Your thoughts on the 30 Day Shred?

duckiec

I scanned back about 10 pages and didn't see anything, but maybe I didn't look far enough, sorry.

Just wondering about your take on the 30 day shred? Marketing hoopla? Effective? Better off doing separate, dedicated strength training and cardio sessions?

I was curious, so started today, but wondering if I got sucked into the hype, or if there's some value there. I was doing strength 3x/week (Nerd Fitness Beginner) and cardio 3x week (Zumba, C25k), and wondering how to fit this in to an existing program. Does it count as strength? Cardio? Both? Should I swap out an existing session, or add this as extra? My plan was do to 30ds 5x week, plus add more cardio 2-3x a week, and then my fave 60-min cardio class, though maybe I need more strength sessions, too?

Anyway, I've done a lot of searching on how this fits in and haven't found many answers- regardless of my own program, would love to get your general $.02 on it!

Chief_Rocka

It's better than nothing, but not nearly as good as a properly done strength training program

MidwestAngel

It's better than nothing, but not nearly as good as a properly done strength training program

lacurandera1

It's worth doing. It's not going to replace real strength training, like Rock said. I'd count it as cardio, and don't ever shortchange your lifting to complete it. I did it as I was doing Insanity. It was okay, but I think it's really made for people with fitness levels that are...not very high.

I personally added it as extra to my other commitments. As it's not super long and or taxing I didn't see any negative effects from just adding it.

tameko2

In answer to your basic question - I would consider it cardio, with mild resistance elements, but no more than say running or doing the elliptical with resistance turned on.

Have you tried it though? Because I've only attempted level 1 but .....
I *loathe* the 30 day shred. Hate it. I got it as a 'here at least do this' for my husband who refused to go to the gym with me because he thought people might look at him all judgemental-like (*eyeroll*) and we both loathe the everyliving crap out of it.

It is, I suppose, a good way for some people to get into the spirit of exercising, as I think some people respond really well to Jillian and don't feel comfortable exercising outside of the comfort of their living rooms.

I am personally of the opinion that its carefully calibrated to make you feel EXHAUSTED. Not calibrated to be a good workout, but just to make your arms TIRED so you think you got a killer workout. Heaven help you if you don't have tiny weights - I find it very difficult to complete the first part with anything as heavy as even 8-10 lb weights (8 whole lbs!) despite being able to bench press 100+ lbs. You just have to hold the stupid things out at shoulder height or ages (which is TIRING). And there are jumping jacks which are the most irritating and boring exercise in the world.

So I mean, long story short - if you are already capable of and willing to do C25k and the nerdfitness beginner lifting program, I don't see why you'd want to do 30 day shred. And that's already more than enough exercise.

iulia_maddie

I did it when i was completely new to exercising. Could only do it for about 15 days because those side lunges messed up my knees(my knees are crappy anyways), and because it gets boring.
But I did see results, so if you are just starting out, definitely give it a shot. You can get the DVD for 5 dollars at Walmart.

SimpleThingsInLife

Before I joined a gym, it was my go-to workout. I managed to lose quite a bit of fat doing it, and I did it for 30 days. I became a stronger runner while doing it. Nowadays, I use it for a fill in workout if I can't get to the gym to lift.

Will_Thrust_For_Candy

I have most JM workouts and while I didn't do 30ds I did Ripped in 30. I definitely think her videos serve a purpose, but a good weight lifting program far out weighs 30ds. Also, I did see results when I was doing her videos. For a long time that was all I did and it was effective. But for maximum results there are better options.

I also don't think that they are just for beginners....but they are a different workout then what many of us doing daily. There are still exercises in there that kick my *kitten*!!!!!

ilovedeadlifts

It's better than nothing, but not nearly as good as a properly done strength training program

agreed

duckiec

Thanks for your feedback!

My strength program doesn't include true lifting yet (no gym/real equipment) - just body resistance exercises with some light dumbells - http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/. I'd already started adding to that routine (extra squats, bicep curls with the lunges) which is very similar to some of the 30ds moves. But not exactly the same- after only 2 days, I'm sorta sore in places I haven't been with my old routine.

I think my plan is to spend some annoying time w/ Jillian 5x/week, add some cardio or body resistance moves she doesn't cover afterwards, until I've done the full 30 days (in 6 weeks)... then get back to the previous routine, hopefully stronger and ready for more modifications, or even bump to the next level. Hoping this plan gives some results I can then continue to refine when I change it up after I'm done; I'm just not seeing my body change yet.

tameko2

If you can curl it, you can lunge with a lot more. Its one of the things I hated about the 30 day shred that I alluded to.

Lets say I can squat 100 lbs for reps, but I can only do a shoulder press with 20 lbs for reps. If I do a combination squat/shoulder press movement, it does mean I'm only doing 1 movement instead of 2 movements, but it means I'm squatting 1/5th of what I should be. If your concern is about STRENGTH, then doing the above makes no sense for increasing your lower body strength because you aren't challenging those muscle groups at all with your 20 lb weight.

*edited to add* ok, I won't say "at all" but you aren't challenging them MUCH, and that's how much you strength gains. No one gets stronger by lifting the same 10lb weights forever.

kazzsjourney

Jillian actually said on her radio show last week that she thinks that DVD is outdated now (she was chastising her producer for buying it for her niece) and actually said she wouldn't buy that she should buy her Ripped in 30 days DVD

duckiec

Well, my current primary goal is to lose fat and inches. Being stronger and having better endurance is a benefit, too, but in the immediate sense, I want to be smaller. I'm losing on the scale, but don't see any real difference in my shape, and I'm hoping going through this will translate into a few inches lost, maybe a smaller clothes size. Then I can re-evaluate status and goals and go back to, or find a different routine?

Edited to add: it helps that this one was free, too, thanks to YouTube.

Chief_Rocka

Jillian actually said on her radio show last week that she thinks that DVD is outdated now (she was chastising her producer for buying it for her niece) and actually said she wouldn't buy that she should buy her Ripped in 30 days DVD

Imagine that

tameko2

Well, my current primary goal is to lose fat and inches. Being stronger and having better endurance is a benefit, too, but in the immediate sense, I want to be smaller. I'm losing on the scale, but don't see any real difference in my shape, and I'm hoping going through this will translate into a few inches lost, maybe a smaller clothes size. Then I can re-evaluate status and goals and go back to, or find a different routine?

Edited to add: it helps that this one was free, too, thanks to YouTube.

Its not even in the top 5 what I would recommend, but its not going to hurt you to try it if you really want to. At worst, you won't see any progress and you'll try something else next month

FitMrsR

The 30DS was the very first exercise I EVER did in my whole life. It appealed to me because it was cheap and only 30 mins per day. It served as a great intro to exercise and gave me good results. It got easy very quickly though. After 2 months I could do all of it with no problem so I eventually got p90x which I absolutely love. It's been nearly a year since I've started p90x and I just keep lifting heavier weights and pushing myself more on the cardio. I also have insanity too. I don't love it but its good cardio. I much prefer lifting

Sarauk2sf

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