I'm late for the party but I just bought '30 Day Shred' on Amazon. It looks great! How do all of you use it? And by that I mean, daily, three times a week...?

I was thinking of doing it three days a week because I also run and do pilates regularly and I don't want to kill myself. Each of the portions is only like 27min but it looks intense. Opinions?

^ I started out wanting to do it every day before I'd tried it and then I used 5 pound weights the first time. Ya...I needed a few days off after that.

My revised goal is to now do it a minimum of 3x per week. I'm just starting there and then I'll build it up as it's possible for me.

I workout every day, regardless of the video I'm doing.

I've been doing the advanced version of Bob's workouts, but downgraded to the beginner for the week - partly in effort to be able to review them fairly, partly because I feel lousy.

Bob's advanced workouts are an hour long, which it's CHALLENGING to fit an hour workout in every single day. Pretty much if you don't get it in first thing in the morning, you miss your shot. :/

The beginner workouts are shorter - 20 minutes and I think the cardio one is 25, so they're easy to fit in. But on days I do the beginner version, I do them both, so I either have to fit in a full hour, or I have to fit in workout out twice a day, which also sucks.

But dang it, it's so worth it. I'm taking pics this weekend, I'm excited.

What the frack?!

Why am I not losing weight?! Gaaah!

I know my body is changing - I'm to the point that my saddlebags (which have been one of very few constants in my life, lolz...) are even starting to firm up and slim down. And I bought myself a pair of size medium pants the other day - never, in my entire memory of buying clothes for myself, have I been able to buy a size medium. And I did! And I had on a size medium shirt yesterday, and it was baggy!

And that number on the scale isn't changing. I don't get it. Eat 1,200 calories a day, same number on the scale. Eat 1,600 calories a day, same number on the scale. Yesterday, I paid no attention to numbers at all, and just ate whatever struck my fancy, same number on the scale.

My doctor told me that she wants me to get down to a a number that, let's just say - there's some miles to travel between where I am and that number. I don't get it! I do everything right, nothing changes. Do everything wrong, still no changes. I just have a really hard time buying that my body pin pointed this number and went "Yep, we're good, right there..." So frustrated!

Getting ready to spend another day with Bob and the beginners. I don't feel like there's that much of a gap between the beginner and advanced strength workout - I feel like the biggest change is that the advanced level is so much longer (60 minutes for advanced, 20 for beginner), with the cardio, there's a BIG gap between levels - the advanced cardio is longer of course, but it's so much more intense!

^ I'm sure you've probably heard this 1,000 times before, but is it possible you're putting on muscle while you're getting rid of fat? If your clothes definitely fit differently, you can't say you're not getting results of some sort. I worked out for about 2 months with Jillian and I had noticeable muscle development...so perhaps that's why it doesn't seem like the number on the scale is moving?


As for my back, I certainly WISH I had coverage to go to the doctor (I'm still under my mom's insurance, which covers only emergency care in the city where I live--I have to 1,500 miles back home for routine care. ) I'm going to try resting it for a full week and see if that helps.


I was tempted to order the Body Revolution DVD's, but after reading here about the trouble/mix-ups with them I'm glad I waited!!

So I wanted to post an update to my recent complaint reply here. The reply was regarding the Body Revolution system. The long list of problems and complaints had been steadily growing on Jillian's page and I voiced my concerns, sometimes out of anger LOL, and they definitely got noticed.

I received a very professional email from the customer service manager today and I feel more confident in my purchase now. He addressed all of my concerns and I feel he has made right with the situation. The sorting center is literally located like an hour down the road from me (how lucky am I??), and he said he could have the product in my hands in 2 days. He was very cordial and helpful and I appreciate him taking the time to sort out this mess.

I was so aggravated by the whole thing that prior to receiving that email I said screw it and started 30DS again. I haven't done it for a long time and it kicked my booty.

^ I'm sure you've probably heard this 1,000 times before, but is it possible you're putting on muscle while you're getting rid of fat? If your clothes definitely fit differently, you can't say you're not getting results of some sort. I worked out for about 2 months with Jillian and I had noticeable muscle development...so perhaps that's why it doesn't seem like the number on the scale is moving?

