn't have the mojo to come in and start exercising. Not such a bad fail hopefully...

So I'm going to shift my S&S session to tomorrow and stick with bastard BFBM on Friday.

Big cheers to all :)

Yes I was on the ground floor too... sadly given my hefty weight I think the only place that's safe is the lower ground floor kitchen...

I would have thought 2 hours of gardening would be good exercise in itself - good on you!

As suspected my thighs were slightly stuff after my NMRZ exploits! I am slowly, slowly edging up the weights- using 5kg occasionally etc. I hope to have slightly more time next week so will do all of NMTZ. I did 45 mins on a rough programme on the cross trainer yesterday which felt hard and hot! I exercise in our conservatory which is massive and has a hard wood floor so good for cardio. It has a tv/DVD linked to Sky and I can watch that whilst on cross trainer. The downside in summer is that it gets ridiculously hot!

Am off to my mum and dads this weekend without access to weights so will try some power walking, Callanetics and BFBM out in the garden as I have it loaded on my iPhone.

Wave to everyone! I am back from hols. I was lucky to be able enough to exercise everywhere (even went to a pilates class once). If anything, it is harder to find time since we came home. My 5-yo DS loves exercising with me, which is lovely but really tiring and not in a sporty kind of way Hope you are all having a great summer.

Off to read the rest of the thread.

helium I love BR, and will re-start it from level 5 or 7 maybe next week (if I am up to it).

Helium after many years of JM'ing, I know which part of which floorboards can be safely jumped or stamped on

Notyummy great to hear the recovery continues to go well. I think your enforced rests are doing you good - otherwise you'd be going at it hammer and tongs!

Gingercat!!!! Great to see you back, your hols sound lovely. Welcome back to the bandwagon :)

Late post tonight as I've been watching celebrity big brother, I know, I know. My name is threesteps and I'm a big brother addict, always have been. Every year I say no big brother, than I get reeled in lol

I did L1 S&S today which was great fun. I used weights where possible and felt worked out and happy by the end :)

Not looking forward to BFBM tomorrow, it's now become my nemesis. I will do it though as I'll be too ashamed to come on here and report another fail!

Hope everyone is doing well x

Jackster, ouch to the friction burns!
threesteps, I'd say that 2 hours of gardening definitely counts, according to MFP that's 500 cals burned. Good luck with BFBM today - one of my least favourite routines as well so I never do more than 4 circuits.

Helium, well done on the early start but hope your foot is OK.
Notyummy, have a good time at your parents' and enjoy BFBM alfresco!
Ginger, I know what you mean about your DS joining in. When my DS does it I get a lot of "look at me Mama" which is not good during a statue of liberty when I'm wobbly enough.

Have managed to stick to my plan so far this week - did Killer L2 on Weds, 6W6P L2 yesterday and I'm doing Killer L3 today. Knee is better but still niggly so did a lot of substitutions in Killer but I figure as long as I do something. Was going to take a day off tomorrow to take DS to Canterbury for the river tour but now the weather looks pants for tomorrow so will probably postpone, so I can Jillian instead - not sure which yet. Hope you all have a good weekend x

Morning all (just!)

Knotty well done for sticking to your plan :) I'm groaning at the weather too as friends are coming down for weekend and a bbq is planned :(

Thanks for gardening info, that's amazing...who would have thought it!

I've decided to go for a Killer today instead of BFBM and it's so hot and muggy and I don't want another BFBM fail. So today I will be doing L2 Killer. I'm quite looking forward to it!

Notyummy I missed that you would be doing BFBM in the garden - go you!

Hope everyone is doing okay :)

DS is officially a JM addict. While looking for a Batman dvd in Morrisons, he found me a JM disc (some kind of nintendo thingy), and he was very proud of himself. After doing L4 of Ripped in 30 together (the hardest thing I have ever done - trying not hit him with weights, kick him and keep up a polite conversation while dying), we were lying on our mats during the cool down and he held my hands and said "Mommy, I am always here for you, if you want to exercise." [little hearts]
Note: he started exercising, because we noticed that he cannot do sit-ups. And he wants DH's and my abs, as we showed them off to him . He is only 5, so more likely he wants to be John Cena or Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson. [sigh]

threesteps I can second your comments about exercise, healthy eating and weightloss. I put on so much weight in 2 weeks, and I exercised 5 times a week!!!! I even went to a 60-minute pilates session in a spa complex. It is not that bad to exercise in front of the mirror, actually. It helped me to correct myself and gave me tremendous self-confidence (only afterwards, obviously).

knotty The last 6-8 minutes of Ripped Core are my favourite. By the end my abs are just on fire. I'll have to do it soon.
And, yes, DS keeps asking "Mommy (or in his accent Mammy) are you wobbly, too?" Me "No. " Him "Why not?", etc. I would deffo accidentally wallop him during the statue of liberty, he is always so close to me.

notyummy Very envious of you exercising in the garden. Hope I'll get to do it this weekend, too.

Ok, so S&S for me for Chrsitmas . It just sounds fab.

Luckily my patents garden is not overlooked, and both they and DD are used to me leaping about like a nutter!