Second verse, same as the first

The first time I did my own 30 Day Shred challenge, last fall, I had been working out consistently, and I was "skeptical" that Jillian's 20 minute workout would be enough for me. After previewing the DVD, I thought the moves looked simple enough, and my plan that first morning was to do Levels 1 and 2 back to back. Shortly after starting the workout that first day, I realized I would not be able to do both levels, so I contemplated repeating level 1. I contemplated this for about 35 seconds. By the time I was done with the 30 Day Shred that first time through, my sweaty-headed self was just happy to be alive. Doing the cool down stretches was about all I could handle at that point.

I finished that first challenge at the end of October 2008, and my major accomplishment was surviving it. Period. I got to Level 3 during the last week, but I was only able to do it a few times.

The second time I did the 30 Day Shred Challenge was about 3 months later. I had fallen off the exercise wagon, and I needed a way to climb back aboard. I figured the 30 Day Shred would be a good way to jump back into a fitness routine. In the middle of my challenge, I lent my DVD to my sister so she could preview it. Levels 1 and 2 are On Demand under the Sports and Fitness Category, so I was able to do those levels, and by the time I was ready to move on to Level 3, I got my DVD back. Also in the middle of the challenge, I discovered Jillian Michaels' other workout programs, Boost Your Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones, also available to me On Demand. To me, both of these programs are the 30 Day Shred on steroids. I incorporated these programs into my workout routine as well. Near the end of that challenge, I was beginning to think that I could do something that not that long ago I thought was near impossible, doing back to back sessions of the 30 Day Shred.

Well, today I did it! I did Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred two times in a row! Back to back, baby! I'm hoping I can keep this up. It's not easy, but it's doable. My plan is to gradually move from back to back level 1, to level 1 followed by level 2, then eventually, level 2 followed by level 3, and maybe, just maybe, we'll see if I can do back to back level 3!

2d30D13: I followed Natalie!

I followed Natalie while doing Level 3 of the 30 Day Shred! I've done level 3 before, but I've always followed Anita's modifications. So, when I got my DVD back yesterday and decided to do Level 3, I also decided to follow "bad ass" Natalie.

I haven't done Level 3 in at least 2 months, and I forgot how hard it was, I mean really, really hard, especially if you don't do the wussy modifications. Honestly, there isn't one move that is easy. From the "walking plank up-up/down-downs" all the way through to the "Rock Start Jumps," all the moves are killer, and I hate them all. I hate the jumping squats and the "weighted plank-hold, arm and leg raise" move and the "Supermans." Jillian even takes the good old "jumping jack" to the next level by making us use weights. Ok, maybe the "one-armed squat clean and presses" might be considered by some to be "easier," but you're so tired by the time you get to those, that it's not as easy as it looks.

I was pretty spent at the end of the workout. I started to do Yoga Sculpt after the Shred, but I was dripping with sweat and wasn't into it. So, I stopped about 2 minutes in and started the Cardio Autonomy Yoga routine again. It's more relaxing. The pace is slower, and I get more of a stretch because you hold the poses longer. It was just what I needed after Level 3 of the 30 Day Shred.

Card Party or 52 Card Pick Up?

If I was more creative, I could come up with a great name for this workout plan I heard Jillian describe last night on The Biggest Loser. I'm always looking for ways to change up my workout, and this sounds like something fun to try.

Here's how it works: Shuffle an ordinary deck of playing cards. Draw a card one at a time. Diamonds represent push ups. Do lunges for Hearts. Spades are crunches, and do reverse crunches for all Clubs. The number on the card drawn is the number of repetitions for each exercise. Face cards are 10, and Aces are a one minute break.

I'm going to try this on Friday. I might modify the plan for my own purposes. First, I don't think I'll do the reverse crunches for club cards, instead I'm going to rotate through a few different exercises: (a) dead lifts with bicep curls, (b) squats with shoulder presses, (c) squats and (d) tricep kick backs in a chair squat. I'll use 5 lb weights for the lunges and the crunches. I also may throw in a few butterfly/leg raises in place of some of the crunches to work my lower abs.

Day 31 nka 2d30D1

I've gotten into the habit of titling these posts as Day "X." I've decided to keep going with that because I think 30 days is a good measuring stick to keep track of how I'm doing. In theory, I can track the natural ups and downs that occur every 30 days, and if I start to falter, I'll have a chance to start with a new "shot clock" so to speak every 30 days.

However, I'd also like to acknowledge that I'm on my "second" 30 days. So, I came up with the code "2d30D_," which is short for 2nd 30 Day "x".

Updated: For as much motivation as I thought I was filled with at the end of my first 30 days, it didn't translate into getting me out of bed before the crack of dawn this morning. I know I ate too much yesterday, and my body repaid me by not wanting to get out of bed when the alarm went off.

