Starting 30-day shred... any thoughts/advice?

Hi All, I'm starting the 30-day shred on May 1st. Does anyone have any advice or tips? What were your results like? I'd even love to see some before and after pics!

Thanks everyone!

Replies

  • WinterGirl_92
    WinterGirl_92 Posts: 14 Member
    Wear shoes..lol I know kinda dumb but trust me your feet will thank you!
  • Shetchncn1
    Shetchncn1 Posts: 260 Member
    Just start it NOW and go the whole way. Why wait? 30 days is 30 days.
  • JKayLaw
    JKayLaw Posts: 11 Member
    I'm on day 4 today. Just remember that it is quick. When you don't want to do it, just tell yourself to pump it out! Fisrt day, didn't finish, now I'm keeping up just fine. I'm doing level one for 7 days and then level 2 for 7 days then the rest level 3... I hope. :) My son did level one with me last night and we decided just to watch level 3 to see what it looks like... yikes! :) I've seen great before and after pics, so I have to see this to the end. :)
  • travlinjess
    travlinjess Posts: 243 Member
    Take before and after pictures AND measurements. The scale will most likely 'lie' about the progress you're making.

    Eat enough to adequately fuel your body…Drink plenty of water…

    Recommended: Take a rest day every week…I took one after each level (10days)…

    AND hang in there! FYI: most of my results didn't show until Level 3, around day 25! After that, the inches and pounds melted away.

    It's a great program to increase strength and fitness level. I just started round 2 of it today. Good luck!! :)
  • newgirl512
    newgirl512 Posts: 58 Member
    I started it yesterday. My arms are really sore today, but I did it again. Definitely wear shoes and do it somewhere that you won't be concerned about sweat dripping on the floor.
  • Linkdapink
    Linkdapink Posts: 128 Member
    Check your form and take it slow. I really hurt my knees because I was going over when I was doing squats! Make sure you keep those knees behind your toes.

    And also... don't underestimate how hard it is. I started off thinking "oh its only 20m, not too hard" and then sweatin buckets. Level 3 I nearly threw up because I did it too soon after eating. Take rest days if you need them - its high impact so joints etc will need time to recover! Get some decent dumbells, and an exercise mat too!
  • Ladyslippers
    Ladyslippers Posts: 186 Member
    I don't have any before/afters (yet) but wanted to offer a suggestion. I did Day 1 last week and ended up making a few substitutions. Instead of the pushups and crunches Jillian does, I did the wall pushups and ab exercises my physical therapist has me doing. I also substituted jogging in place for jumping jacks because my arthritic knees don't like jumping jacks. I felt great doing the workout and all that day but the next day, my ankle was swollen and very painful to move. I wrapped it up and went about my business. It felt better as the day went on and was much better the next day, and all better the day after. But there's a big difference between walking and jogging and going forward with the motion as you do on the road or a treadmill and jogging in place, which is where I got into trouble without even realizing it. Apparently I need to really take things slowly and in little tiny baby steps.

    This isn't the case for everyone, of course, but I thought I'd mention it. Maybe go a little easy the first couple times you do it until you get used to it. Once you know what you can and can't do, then you can start pushing yourself more. You'll still benefit and hopefully reduce the risk of injuring yourself right off the bat.

    ETA: my physical therapist suggested NOT doing it every day (I have shoulder and knee issues) but instead starting off doing it every 2-3 days and then maybe increasing frequency as my body gets used the to demands of the routine. I keep up with my alternate training (walking, jogging, elliptical, dumbbells, stretchy bands) on the days I'm not doing the 30DS.
  • Schmidt722
    Schmidt722 Posts: 35 Member
    Hey! You'll get a lot of mixed advice. Personally I think it's all good and that there isn't a right or wrong way to do the shred. It's a good exercise program no matter what. Find a schedule, system, or method that works for you personally, and good luck!

    Here's what I do: 1-1-rest-1-1-2-rest-1-2-1-rest-2-1-2-rest-1-2-3-rest-1-2-3-rest-1-2-3-rest-2-3-2-rest-3-2-rest-3-3-3-rest-3-3-done!

