9 minutes?!!?

i think i might have a go at the jumping jacks tomorrow lol

Level 1 just about killed me when I first started! I was able to finish but I modified a bit. 9 minutes is better than no minutes!!! :-) Be proud of what you did, and try to do another 9 minutes tomorrow. I'm now onto Level 2 and can easily see being on Level 3 in a couple weeks. You can do it!

I had days like this starting Insanity. "Pause to catch your breath and then keep on going" is great advice. Also, Ibuprofen beforehand. Tons of water all day/during workout will help, as well. For pushups, you can do them against the wall, then against a chair, the against a bed or stool, then girlie, then on the floor if you want. Start on something as high as you can manage and work down to the floor.

Beyond that, just do it every day. No excuses.

It'll hurt like hell until it doesn't anymore.

Good for you for trying, but don't injure yourself. If you haven't exercised at all I'd work on doing an exercise where you can start light and build up your intensity (like jogging or jumping rope). some light exercise and increasing intensity before you get really into it. Jumping jacks is pretty easy and gets your heart rate really going if you want to figure out where you are and how intense you can get. No need to feel like you are going to have to throw up through a exercise routine...with the 'working up to it' mode you can just decrease intensity until your heart rate calms down. If you feel stomach sick and you didn't just eat and you're not hungry then chances are your heart rate was up to dangerous levels. Don't keep them up there for long. I think I'm getting the stomach flu and my heart was pounding out of my chest just doing bicept curls today. I did lower reps for my routine and took longer breaks just to get through it. No need to go to the hospital.

It definitely gets easier though I had trouble with some things right til the very end. I'd suggest looking up alternative exercises and doing those at the same time they do the regular ones. The DVD will keep you on pace but you'll be able to do your own thing. For pushups, I've been doing mine on a bench so it's easier than regular, more difficult than on my knees but doesn't kill my knees. You could also do them on a wall...greater the incline, easier they are.

why didn't you pause it, catch your breath, and then keep going??

Yea, gotta give some tough love on this one.
My sister is 5'4" and was 230lbs when she started working out after her second child and she did Jillian Michaels 30 day shred....
She didn't have any hand weights - so she used bean cans
She had ****ty shoes and could only work out in her garage b/c their living room was above her daughter's bedroom
I actually told her to back off a little from it because I was worried she'd hurt herself from how sore she was
She didn't stop.....she kept going
She eventually bought hand weights & other workout dvds and created a workout space in the house for herself and bought new shoes

Later she completed a round of P90X and then a round of Insanity and went from 230 to 143lbs in less than a year

I am happy for your sister. well done her.


I got to 17 mins today.

nice work. why didn't you pause it, catch your breath, and then keep going?

and despite it's name, 30 Day Shred is not intended to be done daily. it should be done every other day. this is according to jillian micheals herself.