30 Day Shred - Starting April 15 2013

L2 D6 done on Saturday but I didn't check in and then I did L2 D7 Sunday.. Yesterday was rest because I was not feeling good but I plan on getting back in it today. I also started doing about a 10 minute workout I found at Prevention.com that are done on the wall and all while watching my shows.. I have been doing that now for 4 days and let me tell you it is not easy because Gravity makes it harder to do the moves. My bum/hips/and thighs are hurting bad when I get done but I think it has helped with the 30DS because I was able to hang throughout the DVD as possible.. The Plank Jacks and Double Jump Rope still killed me but I was able to push through the majority of the DVD. I know by the end of the week I'll be able to hang (at least I keep saying that)

Oh and on a great note I had my FIRST NSV since starting... I'm wearing slacks I wasn't able to fit in and now can button them up and still have a little breathing room. So yes this works just got to keep at it

I'm still here! Took two more rest days than normal because my body has just rebelled. The past two days I have been seriously DEAD exhausted, no energy at all. I'm feeling much better today, so will resume with L2D6 today. I HATE being behind though. :ohwell:

I'm going to try to work through the weekend this time, then start L3 either Monday or Tuesday (depending on if I need a day break in between the levels).

Amy - I hate the pendulum lunges too - it's just an awkward movement to me and I feel off balance.

lee - I'm so glad you're knee is better and you are getting stronger!

Glad you sent me that message, Travlinmel, and glad I checked back in the room before doing it today. My body AND mind haven't been into it the past few days and this has definitely reminded me of the progress we've all made - yall are doing awesome and I don't want to be left behind!!!

L2D6 done

I definitely feel like the 4 day hiatus pulled me back a little, but not much. Glad I'm back on board.

chipmunk - (you're pic is too dang cute btw!) I really struggle with the v raises too! I had to stop a couple times today and just do the v raises without the squats. Hoping I'll be much better at it by D10.

14 days to go!

L2 D8 done yesterday after work. I'm so happy I got that workout in because I usually do them in the morning but with my Husband's work schedule changing for the next 4 days we are doing them after work and yesterday would have been easy to say I don't have time because we had a family dinner to go to after work. I made my exercise a Priority and got it done and was still able to make the dinner without everyone waiting on me (like they usually do =/) Also my family noticed my loss so that makes me smile and want to push harder This Level almost done and off to Level 3.

Mel: I'm so happy to hear you prefer Level 3 to Level 2 because honestly I was scared because if L2 is this intense I had all manners of torture in my head for L3. I'll make sure to watch it a day before doing it so I know what it will consist of.

LeeRox: thanks for the congrats. I am having trouble still with my arms during the V Raises. I have noticed that I was able to do the first set without stopping but on the 2nd set I had to do some lunges without the raises but yes my shoulders were BURNING even with skipping every few Raises

Melissa: I bet you get those jeans up after this video. You should make sure to take an after wearing those jeans to show how far you came.

Aliann: :drinker: cheers to you for getting back into your workout. I know how easy it is to skip a few days of working out and not want to get back in the groove of it. You should not let your rest days discourage you from getting it done. Throughout this whole Workout series I have been mentally pep talking myself because if I listened to my body I would have given up that first week. I'm glad I have sticked to it this long because by pushing my body I have gotten stronger and more flexible. You should be proud of yourself and No Ma'am you are definately not behind. I like the saying that says you are lapping everyone on the couch

Chipmunk: I second the cute pic of Theodore!! It is overwhelming trying to remember okay squeeze your butt when doing the lunges but make sure to squeeze your shoulders together and suck in your abs and push harder go deeper. My mind is going all kinds of ways during each workout but I try to get as much muscles burning during each workout and hope that does it. Just keep pushing and maybe you should use less weight and after a few days go up

Big HIGH FIVE to everyone for making it as far as we have. I know this isn't easy but I know it will be worth it.

Good question, above poster, about the weights...more weight - slower, or less weight - faster. I'm interested in the replies.

I just finished L2 D4. It was definitely easier tonight than it has been. I still hate it though!!! I SOOO wish I could do it every day,, but my schedule just doesn't allow for it. And I refuse to shower in the am, dry and fix my main of hair, and then shower again, and dry and fix my main AGAIN for the evening. UGHHH!!! Also wish I were a morning person! It's all I can do to drag my butt out of bed to go to work, let alone to WORK OUT!!!

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.

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!

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!!

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

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.