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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 19

Well, I'm down to the last two days on Level 2. I really really didn't want to go to the gym this morning, but managed to bribe myself by promising to hit Starbucks on the way back to the house. I ran for 30 minutes, then did my usual abs gym routine (50 inclined alternating situps, 50 knee-ups, 50 side bends with 10 lbs). Here's the tricky part, though. I didn't actually hit Starbucks. I intended to, but then started thinking, "Well, I'm grossly sweaty and the only thing I'm going to want is a Frappuccino." While I could get a Frappuccino lite (the Venti Coffee Frappuccino is only 180 calories, according to the Starbucks nutritional data), I figured it wasn't a very healthy way to start my calorie consumption for the day. So I punked out on myself. We're not speaking for the time being.

I got home and did Level2 with 4 lb. weights. I know, I know, I said I was going to use 5 lbs. today, but honestly, every time, by the end, I'm struggling to finish the chair squats with the vee raises. I think finishing the workout in its entirety is maybe more important than attempting to appear more bad-ass than I actually am.

One more day at Level 2, then it's on to the final level (which I hope includes fireballs and saving the Princess)! I'm a little scared...

Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred - Day 18

All right. I have no excuse. I skipped the last two days. What?! I just needed a break.

I got right back in it today, starting out with an hour on the treadmill. I've got two more days at Level 2 after this (starting Level 3 on Saturday), and today, I definitely felt like the routine was easier. I'll switch to 5 lbs for the last 2 days.

On a weight note, I finally dropped a couple of pounds, and I'm down to 26 1/2 inches around my waist, which is great. Ultimately, I'd like to get down to 24 inches, but I'm not sure if that's possible without removing some organs (I still have my appendix, wonder if that's worth any inches? I'm kidding. Sort of.). I think I'd be happy with 25 inches. No more inches off my hips, so I'll try to kick up the lower body workout for the last third of the Shred. As much as I've taken some days off here and there, this may be the most devoted to a workout regime I've ever been!

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 17

I have an all-day pool party today for which I'm cooking most of the food, so I got up super early this morning to start getting everything ready. I decided to skip the gym for time purposes, but didn't want to skip my Shred workout. Again, I stayed at 4 lbs., but because I didn't run today, I really tried to go hard-core with my cardio. I finished up with 8-minute abs.

I love how even though I didn't go to the gym, I still managed to get in a decent workout. If I just owned any cardio equipment, I wouldn't have to go to the gym at all! (You may be wondering why I don't just run outside. It's because I need to know, at all times, how far I've gone, how much longer I have, and how many calories I've burned. I'm strange like that. Also, I think about how, if I go running outside and all of a sudden I get super lazy, I still have to get home somehow.)

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 16

I felt pretty good today. Not as good as yesterday, but pretty good. I did 45 minutes on the treadmill, and did my usual gym abs routine (50 inclined alternating situps, 50 knee ups, and 50 side bends). I stayed at 4 lbs. again for my Shred workout, but really got into my cardio today.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 15

WOO! I had a pretty good workout day today, even though I only did two things: 1) ran on the treadmill for an hour, at 6.7 mph (had previously been running at 6.6) and 2) did all of the cardio moves in Level 2 without modification. I felt pretty good about it, and if I can do the same tomorrow, I'll go back up to using the 5 lb. weights.

Also, I measured myself, and even though I haven't lost anything off my hips or thighs, I've lost another inch off my waist, which is pretty cool.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 14

It's unbelievable how sweaty I get after just 20 minutes of doing these workouts - much sweatier than I get after 60 minutes of running on the treadmill. It kind of makes me think I need to change up my running routine, maybe throw some hills and sprints in there...yuck.

Anyway, I just did 35 minutes on the treadmill today, so that I had some time to get a tough ab workout - 50 inclined oblique sit-ups, 50 knee ups and 50 side bends (10 lb. weight). Then it was home to do Level 2. I stayed at 4 lbs. today, but I managed to do all of the squat thrusts (hard version). I still did the modified versions of the skaters and the plank jumping jacks. Shoulders burned like hell during the last ab set, the plank twists. I felt really good when I got done, though, so I threw in 8-minute abs. I think I'm starting to see a little bit of a six-pack...

