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.