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.