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Tammy's Shred Challenge

I'm taking it up a notch!

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30 Day Shred - Level 3!

Awhile back I reviewed Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, Levels 1 & 2. I've progressed to Level 3 now so I thought I'd post a review.

I just finished the workout and I'm sitting here still sweating away! No point in showering till you're done sweating right?

This. Is. One. Tough. Workout!

The toughest thing about this workout is that so many of the moves qualify as both muscle conditioning AND cardio. Sometimes abs are also kicked in for a triple killer.

For example - one cardio circuit included doing butt kicks, jumping jacks and punches - WITH weights. Wow, talk about an arm workout while getting that heart pumping. Another cardio circuit had mountain climbers (tough move totally involving abs) and sumo squats (which obviously work the thighs - inner thighs specifically).

Other tough moves in this workout include travelling pushups, jumping lunges, jumping squats and rock stars. I'm exhausted just typing that out.

I found that Level 1 had quite easy ab moves. Level 2 was slightly harder, and Level 3 does kick it up a notch in this area as well. Pike situps, full situps, double leg raise with scissor kicks (add a LOT of inner thigh on that one!) and side lifts are a few of the delicacies you will experience in Level 3.\

Edited to add: My reviews seem to be scaring people away from this workout - and that is not my intention! This workout is awesome!! It is customizable to varying fitness levels. One of the girls always demonstrates an easier version of all the moves, so you can definitely follow her. You can also simply use lighter weights - or even no weights at all if necessary. You can customize it to your fitness level. Just do it!

The actually purpose of this workout is to workout 30 days in a row without fail. I have not done that, and I'm sure if you did you would see more impressive results. I have definitely noticed an increase in strength. I have not noticed any movement on the scale - however, I'm trying to keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat and I've definitely been gaining muscle and losing fat, so that's a good thing.

If I could be more disciplined with my eating (or should I say snacking!) that would probably help a lot. My plan with that is to avoid chips. I've recently developed this awful habit of having some chips with my sandwhich virtually every day for lunch during the week. Even though I am keeping the portion size under control, having it every day is definitely adding to my calorie intake! So, no chips at home. Chips and desserts are only allowed when we go to someone's house, or have people over, and even then I'm going to pick and choose. For ex - yesterday we had my family over for Mother's Day/Father's Day and I was able to pass on the ice cream sandwiches fairly easily. Though I like ice cream sandwiches, it's not a weakness and if I'm going to say no, that's an easier one for me. On Saturday we had Pam's family over for supper, and then we had ice cream sundaes - which I was able to at least limit to ice cream and strawberries (I CAN'T pass up ice cream and strawberries!). So, hopefully these decisions will help. Making a fairly specific plan like this helps me to make better food choices, much better than just generically saying I'm planning to eat better. What does that mean exactly anyway?

Why are those last 7 pounds so hard to lose?! Grrr.

Quick Update

OK, I know I've been MIA the last month, so I figured I better get a quick post in before the end of the month! :)

We've had a few birthday parties lately - I'll post some pictures soon. We're leaving tomorrow for a short trip so it'll have to wait till we get back.

I am happy to say that I am completely up to date with my Bible reading. As one of my New Year's resolutions, I determined to read the Bible through in one year. I started off with one plan, switched to another, and ended up switching back, though I forgot to update you on that one. I decided that the reason I felt the first one was too "jumpy" and hard to concentrate on (OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs every day) was that I was reading too fast. I am a fast reader - in fact sometimes I even tend to skim things. And I don't want to do that with the Bible! So, I switched back and I am really enjoying it. I admit having to re-read some passages, and I do admit to slightly skimming when it gets to the long list of names, especially when you have no idea if you're pronouncing them right - but I am caught up!! I also do admit to skipping days - which is really not a good idea because you have to read that much more to catch up. But caught up I am!

One thing I like about my reading plan is that is also has a blog! The writer has some great insights about each passage every day. And it also has links to read the day's passage online - which is great and really leaves me with no excuse for not reading it, since the Lord knows I spend too much time online!

The passage I read today was really quite amazing. Moses is reminding the people of their sin in worshipping the golden calf and how he intervened on their behalf.

Deut 9:18 & 19: Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord's sight and so provoking him to anger. I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.

On the One Year Bible Blog there is an amazing portrait of Moses lying prostrate before God, pleading with Him on behalf of the Israelites. Like the blog writer says "can you imagine doing this for 40 days and nights for someone? Particularly for someone who just sinned greatly against God? Moses is amazing... "

Would you be willing to do that? If I'm being honest, I really don't think I would. And that's not right. I need to be lifting unsaved family and friends to the Lord always! I need to be praying for my Christian brothers and sisters constantly - that God would protect their hearts, their relationships with their spouses and children, that He would guide them through their trials AND their good times, that He would give them a longing for Him, that He would surround them with His love and comfort them, that He would convict them of wrongdoing and give them the grace to turn back to Him. I need to get on my knees for those I love, and for my enemies as well! Though really, is there anyone out there that doesn't like me? Nah, I can't imagine it. :)

So, that's my Bible update.

On to the exercise update. I am still doing the 30 Day Shred and still loving it! I alternate between Levels 1 and 2. I can do all of Level 1 with 5 and 8 lbs weights. I can do almost all of Level 2 with them as well, though I admit to wimping out and using my 3 lbers on one exercise at the end. I do the workout 4 or 5 days per week. It's so hard, and every time I finish it I feel like I must be really skinny!

Menu updates - I am not always planning my meals an entire week at a time, but I am at least thinking about it before 5pm most nights :)

Well, that's it for now. Tune in later this week (hopefully!) for birthday updates and pictures.

30 Day Shred

I've been getting frustrated at my lack of progress with the Push Up Challenge (still can't move past week 4), so I've decided to shake things up a bit. I had heard good things about The 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels (Biggest Loser fitness guru) so I decided to give it a whirl.

People - I have exercised at least 4 days a week for the past 10 years - and I found this TOUGH! You can tone it down a bit (there are 2 girls showing beginner and advance versions of the exercises) - you're just not allowed to stop! Well, maybe if you pass out you can stop for a few seconds. This is a very short workout - not counting warmup and cool down it is 18 mins of pure torture! She does 3 minutes of strength, then 2 minutes of cardio and then 1 minute of abs - and then does that same circuit over again three times in total, changing up the moves each time. There are 3 different workouts on the dvd (3 different levels). I have tried both level 1 and 2 so far.

I will keep you updated on how things are going, but I have a feeling this is going to get some results. This has got to be one of the most time effective, tough workouts I have ever done.

She is tough, no nonsense and brutally honest. Here are a few of her phrases.....
"I want you to feel like you're gargalling your heart"
"I want you to feel like you are going to die"

And, yes..... you do!

Edited to add: Just thought I should add on a little more info about the types of exercises performed during the workouts.

Strength moves: these usually incorporate lower and upper body moves simultaneously - such as bicep curls while doing lunges, or shoulder presses and squats, or front lateral raise with side squat, etc - and pushups of course!

Cardio: not for those with knee problems as there's a lot of jumping going on. Jumping jacks, butt kicks, high knee runs, "fake" jumping rope, etc - yep, brutal I tell ya.

Abs: pretty traditional moves - crunches, reverse crunches, both together, bicycles, ab moves from the plank position, etc.

There ya have it!