I waited until after breakfast. The kids wanted to watch "Marley and Me," so I set them up in my bedroom, and I did Jillian Michaels' "Boost Your Metabolism" from On Demand on Exercise TV. This is a 55 minute workout. Sometimes, I'm only able to get through 40 minutes of it, but today, I was cruising along, feel pretty good, when right around the 45 minute mark the TV screen went black. "Ugh, not again! I complained to myself." It turned out to be a "Test of the Emergency Broadcast System" that interrupted service. It took about 5 minutes to get everything booted back up. I contemplated giving up, in fact, I tried to start the Pilates Abs workout, but that didn't work either. Besides, like I said, I was feeling strong and wanted to finish "BYM." After about 5 minutes of fuming, it started working again and I finished up strong.

According to my weekly plan, I wanted to get in some Yoga today, but that hasn't happened. I'm thinking about doing it tomorrow morning.

Day 29: More running intervals

One reason I've never joined a gym is that I'm a little intimidated by the cardio machines and the weight machines. I don't know how to use the weight machines at all. Part of the problem is that I'm short so I have to fidddle with the settings to get the right height. I also find it to be a pain to have to adjust the weight settings, I have no idea what weight to use. None of that seems worth the effort.

I am more comfortable using the free weights, especially since I started doing DVDs like Jillian's and Jari's which have plenty of strength training moves. I have written out a little cheat sheet and take it with me to the gym. I only feel slightly dorky doing that, but at my age, I'm beyond worrying about what other people think of me and what I'm doing.

As for the cardio machines, I know the basics of how to use them. I know how to get started, but I don't take advantage of all the different settings and training programs. I usually just use "Quick Start" and then adjust manually as I go along. I've used the elliptical and stair master machines in the past, but I don't really like those machines (I don't even know if stair masters still exist.) The past few times I've gone to the gym, I've stuck to the treadmill.

Today, I tried an interval training program. I set the time for 30 minutes, and the machine went back and forth between 2 minutes of walking at a 3.5 mph pace on a 3% incline and 90 seconds of running at a 4.7 mph pace. It was perfect!

As I have written before, I'm considering joing the rec center for the summer months, so I guess I should figure out how to use these machines to my advantage.

Day 23/24: Annoyed!

First, I'll start with Day 23, which was yesterday. I didn't workout yesterday, I hadn't really planned on it as I didn't have time with having to take the kids to church and then heading over to my mom's for dinner. I did "ok" with food, but I did splurge on the peanut butter chocolate pie from Achatz for dessert, it was well worth it!

Today I am annoyed with Comcast! It appears that Exercise TV has been excised from On Demand. I cannot find it anywhere on the menu. I have tried, in vain of course, to get some information from Comcast customer (non)service, but I have been unsuccessful. I was talking to a customer service rep, and he either hung up on me or I was "disconnected." When I tried to call back, I kept getting an automated message telling me that my call cannot be "processed!!" I'm really hoping that I'm wrong about Exercise TV being gone from the On Demand line up.

I did get a workout in. I did a Jari Love DVD that I have. It's mainly a strength training DVD. I don't like it as well as I like Jillian's workout options, but at least I did it.

I wonder if they know each other

I have been a casual observer of NBC's show, The Biggest Loser, for a few seasons, so I at least knew who Jillian Michaels was when I stumbled upon her relatively new workout video, 30 Day Shred. I wasn't really looking to change my workout routine. I've been very happy with Jari Love's series of DVDs, I have 4 of them which I rotate through on a weekly basis. I find Jari's workouts challenging, I feel great when I'm done, and I have certainly seen positive changes in my physique. But, after watching the trailer for Jillian's 30 Day Shred DVD, I felt that she was challenging me.

I've tried just about everything to lose weight since the birth of my second child in October of 2005. I joined two different ladies only gyms; I've dieted; I've worked out with a personal trainer; I've worked out on my own; I've walked; I tried running; I workout with weights; I throw in some cardio. I've even tried a few "diet pills" and "colon cleaners," but no matter what combination of healthy eating and exercise I try, I simply do not see the results that I am looking for. The personal trainer I had was convinced that there was something wrong with my thyroid, so I had that checked, but it's fine.

This is not to say that I haven't seen any results. Sure, I've lost as much as 10 pounds. And, yes, since adding the free weights, I have definitely seen an increase in my strength and endurance, and yet, I can't seem to lose all the weight I'd like or look the way I think I should look given all the effort I've put forth.

Part of my problem has been consistency. I go all gang busters for a period of time, but then something happens (sickness, death, job stress, etc) which causes me to stop working out the way I was, and then I have a hard time getting back into it again. Kind of like the smoker who "never quits quitting," though, I do eventually get back into a workout routine in an effort to lose more weight.

For some reason, I've decided to take Jillian up on her challenge to shed weight in the next 30 days. We'll see if this time is different. I'm logging this experience because maybe it will shed some light into my own inability to stick with a work out program.