    I've been taking rest days every 3 days or so and I think it's helped keep me from getting bored and/or giving up. Then, I also thought I'd get bored doing each level consecutively so I figured a way to build up to the harder levels while still mixing it up. I'm on day 11 and so far it's been great. If you do start with a schedule and see a need for change in any way, definitely make it.
  • MD1978
    MD1978 Posts: 477 Member
    I just finished the Shred on Friday. Definately take measurements and before pictures. Even if you can't make it through the first workout, keep pushing by the end of the 10 days you will make it (or be greatly improved). Follow Anita if it gets too hard, you will still get great results. Good Luck! I just started Ripped in 30 today, feel free to friend me.
  • overshadows
    overshadows Posts: 58 Member
    Watch out for your knees. 1 week in and I had done some serious damage.
  • CherylDeshon
    CherylDeshon Posts: 3 Member
    Hi, I will be starting on tomorrow... maybe we can share our progress.:smile:
  • one thing a lot of people seem to do is going 30 days straight without rest days! in one of her podcasts Jillian said that she intended it as a 5 workouts per week programme... she always stresses how important rest days are, in other podcasts she recommended one rest day per week so give yourself one rest day so your muscles can recover!
  • CMorning99
    CMorning99 Posts: 924 Member
    If you are also looking for weight loss, be sure follow an eating plan as well. I only burn about 100 calories per session which isnt enough on it's own.
  • wmphimu
    wmphimu Posts: 77 Member
    Wear shoes..lol I know kinda dumb but trust me your feet will thank you!

    This was exactly what I was going to say! I did day 1 yesterday, and stopped a few minutes in to grab my shoes! :)
  • I did it and loved it. At 252 lbs it wasn't easy for sure. Make sure you take measurements cause I gained 2 lbs the first 2 weeks, but also during that time I lost 4 inches. My overall was 8 inches and 6 lbs lost in 30 days (I did it EVERY day regardless of what was going on each day). That's a huge number for someone as big and unfit as me!! :)
    I hurt myself overdoing it in a cycling class and only just started level 3 again, but I have to be very careful about my knee, so I can't work as hard.
    Good luck! It's a commitment, but it's definitely worth it!
  • Has anyone (or is anyone) following a specific food plan? I.e. what are you eating during the day while doing the 30 day shred?
  • pkinblue
    pkinblue Posts: 140 Member
    It is hard on the knees--watch the squat form.
    For me, week 1 killed my legs. I could hardly go down the stairs that first 3 days.
    I LOVED week 2..I go back and do that one even after the 30 days were over
  • 20kb13
    20kb13 Posts: 161
    Definitely don't rely on the scale to move much, especially in the beginning. Tomorrow will be day 2 of level 3 for me... I do 10 days on each level. Weight loss was extremely slow for me, but I can tell that I have lost inches, I am able to do most of the exercises much better now, and feel stronger.

    And don't get discouraged if it feels difficult in the first few days of each level, just modify it a little if you need to, but try to do part of the exercise the way she does it... by the end of the level you'll be much better at it!
  • blondley
    blondley Posts: 38 Member
    I'm on Day 5 of Level 2... the first day, I was shocked at how I couldn't keep up! I had to stop a lot and I couldn't even do a push up on my knees. I had been out of the exercise routine for about half a year... but still! By day 5, I finally felt like I was doing a good job with it. :) I struggled with lunges and squats during level 1, by level 2 I don't have a problem with them anymore. Good luck :)
  • donald149
    donald149 Posts: 211 Member
    Agree with the wearing shoes part! Also do take pictures as your scales will 'temporarily' rise as you gain muscle and you're body will try and retain water. Trust me that it quickly descrease after week 1 - just don't let it get you discouraged at first. You also need to worry more about form than keeping up.
  • ohyousillygirl
    ohyousillygirl Posts: 76 Member
    1. Take pictures!! I really regret not taking any before pictures because while the scale has stayed the same my body is definitely more muscular/ leaner slightly.

    2. Like others mentioned, wear shoes! I didn't wear them for level 1 but started for level 2 and 3, it makes everything infinitely easier!

    3. Don't fret about actually finishing it in 30 days. I started on March 1st, did some extra days of certain levels and am just now finishing it up with it.