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 13

Hm. I'm starting to wonder if I should just try doing the workout before I run, 'cause this level's cardio circuits are severly kicking my ass.

I ran for 45 minutes on the treadmill today and went home for the workout. I did Level 2 again, but moved back down to 4 lb. weights. I got through all the strength and ab circuits without cheating at all. But I had to do the modified versions of the squat thrusts, the skaters, and the plank jacks. I just cannot do plyometric (jumping) stuff. It just kills me. But I know that I should at least try to do it, otherwise I'll never get any better at it. Maybe I'll just do a couple more days of the modified movements, then try them full-on after that...

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 12

Okay. To be perfectly honest, I skipped two days. But I had a good reason! Boy troubles. Really bad boy troubles. Whatever, shut up. You know how boy troubles can be. I'm fine now, but I was in no condition whatsoever to work out - the first day I skipped, I was wallowing in anger and sadness, as well as suffering from the hangover I was smote with for drinking an entire bottle of wine by myself. The second day I skipped, I had not slept at all. I may not deal with stress very well...

I went to the gym this morning and ran for 35 minutes on the treadmill before calling it quits, due to the extreme sweatiness and dehydration that can follow after two days of drinking and crying and uncertainty and being mad. Not a pretty sight.

I followed it up with Level 2, using 5 lb. weights, which I think was a mistake. I had to cheat a little on the last strength circuit to finish. I think I will go back to 4 lb. weights tomorrow. Added in a little 8-minute ab magic and was done for the day. Yay!

Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred-Day 11

First Day at Level 2! I felt pretty good this morning, so I went to the gym and treadmill-ed it for an hour. After giving myself about 10 minutes to sit and stop sweating so hard, I cued up Level 2, using the 4 lb. weights.

The warm-up section was similar to Level 1, slightly different movements, but same level of difficulty (uh, as in, none to speak of).

The first strength circuit started with 30 seconds of walk-out push ups - you stand up straight, touch your toes, walk your hands out into push-up position, do one push-up, walk your hands back to your toes and straighten up. I didn't find these difficult at all. MUCH easier than the set of push-ups from Level 1. Then it's on to 1 minute in a static squat with wide grip dumbell rows (palms facing down). This one was hard, my thighs were definitely burning a bit. You then repeat both movements.

The first cardio circuit SUCKS. First you do 30 seconds of high knees (jogging in place, but with, well, high knees). Then you do 30 seconds of these awful things called squat thrusts - you get into plank position, jump your feet up close to your hands and then jump them back. Huh, it doesn't sound that difficult when I write it out, but man, I just could NOT do them. I did the modification instead, moving one leg up at a time. I know, lame, but seriously, I almost died. Then repeat both.

The first abs circuit is pretty good, classic crunch while raising one straightened leg straight up then lowering it to about two inches off the ground, switching legs at the 30 second mark.

The second strength circuit starts with 30 seconds of a static lunge with a medium dumbell row (palms facing inward). Then it's on to one minute of pendulum lunges (front lunge, then back lunge with the same foot) and hammer curls. Repeat.

The second cardio circuit involves 30 seconds of oblique twists (stand with feet facing one direction and torso facing front and then jumping your feet to fact the other direction, while swinging your arms the opposite direction at chest level), then 30 seconds of skaters (jump to the side with one leg and touch other leg behind, then jump with that leg and touch the other leg behind, all while swinging your arms). Again, sucks. I did the modification for the skaters (stepping from side to side).

The second abs circuit is 30 seconds where you are on your back with your dumbells raised as if in the middle of a chest fly, and you raise and lower your straightened legs. Then it's on to 30 seconds of double crunches (classic crunch plus reverse crunch).

