Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 1

First day. This is going to be a long one, since I'm going to go through the workout step-by-step.

I felt pretty good this morning when I got up to go to the gym. I figured I'd get my run in first - if I do anything else first, it's really hard to make myself stay on the treadmill for some reason. I managed to get 35 minutes in before I started to get really sweaty. This morning I wore my new workout top, which is a fitted tank with a built-in bra, and it just wasn't wicking moisture as much as I would have liked. And so it got very, very uncomfortable and gross (for me and, I'm sure, everyone else) once I really started dripping sweat. Luckily, it was early enough so there were only two or three other people, regulars, around, and we early-morning gym-goers tend to be pretty anti-social and avoid all eye contact. So if there were any dirty looks, I missed them.

I got off the treadmill and decided to get a few minutes of ab exercises in before going home to do my very first Jillian Michaels' workout (In watching the video through before, I noticed that the ab work isn't very challenging, so I decided to supplement). I just started using the gym equipment to do ab work (had done a video - 8 minute abs, which I may do a post on - before). I did 50 inclined alternating situps, 50 knee ups, and 50 hanging side bends.

I got home and started up level one. I used a 4 lb. weight today, but may up it for tomorrow, depending on how sore I am. The workout is structured like this: 2 minutes warm up, then 3 6-minute circuits - 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, and 1 minute abs work - and finishing off with a two minute cool down.

The first strength workout was pretty hard - 2 sets, 15-20 push-ups, then a combo move involving squatting and shoulder presses at the same time. I'm not terrible at push-ups, but the second set almost killed me, and it was really tempting to move to knee push-ups, but I'M BEING HARDCORE! Actually, I let out a kind of pathetic whimper during the last couple that was not very hardcore at all.

The first cardio section consisted of 2 sets, 30 seconds each jumping jacks and jumping rope (without the rope). Okay, as much as I'm in pretty good shape, any time you have me jumping around a lot, I'm gonna hate it. Jumping jacks and jumping rope are like my arch enemies from way back. I'm pretty sure I had a "f&*k you, Jillian Michaels" look on my face throughout this entire section. Sigh. I guess that's the point of doing this workout though - to push past my comfort zone.

The abs section was pretty simple. One minute of classic cruches, one minute reverse crunches. Not nothin' to me. I could do a hundred sit-ups, all while smoking cigarettes and chugging beer. I'm not even exaggerating. Seriously. Heh. That's a funny picture.

The second strength section consisted of two sets of standing rows (pulling your arms back while your knees are bent and you're leaning slightly forward) and a combo move involving front lunges with bicep curls). I don't remember how many reps, but I figure you do each movement for 45 seconds. I found this one the easiest of the three strength sections, so I may up the weight for this one.

The second cardio section was two sets, 30 seconds each running in place and punching drill. I like punching drills. I like punching. And kicking. I'll do both sometimes randomly, which scares people around me. I try not to hit anyone. Usually.

The third abs section was all oblique situps. Simple enough.

The third strength section consisted of two sets of chest flys, lying on the floor, knees bent, followed by a combo move involving side lunges and shoulder raises. I may also up the weight for the chest flys, but the shoulder raises are HARD. I sort of hate lunges, all types, but I know they do nice things for my legs, so I guess I'll suffer through. Hopefully they'll get easier. Bastards.

The last cardio section involved 30 seconds of all of the previous cardio movements: jumping jacks, running in place, punching drill, and jumping rope.

The last abs section was a solid minute of bicycle crunches. I like moves like this, because (I think) they'll help me get those inches off my waist. Right now, my abs are pretty defined, but I'm all straight up and down, and I'd like to see some curves.

All in all, the workout was challenging, but definitely doable. I think for me, at least, I'll have to continue supplementing the cardio and abs work, but I think this will be really good. Especially if I can keep it up. Shorter post tomorrow!