Completed the 30-Day Shred/30DS -- My Thoughts

Ok, so now I'm REALLY done with the 30DS. 30 full days -- whoohooo!! And I know some of my MFP friends asked what exactly I think about it, and I initially typed this out as a status message -- and did post it as such (hopefully my MFP don't shoot me for it) -- but then realized hmmm...it just may be good (and certainly long) enough to post on a broader scale, in the message boards! For anyone else it may help...

So anywho, the program: I think it's good. I think that everyone interested in losing weight and, particularly, just becoming more fit and toning up should definitely try it at least once. I of course b*tched about it at various points throughout my time with it, but that would likely be inevitable with any workout routine you do the exact same way EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 30 DAYS (almost) STRAIGHT.

I would DEFinitely recommend only listening to Jillian and her music for maybe the first few days or so of each level before muting that joint and playing your own upbeat music while doing the workouts for the rest of the days. It'll definitely help with maintaining your sanity. I'm sure it's probably also a good idea to try to sustain as healthy as a diet as possible in order to make the program most effective, but I wasn't always the most on-point with that.

Finally but not least, I think I might've lost like two total pounds from the whole thing. Before I started and I would look at others who had been through the program and mentioned having lost a pretty minimal amount of weight from it, I was a bit discouraged and turned off, BUT...just like so many others have said, where I haven't had much of a change in weight, I have DEFinitely had a pretty great reduction in inches and have been able to see a pretty good visual difference. Ironically, as annoying as my belly usually is when it comes to -- well, everything, but especially weight loss, that is the area I feel like I've seen the most improvement and reduction in the past 30 or so days. I have no clue what exactly that scale has been reflecting -- muscle, maybe? water weight? whatever I ate for dinner the night before?? -- but nevertheless, I've fortunately been able to finally see with my own eyes how much I need not let that be the sole judging factor of how well I'm doing through all of this. Smaller belly, looser-fitting clothes, greater physical endurance, more-toned body parts -- those are some excellent motivators and judging factors just by themselves.

Ok, done :)

Replies

  • ohkabash
    ohkabash Posts: 8
    I'm so glad that the 30DS was able to show you results. I am on day 3 of the shred and it is still quite hard for me but I am keeping up with it. I have been steady on weight loss with my diet so this shred isn't aimed at excelling my weight loss, but helping my body with endurance and toning up.

    I agree that if I have to hear her for another day I might go crazy. I have most the movement down so hopefully I can turn on my own music soon. Maybe that will help me to stay motivated.

    What weights did you use? I am currently using 5lb weights and they are too much for me in some of the strength exercises. Right now, I have modified it to where I am just using 1 5lb weight because I don't want to over do it and get discouraged. It's a long 30 days!
  • ReinaJaLaNa
    ReinaJaLaNa Posts: 151 Member
    I'm so glad that the 30DS was able to show you results. I am on day 3 of the shred and it is still quite hard for me but I am keeping up with it. I have been steady on weight loss with my diet so this shred isn't aimed at excelling my weight loss, but helping my body with endurance and toning up.

    I agree that if I have to hear her for another day I might go crazy. I have most the movement down so hopefully I can turn on my own music soon. Maybe that will help me to stay motivated.

    What weights did you use? I am currently using 5lb weights and they are too much for me in some of the strength exercises. Right now, I have modified it to where I am just using 1 5lb weight because I don't want to over do it and get discouraged. It's a long 30 days!

    Yeah, if you're looking to use this mostly for helping increase your level of endurance and toning up, you definitely have the right program and will for sure see improvements when it comes to those things and more!

    As for playing your own music, you don't have to memorize all or even any of the moves -- just get a general idea the first few days or so, mute just the video and still watch and follow them while your music plays in the background.

    I used 5lb. weights as well. Prior to that, I had already been weight training a few times a week with 20lb. weights, so that might've given me somewhat of an advantage. Still, though, it was a LOT harder doing that workout even with the 5lb. than I had imagined. I've read a lot of other people's experiences with 30DS, particularly before starting it, and I saw a lot of people strongly recommend either 3lb. or 5lb. So, maybe you could try downsizing -- even if only temporarily while you get used to the routines -- to 3lb. weights? Or you could alternate using both with either each new day or even each particular workout move.

    But do definitely keep with it -- those 30 days will be up before you know it :)