30 Day Shred - Starting April 15 2013

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  • chipmunk_87
    chipmunk_87 Posts: 42
    Level 2 Day 6 down! I took 15 day progress photos and was REALLY happy to see the changes! Can't wait until Day 30.


    Here's a question...do you know if it is better to use heavier weights or go at a faster pace? For example, in Level 1, we did those "punches" - in level 3, you do the same thing but with weights in your hands...I can either go "faster" with 2lbs weights, or I can go a little slower but doing it with 5lb weights...anyone have any idea? (Similar, in L3 you do jumping jacks with weights in your hands [arms up to shoulder level], i can keep up with them with the 2lbs, but I'm just a little slower with the 5lbs)


    For me, I think it depends if its the cardio or strength section. For cardio, its important to keep your heart rate up, so I try and keep at the same speed as the video. For strength, I think its worth pushing to use higher weights even if you go slower.
  • corrsfan
    corrsfan Posts: 26
    Glad to hear how well everyone is doing! Congratulations to everyone already seeing changes. I have 2 more days to go (woohoo!!!) then I'll take photos to compare the change from before this workout. I don't seem to have lost much in my tummy though, which is usually the area I lose weight first. Weirdly it's my shoulders and upper arms that seem to have shrunk. I've had a few startling moments wearing wide shoulder tops or dresses and looking down to see they have dropped to my cleavage...yikes...

    About the weights for some of the moves in Level 3, I assume that if you use the 5lb weights and can't keep up with the pace of the jumping jacks at first, you will probably be able to do so in a few days if you stick with it. One thing that seems to be almost unanimous is that our strength and endurance are improving with each workout. I am no expert though so this may be terrible advice :-D Having said that, my right knee has started to hurt during the lunges in Level 3 so for the last 2 workouts I've done one of the Level 2 moves instead.
  • fourfiftythree
    fourfiftythree Posts: 203 Member
    I started 30DS around this time (April 19th). I am on day 16 but I'm not really doing the levels in order. Sometimes I do two levels a day, and I've already done level 3. I like level 3 better than 2, definitely! Level 1 is so easy now, sometimes I use it as my warmup. =)
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    L2D7 done. 3. more. days.

    Today was definitely better than yesterday, but Level 2 is still kicking my butt. Looking forward to a change next week.

    I agree that it probably depends on whether or not you're doing cardio or strength on whether heavy and slow is better than light and fast. Cardio you need your heart rate up, so I'd think light and fast, whereas strength is better to increase the weight with fewer reps. That's in my completely uneducated opinion.

    Ditto on the high fives. We are no joke rocking it - and, not in a negative way, but I didn't expect so many people (including myself) to stick with it this long! I seriously have commitment/easily bored issues so ROCK ON US!!!! :drinker:

    ETA: 13 more days!!! WOOOHOOO!
  • kitjos
    kitjos Posts: 158 Member
    I have such an awful cold atm that I can barely breathe so 30DS is out of the window for a few days. Its been 2 days now and hope I start to feel better soon so I can get back into it! Annoying!

    Everyone elce keep going, your doing great!

    X
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member
    L2 D9 down, and I swear, the only reason I dragged my butt out of bed go get it done is this thread and the posts about level 3!! One side of my brain wanted to sleep in, the other popped in and said, "Only two more days of this, then go away for the weekend, and start on the next level"!!

    I'm so grateful to all of you and all of your posts....I tend to get easily bored also, and don't normally have the stick-to-itness needed to finish a program like this, and wouldn't have gone this far if it weren't for all of you, so I also want to give us all high fives!!

    I agree with the weight thing, lower weights for cardio, higher ones for strength!!

    Only ELEVEN more days, and then I'm going to work on pull ups, push ups, weighted squats and lunges until I can get my form down....(that'll probably last a week). According to MFP, I burn as many calories push mowing as I do with the 30ds, so that's where I'm going to get the cardio in, at least for the summer.

    YEA US!! for going this far!! Can't wait to see the results!! I really wish I had a digital camera so I could have some before and after pics!!