    Listening to Jillian say the same thing every day gets real old real fast, so once you have the routine for that level down drown out her voice with your own music. This made the whole thing much more tolerable for me.
  • Yecats1990
    Yecats1990 Posts: 18 Member
    After reading I have to say definetly wear shoes as everyone recommends, My first attempt from a few months back ended with me visiting the doctors I could barely walk as my knee was so painful. The doctor said never exercise without the correct footwear as your foot can easily roll either in or out causing damage to the knee. Don't worry if you can't complete a level straight through because as the days go along you will eventually become fitter and get the hang of the moves making it easier to follow the circuits :) And best of all don't give up like I did lol even if the results are not physical straight away you will feel amazing on the inside! I had better posture after about 5 days and I felt stronger and fitter and my stamina was greatly improved. You will not believe how amazing it feels to have stronger abdominal muscles, makes you feel slimmer and sexier!! My legs toned pretty quick which made me happy too lol :p

    Keep a glass or open bottle of water next to you as you can't pause the dvd and go get one and I found water to help as I got a dry mouth and felt really thirsty. Make sure you have a set of dumbells close by mine are 1.0kg not sure if thats the recommended weight but I feel comfortable with them, If you find it too hard with dumbells do the exercise without them just copy the moves it's better than stopping completely or struggling. Wear a good bra preferably a sports bra and clothes that are easy to move in and not too heavy or warm as you will generate a lot of heat :) I have to do it in shorts and a vest.

    Last of all, Good Luck!! You will love the results and don't forget the before and after pics! xx
  • sandobr1
    sandobr1 Posts: 319 Member
    The lunges are killer, maybe practice form before, that and the push ups for me are doing me in right now.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    I feel over the first day doing the lunges (true story). I did week 1 for many many weeks. I just considered it a great workout in a short time.
  • kar328
    kar328 Posts: 4,159 Member
    I did it as part of a March challenge. People then said that the first four days are the hardest, the most sore, etc. They were right.

    You'll want to throw things at Jillian and call her names. Anita was my BFF (the one doing the modified). Take measurements as well as your weight and do it again when you're done. Doing more modified than anything, and being in terrible shape, I still managed to lose 6.1 inches.

    Don't obsess over doing it in 30 days. It wasn't meant to be that way. Rest days are great. And have some fun. It's worth it.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    Don't give up, it might kick your butt at first but it's worth it!

    I don't think Jillian ever actually says this in the videos, but I'm pretty sure the program was designed for you to take one rest day a week. Your body needs it! So do the first 6 days of level 1, then rest a day, then do the other 4 days of level 1 and the first 2 days of level 2, rest a day, etc... so the program will actually take a little longer than 30 days to complete. That being said, if you want to finish by the end of May, you might as well start now :)

    And definitely take pictures/measurements - the often tell a totally different story than the scale (and a much happier one).
  • ekdt
    ekdt Posts: 1
    i've done all of jillian michaels DVDs they are great!!
  • Kaylee_law_123
    Kaylee_law_123 Posts: 450 Member
    Take before and after pictures AND measurements. The scale will most likely 'lie' about the progress you're making.

    Eat enough to adequately fuel your body…Drink plenty of water…

    Recommended: Take a rest day every week…I took one after each level (10days)…

    AND hang in there! FYI: most of my results didn't show until Level 3, around day 25! After that, the inches and pounds melted away.

    It's a great program to increase strength and fitness level. I just started round 2 of it today. Good luck!! :)

    THIS!

    I didn't take measurements and the scale made me feel as though I wasn't losing, but when you look at the way your body changes you really realise how much good it is doing!
  • anniegail1961
    anniegail1961 Posts: 116 Member
    Hello: Thanks for posting this because I've been in a funk all day, because I was unable to complete Day 3.
    I completed 2 days of Shed/Shred and I was feeling empowered but today I had a pulled groin muscle and I have been limping all day, and I feel all of my 51 yrs.
    So today I took a rest day, and mentally re-grouped. I hope I'm feeling better tomorrow.
    Jillian really knows her stuff, and she forces one to strive for more!
    I love how I sweat with this program.
    You asked for any advice-have a cold face cloth handy with a bottle of water. You'll be happy you did. You'll sweat that much!
    Best Regards!
    anniegail1961
  • JenHol79
    JenHol79 Posts: 90 Member
    I completed Day 4 yesterday and I took today off as a rest day. Im giving myself a month and half to complete. The other time I tried it I was so sore I quit. I went four days straight and was very sore today I am not but still taking a rest day. Listen to your body. Enjoy!