Recommendations? 30DS way hard, but want to do something

joeymalone142

Hi,

I have lost about 75lbs. I am 5'7" and 175lbs, so down from 250lbs. I lost all the weight with virtually no exercise, SO I am really mushy. I did have a few stints with zumba here or there, but nothing consistent. Weighing less now I am more active, but not a super active person. I do like hiking but the weather here sucks.

So I saw a lot of posts on the success people were having with the 30 day shred, like some seriously awesome "I wanna do that" before and after pictures. So I bought it. I had pretty good success with level 1 and am already seeing results. I started level two and feel like I am in sad shape! I am sore! And not sore in the ways I was sore when I started level 1, sore in ways that feel like I am HURT, not just sore. My knee is bothering me now, and I wasn't even able to do all of level 2 yet.

Here's my thing. I feel motivated, I truly do. I got to day 11 of The Shred, I have proven my dedication with losing 75lbs and keeping it off over a year, but I do not want to take that motivation and get myself hurt. I want to be successful.

I am looking into the turbofire workout videos, but maybe that is totally the wrong direction? Too much? I never felt like I was going to get hurt doing zumba though so I thought maybe the turbo fire would compare more to zumba and I could do that. I don't want to go to zumba classes because I don't want to pay and more importantly I don't want to have to leave my house to exercise. I am afraid zumba videos will come up short compared to classes and be dumb.

Should I try some thing else or stick with the Shred? I was thinking maybe I should just go back to level 1 until I am stronger and try level 2 again later. Or never? What if I just do 30 days of level 1? That was working ok, just getting boring.

I don't know what to do but I want to do some thing. I don't want to waste this motivation and drive I have right now on the wrong things and just peter out into doing nothing. Does that make sense?

zhvah18

There is no hard and fast rule that you have to move up levels every 10 days on the 30 day shred. there's also no reason why you have to do it every day. If you need a rest, then rest. If you liked doing 30DS I would say go back to level one and keep working at it until you feel strong enough to move on.

ETA: I have never done Zumba or Turbo Fire so I can't speak from experience if they are at all alike. When I first started getting back into shape, I did alot of walking. I know you said where you are the weather isn't so nice right now, but I've heard good things of the Walk Away The Pounds DVD's. Maybe those are something you would like to try. Especially if your knee is bothering you, you want to be careful. I understand motivation, but you don't want to get hurt then have to sit out longer because you took on to much to fast.

auzziecawth66

I would probably recommend against turbo fire if you are having alot of problems with your knees. It involves alot of twisting and bouncing jumping etc that if your form isn't perfect will probably make the problem worse. That being said just about anything can be modified to make it work for you just need to know what your strength and weaknesses are. I'm actually doing ripped in 30 right now at 7 months pregnant but I heavily modify to make it safe and effective for me. Nothing that says you have to do exactly what is in the video move for move.

NotBonJovi

If you liked doing 30DS I would say go back to level one and keep working at it until you feel strong enough to move on.

Good advice. I started the 30DS with my wife but I could not keep pace and have slowed down. I will move to level 2 when I am comfortable with level 1.

KenosFeoh

I found a good low-impact workout for beginners on FitnessBlender. It's challenging without being killer.

Circapaleo

I also had some trouble going from L1 to L2. I don't know how much or what type of pain you are having so I can't advise there, but I continued with L1 while substituting some of the exercises from L2. Kind of a L1.5 to help transition to L2. I was way out of shape when I started the 30DS, too. I think it ended up taking me more like 60-70 days to finish it. I also started breaking it up with some longs walks instead of the workout on some days just to give it a little rest.

zhvah18

So true. When I first did 30DS the mountain climbers were my arch nemesis. Hated them. Took me months before I was ever actually able to do them. I would vary it a bit. Sometimes I would do jumping jacks, or jump rope while they did the mountain climbers on the tv. Then I moved up to doing the first set of them then jumping jacks while they did the second set. Eventually I was able to do them just like in the video, but it took me a long time. As long as you're moving, that's what's important.

TeaBea

30 Day Shred is high impact ...how about alternating high impact & low impact days .... just to rest your joints. Maybe after awhile ... you can do high impact full time

Here's my go to low impact ....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjduJjO1pLg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5SeMKN8Bus

NHoughton13

Let me just say, L2 sucks. It hurt my knees too. I skipped ahead did L3 sooner, and liked it much better. For some of the L3 stuff I don't like, I modify and put in the pieces from L2 that I did like. I guess I do a Frankenstein version of the DVD, combining all my favorite parts.

joeymalone142

Let me just say, L2 sucks. It hurt my knees too. I skipped ahead did L3 sooner, and liked it much better. For some of the L3 stuff I don't like, I modify and put in the pieces from L2 that I did like. I guess I do a Frankenstein version of the DVD, combining all my favorite parts.

It never occurred to me to look ahead to level 3. I will have to see what it entails! Thanks!

twentyco

As you know, I tried 30 DS also and could not make it through Level 1 even --- so you are doing great! What I have found is working for me now is a combination of some cardio activity (for me it is mostly walking, or stationary bike, for now) combined with some other more strength related training which I do using the 200 sit ups/100 push ups/200 squats iPhone apps. I am trying to do something three to four times a week, and am getting to the point where that is working consistently. I decided that for me 30 DS was too much for right now --- but I will go back to it some day. It was too much of a leap from where I am --- I have learned in this process that modest changes implemented slowly over time are the only way I can make this work and stick to it.