So, we'll call it Day 22...

Hi. Remember me? The girl who was doing SO well with her consistency on The Shred? Yeah. So, about that. I took ONE day off because I just wasn't feeling all that great. (lame, I know). That one day stretched into 3 or 4. Yeah, lame. But I started up again today and I don't feel like I lost too much ground in that impromptu hiatus.

Still in Level Two. I think next week I'll start Level Three. But I'm back. Seriously. And my work hours have shifted to our summer times, which means I don't have to be to work until 8...which means I should be able to get back to my morning workouts when I don't have an excuse not to do them.

Days 20 & 21: The Shred

I totally thought I posted yesterday...oh well. I did do my Shred yesterday though after a lively shopping excursion. Tonight's Shred was harder...I nearly didn't do it, and then I nearly quit halfway through. But that would just be lame...so I did it. I'm really having to watch my knees this level, ever since I overdid it going to deep into the leg moves the other day. It's kind of annoying, but it's getting better. There are faint twinges in my "good" knee, mostly because I'm pretty sure it bore the brunt of me favoring my other knee. Nothing ibuprofen and equal use won't cure...that and maybe some ice.

I have to admit, I'm a little frustrated because while I know I'm getting stronger, I don't feel like I'm seeing as much of a visible difference. However, I suspect that this has something to do with my less than stellar eating habits as of late. I'm going to cut out the snacking and unnecessary sweets and carbs, and come Tuesday, I think I'm going to go strict Phase One of South Beach again. I think that combined with the Shred will produce the best results. I'm waiting until Tuesday because I have a game night Friday, possibly a grad party Saturday for a friend of the bf's and my cousin Ariel graduates and has a party on Sunday. Monday's a holiday and the bf and I have plans with the Manager, which will involve not the most ideal South Beach food. I'll have to run it by the bf, but I'm sure he'll be up for it. Losing some of the belly fat will infinitely help with this exercise endevour AND make me feel a lot better.

Day 19: The Shred

I was so excited to get home from work to do my daily shred that I forgot to go to the grocery store to pick up the crab for our salads tomorrow! But no worries, I improvised.

Believe it or not I think the plank exercises are getting maybe just a little bit easier. I didn't think that would actually happen...I could barely hold myself up when I started Level Two. I'm loving this. I'm definitely going to keep at Level Two for longer than 10 days like I did Level One...this one is just a bit tougher and needs a bit more time and focus. I'm excited for Level Three though. I figure once I get through all three levels I can switch it up between the three. My plan is to not stop at 30 days, but keep this going on a daily basis. Exercise is always good, right? My knee is also starting to behave itself again, provided I don't push it too hard. I may have to throw in my PT exercises for good measure just to make sure my knee is doing okay.

Day 17 & 18: The Shred

This double day posting seems to be becoming a habit. I've had to lighten up on the leg parts of the exercise, but I'm still going strong. I can tell that I'm definitely getting stronger...I can actually sit up almost straight during the cool down stretches. At the beginning of the Shred I couldn't sit up straight during those cool downs. It's progress, definitely. I hope to see more as we go.

Days 15 & 16: The Shred

Day 15 was yesterday...I nearly didn't get it done. But I did. And then I fell fast asleep.

Today is Day 16...and it's the first day I haven't done my Shred. Not so much that I don't want to, but on Day 14 I decided to go deeper into the stretches on the legs. This was not the brightest idea I've ever had, because it aggravated my knee. Last night I tried to be very light, but today it's even worse. Knowing my knee I just need to give it time to rest...and lots of ice and ibuprofen. I'm planning to get right back on track tomorrow for Day 17.

Days 13 & 14: The Shred

Jillian Michaels, I didn't know it was possible to love and hate someone so rapidly in the course of a mere twenty minutes. Seriously, that's got to be some kind of record. I suppose the important part is that it begins and ends with love, right?

Things have been busy, I will post more tomorrow. But I have gone 14 days non-stop with my Shred, that's a pretty awesome accomplishment. I nearly didn't make it today...I'm SO exhausted. Hope everyone had a Happy Wednesday!

Day 12: The Shred

Level Two is kicking my butt...in a good way. Planks are HARD. Not the legs part, but the upper body part. Ya know, that whole thing where I don't have any strength up there. Well, I suppose I'll be getting that here as I keep it up.

I had other stuff to write, but I'm so tired I can barely see straight and I still have homework to finish before my conducting final tomorrow.

