A twenty minute nap: also good.

I decided to try the 30 Day Shred after seeing a few people talking about it on Twitter. I am inherently lazy of course and I have come to accept that this combined with my love of calorie heavy beer is going to keep me on the slightly overweight side of curvy for the rest of my life.

I've learned a little more about how to dress my body considering this and I feel okay about the way things look on a day to day basis. Besides when I was skinny I didn't have boobs so six of one, half dozen of the other. Or...well you get what I'm saying.

Still, I don't really want to gain more weight and I also find that if I am at least moderately active I feel more confident about the state of my body and who doesn't like to feel confident?

I've toyed around with lots of different workouts and I have hated them all. When I heard the Shred lasted 20 minutes I thought, "Well it'll suck like everything else but at least it's only 20 minutes. I can do anything for 20 minutes."

And I can, I do. I've been using this tape for more than 30 days now, of course not in a row and I am pleased with how fast my endurance increased and you really can't beat 20 minutes.

But Holy Shit I want to kill someone every time I do this stupid thing. I spend about an hour or two talking myself into doing it again. Then another 30 to 45 minutes after the fact willing myself not to pass out. I try to convince myself that if I ride my bike four miles it's "just as good", even though I know it's not. I'll skip the work out today, I say to myself, I'm folding laundry! That's almost as good, I'll just climb the stairs 50 times while I do it.

My mantra is, "Anything For 20 Minutes" The problem is, about 5 minutes in I think, "I really could do anything for 20 minutes, like sit here watching this stupid workout while eating a spoonful of peanut butter. Or I could read a book for 20 minutes. Or I could have sex for 20 minutes. Or I could stick a fork in my eye for 20 minutes. Anything that is not this."

It's very motivating.

There's gotta be an effective way for me to be active that won't require a lot of time, won't make me miserable and that I'll look forward to doing.

In Puerto Rico with Maggie, we'd end each day in the pool gently swimming/walking back and forth across the pool for hours while chatting and waiting for the bats to dive bomb our heads forcing us out. And yes we had drinks in our hands a lot (almost all) of the time but still.

I guess we need a pool. And bats.

(Yes, I'm still on level one.)

Comments

[Sara]

Stay on level one. I did this DVD for about two months a while back and moved up to level two the second month. If possible, I hated it more. But, I didn't think it was "harder" enough to balance out the increase in the amount of hatred. I seriously used to yell at the TV.

I was just thinking the other day that I need to start doing it again. While doing it "religiously", I went and got a pedicure and the technician, who is a personal trainer as well as a nail tech, complemented me on my muscle tone. So... I guess it works. But it sucks. And it is hard to start up again once you let yourself fall off the wagon.

[Carolyn]

I checked this out on Amazon and it has great reviews. I'm curious if you lost any weight or have you mostly toned? Both are good but I'm more interested in losing weight right now.

[Katy]

I know it's the physical activity that makes it hard to motivate but I find the Shred eminently more bearable by muting Jillian and playing some upbeat music instead.

[Jessica]

I've been doing the 30 Day Shred for about the same time and I just went back to Level 1 for a day and I hated it! Too much jumping, I like level 2 and 3 more. They still suck but it goes by a lot faster.

[Becki]

I've been reading your twitters about the shred and being slightly masochistic I WANNA DO IT TOO!

Do you need weights? Do you cry at the end?

I'm on the reserved list from the library so maybe in 5 months I'll get to know the delicious pain.

[brie]

I'm also doing the 30 Day Shred. I'm also not doing it every day, but I'm trying to do it 5 days a week. After a couple of days it did get easier, but I'm relieved to hear you're still on Level One. I can't imagine Level Two at this point. I tend to be dripping with sweat after 2o minutes (so pretty).

I like Katy's suggestion to mute it and put on my own music. I don't know how many more times I can hear "I'm hopin' you know me" and "Right, buddy?" but for the time being it's a good little workout.

[mom2werogers]

I have that dvd and have the same love/hate relationship with it. I tried level 2 twice and OH MY GOD so much harder. Do you find yourself saying what Jillian's going to say just moments before? So often we are told just take the stairs...that's a false sense of lethargy that leads us to blah blah blah.

Being out of shape sucks and it is a never ending battle. HATE IT!

I do like the idea of muting and adding my own music. Then I can call myself the world's toughest trainer.

[Emily]

I've been doing the 30DS since May and... well, I still pretty much hate it. But I'm still doing it, and that's what counts, right? ...Right? Anyway. Level 3 is a whole new fresh hell, let me assure you. But it works, so I guess it's worth it. Doesn't stop me from shouting obscenities at Jillian every few minutes, though. :)

[april]

I've been on the 30 Day Shred wagon before (not right now, unfortunately) for much the same reasons. I found it infinitely more tolerable when I put it on mute and listened to NPR. Jumping jacks to Steve Inskeep!

[Kelsey]

Wii Fit! w00t!

[Ry Sal]

hate it. did it for 2 days, but I have to go back to it. She's a beast!

