30 Day Shred-Suicide Mission?

bettbett87

I know this topic has been talked to death now but I'm still thinking it over!
I am VERY unfit- I'm a smoker and I'm overweight and lazy. I want something effective to kick start my enthusiasm for losing weight as the journey looks to long for me to even see the end right now!

I was just wondering, has anyone on here who is also REALLY unfit tried it? If so, how did they get on?

I can just see myself as a wheezing, crippled mess within 10 minutes...

Or should I just be sensible and stick with Davina for a little longer?

porffor

Well, now.. I can't relate totally as have been riding since having my baby before 30 DS. However, i will say, this is a DVD at home, no one will see you.. no one would know if you didn't do half of the moves or could only manage 1 or two of something.
What will happen is you'll get FITTER doing it.. even partly doing it it's better to get fitter than to stay the same and never know.

I couldn't do a standard push up at level 1. 14 days in, i managed 2 'half' full push ups, They are full as I was in the right position on my feet, but half as I didn't go 'right down' where I should have, but I definately bent my arms lowered myself and got back up again without being on my knee's.. progress like this is what you see and what makes you carry on!

With both level 1 and level 2 it took me about 3 or 4 days to see progress but it has come and I expect the same with level 3.

You can do it! You just have to make the first move (s).

Go on.. give it a go!

lin7604

i second what was said above!!! i was very unfit, puffed walking up 10 stairs. i saw HUGE difference 5-7 days into it. I did the whole 30 days in dec and i am re doing it again. I am starting level 2 today, and i tell you i still can't do a full set of push ups and i do them the easy way too... it's amazing how i can do all the cardio in the sets now with out stopping...

nibbynoo

i am debating this but petrified to!
complete shred phobe!

bettbett87

Well, now.. I can't relate totally as have been riding since having my baby before 30 DS. However, i will say, this is a DVD at home, no one will see you.. no one would know if you didn't do half of the moves or could only manage 1 or two of something.
What will happen is you'll get FITTER doing it.. even partly doing it it's better to get fitter than to stay the same and never know.

I couldn't do a standard push up at level 1. 14 days in, i managed 2 'half' full push ups, They are full as I was in the right position on my feet, but half as I didn't go 'right down' where I should have, but I definately bent my arms lowered myself and got back up again without being on my knee's.. progress like this is what you see and what makes you carry on!

With both level 1 and level 2 it took me about 3 or 4 days to see progress but it has come and I expect the same with level 3.

You can do it! You just have to make the first move (s).

Go on.. give it a go!

Thanks! This is really helpful. You're right, no one will know if I'm doing it properly. But if I'm not doing it properly surely I'd benefit more from doing something less intense but for a longer period?
Maybe some yoga to get some muscle strengh before I annihilate them...

bettbett87

well my biggest fear is that I'm going to completely seize up! Or break something!
Then it will just be a big fat waste of money!

I need a trial run!!

wrs0805

I bought 30 DS on ebay for around $7.00.

teelynn35

You'll never know unless you try:) I went w/ baby steps. Short walks that turned to long walks. Walks that turned to hiking, then climbing hills, dunes, etc. I can now run a 5k without stopping. Important thing, get MOVING!!!! Oh and as an ex smoker myself, kick that habit!!! The smoking will make it harder on your lungs, but it will get easier after you quit!!!!! Best of luck to you on your journey:)

lilyvale68

Try Jillian's Beginner series first...Frontside and Backside. I did those for a month before I did Shred. I really needed to start at something super easy since I had not worked out for over 20 years.

MrsLVF

I agree with the others, just do your best, & modify the workout when you need to. (even when Jillian says not to modify)
Push yourself, but not to the point of injury. Good Luck.

BarbWhite09

I've out of shape & also smoke, but I can manage to do the 30DS. Give it a try!

ZoeBug

I got it at Walmart for about 7$ too. No waiting for it to come in the mail! I am starting next week!! I am just as nervous, but really excited to see the results at the end! Good Luck!!

maddymama

I was completely out of shape when I started 30DS. REALLY OUT OF SHAPE. I thought I was going to die the first day....was out of breath by the warm up, etc. My husband found me lying on the floor an hour after the video was over...... I was too tired to get up. BUT I did it the next day, and the next day, and the next. By the end of the 30 days I could do the low impact version of it all, and kinda keep up.
I added c25K in there, too, and now I'm in shape. I run 3-4 miles a day, 4 or 5 days a week. I do a JM video the other two days a week. I lost 40 lbs and have kept it all off since September-ish.
If I can do it, you can do it. It isn't a race, just keep on keepin on.

aTROOPSTER

The good thing about 30DS, as someone else said, is that you can do it at home. Move what you can out of the way so as not to injure yourself, or your furniture.

