Thursday, September 4, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Days 29 and 30

WHOOO!!!! I can't believe I actually finished a workout program! I'm pretty much awesome.

Well, I guess it was only 30 days...

And I took a couple of days off here and there...

But still, I feel really great about the whole thing. Yesterday I woke up a little late and was only able to do my Shred workout. But I did it all sorts of hardcore, really getting into the jumps and all. My legs were killing me a little bit later on in the day, but otherwise I felt really good.

This morning, I went to it like the badass I hope I'm becoming - I ran seven miles (an hour and a couple of minutes), then went through my Shred workout with 8 lb. weights all the way through - even during the cardio!

I think I'm going to take this weekend off of working out (it's the much anticipated wedding weekend), but after that I have to start thinking about my next workout experiment. I'm actually considering doing the Shred one more time, this time, upping the weight all the way through. I'm going to do some research first though, and see what else is out there...

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Days 26-28

Damn, it was a busy weekend! So Saturday morning, I got up early and decided to just get my workout out of the way (on the weekend, I usually wait to work out a little bit). I knocked off an hour on the treadmill - at the fastest pace I've ever gone, actually, 6.8 - and came home to do my Shred workout. I decided to use 8 lb. weights for everything except the second cardio circuit, and I think it went really well - more challenging, but still doable. I spent the rest of the day cleaning in anticipation of my friend coming to stay.

Sunday morning I got up really early, despite having been out very, very late the night before. I just couldn't sleep. At the same time, I wasn't feeling 100%, so I skipped the gym and just did my Shred workout, again with the 8 lb. weights.

Unfortunately, I had to go to work yesterday (Labor Day), so again, I didn't make it to the gym, but I did fit in my Shred workout and 8 minute abs. The jumping is getting a ton easier, and I don't sweat as much as I have been in the past.

I took today off because my knee is acting up again. I've got two more days - I'm excited to see what my actual final measurements end up being...

Friday, August 29, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 25

I was in a very weird funk this morning when I got up, but it actually helped me get through my run - an hour on the treadmill seemed to take no time at all. For my Shred workout, I used 5 lb. weights again, and think that I might even take it up to 6 lbs. tomorrow. Really the only part of the entire workout where I think I might have a problem with 6 lb. weights is the second cardio section - the punching drills, butt kicks and jumping jacks with the weights tend to be hard on my elbow joints, I think because of all the bouncing around. I'll give it a try, anyway, and see how it goes.

I measured myself this morning, and to my very great surprise, found that I finally lost an inch and a half off my hips! I guess the plyometrics stuff is good for something, after all. I mean, I figured it was, but that doesn't stop me from hating it. I'm thinking that plyometrics is something that I should incorporate more into my workouts in the future, but man. I really hate jumping....

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 24

Ugh. I really, really, really didn't want to get out of bed this morning. Like, epic proportions is how much I didn't want to get out of bed. I definitely didn't get out of bed early enough to go to the gym, which I'm a little ashamed of, but I did manage to haul myself up to do my Shred workout. I even upped it to 5 lbs today!

I've adapted to this Level a lot more quickly than to Levels 1 and 2, and again, I'm wondering if it's because this Level is easier, or because my fitness level is higher because of the prior workouts...I may even up the weight to 8 lbs (since there's not a whole lot that requires the weights anyway).

I haven't weighed or measured myself for a while - I'm saving that for the end, I think. It feels like I'm more toned, though, so that's good.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 23

I had to take another couple of days off - my right knee is weirdly acting up, popping and hurting a bit, so I figured better safe than sorry. Today I ran on the treadmill for an hour, then did Level 3. I basically stuck to 4 lbs., but upped it to 5 for the arm cleans.

I have a sneaking suspicion that even though this workout doesn't necessarily feel harder than Level 2, it's more effective because of all the jumping. All that damned jumping. And I'm still sweating a gross amount, so it must be doing something.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day shred - Days 21 and 22

Oh, God. So, early on in the Shred I mentioned that I hate anything having to do with jumping? Yeah, Level 3 is all about the jumping. Son of a bitch.

Saturday I started out with an hour on the treadmill. I came home all excited to start Level 3. That changed quickly.

