Tag Archive for 'Level 3'

Well, today is the day! I finished the 30 Day Shred! Yes!!

Now for some final results:

Inches off tummy: 2 inches!
Inches off thighs: almost 2 inches – off each!

How do I feel?
Awesome!

How do my clothes fit?
Terrible! And, that’s awesome!

None of my jeans fit correctly anymore. I had to ransack my wardrobe and found some capris (do people still wear capris?) that fit, and even they are a little too big. I love having an excuse to buy new clothes, and I think I timed this perfectly with the new season. Yay!

So, what about weight-loss?  I had a net-loss of 2 lbs, which isn’t the “20 lbs. in a month!” they tout.  However, I already did the weight-loss program I wanted to do.  This was separate for me.  I wasn’t using this as a weight-loss tool. I am more focused on toning and building muscle. I am happy with my weight. I wouldn’t be opposed to losing a few more pounds, but my goal was toning. That being said, watching the scales raise during the transition from fat to muscle was frustrating, but it’s gone back down to where it was…and it’s still going down…so I’m happy with that!

So, a big question I toyed with was whether or not I should post pictures. I am thrilled with my results, but if you were to see these photos out of context, you’d be like, “and she wants to wear a two-piece swimsuit eventually, why?”

I mean, the truth is, I’m sensitive. I’m not ashamed of my body, but I prefer to keep it covered.  My clothes hide a lot of indiscretions.

Plus, I’m shy.

Okay, those of you who know me in real life can stop laughing right now.

Seriously. There is no photographic evidence of my skinny-dipping days, and that snorting you’re doing from laughing so hard is so unbecoming.

But, because we’re all naked under our clothes, and I want to show the progress I’ve made, I decided to post pics, but you can only get to them from here: Click on this link if you want to see my progress.

You’ve been warned. I will not be held responsible for nightmares or visual impairment problems that result from viewing these photos.

And, be kind.
Please.
I am a delicate flower.

I’ll wait here while you click over to check them out.

…

…

Please don’t hurt yourself.

…

…

…Okay, are you back?

Quite a change, huh? Those are not photoshopped in any way, as you can see by the sunburn I got yesterday!!

I’m not signing up to model any swimsuits, but I can’t stress enough how impressed I am with the 30 Day Shred.  And, anyone who has done it or is in the middle of it will tell you that the 30 Day Shred is just part of the story.  I made the effort to do it every day.  I summoned my Inner Yoda.  I’m going to try not to hurt myself patting myself on the back. 

So, what’s next?  I’m going to keep on going!  I am starting the 30 Day Shred over!  I can’t wait to see if I can keep up with Natalie all through Level 1 now.  I haven’t decided if I’ll do a couple days at each level, or if I will just mix it up a bit, but I will definitely keep doing this, and my goal is to do 20-minutes a day.

After all, tomorrow is Day 31 of the 30 Day Shred…

And, I can’t wait to post some new “after” photos when the time comes.

Push.
Push your limits.
Push your obstacles out of the way.

Hang in there.
Hang on.
Hang on to the reasons you’re doing this.

Breathe.
Whatever you do, breathe.

“Push. Hang in there. Breathe.” Jillian says this throughout the workout, and it’s something my mind grasps a hold of toward the end.

Today, I completed Day 28 of the 30 Day Shred, and Day 8 of Level 3. You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here! When I started this personal challenge, the days loomed before me, so I focused on the one at hand. Now, we’re careening toward the end, and it’s almost here. All I have to do to reach it?

Push. Hang in there. Breathe.

Day 26 of the 30 Day Shred is done, baby! I’ve successfully survived six days of Level 3! You can read more about my 30-Day Shred Adventures by clicking here!

I must have done something a little differently yesterday, because I can really feel it in my abs today! Either that, or the last five days of Level 3 abs moves are finally catching up with me.

Wow. Today, I was nearly killed by the scissors…more specifically, the scissor abs move. How can something that looks so incredibly benign be so tough!? Today, I couldn’t do this one without grunting out loud, and my little personal trainer was right there to kiss me on the shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” she said. “I’m so sorry she’s making this hard for you.”

I didn’t have the energy to explain to Claire that it’s okay for Jillian to make things challenging.  She’s not hurting me to be mean.  I’m a willing participant.   Some days are just harder than others, and today was just one of those days.

I got through it, and my abs will thank me for it…maybe not today, but eventually.

So, be careful with the scissors.  Don’t run with them.  Carry them correctly, and by all means, don’t be afraid to grunt through them when you get to Level 3. 

Yeah, so I forgot to pace myself at the beginning of Level 3.
And then I died before I got to the third circuit.
The end.

I’m so tempted to just end today’s post there, but I won’t. I didn’t really die. I was hanging on by a thread, and it was just enough energy to summon my Inner Yoda from Level 1 and finish Day 24 of the 30 Day Shred, which is Day 4 of Level 3.

So, will I pace myself tomorrow? I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. Part of me thinks that I could probably handle the new pace, and the other part of me is blubbering to herself in the corner and too exhausted to argue.

In other news, my own little personal trainer completed Level 3 without breaking a sweat and came up with some additional moves she’d like me to try. She’s only 3-yrs old, but her moves are awe inspiring. If I followed her lead, I’d definitely have to find a new pace.

I certainly hope she doesn’t give Jillian any ideas!

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

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.