30day shred

I still got 1 more day of Level 2.
Someone who just started Level 3 (I'm not even previewing it) told me today Level 3 includes jumping jacks with WEIGHTS and JUMPING lunges.

Okayyyy... maybe Level 2 is not so bad after all...

Day 21 (day 1 of level 3)

Well, it's no cakewalk, but I definitely like it better than level 2, and I also think it seems to go by a lot faster than the other two levels (does anyone know if it is, indeed, shorter?).

The only part have major trouble with is the jumping with my knees, so I minimize the impact for those & for one of them I just do squats instead. I have to say that the legs really get killed on this level, whereas level two seemed to kill me on the arms. Today wasn't too terrible, but I can definitely see day 3 or 4 being a killer after those muscles have been broken in for a few days.

Still optimistic, but I think it's going to be a tough 10 days. Anything seems better than level 2 at this point.

I also wanted to add that level three did take me back to feeling like a beginner, and I certainly didn't breeze though it. I rewound the dvd at a few points to figure a few moves out, fell to my knees at a few points and forced myself back up, and stuck mainly to the beginner moves. Even so, it still felt *much* more doable than level 2 to me, minus the end jumping routine which was a tad too rough on my knees at points, so I improvised a bit there.

- 30 Day Shred, day 22 (day 2 of level 3)
- Butt Bible, day 15 (day 1 of level 2) ***Only lasted 25 minutes***

Still tackling level 3 of 30 Day Shred, and I can say with certainty that while it's still no fun, it just seems more doable than level two ever did to me. I can feel the slow progress on this level, whereas level two I just felt like I took the same beating day after day while counting down to level 3. On level 3, I pause frequently to get a drink of water, but that's about it, & even the plank exercises seem easier than the ones in level 2. Don't get me wrong, I'm still counting down to the 10 day mark, but this level makes me feel more capable overall, which really helps to keep me motivated to return to it the next day.

I also decided to move on to level 2 of Butt Bible, since level 1 was seeming a bit easier after 15 days, and let me say that *that* kicked my butt when doing it right after level 3 of 30DS. I actually only made it through the first 25 minutes, and then (I'm ashamed to say) I turned it off. Perhaps tomorrow will treat me kinder, or I'll stop being such a wimp.

I'd also like to know... am I the only one who can't seem to take rest days effectively? I find that if I take a rest day, the next day seems even harder than if I just stuck with the routine day after day. I'm honestly surprised that no one else finds the exercises harder to do after a day break.

20/30 - level 2 is history! Yeah.

Violet, I'm the same. After my rest day my body actually feels heavier and the moves feel harder...

Day 23 (day 4 of level 3)

Still liking this level more than level 2, and starting to feel like I'm making progress on it. The intervals are definitely easier than level 2, but I do pause this one frequently to get some water & catch my breath. I find pausing to catch my breath really, really helps me to push through the routines with more strength than before. I also am finally feeling like my stomach *might* be a little flatter, but it's hard for me to judge because anything I eat makes my stomach pooch out. I'm learning quickly that I have to judge any improvement off what it looks like first thing in the morning or it's not really a good comparison.

All in all, I definitely feel like I've gotten my money's worth out of this dvd, and am looking forward to continuing on with it when finished (probably alternating levels each day).

- 30 Day Shred, day 24 (day 5 of level 3)

Getting easier today, and I found a way to make it much more enjoyable (though honestly, I really don't hate this level much anymore anyway). Since I'm a bit more familiar with the level now, I ended up making a grooveshark playlist of some peppy Maroon 5 songs, put it on shuffle & cranked it up. First I danced around simply because the music was catchy, then I turned up the 30DS just enough that I could make out her instructions and left the music cranked. All in all, I think the routine felt a bit longer this way (probably because I didn't have her countdowns on each exercise to clue me in that I was almost done with each) & partly because I now pause the dvd each time I need a drink of water or to catch my breath. I find that I can pull through each exercise stronger if I simply pause the dvd & rest for a moment, and now when I pause I simply dance around to whatever song is on. *MUCH* more enjoyable, in my opinion.

& for those in or coming up on level 3, I can say that this level really does get easier. I can do everything except the rockstar jumps, which I just do squats during, and probably at least half of the advanced moves. I'm still not seeing the results/toning I had hoped for, but there is a huge change in my endurance now so I'm hoping this was the push I needed to keep going with other routines down the line. (Thinking Killer Buns & Thighs next).

I'm on day 2 of Level 3. I seem to have a love/hate relationship with this level. It is definitely my favourite, as it seems to be the least boring one of them. I enjoy the first half, probably because I can work with my own body weight instead of a set of weights. The last circuit, especially the cardio part, is tough.
I love the superman and hate the jumping lunges.

I'm gonna stick to this level for 15 days instead of 10, I think. One of the reasons is that I took my before picture on day 3 and measurements on day 5, and I want the after pics/measurements after exactly 30 days. The other reason is that I really like this level and I feel like it's going to be very effective.
After that, it's going to be Ripped in 30. These short workouts are exactly what I needed to begin and to stay on track. It worked just like I hoped it would. So that might be the way to go for me.

Today, right after I got up I did 3 real pushups. I know it sounds like nothing but I was NEVER able to do even one third of a real push up before I started this DVD. Now I can do 3, after only 2 levels.

This 30 day shred, how do I become a part ? Is their any program to down load or what ? Sounds like something to finally stick too.

Just got through level 1 day 6. It's pretty easy now, can anyone tell me how level 2 is?? :S

HI, Just done day 9 level 2 tonight. Funny thing is I actually felt Frumpy when I was doing it, too many bulges and flabby bits showing. before this I seemed to look better. Maybe I was closer to the mirror haha.

I quite like level 2, its much better than level 2 but it does seem to go over quite quickly..... luckily.

I am really looking forward to level 3. I took a quick peak earlier on and it looks awesome!!!

- 30 Day Shred, day 28 (day 8 of level 3)

Doing better. I now pause between the harder exercises for about 30 seconds to regroup, and find it helps me push through each bit with more endurance. I just hit pause after each hard exercise & dance to my music, then hit play and go at it again. I figure I probably get more out of it that way rather than collapsing to the floor.

I'm still a tad bummed that I'm not completely ripped with a nice tight bum yet *sarcasm*, but definitely looking forward to continuing on this path. What a difference 30 days has made in kickstarting a great lifestyle change.

2 more days!!!

@ Chloe: Congratulations! It must feel great to have finished. I wouldn't sweat your progress photos... mine are going to be quite similar. I'm small to start with, so really I'm just hoping to see even the slightest bit of toning & perhaps a slightly flatter stomach.

Every bit of improvement counts, no matter how small.

Will you share the pics with us, Violet? Congratulations on getting this far! I still have 6 more days to go, however I took, my "before" pictures on day 3 so I will do at least 3 more days. (might do 5 more, because I took all the measurements even later).

@ SleeplessInBerlin: Sure thing. I don't expect you'll see much, but never know. I was small to begin with so I'm mainly hoping for some slight toning perhaps.

@ TinyTasha: I'd say it's a bit hard on the knees. I actually got myself a joint supplement which helped some, and improvise a few of the routines to be easier on my knees. Just sub in other exercises where you need to. Nothing is set in stone.