Take it slow if you have to (no shame in that - you are making an effort, after all). Eventually, if you stick to it, you'll be able to push yourself and do things you never thought possible. If you begin by telling yourself you're overweight, you're lazy, you're a smoker... well, then, you've already been defeated.

That said, JM is a *****, and I mean that in the best way possible. She is definitely harsh but motivating. And she's really specific and shows you how to move to minimize any chance of injury.

Katie41907

Why don't you get it and try it. There is no shame is turning it on doing 5 minutes, taking a 5 minute break, and repeating until you are done. Do what you need to do to get through it. Every time you do it, it's going to get easier in a very hard kind of way. Your form is going to get better and better. If 30 day shred is not for you, try zumba! I have absolutely no coordination and I'm sure that I look like Ace Ventura when I do it, but it's a really good work out.

You need something that is going to get your heart rate up. Push yourself! I know you can do it!

MorissaW

My mom and I are both doing this. I have been working out 4-6 days a week for over a year now so I consider myself fit. The first few days I was SORE SORE SORE, but I managed to do it.

My mom has not worked out in about 4 years and would be considered very unfit.
She has managed to make it to day 6 with some modifications. She took a 1 day break after day 2 and 4. She did not use weights until day 4. She loves it and does not feel like she is going to die. She and I both do some modifications on the push ups, I do chair push ups and she does wall push ups. I think that eventually we will both move to the floor but this will prepare us for that.

My point is, it is difficult for any fitness level but that is the point. Just power through, do what you can and in days you will be more fit than you are now

scapez

Geez, you're only 24 and you're not very heavy...just buck it up and do it! I'm almost twice your age and when I did 30DS I had about 15# to lose yet, hadn't been exercising regularly, and was still smoking about a pack a day.

See...don't you feel silly now? Just do it!

daewynn

I"m not normally a poster but I wanted to reply.

I started the shred once when I was working at a desk job. I too am a smoker and about 20 pounds over my goal weight. When I first started Jillian totally kicked my but and I spent most of my work out swearing at the TV but pushed through. I made it to day 10. The cardio really kicked my butt. I have since left that job and have more time for me. I picked up Zumba at the start of January with the hope that doing some cardio first would help prepare me for Jillian. I just started day 1 today of the Shred after a month and a half of Zumba and I made it without feeling like I would have a heart attack. I feel so much better this time and I think I can get through.

You can do it! It is hard but keeping your eye on the goal helps.

tmoyer1209

You can also get it at walmart for under $10 generally. I have Ripped in 30, and my friend has 30DS and we alternate but we are both out of shape. I am considered obese and she is overweight and a smoker. You may hate Jillian the first few days but each day something will get a little easier, you will find yourself making small steps each time you do it! I highly suggest the DVDs because you can do them at home whenever you have a chance. You can do it!!!

adamsonam

I actually just tried it this morning and didn't even make it thru the first circuit. I was practically hyperventilating (I'm a NON smoker, just fat and outta shape). I have only been walking and then decided to try it, maybe need to start a little lower first

adidrea

If you aren't sure and don't want to drop the money to pay for the DVD you can check your local library for a copy. My library has all of the Jillian Michaels DVDs and the check out period is 30 days which is perfect for 30DS!

I think in the end it's all about taking the first step. No matter how unfit you are, you will stay that way unless you start to move. 30 DS is hard but she shows you how to modify the moves to make them easier. Also, it's only 20 minutes. You can do anything for 20 minutes! :flowerforyou:

EdithClark

I'm very unfit....130+ lbs overweight. I'm on day 4 of the shred (level 1). It is hard...but I'm doing it. I took a rest day when I needed it, I'm doing the modified versions, and I'm jogging/marching in place during the cardio. Having alot of trouble with the jumping jacks right now. I'm also putting down the weights when I have to. I'm pushing myself hard, but not trying to kill myself! The first day I thought I was going to die, lol. But it is already becoming more bearable. If you want to, you CAN do it! Just make your own modifications. But make sure to push yourself, just not to the point of injury. As long as you keep moving, you will feel the benefits! The same is true of that and any other exercise! Good luck!