    Edited to add....Kjitos...sorry you're under the weather, hope you get to feeling better soon!!
  • SAB8A
    SAB8A Posts: 27 Member
    L2D9 done yesterday.. OMG Is it really Day 10 for me.. LOL.. I don't think I will be able to get my exercise done today as there aren't enough hours today to get it done but I will for sure get it done tomorrow and do Level 2 again on Saturday with Resting on Sunday and Level 3 on Monday (which is my birthday so what a good way to kick it off without Level 2 LOL)

    Great Job to us all for sticking to it. The end is in sight =)

    Hope your feeling better Kitjos
  • hol_lou85
    hol_lou85 Posts: 46 Member
    Hey all, I've just completed day 1 level 3... And I was worried when I previewed the video yesterday, but honestly, I found it so much easier than level 2! Level 2 killed me every day! I'm hoping it means I'm stronger for level 3, rather than I may be doing it wrong :)
  • Amy_Andrews
    Amy_Andrews Posts: 106
    I love the motivation on this thread! I really don't want to do it today, but checking in here (and the thought that I only have 4 more level 2 workouts to do) is motivating me to just do it!

    I have been running 3x a week in addtion to 30DS. Anyone else doing anything extra?
  • SAB8A
    SAB8A Posts: 27 Member
    I love the motivation on this thread! I really don't want to do it today, but checking in here (and the thought that I only have 4 more level 2 workouts to do) is motivating me to just do it!

    I have been running 3x a week in addtion to 30DS. Anyone else doing anything extra?

    Amy, I get like that most days during Level 2 but I have to keep telling myself that the time will pass anyways might as well make the most of it. Plus it's only approx. 30 minutes so I can do it. Then during the whole workout I'm usually telling myself you can do it almost done almost done and thankfully by the time I know it that workout is done. I can't say I like Level 2 even with only 1 more day to go on it but I can say that I have noticed my endurance has been going up and I can hang with more and more of the video each day so it is working.

    As far as anything extra I do these wall exercises I found on Prevention.com that's supposed to help sculpt abs, thighs, and buns. Let me tell you after I'm done with that (which it takes all but 10-15 minutes) I am sore and can hardly walk. It is pretty tough but I know it's working because my muscles are screaming during and after. That's pretty much all the extra I do plus I don't count it towards my exercise. I just log what my HRM shows for calories burned during 30DS which usually is around 250-300 per workout.
  • KyliAnne26
    KyliAnne26 Posts: 209 Member
    I haven't been in on this thread until now, but I started 30DS on April 13th (I've skipped it 3 days, but have done it every day other than that). I just started level three a couple days ago - I definitely like level 3 more than level 2!! I can now do 10 real pushups in a row (not knee-pushups)!! I've never been able to do that before IN MY whole LIFE! Also, I've been hiking a lot lately, and I'm not the slow one anymore!!

    Hope it's going well with everyone else, I'll be sure and keep checking in to see how y'all did and let you know what my final results are as well!
  • travlinmel101
    travlinmel101 Posts: 243 Member
    Thanks for the advice everyone…I thought corrsfan made a great point that as we all have been going through the workouts we notice that our strength and endurance gets better…so I decide to stick with the 5lb’ers and just tried to go as fast as I could and hope to be as fast as them on Day 10!

    Kitjos – sorry to hear you are sick, it’s always so disappointing that your heart/spirit/mind wants to do it, but your body just isn't up for it. Get well soon and get shreddin’! :)

    Sab8a – lol – did you ever think you’d be getting “no level 2” as a gift for your bday?  Happy early, bday!

    Myverticalsmile – I thought the same thing when I “watched” it, but then once I started doing it I was surprised by my abilities! :)

    Amy – I’m also running 3x per week, I happened to start a 5K training program the same day that I started the 30DS. I’m finding that the shred has really helped my endurance in running, too! I’m just not sure if the combo of the 2 is what’s causing my shin-splint (left leg) to linger? (I have the shoes, compression sleeves, and I ice, just hoping it’ll get better!) :(

    Kanne – Great job on the REAL push-ups! I can’t wait until I can do 1! :)

    Not sure if anyone else has thought of this yet or not, to motivate myself more (esp in Level 2), I put my laptop in the same room as I workout and put Pandora on and turn Jillian down (not sure if this will work well for ppl watching it online though?). After a few days, I pretty much have Jillian memorized anyways :) so, I just listen to the music instead of her :) (Actually, if it wasn't for Pandora, tonight, I might not have done the DVD at all…Havana Brown “We Run the Night” came on and I was ready to get moving!!)

    And, something else I can add, maybe a head’s up for others who do their workout on carpeting - today I noticed I have “rug burns” on my elbows from the “walking planks” in L3, so I’m now using my yoga mat for those :)

    Let’s keep it goin’ everyone…we’re doing GREAT!!!!!
  • AJoyfulLife
    AJoyfulLife Posts: 9 Member
    I just finished L2 day 2 today.

