Archive for the '30 Day Shred' Category

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Rugburn in places I’d never expect

Published on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

My elbows! Why…what were you thinking?! ;)

Today I completed Day 22 of the 30 Day Shred and Day 2 of Level 3. You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

In Level 2, one of my shredhead sisters asked me if I was getting rugburn on my hands, and I told her I wasn’t. The carpet we have downstairs was being kind to my hands, and it wasn’t an issue for me.

So, then, I start Level 3, and Jillian has us incorporate our elbows into the mix, and guess what’s happening to them? Rugburn. Ouch! I’m not sure what I’m going to do for the next 8 days of this level! Maybe I’ll bring one of Claire’s blankets downstairs to soften the blow during that part of the routine?

My knees are getting a little rugburn action, too. (Well, Hello, Anonymous Googlers! Welcome to something you didn’t expect when you typed that search phrase into your browser…) ;) But, all I have to do is suck it up and follow Natalie for that to stop. But, there is no way around the elbow predicament I’ve gotten myself into.

Am I the only one that has this issue? Am I doing something wrong? I’m not dragging them or slamming them down. Yesterday they weren’t so bad, but they were killing me today!

Anyway, besides the little rugburn issue, how is Level 3 going? Wow. It is tough! But, I’m persevering. Today, I’m definitely feeling it in my legs and abs. I’m glad she reminds us to breathe during the scissor abs part, because I totally forget and nearly pass out.

And, unfortunately, there is no room in the 20 minute workout to account for that. ;)

Jillian saves the hardest for last

Published on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 7 Comments Tags: , , , .

Wow. Day one of Level 3 is done! Today marks Day 21 of the 30 Day Shred. You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

I was a little nervous about what Jillian would do to me in Level 3, so I asked people for advice. The shredheads who have gone before me answered my plea with “pace yourself at the beginning,” and warnings of the end being really hard.

Dude.
They weren’t messing around, and neither is Jillian!
I’m glad they warned me.

I paced myself and made it through the entire workout without collapsing. Until the very end. But, that’s okay, because you need to be on the floor to do the stretches anyway. Right? Right.

In the middle of this workout, Jillian reminds us to think about why we’re doing this.

Well, I’m a results kinda person, and I took measurements before I started today, since it’s the beginning of a new level, and this is why I’m doing this.

Since I’ve started, I’ve lost an inch and a half off each thigh. I’ve lost almost two inches off my tummy. My weight has stabilized, and although muscle weighs more than fat, I’ve started losing weight. I’m down two pounds from last week. (Keep in mind, I’m not doing this to lose weight…that’s just an added perk. I’m doing this to tone.)

And toned?
I’m toned!
Not fully, but definitely almost there!

I have defined arm muscles. I have defined leg muscles. I have abs! I don’t know that I’ve ever had defined abs. I still have a lot of work to do, but the photos I took today are amazing to me. I’m still shy, so I’m not showing photos yet. It’s okay. Trust me. ;)

None of my jeans fit. Even my jeans that were starting to get too big when I started are now too big with the belt I use.

Oh, darn! ;)

So, while I was huffing and puffing and sweating to death, Jillian’s question started ringing in my ears. Why am I doing this?

This is why I’m doing this. I am excited about the results. I’m excited about a program that takes every ounce of energy in my body, but replaces it with more energy than I’ve ever had. I’m doing this because I don’t want my clothes to fit anymore. I want to be healthy.

I want to do this to show my daughter that even a non-exercise person can be an exercise person.

I won’t lie; Level 3 is hard. There’s a reason why it’s at the end. There’s a reason why we do what we do in Level 1 and Level 2 first.

Everything we’ve done has led up to this point, and I’m so happy to be here.

I gargled my heart for 10 days. What’s next?

Published on Monday, April 6, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

I did it! I made it to the end of Level 2! Today marked the completion of Day 20 of the 30 Day Shred. I have 10 days left, and tomorrow I start Level 3. What little gems will Level 3 hold?

As one of the commenters mentioned before, in Level 2, Jillian says she wants you “gargling your heart” by the time you’re done. What a picture that is. Oddly enough, it’s not far from the truth. :)

At the end of today’s workout, I was tempted to preview Level 3, but I decided against it. I want to be surprised tomorrow.

I’ve got 10 days left! I’ve made it this far; I know I can make it to the end. Bring it on, Jillian! ;)

If I wasn’t so sweaty, I’d burst into flames.

Published on Sunday, April 5, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 5 Comments Tags: , , , .

You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

There is just something about the 30 Day Shred that makes me sweat. But, I guess it’s a good thing that I’m so damp, or I’d burst into flames. You’d think that after 19 days of the 30 Day Shred, and Day 9 of Level 2 that I’d feel like it was getting easier. It’s not. But, that’s not a bad thing.