The third strength circuit starts with 30 seconds of shoulder raises while balanced on one leg, the other leg bent at the knee and straightened in time with the shoulder raise. Then 1 minute of squats while (with palms facing upward) you raise your dumbells with straight arms from a lowered v position, bringing them together at eye level. Repeat.

The third cardio circuit involves 30 seconds of plank jumping jacks (you're in plank position and you jump your legs out and in) and 30 seconds of double jump rope (I think this means you jump twice as high). I had to do modifications for both (for the plank jumping jacks, just alternate stepping your feet out and in, for the double jump rope, I just did regular jump rope, like in Level 1). The cardio at this level is HARD!

The third abs circuit is a full minute of plank twists - while you are in plank position, you alternate swinging your bent leg underneath you and twist.

The cool down is exactly the same as Level 1. I kind of wish it was a little longer, but honestly at that point, I just want to sit down for a second.

This level is harder in some ways (CARDIO. ugh) and about the same in others (strength and abs). I'm glad to be doing new stuff, though.

Jillian Micahels' 30-Day Shred-Day 10

Okay, last day at Level 1 (I did skip two days, but whatever, I can make them up at the end). I still kinda feel like this workout is pretty challenging, in that it still makes me sweaty and I can still feel the burn during each of the movements, but I really want to move on, because I'm getting a little bored of it. I tacked on the 8-minute abs workout as well today.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 9

Ugh. Sore from the boxing last night. But I still managed to get up and do the workout this morning. The air conditioning at my house is a little spotty, so I sweated a ridiculous amount, and actually had a little trouble holding on to my weights because of it. Gross. I definitely wanted to quit after the 3rd strength circuit, but I managed to keep going to the end. I think I'll do one more day of Level 1 and switch to Level 2 on Saturday.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 8

I let myself sleep in a little bit this morning and felt better today, so I hit it a little harder at the gym than usual. I did 50 inclined alternating situps, 50 knee ups, a 20-minute abs class and a 65-minute boxing class. Boxing was fun, although I kept forgetting to keep my hands up and accordingly got beaned in the head a couple of times. No matter, good times anyway.

I came home and did the Level 1 workout. I'm still using 5 lb. weights 'cause honestly, it's still a challenge. I maybe should have done the workout before I went to boxing, because push ups were a bitch to get through. I made it though. I'm really starting to see some more definition in my arms, so that's good. I still haven't lost any weight, though, which is a little sad...

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 7

I did not feel at all well this morning when I got up. Very headachey and sore all over, and a little light-headed. And I hadn't even been drinking last night! I don't know what's going on with me, but I don't think that I should try to work out today...

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 6

Hmm, it was really hard to get up this morning. In fact, I may have still been a little drunk from last night...I definitely had hangover head and stomach walking to the gym, and after just 15 minutes on the treadmill, I started to feel a little woozy, so I just sat myself down on the stretching mats for 20 minutes and stretched before I went home. I felt much better once I got home, so I did the Level 1 workout and 8-minute abs. After 5 days of following this work out, I can definitely notice more definition in my legs and arms. I haven't lost any weight, but I've lost an inch off my hips and half an inch around my thighs, so I'm really excited!

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 5

I really didn't feel like working out today, but I knew that I would be disappointed in myself later if I didn't just do it, so I compromised: I just did the Jillian Michaels workout, no additional cardio, and my 8-minute abs video. I also upped my weight to 5 lbs. - not too much more difficult - I'm definitely getting stronger.

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 4

I had to ice down my muscles a little yesterday and stretch a lot, but I felt a lot better today (soreness-wise only, as I was also fighting a pretty vicious hangover). To make up for the skipped day, I ran for an hour on the treadmill and did some knee-ups and incline situps.

The workout was easier today. I think I just had to get a little accustomed to working those muscles. The push-ups were the most noticeably easier.

I've noticed something weird - the hardest cardio section for me to do is the punches. I'm not sure why that is, since it doesn't involve jumping around like the other cardio movements, but my heart definitely pumps the hardest during the punching...

Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred - Day 3

Holy Jeebus. So damn sore I can barely walk around. Uh, think I'm gonna have to skip today and rest...