I don't think there's any question that I'm getting results. In fact, judging by my actual look, workout has been a raging success. The numbers, on the other hand, are stuck. I think I've been at this exact same weight since the beginning of November. And I know I should take what I can get and shut up about it, LOL, but getting to see a smaller number would be really nice! I feel like I've worked hard enough for it!

In truth, I've met the goal I set. Well, I've met the first one. I said when I started all this that I wanted to weigh what I weighed when I got pregnant, and right this second, I'm a pound and a half under it. But my second goal - a goal I was looking forward to - was fitting into a particular outfit that I have to be at a certain weight to get in to it. And I'm not even in the zip code of that weight. :/

I've been begging and pleading for a bodybugg for my birthday, maybe that would offer up some answers?

^ Have you tried Jillian's book "Making the Cut"?

^I'm working my way through Bob's book "Are You Ready!" right this second. I've got "Making The Cut" though. Bob's got a new book coming out in May too, that I'm looking forward to getting.

I feel like I eat well enough. I definetly work out. I don't get it. I mean, I do have a pretty tight relationship with hot chocolate during the winter, but I account for those calories, it's not like I eat so many calories plus whatever I drank that day. The drink calories are all factored in. Hot chocolate is the only thing I drink with any calories anyway.

Maybe if I get a bodybugg (which Jim seemed pretty receptive to the idea, and was even looking them up the other day trying to see what website had the best deals, but hasn't mentioned ordering one...) it'll give me some info. My doctors office also has a nutrition program, sounds pretty similar to nutrisystem. Maybe I could do that, I'm far enough away from my "final" goal weight that insurance would probably be happy to have me do it. I've always been skeptical of that kind of stuff, but at this point, bring it.

And my endocrinologist did offer to refer me for lap band surgery. I'm not ready to go quite that far.

From your pics, I wouldn't do surgery. You look like you are doing well!

My Extreme Shed and Shred came today. I'm thinking of doing it while I'm waiting on BR to get here. JM said to wait until BR gets here, but I'm tired of waiting!

EXTREME SHED AND SHRED DAY 1 REVIEW

I have a decent amount of Bob and Jillians dvds, but not all of them. The exercises in this video were new and refreshing. There were a few from other dvds, but not many. It was mostly new exercises. I really enjoyed the dvd because the circuits had several exercises in them, rather than just 3 in 30 DS. There was also a very thorough warm up and cool down.
I was drenched in sweat just after Level 1, so it was a good workout.

So my plan was to start a video on Monday... and of course now I am sick. I think I might just try it and if I start hacking up a lung I will stop. Haven't decided which to do first.

From your pics, I wouldn't do surgery. You look like you are doing well!

Yeah, I wasn't even in to it. :/

I have an appointment the beginning of March (evidentally, that's how far out my doctor is booking right now...) to get in for a referral to a nutritionist. That's also right around the time I'm due to redo my blood test to see if my thyroid meds are working, so that's handy that they'll happen together!

I didn't work out yesterday, or today. I'm so bad! Even with a cold, I was pulling two a days all week, so two rest days probably won't be the worst thing that's ever happened to me, but you know, it makes me feel lazy, LOL!

I just ordered the DVD from Chapters because of this thread. Will join the discussion as soon as I get it. I saw some clips online and it seems like a good work out!

Didn't really do great in terms of doing my workout the amount of times I wanted this week. I only did it twice, but I also did my physical cleaning jobs yesterday and a pretty long walk with my school bag on the other day. It was just a crappy week, physically. I had a few bad headaches and a lot of general soreness in my neck and shoulders. Either way, I do find the level 1 workout getting easier. I'm pushing myself to do the harder version of the cardio now (actually touching my butt in the butt kicks, clearing the ground in the jumping rope, etc.). I also feel less sore afterwards so I think that is a sign that I really do need to get up to doing it 3-4 times next week.

So I decided that this week, to try to break my plateau, I'm going to concentrate on protein, and getting as much protein as possible.

According to The Biggest Loser Food Journal, I need 92 grams of protein a day. Livestrong.com recommends 46 grams. That's a heck of a jump! I'm shooting for between 50 and 60, I think. At least until I get the hang of it.

ETA; I was on some other website, and they were recommending that I get over 100! WTH?!

^ Ya, that's a huge discrepancy!