There is one part in the Level 2 that makes my arms burn. It’s in the third rotation when we get to the “military press and leg extensions” or whatever Jillian calls it. Every time we get to that part, I tell myself I need to remember the exact phrasing, but then I use all of my energy to not collapse and as soon as we move on to the next torturous pose, the name is gone.

I can do the first part of the circuit with no problems. I can focus right through the tingling in my arms. Then we do the chair squat with arms raised in a V thing (I dare you to not get Jeremy by Pearl Jam stuck in your head!!). That move is okay, but the tingling becomes more intense. Then, we go straight into the military press thing again, and that’s when my arms and shoulders start to sting so badly that I usually grunt out loud. By the time we get back to the chair press and V move, the names of both of the positions have fled the flames that have started licking at the sides of my head.

And, yes. I’m still doing this on purpose. :)

One more day of Level 2, and it’s on to Level 3!

Just a quick update

Published on Saturday, April 4, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

Day 18 of the 30 Day Shred (Day 8 of Level 2) is done! I have a jam-packed, fun-filled day today, so much so that I was compelled to get up early (gag) to do the Shred! Can you believe it?

So, this is a short update…just enough to let you know that I did it! Early! On a Saturday no less! Woo! Just what kind of person am I becoming!? ;)

You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

And less is the goal

Published on Friday, April 3, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

Wow. Day 17 of the 30 Day Shred is done, as is Day 7 of Level 2. You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here! Even after seven days, Level 2 is quite the workout!

Today, I tried to follow Natalie. I wish I could report that I could do it successfully…but she’s brutal! I did find that if I start out following Natalie and have to take it down a notch and follow Anita, that my body feels like I’m getting a break…but it’s really not.

Now, I’ve never had to stop during a routine. I’ve always kept going, even when it’s really hard. But, when I start out following Natalie, my brain is tricked into feeling like I’m taking a break when I switch back to Anita.

Whatever works…right?

So, the challenging news is that even after 17 days, this workout is still kicking my patootie all over the place. The encouraging news is that there’s getting to be less and less patootie to kick. ;)

The routine

Published on Thursday, April 2, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 6 Comments Tags: , , , .

So, I finished Day 16 of the 30 Day Shred, and Day 6 of Level 2. You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

Today, I tried to follow Natalie and was successful in parts. In other sections, I had to fall back down to Anita’s pace. Tomorrow, I’ll try to follow Natalie again, but I make no promises! How she keeps her composure on camera is beyond me!!

Ha!

I don’t have much more to share about Day 16 or Level 2, so I thought I’d talk a little about the routine that seems to be working for me. I find it best to do this routine in the morning. Claire and I have a rather relaxed schedule, most of the time, and this seems to work for us.

Between 7:30 and 8am, my hubby gets up to get ready for work. Between 8 and 8:30, Claire usually comes into our room. I pull myself out of bed and help Claire figure out what she wants to eat for breakfast. Usually, she’s not ready to eat right away, so we go downstairs to do the Shred. (If she is hungry, she eats while I do the Shred.) By 9 or 9:30, I’m done with the Shred, and we’re back up to the kitchen where we can focus on breakfast – hers and/or mine. I take a daily vitamin that requires I have food in my stomach.

If I take the vitamins without food, I feel icky.
If I eat before I do the Shred, I feel icky.

I don’t like to feel icky, so the math on that isn’t too hard to figure out, huh? :)

One day last weekend, due to scheduling issues, I actually waited until after lunch to do the Shred, and I survived, but I like doing it in the morning. 1) It gives me more energy to face the day, and B) I like getting it out of the way.

After we eat, I shower and then work on the follow-up post, like this one.

So, there you have it! That’s my routine, and it really seems to be working. What’s yours?

And that’s no joke!

Published on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 9 Comments Tags: , , , .

Yay! It’s April 1st, and I just finished Day 15 of the 30 Day Shred! Are you sick of hearing about it? I would apologize, but I warned you…and you only have to suffer through 15 more days! :)

I think I’ve been scaring people with my descriptions of Level 2, so I want to devote this halfway mark to what I like about the 30 Day Shred.

I love the fact that my hips and back are pain-free. Seriously. They haven’t hurt since I started the program. And, the other muscles that did hurt because I started? They no longer hurt, and they’re stronger. It’s a win-win.

I love having a routine. For so long, I sat around thinking about an exercise program. I guess that’s a little misleading. I rarely “sit around” when chasing a preschooler is my main focus, but you know what I mean. I knew I should do something…but what? I hate exercise, so I kept putting it off. Will I ever tone? Will I ever find a way to fit an exercise plan into my day? Now that I have a routine, that worry is off my mind.