    It is funny because on the first day I started Level 2 I thought, "Hey, this isn't so bad. This actually seems easier than Level 1". Then circuit 2 started and I just about died. All the plank stuff and the obelisk twists kill me. And my knees have been hurting which makes me think I may be doing something wrong. I know the plank/squat thingies are working muscles on my thighs near my knees that I am not used to working. I'm so glad to hear that Level 3 isn't as bad. Something to look forward to! Level 2 makes me want to "shred" the Netflix dvd.

    Sometimes I find myself saying to the television "I hate you Jillian". But it is a love/hate. I really hope this all pays off at the end of 30 days.
  • MicheleWE
    MicheleWE Posts: 179 Member
    I am pretty late to this party but I just finished day 5 of level 1 today. It is just challenging enough and I sweat like crazy but I've been lucky not to have any muscle soreness. However my knees have been very unhappy. I already notice a difference and have lost 1/2 inch of the waist so far. Really excited to see all the results, mine and yours.
  • corrsfan
    corrsfan Posts: 26
    @ travlinmel101: I do work out on a carpet but I don't have rug burns yet...maybe I'm doing something wrong, lol? I also wanted to listen to music while I work out but I haven't been able to do that in Level 3 yet for some reason. It definitely makes the workout more fun. Oh well, maybe next time :-D

    @ Kanne: well done on the push-ups! Much as I feel stronger I am not yet able to do a single one of those yet. I tried one today and thought I was gonna break my wrist. Maybe I need to lose alot more weight first before these arms can push up this body.

    @MicheleWE: welcome to the 30DS party! 1/2 an inch in such a short time is amazing so good on you.

    @ Everyone else...I definitely agree with the sentiment that reading this thread helps keep me motivated and I can relate to the love/hate thing with Jillian cause wow, she is tough. This morning I was able to button up a jacket that has been bursting at the seams so I am definitely loving her today. 1 more day to go but I am sure I will be back to this workout later in the year. What's everyone planning to do when you're done with the 30DS?
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member
    Level. 2. Done!!! When the alarm went off this morning, I actually reset it to sleep an extra hour, rolled over and thought about this thread....that's why I got up and did it!! So, thanks to all of you!!

    Congrats to all for increased endurance and strength!! I still can't do a "real" pushup, but at least now I know I can get stronger and I can do more jumping jacks, and I can do a squat thrust, and I can a whole lot more than I thought I could!!

    Again, Thanks to all for this thread....

    corrsfan, I'm planning on working on pull ups, push ups, squats and lunges after this, with cardio being push mowing 45 minutes/day...Mon., Wed. and Fri will be crunches, pushups, and assisted pull ups (until I can do them) and Tu, Thur, and Fri will be squats,, lunges and donkey kicks. I'm not sure how long I will do it though. To be honest, I wouldn't still be doing 30ds if it weren't for this thread!!
  • Amy_Andrews
    Amy_Andrews Posts: 106
    Travelin - My shins are always achy after a Jillian workout. It's a lot of jumping moves that put a lot of pressure on your lower legs (jumping jacks, jump ropes, squat thrusts, plank jacks). Those muscles also get stronger the more you use them, so just make sure you stretch them really well, especially after a run. And if they're really achy, ice them down. I like to use the "ABC stretch" where you sit with your legs straight in front of you and "write" the alphabet with your toes.

    Corrsfan - I'm really liking my results, so I'm thinking of more Jillian torture when this is over. Maybe Ripped in 30? When I finally reach my GW I am going to start a weight lifting program to tone up - maybe Jamie Eason's Live Fit. But Jillian has to help me lose 15 more pounds first!
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    L2D8 done!!! AHHHH SOOO wish that I hadn't needed that extra rest earlier this week! Gonna push through and hopefully finish Level 2 on Sunday.

    Amy - I've been trying to do additional exercise but it's been really tough especially this last week. Last night I did try the first day of C25k and I noticed my endurance was WAY up from the last time I tried jogging a few months ago. I'm going to officially start Week 1 of it next week and am really excited!

    I owe a lot to this thread and Jillian, but yeah...I can't stand her during the workouts. I love the idea of music during the workout! I watch it on my laptop but I have my husband's laptop, and will have to try that on Monday when he's at work!

    Congrats everyone on the awesome progress! 12 days left!!!! :drinker:
  • chipmunk_87
    chipmunk_87 Posts: 42
    L2 Day 8 done, too! Its definitely getting easier. I actually enjoyed it!