Day 11: The Shred - Level Two

I have to say, I think I like Level Two better than Level One, even though it's harder. I'm definitely ready for the new challenge of this level. The exercises are great. The hardest part for me is not the legs, but the arms. I have very little upper body strength, so the plank position moves were really challenging for me. I made it through the workout, but it's definitely going to take a while to build the strength to really do well with this one. I may feel a little new muscle tightness tomorrow since we touched a lot of other muscle groups that didn't get as much focus in Level One. But I doubt it will be any worse than the first few days, which were completely bearable...after all, I kept doing it. If I was too sore I'd have taken a few days off to let my poor muscles recover.

Still absolutely loving this workout. If you're looking to get in shape and maybe drop a little weight, Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred is definitely something you want to check out. 20 minutes a day. That's it. Couldn't get much simpler than that.

Day 10: The Shred

It seems mildly ironic that the day after my post about how easy it was and how it's only 20 minutes, I nearly avoid my workout. I should have done it this morning, but I was tired and didn't feel like getting out of bed. I was with the bf and his family all day for Mother's Day activities, which were lots of fun. I got home around 9:20 or so, and kept coming up with excuses as to why I should skip it tonight. I was tired, my stomach/chest was a little tight, I had on a tank top with no sunscreen this afternoon at an impromptu trip to Sea World and consequently am sporting a rather nice shade of red on my back, shoulders and part of my arms, I've been doing it for 9 days straight and deserve one day of rest...

Yeah. I started it. And nearly quit two or three times in the first circuit. To be honest, knowing that I would have to confess it here is partly what made me do it. Plus, I didn't want to have to eat my words from yesterday's post, after all, it's only 20 minutes. Once I make it through to the abs on the first circuit I'm pretty good to go. The strength moves on that first circuit are my least favorite, but once I get through them I fly through the rest of the workout. The third circuit is my favorite...I'm a particular fan of chest flies.

10 days and counting. I'm so going to make it to 30. I think I'll try Level 2 tomorrow. After all, it's still only 20 minutes.

Day 9: The Shred - Only 20

Nearly 10 days into this thing. I think I finally figured out tonight why this particular workout creates consistency. I had planned to do the workout this afternoon/evening since I did one last night and REALLY didn't not want to get up early. (I swear, my sleep schedule and body clock are STILL out of whack after the stupid time change) I ended up down at the bf's for dinner with his parents and grandmother and then we hung out and I didn't get home till just after 9 pm. I thought about not doing the workout. But it's ONLY 20 minutes. I mean really. How lame would I be if I skipped such a short thing because I was lazy or didn't feel like it? A long walk or a trip to the gym takes effort and significant time. This involves pushing play on the tv and spending 20 minutes a day to tone my muscles and get my body into shape. Twenty minutes. So easy.

So in my debate whether or not to do my workout, I managed to pinpoint why this one has such staying power. It's ONLY 20 minutes. That's 20 minutes I won't spend online or something equally unnecessary. On top of that, I feel better and I can feel my body slowly but surely toning itself. I made it through all but about 10 seconds of push-ups tonight. How cool is that? I'm getting better and I'm getting stronger. If I wasn't seeing any results or was so sore I couldn't move, I probably wouldn't think twice about not doing it once in a while...or ever. But I'm not. I'm seeing results and I feel great, and it's ONLY 20 minutes. How much easier could it get?

Day 8: The Shred - First Week Review

I successfully completed the first week of my 30 Day Shred and I'm feeling great! I've switched to doing my workouts in the afternoon the past couple days because it's been getting progressively more difficult to get up early in the morning to do them. I may switch back to mornings, but so far the afternoons have been working for me.

I'm amazed at my consistency with this workout. While in the past I may have had good intentions, I'm not always so great at being consistent with getting in shape (hence the reason I am so out of shape) There is just something about this workout that keeps me coming back. Maybe it's because it's only 20 minutes out of my entire day. Maybe it's because it's getting easier each time I do it. Maybe it's because I'm feeling my body tighten and tone in all the right places...and I started feeling results the first day. I won't complain, it's such a relief to have finally found something with staying power.

My muscles are getting used to the work and are no longer sore or tight like they were the first couple days. I get through all but two of the exercises...one being push ups which sometimes I can make, the other is the squats with the arms over my head holding 3 pound weights. I'm getting futher and further each time though. My body is adapting, just like she said it would! I'm thinking that by day 10 or so I'll be ready to take on Level 2. I'm sure that will be tough and then I'll adapt to it like I have this one. I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.

Day 7: The Shred

A day late again on this post. I did my day 7 workout yesterday afternoon...I was in need of more sleep yesterday morning. I could feel my body getting tighter yesterday. It was a great workout. Today's workout will also be after work.

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.