I love having energy. I always thought the people who said exercising gave them energy were a little wacky. Who knew that it’s true! I have so much more energy now that I’ve started this routine. I just can’t believe it. Yes, I was back down to where I want to be weight-wise before I started, and I thought that would give me enough energy, but I was wrong. The weight-loss helps, but the exercise is the key.

I love seeing the results. When I was in Weight Watchers, I was shocked at the transformation my body went through after losing 40 pounds. The transformation in itself was motivation enough to help me maintain it. But, it took a while for the mental image of myself to catch up with the image in the mirror. I was never unhappy at my former size, and on the inside I still felt the same. I was taken aback when people started treating me differently. They were all positive changes, but so shocking. That’s how I feel now that I’m seeing results with this program. “Are you sure you can see a difference?” is a question my husband is so tired of hearing me ask. But, he’s used to it. He was the calm voice of reason and support on my weight-loss journey. Soon, my brain will catch up with my eyes, and I’ll stop asking for reassurance. Plus, seeing the results is so motivating to work through the tough parts!

I love this feeling of accomplishment. I said I would do something, and I’m doing it. And, it’s not something that’s easy. Some days it’s hard. Some days are easier than others. But, I love the feeling of accomplishment.

I love setting a good example for my daughter. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring or torturous or something other people do.  It can be fun, challenging, and something we do.

I love the community that I’ve found while doing this project. There are so many people working toward the same goal, and each of us is made stronger by the experience of the others. We’re all feeding off of this common bond, and it’s awesome. Go Shredheads! You can do it! And, to those of you who have stuck by me through this…even just by reading my follow-ups, thank you!!

So…do I grumble about the Shred? At times. Is it an exhausting challenge? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. And, that’s no joke! ;)

My own personal trainer

Published on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 8 Comments Tags: , , , .

Today I completed Day 14 of the 30 Day Shred, and Day 4 of Level 2! You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

It’s still a challenge. Today, I tried to follow Natalie for some moves and nearly died, so I went back to following Anita. There’s no shame in that, right? I didn’t think so. (For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, Anita does the moves designed for the newbies in the bunch, and Natalie does harder versions of the moves.)

As you may know, Jillian tells you on the Jillian Michaels – 30 Day ShredDVD that she will be your own personal trainer. And, she is…for 20 minutes. I, on the other hand, have a little personal trainer that follows me around all day, and now she’s started insisting that we “play Shred.”

Yes, Claire loves pretending that she is Jillian and I am, well, me. Her impression of Jillian is uncanny. She has nearly the whole Level 1 dialogue and most of Level 2 dialogue memorized.

Here is a typical “play session” when we “play Shred.”

“Okay! It’s time to do the 30 Day Shred, Momma!”

“Yay! That sounds great!” (Momma, the actress, says enthusiastically. It’s her best performance of the day…)

“Go into a soft knee… (And this is where she shows me what that is.) Now, squat and press! And, squat and press! Good! Squat and press! Squat and press! Good! No stopping! Now, let’s do Dumbo Ropes. (Dumbo Ropes!? This makes me laugh every time. Jillian really says, “Dumbbell Rows,” but I like Claire’s version better.) “…and PULL! and PULL! and PULL! Good! Now, let’s do jumping jacks. Ready? Hit it! Four more. And three and two and one…and let’s do Dumbo Ropes again. And, PULL! And, PULL! And, PULL! And right back…Jumping Jacks! You’re well on your way to being shredded!”

I only wish I were kidding.

Still…how funny!

Today, during the real workout, at one point, I didn’t think I could go on, so I yelled out loud. It was a primal, guttural yell that was pure sound and no words.

“You can do it, Momma!” I heard in response.

So, I did.

Lucky Number 13

Published on Monday, March 30, 2009 in 30 Day Shred. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

Day 13 is done! That means, I’ve done Day 3 of Level 2! I was still exhausted at the end of the workout, but I have yet to be sore. Can that be right? I’ll just assume it is and carry on. :)

I’m really glad that I’m not in pain, like I was with Level 1. I don’t particularly like pain, and I generally do things to avoid it. Still…pain or not, I’m completely spent by the end of Level 2. Just like Level 1 did at the beginning, it seems way longer than 20 minutes.

But, after I’ve survived the workout and get on with the rest of my day, I’m amazed at how much energy I have. I know that people have always said that exercising gave them energy, and I always kinda thought they were crazy. Now, I realize they were right. Who knew?

I can’t believe I’m almost halfway done with the 30 Day Shred…and I’m feeling better than I ever imagined was possible!

So, have you started it? Are you going to? What do you think? Let me know!

You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!