[Mitzi]

Yea, I bought the 30 day shred DVD, too. It sat around the house for 30 days and when I didn't lose weight like that I figured I'd have to open the thing and put it in the DVD player. I, like you, figured I could give 20 minutes for anything. Got tired of it though. Never got off Level 1 either.
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one!

[JuicyBit]

Two words for you: aqua aerobics. The fact that you will be the youngest person by a good three to four decades not to mention the most agile and bouncy will give you great confidence. It's fun, too, and a good full body workout, especially if you like being in the water.

[Jules]

Do you see any results? I tried it for three weeks, my arms got really huge in a manish kind of way. Not very motivating!

[Gabrielle]

I do the shred too. Try level 2. Trust me (famous last words I know). But it's MUCH better than level 1.

And have you noticed that she doesn't know how to count in level 1. It drives me nuts when she says, "just a couple more", and then counts out 6 or 10 more reps. WTF?

Again, try level 2. MUCH better. Level 3 is harder, but I like it much more than 1 and 2.

[Amy @ Dear Mazzy]

I've done the Shred off & on since the spring, but not consistently. Tomorrow I'm starting the Shredheads (Twitter search #shredheads) October challenge, so we'll see how I feel after a solid month of it. I agree with Level 2 being less nasty, though harder. And turning down the volume.

[Amira @ definemature.com]

All I can say is I commend you for even trying it out. I am still too lazy to even consider workingout again.

In the meantime I try to do my regualr activities in "excerise mode", or like, enough to call it a workout.

[Cheryl]

For anyone who has Comcast, I think the Shred is on the Video On Demand in the Fitness section, for free. I've seen it there, but have been unable to force myself to do it.

What has got me moving is the Wii. I have both the Wii Fit and My Fitness Coach and I love both of them and use them and Wii Sports (that comes with it) every single day because it is fun!

Prices have gone down on both the Wii and the Wii Fit if you don't already have one.

[Coma Girl]

Stay on level 1. Level 2 kicks your butt.

I've been doing the shred on and off since June. I'm back on level 1

[Sheila]

I cannot get off Level 1 because I went and looked ahead at Level 2 and I am too afraid to go there.

Important Safety Tip: Do NOT look ahead to Level 2.

[Laura]

Wow, all those comments about the shred...I just want to know your tips for dressing a "curvy" body so you don't feel or look like you're still pregnant and not embarrassed to be seen in public.

(oh and I 2nd water aerobics. Before I got married I taught 4 classes a week...skinniest I've ever been as an adult, I just couldn't find a facility that needed an instructor after I moved over here and got out of it all together.)

[April]

I bought the shred back in July and was on it religiously for about a month, but due to school kicking in again I haven't done it in weeks. Level 1 has me sweating buckets and I am so not ready for Level 2. And I'm quite alright with that, by the looks of the other commenters!

[Xdm]

"I got 400 pound people who can do jumping jacks! So can you!" And I mutter....wheezing..."fuck you Jillian and your girlfriends..."

[Ashley, The Accidental Olympian]

What I hate even MORE than forcing myself to commit to doing the video is that without fail, at some point in the middle of the video I will throw my arms into the air doing some insane workout move and have my hands smacked by my ceiling fan blades.

I just got frustrated all over thinking about that damn ceiling fan.

[Kelsey]

I need to do kegels before I do the 30 Day Shred because every time I have tried, I pee my pants.

[Kristin]

I'm with the other Wii Fitters who have posted. I have now exercised on that thing for over 19 hours. Of course, it took me 117 days to reach those 19 hours, but that's 19 hours more than I've done in the past 20 years, and I've kept the weight down.

Plus, you get to yell back at the other Wii characters jumping around with you. I downloaded some of the Simpsons characters and some actors, so now I go virtual jogging with Mr. Burns and Jack Black. It's hilarious when they trip and fall and then you run right past them. Makes you feel superior, and who doesn't want that in a fitness routine?

[Phoe]

I do not know this Shred of which you speak. Hm. I'm a runner, but I need to do something on my off days. Something besides nothing, which is what I currently do.

[Bianca]

yeah, I'm doing the 30 day shred too. I have definitely improved my endurance but I'm still dripping with sweat by the time I'm done. I mix it up and have started doing the Boost Metabolism and No MOre Trouble Zones also by Jillian (they are on On Demand Comcast right now if you have cable). They are 55 minutes long and killer.

I choose one of them each day so I don't get bored. Ugh. Like I could get bored.

I just did Level 2 today for the first time. Okay, every single time that woman gets me into Plank Pose I want to DIE. She does this squat thrust thing in level 2 that is INSANE. I hate plank pose and all its related exercises.

[rbiggs]

I quickly clicked on your link to the 30 Day Shred and had to VERY QUICKLY click back after I saw that it was Jillian's workout DVD. She scares the living shit out of me. I have just started watching The Biggest Loser and I'm pretty sure that I will not make it through the season because she just frightens me too much. Can you say INTENSE? I too would be with you in having to work up lots of courage before turning the DVD on. I say stick with just embracing who you are, stay away from her. What if she pops out of the TV and starts to yell at you?