PrfctGdess

The Shred is only about $7 on Amazon, and yes, you need hand weights, but you can reuse those. Or just do it without weights! You could hold a can of food in each hand instead and it'd be less intense. :P

Yes, you CAN see benefits from less intensive exercises for longer periods, but it will be very slow progress. If you're looking for some way to "jump start your enthusiasm" for getting healthier, that's going to be hard with slow progress. I'd say jump in and try it! Even at very unfit, you should be able to tell how you feel and what is "good" pushing it and what is "too much" - don't push it too much. If you're getting TOO tired, stop for a few seconds. If a move is too hard, modify it or do half as many. I still think the Shred is a great idea for seeing results.

I can tell you that you WILL notice a difference with it. Even if the scale doesn't move right away or you're not sure the inches are coming off, you WILL get stronger and you WILL notice it getting easier as you keep going. It's really inspiring to literally feel yourself getting stronger. :P

The only other tip I have is don't feel like you HAVE to do it all in 30 days if it's too hard. I'm doing it every-day-for-30-days now, but when I first started, I'd just do it 2-3x a week interspersed with other stuff. You'll still get stronger.

You can do this!! Good luck!

bbysars

Level 1 is actually on YouTube if you want to give it a try. I don think the first level is really as bad as some people make it out to be and it's only 25 minutes. It's worth a try.

SaketoKim

All I can say is don't give up!!! I did this DVD for 5 months straight and I was not the fittest when I started. Hard work pays off at least get throught the 30 days straight and then cycle through it again... but the key is consistancy!

brandiluharvey

When I first started it I paused it probably 4 times just to catch my breath it was awful but then seriously after the first week I only would pause the video maybe one time. Your not alone. I used to be a smoker and I have never really exercised until now so I know exactly how you feel but if you are determined you will work through it. You know your limits just do what you can and the next time you do it it will be better. Now if I feel like I didn't do the best during the video then I will take a walk afterwards.

catelabow

You gotta start somewhere! Just try it, and think what a great feeling it will be in a few weeks when you remember back to the first time and celebrate your progress. Progress feels good!

adriana_hackney

I'm unfit (100 lbs over weight) and Iv'e never exercised, EVER. Today is day 8 for me. The first 2 days were REALLY rough. I didn't get through the entire DVD on day 1. I only made it to circuit 3. Day 2 I made it to stretching. Day 3 I made it all the way. Now, I can do every exercise properly. I still feel like i'm dying, but surprisingly enough I REALLY ENJOY that feeling. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

deksgrl

I was very out of shape. Went from the couch to 30DS. The first day I could barely do a modified pushup. After day 2 my leg muscles were screaming so I took a rest day. After I skipped a day, it started getting easier. By the time I did Day 6, I could do 15 real pushups. It is okay if you stop and huff and puff, just keep going and do as much as you can. When I got to level 2 and 3, I came across a few things I really couldn't do, I just substituted something else, like just marching in place, or squatting and punching. The key is to just get moving and keep moving. The first few days you will feel like you want to die, but if you push through, it will get better and probably surprisingly fast. And it is okay to take a rest day in between, you do not have to do it every day to see results. You could just take a walk on rest days or something lighter. It will just take you 60 days or however long, instead of 30.

porffor

well my biggest fear is that I'm going to completely seize up! Or break something!
Then it will just be a big fat waste of money!

I need a trial run!!

For a trial run have a look at You tube for level 1 I watched it in full before taking the plunge.

You have natural fears and it's understandable, personally crunches were my fears.. just working my core scared me - no idea why!! lol Now I'm well away and enjoy the ab work as it's a break from high cardio. lol

It WILL make you sweat, it will make you work - but even in short amounts you'll extend your time if you repeat it as it should be done and also if you read up on HIIT (high impact interval training I think it is) there are real benefits to doing lower level work out with bursts of higher levels.. like the C25k theory etc. So even if you do it moderately and occasionally throw in some more effort you'll be doing yourself good.

I think honestly you'll see progress and love that - I have and I do! I'm still obese so am carrying too much for my 5'3" and best time due to family is around 7.30pm but I'm tired by then before I start - still gets me going though and gets me sweating.

porffor

I actually just tried it this morning and didn't even make it thru the first circuit. I was practically hyperventilating (I'm a NON smoker, just fat and outta shape). I have only been walking and then decided to try it, maybe need to start a little lower first

well done starting it - what you could do is take some rest time and carry one with what you feel you're able to handle? I didn't do the last minute of a circuit last night on level 2 as I really was beat. I don't mind, I had reasons such as lack of sleep night before etc, so it's a case of doing what you can and knowing that is good enough for now!

Good luck - stick with it and you'll see progress, even if you just get 30 seconds further in each time it'd be a great achievement.