And On the 31st Day, She Rested.*

Halleluyah.

I finished the 30 Day Shred yesterday. Good thing, too, because my body is, as Jillian would say, “Scuh-REEMING” for a break. The month actually flew by for me, because I was busy in general. It seems like I started only a couple of days ago. How’d I do? Well, I did as well as I expected to. Adding this workout every. single. day. was difficult mentally sometimes, but because I am sort of obsessive once I make a goal, I did it.

I can’t review this DVD and how would work for just anybody who might want to try it, because people start off at all different levels physically and motivationally. I started out, though overweight, fairly fit because I teach group fitness classes. It happens that the Shred made me use different muscles and do different types of cardio from what I’m used to, which was not only a good thing but extremely difficult for me.

Motivation-wise, well, you saw that in the first paragraph. I am sort of obsessive once I make a goal. That’s me. To be honest, if you were to take a big group of non-exercisers, say twenty of them, you might end up with only two who will truly make the commitment to themselves to start a new exercise routine. Most of the others drop off. (That said, I totally see the appeal in using that time for other, non-workout things. Do you know what I could do with all of the time I spend working out/teaching? Whoa.)

Did I lose weight? Never more than the 4-5 pounds that I reported mid-way through. Could I have lost more weight? Yes. My problem is, the food thing is very difficult for me and I wasn’t willing to (hey, I’m being totally honest here) give my diet a total makeover and new beginning during this past month. I made some small changes, but still ate rainbow cake, if you know what I’m sayin’.

My strength? Wow. I have never done so many planks in my life, and I actually worked my way up to doing NON-GIRL PUSH-UPS, even the traveling variety. I have never in my life been able to do non-girl push-ups. So that’s something. My arms are more toned, too. (In fact, at work the other day, I sent out a tweet saying that my favorite co-worker and I were trying to sell each other tickets to our gun shows. Guess you had to be there.) I can see some changes in my stomach; looking at myself in the mirror I can tell that my waist is starting to taper from the top down. My abs? I totally do have a six-pack, but unfortunately nobody (myself included) can see it, because it’s sitting there under the weight I need to lose. But it’s there. Trust.

How do I look? Well, I don’t look like this:

jm
That wasn’t my goal. My goal was realistic: to drop a few pounds and to get more fit. Goal? Met.

My plan for the next couple of days is to take a break from Jillian. I will resume shredding on Saturday, but not on a daily basis. I plan to do it about 4 times per week and hopefully add the run/walk that I talked about in my last update. I also plan to get another one of Jillian’s DVDs, to add some variety in there.

All in all, I can say that, for me, the 30 Day Shred was time well-spent. (And this was not a paid experiment, in case anyone is wondering.)(I WISH!) If any of you started the Shred this month, let me know where you’re at!

*Technically, I’m not resting completely. I still have to teach my resistance class this morning and my spin class tonight…but no Jillian!

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8 Comments

  • Kat

    Awesome and inspiring. Happy you have done so well.

    After reading about Jillians DVDs on several blogs I decided to buy her books (I bought three – you know I couldn't resist) and read two of them already.

    Unfortunately due to different systems I can't view US DVDs on our system in Europe but man was I inspired by her books and your posts. Quite a few of the excerises are in the book as well so I will see how that goes thought it is not the same than having a DVD to follow.

  • Andie

    good for you! Now it's my turn. I need to do this. Once this weekend goes by (I have a wedding) I think I'll have a little more time to devote to it.

  • BeautifulWreck

    I am doing the Shred and I struggle through Level 1.. still. I am also going to the gym and just added laps in the pool back today. I have to say its a great workout. Got to stick with it. I have last 7lbs in the last 10 days, just from exercising and changing my diet back to where it was before I took a month off to eat like a pig. Great review. I definitely think its a great program, even if you have to struggle through it like I am.

  • Baby News

    Hi, I've been reading some stuff on your blog for a bit (found through other blogs), but I'm not sure I've commented till now.

    I just started a workout program (my own) this week. I had a baby 8 months ago and have a few trouble spots to take care of.

    Congrats on sticking with it! I'm on day 3. Feeling great. Hoping to stick with it. The food thing? That gets me, too.

  • surprised mom

    Kudos to you! I'm so totally impressed you set this goal for yourself and met it. As for the food thing, who could not eat your rainbow cake? And who, really, who looks like the girl in the picture? It was photo shopped you know.
    Could a non-exerciser do Shredding? Or is it something you work up to?

  • OhCaptain

    Congrats on making your goal! That's awesome!

    Getting healthy can be a real challenge. I know all about that.

  • Michelle

    I'm impressed — and totally not shocked that you did all 30 days. Keep it up. I missed the run/walk thing, but if you're looking at starting running, search Robert Ullreys and C25K podcast. He's great at easing you into it… not that I'd know (on week 5 right now… tomorrow SHOULD be my 20 minute run but ummmm I will be otherwise occupied, so I'll be going back to my 2 eight minute runs on Tuesday when I can next physically make it to the gym.

    Yay you — and I want the gun show next month. Deal? 🙂