[Alyce]

I've read about TDS for months now and I'm exhausted.

[Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt]

All I can say is best of luck!

[Dave M]

@April- Steve Inskeep makes me want to run far, far away from the radio. So I guess that's exercise.

[Jen]

Did it for about 2 weeks. Hurt A LOT the first few days. Kept telling myself that it would be better once the muscle soreness wore off. Then I realized that it was my knees that hurt. Yep, completely destroyed them and another 2 weeks later and they still hurt. Badly.

And yeah, I pee myself every time. I suck.

[pagalina]

I watched a short excerpt on amazon and good lord, is all the music that bad? I can see how doing the exact same work out over and over would be deadly! I have to have a lot of variety in my workouts and options. Don't feel like the gym? then i'll do a brisk walk.

[Melissa Summers]

Oh some ugly things come out of my mouth. I have to do it when the kids are at school.

My God.

On Sep 30, 2009, at 11:35 AM, typepad@sixapart.com wrote:

[Melissa Summers]

Yes weights, I tried 5 and that was insane so I use 3lbs

and yes I cry at the end. Well cry or rage against Jillian.

On Sep 30, 2009, at 11:22 AM, typepad@sixapart.com wrote:

[die Frau]

I'm with everyone else--my husband and I have tried it through Exercise on Demand on our cable and while we find it effective, we still breathlessly scream, "F**K YOU, JILLIAN MICHAELS! I HATE YOU!" at random intervals as she oh so gently chides us to "do a couple more" reps. If we stuck with it, I think we would see benefits. Might try Katy's suggestion of muting Jillian and putting on music.

[Shannon]

Oh, I KKNOW. I did the whole thing (30 days straight) in July, and was amazed it did not kill me. (It almost did). Now I'm doing it three days a week, on days I don't run. Dang it is still sooooo hard! I just moved up to Level 2 again yesterday, and just like in July, I was drenched in sweat and didn't think I was gonna make it! That is one hard workout.

[MXJ]

I just started too. I also turn the sound to low because I can't hear her say "abs like this don't come for free" one more time. But, I do find it pretty motivating. After a couple of days, I noticed my endurance getting better.

She is NOT like she is on The Biggest Loser. I find her more motivating. I also have a lot more respect for the Biggest Loser contestants for working out even harder/longer with Jillian than 20 mins.

I do it on Comcast On Demand. There is a shorter version of No More Trouble Zones on there too. I cannot finish it, but it's good.

[Candice]

After reading this I immediately went and ordered the DVD, thinking the same thing as you...hey, it's 20 minutes, I can handle 20 minutes. Then I read the comments and thought, hell no, I'm not going to do this and went to cancel my order and Amazon already started processing it so I can't cancel it. UGH! I wonder if I'll do it. Have you noticed results?

[Nina]

I second the request to tell us your tips for dressing a curvy body, please! Although my curvy body is different from yours in that, when skinny, I did not have boobs, and now that I am large, I STILL do not have boobs, which doesn't seem fair. But! I am fashion clueless and I bet a lot of us would like to know how you do it.

[perl]

Folding laundry? That is a FALSE MESSAGE OF LETHARGY! heh. I love that part. My knees and ankles hurt so bad after those damn jumping jacks that I never made it to level 2. Bah to Jillian.

[Kelly]

I have lost 45 pounds since the end of April and my favorite thing to do is walk. I walk an hour to an hour and a half almost every day. I love to listen to my iPod and just go. When I can't walk because of the nasty weather, I do a walking/exercise DVD. I love Leslie Sansone ("Walk Your Belly Flat") and Denise Austen has a good one too.

I tried that 30 Day bullshit of Jillian's earlier in the summer after my friend loaned it to me. Screw that, I could hardly move the next day because of my achy, sore muscles. I'd rather have jelly belly than have to suffer like that every stinking day.

[Carmen]

I'll third the requests for dressing tips please. And then I'll follow them religiously while still avoiding the 30 Day Shred. After reading about it for a few months now I'm completely terrified.

[Mary]

My friend and I fill a couple of Tupperware tumblers that comes with a shoulder strap and a cover, with white wine.

Then we walk and talk. Believe it or not, we've both lost weight and gained muscle tone. It's NOT impossible to loose wieght while drinking an adult beverage.

I'm sure somewhere, someone is screaming at me for my lack of healthy choices, but, "whatever works:", is my motto.

[Melissa Summers]

That is a riot! Love it

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 3, 2009, at 12:06 PM, typepad@sixapart.com wrote:

[Vegas710]

I thought level 2 was a lot better. But I haven't made it to 3 yet.

[Maren]

I put the DVD in the laptop on mute, then do the workout while watching something I actually like so that I don't get so bored...and then angry at the pain. It works ok, except that it is easier to cheat when you can't hear her...