The warm-up for Level 3 is, again, slightly different, with double jumping rope and butt kicks for the cardio portion. All the other moves just duplicate stuff we've already done: arm swings, backwards windmills, high kicks, knee circles.

Strength circuit 1 starts out with 30 seconds of walking planks: start in an ab hold (plank position, but supported by bent arms), then move to plank position one arm at a time, then back. I found these to be really, really easy, but I can't think of any modification I could use to make them more challenging. Maybe if I had some extra weight on my back? If I had a little dog, I'd set him on my back while I did these. Aww, I really want a little dog. Anyway, then it's on to one minute of supermans (lay stomach-down on the ground, with arms straight in front, then lift legs, arms and chest off the ground). I also found these pretty easy, but I think maybe if I just hold weights in my hands, it would satisfy my need for bad-assery.

Cardio circuit 1 alternates between 30 seconds of mountain climbers (in plank position, jump one leg forward, then jump and switch legs) and 30 seconds of jumping sumo squats (little jumps in a wide squat with toes pointed out). My legs definitely burned during the jumping squats.

Abs circuit 1 starts with 30-second of pike sit-ups: crunch, lifting both straight legs and arms toward the center. Then it's on to 30 seconds of scissor crunches. This ab circuit is definitely harder than any other ab circuit so far - which is a very good thing.

Strength circuit 2 starts out with 30 seconds of arm cleans (I don't know why they are called this, but it involves sitting in a medium squat with one dumbell in one hand, squatting while lowering the dumbell to the ground between your legs, then standing while straightening your arm over your head). As complicated as they are to explain, this is a really simple and easy move, so I think I will up the weight, maybe to 6 lbs? Then it's on to one minute of jumping lunges (settle into a deep lunge, then jump, switching leg positions, into a standing position, then lunge and repeat). These start out not too bad, but by about thirty seconds in, I was tripping all over the place because my legs were burning so badly. Ouch. Hate.

Cardio circuit 2 sort of mirrors cardio circuit 2 from Level 1 with a 30-second punching drill, 30 seconds of butt kicks, another 30-second punching drill and 30 seconds of jumping jacks. Only this time, all the movements are done while holding your weights. I really liked the punching drill - I could really feel my shoulder muscles burning.

Abs circuit 2 is a full minute of the classic sit-up, only with no one holding your feet down, it makes it slightly harder.

Strength circuit 3 starts out with 30 seconds of traveling push-ups (from push-up position, walk right hand center and left hand out to the left side and do one push up, then walk left hand center and right hand out to right side and do another push up, and repeat). Jillian says on the dvd that these are supposedly harder than the other push-up movements from the other Levels, but honestly, I think Level 1 was the hardest, just doing as many straight push-ups as you can in 30 seconds. Anyway, then it's on to...well, I don't know what this move is called exactly, but you take a dumbell in each hand and get into plank position, do a dumbell row with your right arm, put it back down and lift your right leg, then repeat on the other side.

Cardio circuit 3 is all about the jumping: 30 seconds of jumping squats (squat down, then jump, straightening your legs and lifitng your arms into the air) and 30 seconds of rock star jumps (jump into the air and kick yourself in the butt with both feet). Needless to say, I hated these. Jumping makes me sad.

Abs circuit 3 is all about the side plank raises, 30 seconds on each side. I like this move a lot, but I think that in the future, I may try to do more after the workout, 'cause 30 seconds per side just doesn't seem like enough.

On Sunday, I cleaned my entire house, top to bottom, as I have a friend staying with me next week - she's actually coming in a week early for the wedding. I didn't make it to the gym, but I did my Level 3 workout plus 8-minute abs.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 20

WOOHOO! No more Level 2. I finished out strong today, hitting the treadmill for an hour before gettin' down to bid-nez.

Oh, squat thrusts. I won't miss you at all. Chair squats with vee raises? I could happily never see you again. Don't expect a call anytime soon, plank jacks.

With all my rejoicing about finishing with Level 2, though, I feel an odd pit in my stomach. If Level 2 was tough, I wonder about Level 3? Hmmm...I guess we'll see tomorrow.