I just tried Burn Fat Boost Metabolism which was in a few parts on the BeFit channel. Everything was working fine until the end of the 4th circuit when it switched to this lean legs workout. It seems like the cool down was the only thing missing. Maybe someone who is familiar with this workout could tell me what is in the last circuit before the cool down so I'll know how much I did of the actual workout.

Even though I'm sure I missed out on some if it, that workout was freaking hard! My heart was pounding so hard in the section with all the jumping. I did do everything, though, in varying degrees of difficulty so I wouldn't die. I did have to take a break and pause it so get some fresh air by the window. Oh, endurance, where are you?

Anywho, I'm happy that I started my Monday out really well! I think I might go back to 30DS since that workout was all jumbled up on YouTube and didn't make things go smoothly.

^Banish Fat Boost Metabolism actually has SEVEN circuits, so if the tape stopped at the end of circuit four, then you missed alot. :/

Bahaha...well, I was really beat after 4 so maybe the other 3 circuits just disappeared out of compassion for me. Honestly, I had a good workout with just those one. Are there ever a lot of different exercises jam packed into that one workout!

I showed my Mom the 30DS level 1 on YouTube tonight at dinner and she made up some excuse about almost every exercise of why she couldn't do it. I was getting so annoyed with her. She tells me she's frustrated ebcause she's plateaued at her weight loss so I told her she needs to try something that uses some new muscles and that really gets her out of breath. Walking the dog and riding an exercise bike will only get her so far.

It's been a while since I did BFBM, so I'm trying to think about what you missed. Another kickboxing circuit, another plyo circuit, and something that's not standing out to me at the moment.

Yeah, that's true, but with Jillian, you really gotta wanna. My mom used to be an avid watcher of Biggest Loser, and even she said she'd never work out with Jillian. 30 Day Shred is her at her most gentle, that I've seen so far. You might try her out with Bob maybe, he's alot calmer. His DVD's all come with a "beginner" and "advanced" workout, the beginners are usually only 20 minutes.

As much as I'm convinced that Bob Harper's Body Rev Cardio Conditioning is 60 minutes worth of torture that he somehow tricked me into paying for, may the deity of your choice bless that man and that video. When we first finished our tap dance, I was pretty certain I would never make it through it conscious. Four weeks of cardio with Bob, and not only am I conscious, I can actually talk my way through the whole dance. AWESOME!

I can't get my groove back with this video set!

I've been taking rest days, which isn't typical for me anyway, which is throwing my schedule off.

A couple weeks back, I was feeling lousy, so I cut down to the beginner workout, just while I was feeling crummy.

I finally get my groove back, and get my routine reestablished, and I wake up this morning feeling terrible again. Seriously! This morning it was pain in my stomach, the last time it was cold. So it's not the same thing, but STILL. Come ON.

I'm back! Well...hopefully.

Today I worked out for the first time in 2 weeks, doing only 30DS Level 1 with 5lb weights. Even though that routine is by far the easiest one I own of hers, it still was difficult after the time off--I detest the "restart" phase of exercise more than anything else.

I am hoping and praying and crossing every finger and toe that that particular trouble spot in my back isn't sore when I wake up tomorrow. I'm not sure what the heck I did to it before, but it took these last full 2 weeks to feel better.

I took yesterday off, just to feel things out and give my back a rest, and I actually was SORE. From Level 1! Which 2 weeks ago was, well, not a breeze but it sure didn't make me sore at all. Oh muscles, how fast you atrophy if I'm not on your case every single day!

I was going to do another Sparkpeople rotation, but after taking so much time off I think I'm going to stick to one workout per day instead of 2 back-to-back. I bought myself Ripped in 30 to do this month, and tried level 1 for the first time today. It was quite good: the most marked improvement over 30 day shred is that the warmups and cooldowns are better. I don't know if it's just because I haven't worked out in a while, but it seems like Ripped is better cardio (throughout all 3 segments, not just the cardio segment) than 30 Day shred--I don't remember ever huffing and puffing as much during 30DS as I did this morning doing Ripped. Muscularly, I think they both provided a comparable level of strength building. What I think I'll do is 6 days per week with one day off, hopefully that'll provide a good balance.

How's everybody doin'?

I did a short rotation of Bob's Inside Out videos, but posted my thoughts, and pictures;

jillianmichaelsmaniac.blogspot.com

And I'm excited for my next review, y'all!