Day 6: The Shred

So, this is a day late in terms of posting...yesterday got a little busy. But I DID do my Day 6 workout bright and early yesterday morning. My body is no longer sore...my calves are nearly back to normal. I'm making it through all but 1 1/2 of the exercises the full way. Pretty soon I'll be on the harder version of Level 1, and then progress to Level 2.

It was definitely hard to pull myself out of bed yesterday. Today I opted to do my workout after work. I needed to not be up at 5 this morning. But I've got time for the wonderful 20 minute workout this afternoon. I'm still loving it, and am loving the results I'm feeling. I really need to go invest in a nice scale so that I can keep track of the weight progress as well, though that's the least important part of it for me, it's nice to see progress.

Day 5: The Shred

My calves are FINALLY getting used to this. They are not nearly as tight as they have been. I think they are adjusting to the pressure. What a great feeling. I'm still continuing to feel tighter and more toned every day. In the next day or so I think I'll be ready to try the more intense version of level one. Once I can handle that, I'll move up to level two. I'm still going strong and loving every minute of it. It goes SO fast once I get started. I really think this is working.

Next step: buy a scale to track progress. Though to be honest, I'm more doing this to get fit, toned and to feel better. I do have a spare 15-20 pounds that I wouldn't mind losing, so that it a secondary goal, but definitely not the focus.

Day 4: The Shred

Four in a row!!! I'm really loving this. I am actually looking forward to my workouts. They're getting easier too as my endurance improves. I'm making it through nearly everything. The only exercise that I have any trouble with anymore are sometimes the second round of push ups, and the one where you squat with the weights pushing above your head from a 90 degree angle as you stand up. I made it through the first set but had to drop the weights for the second set. But I'm getting better at it.

Still a bit sore, but totally manageable. The back of my calves are still the tightest...and I'm using tightest instead of sore, because as soon as I stretch them out and/or start moving around I'm fine. I'm probably putting a little more pressure on them than necessary because I live in a 2nd story apartment and don't want to bother my neighbor downstairs with the jumping jacks, jump ropes and butt kicks. But it's okay, I know that my calves can take it...they're getting stronger. I'm feeling progressively better each and every day that I do this. It's SO easy to do too, only 20 minutes. I can fit in 20 minutes. It goes by so quickly too with her no-break pace. Once I make it through strength on the first circuit it flies by. I definitely recommend this workout...it's so easy to be consistent with and I am already feeling the results.

Day 3: The Shred

I'm actually pretty impressed with myself...I've done this 3 days in a row and haven't stopped yet! I nearly didn't get it done tonight...but I'm so glad I did it. I wasn't feeling well this morning so there was no way I was going to start jumping around. As we all know, by the time I got to the evening I was coming up with excuse after excuse...but I got it together and did my 20 minutes. I think I may make it through this thing!

I'm definitely a bit more sore today (and yesterday, after I posted), though I have to admit that it's a bearable sore. It's not one of those "omg I can't move!" kinds of sore...it's more of a, "hey, I've been working out and I actually have muscles" kind of sore. That kind of sore I can tolerate. The only part that I'm not liking is the back of my calves...they are really tight. I keep stretching them out, which helps some. But mostly I just have to keep moving. Even though they are the sorest part of my body, they're completely bearable. I know that I just have to keep going. I have been taking mild doses of ibuprofen though, just to make sure I'm on top of things and to help keep my muscles not inflamed. I already feel tighter and better all over. Looking forward to the next 27 days...and all the days beyond them.

Day 2: The Shred

Day Two started bright and early at 5:15. I was a little tired getting out of bed, but got energized once I started going. I surprisingly was not sore this morning, though I can feel the back of my calves are a little tight. My endurance was a little better this morning, I only had to drop the weights twice and for shorter times than last night. I was even able to keep going on the first set of push ups.

Later this morning my legs are a little tight, but not sore. I can definitely feel the back of my calves, but in a good way, ya know? I love how much better I'm already feeling and I've only done 2 days. The plan is to get up in the morning before work to do my workout each day. That way I get it done early, start my day off right, and most importantly, don't get to the end of the day and come up with tons of excuses as to why I don't want to do my workout. The best part is that it's only 20 minutes. We can all find 20 minutes a day to work to make our bodies feel so much better. It's time to get fit and in shape. Who's with me?

Day 1: The Shred

I wanted to chronicle my 30 day shred without cluttering up my normal blog. I've heard people talk about the shred before, just today Beth over at A Mom's Life posted about starting the shred. I trust her judgment, as well as the other wonderful bloggers out there who have tried this. I just happened to be feeling the need to get active and get in shape. So I went online and ordered the DVD from Best Buy and picked it up after work. (it was only a couple dollars more than ordering it from Amazon and having to wait to start)

I did my first workout, and boy, was it tough! But I made it through, and I already feel better. Half the battle is just getting active. I'm planning to start getting up a little early in the mornings before work to do my 20 minute shred. That way I don't get to the end of the day and find reasons not to do it. It's a little close doing the first one tonight and doing another bright and early in the morning, but that's the only way I'm going to get it done tomorrow. What a kill to my momentum that would be if I started today and didn't do it tomorrow!

I'll have more details about The Shred as we go. For now I'm going to hop in the shower and grab some dinner. (healthy dinner) More about The Shred and my goals tomorrow.