    I haven't been doing anything else formally, but I do either bike or walk to University most days. Its only 3 km though.
  • MicheleWE
    MicheleWE Posts: 179 Member
    Amy Andrews-I just finished LiveFit last week. Definately challenging, especially for someone new to weight lifting. I didn't lose much as far as pounds, but I didn't comply with her diet 100% either, but can see a difference in body composition, and I really like the muscles I've found. So good luck to you, just do your best and if you need encouragement I'm here for you. I did post pictures of my results on my profile if you are interested. Now I am doing 30 DS to try and lean down some more. I still have 22 lbs to lose. I am only on Level 1 but am seeing a difference already and due to the weight training I've never been sore with doing 30DS.
  • melissa112
    melissa112 Posts: 99 Member
    I finished L3D5 today! Tomorrow was supposed to be my rest day but just remembered I have to work late Monday, so not sure whether to do another day tomorrow, and have Monday as a rest!

    My arm is a tiny bit better, but those planks in circuit 3 where you do a plank with weights, and lift up your arm, then leg etc, I'm finding really hard when it comes to putting the weight on my bad arm. So I think I'll do day 6 tomorrow and then have a rest for a day.

    Mel, once I've done a few days of each level, I tend to turn Jillian lower and put my own music on. It does help a little!

    I'm not really doing much other exercise. I walk my dog 1.5hrs a day, and sometimes my nans collie for an hour in the mornings.

    What has everyone got planned for when they finish 30DS?
  • Hey everyone, i have been using the fitness pal along with the 30 day shred. I started level 3 today. I havent been losing any weight but have just started to notice the top of my tummy dipping in. I do 5 days and have a days rest then start again. Sometimes it draining but i keep saying its only 20 minutes as normally i never carry on the exercise longer than 2 weeks.

    Level one and three are on youtube but i found level 2 on a different site. i think level 1 and 3 are the hardest ones but i have heard a lot of good things about it even tho im only seeing a tiny difference.

    \keep it up girls :-) xx
  • yes that plank with the weights i cant seem to do well. my weights must be different as i cant lean on them without breaking my fingers. Well done :-) i heard a dvd slim in 6 or something its only level 1 thats 30 minute long and i have heard its very boring so im looking for ideas too xx

    Sorry to Melissa112
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    L2D9 done!

    I'm not sure what I'm going to do after this. I am starting c25k this next week so I may focus on that for a week or so. I do want some strength training though. I may do something like 30 ds each level once a week? Not sure, but eventually I'd like to build up enough to do P90X or insanity.
  • chipmunk_87
    chipmunk_87 Posts: 42
    Level Two Day 9 done, too! I'm going to go straight into Ripped in 30 when I finish. It has mixed reviews but I've heard its similar to the Shred format but a little harder, which sounds perfect. I just don't think I can face 30DS again right away without dying of boredom, and I don't really want to buy new heavier weights right now as we are moving in 2 months.
  • CrysArri
    CrysArri Posts: 13 Member
    I just started the 30 Day Shred this week, and you all are so inspiring.

    I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it when I watched it the first time, and I just about cried when I finished it without taking a rest. I'm so excited to see how my body changes when I finish this.
  • xLexa
    xLexa Posts: 482 Member
    I just started the 30 Day Shred this week, and you all are so inspiring.

    I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it when I watched it the first time, and I just about cried when I finished it without taking a rest. I'm so excited to see how my body changes when I finish this.

    Me too, day 2 lvl 1 done, places I did not know existed hurt... it's all good right? hehe
  • corrsfan
    corrsfan Posts: 26
    30 DS done! Goodbye (for a while) Jillian! Saturday was my last day and I was so glad I got to the end of it. I have been taking photos along the way to see if my body has been changing and I can see some small changes I'm happy with - nowhere near as drastic as a lot of the pictures I've seen here but I'm happy anyway. Even small changes are encouraging cause it means I'm on the right track. Tomorrow I get back into Zumba which I'll alternate with a couple of days of resistance training. I don't think I'll be able to resist checking into this thread everyday though :-) Have a great week everyone!
  • vc1987
    vc1987 Posts: 2
    As bad as this sounds, I'm glad I've read this post and so many of you feel the same... I HATE level 2!
    I was actually looking forward to moving on from level 1, needed a change, but whereas I use to look forward to the workout, I'm dreading it now! Now, I find it difficult to stay motivated during the workout. It's not so much my fitness level, it's my frame of mind. Terrible!
    My hands are hurting throughout the workout, so I'm going to modify the planks slightly. I'm just hoping its going to get easier, but then I've only just done L2D2 Bonus that its such a short workout! X
  • leeroxboro
    leeroxboro Posts: 142 Member
    Well, today should've been D1 L3, but I didn't get my lazy butt out of bed in time!! Maybe I'll have the gumption when I get home from work this evening!!

    Let's keep shredding!!