Originally posted by susanrows: Denise, I'm interested in what you think of the 30 Day Shred workout. I like it, but I didn't feel like it was an over-the-top challenge. In fact, I'm more challenged from a coordination standpoint than strength or cardio. Can't do those double jump ropes for anything! How challenging do you think it is?
Going off for more coffee and to type...
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
I finally dragged my rear-end to the gym last night. I was on the treadmill in the "women's only workout room" by myself. I was about 5 or 6 minutes into the elliptical and I was thinking I really didn't want to be there for an hour or more. It was already 8:30PM. And then it hit me! I could do a "modified" 30-day shred. I say modified because I've only done the workout 2x at home, so I could not remember exactly what all the exercises were. I did do the squat/shoulder press move, the lunge/bicep move, abs, I did the front shoulder move but without the side lunge and for my 2 minute cardio bursts I did jumping jacks/elliptical. I totally forgot about push-ups until the end. I did the cardio/strenght/ab sequence for 20 minutes. It was nice to get a good solid workout in in a short time. Like Jillian says on the 30-day shred "if you want the maximum workout in 20 minutes there are no breaks" Or something to that affect. So, because I get bored doing home DVD workouts, it's nice to take what I learned from her and transport that knowledge to the gym.
Jill
Goal for next 6 weeks:
Go to the gym 3x/week for a minimum of 45 minutes each time
Originally posted by susanrows: Does Jillian ever say in the intro (or anywhere else) how heavy the weights should be?
I heard her say on the "No More Trouble Zones" (I think..) 3 lb weights. So I'm guessing that they are the same for the 30 Day Shred.
I KNOW that I heard 3 lb weights SOMEPLACE.
I use 8 lb weights. I have 5 lbs weights somewhere, I just don't know where. I'm feeling that workout tonight in my arms mostly now. My legs were wobbly for a bit after I worked out, but they are just a little sore for now.
Jill
Goal for next 6 weeks:
Go to the gym 3x/week for a minimum of 45 minutes each time
Originally posted by susanrows: it drives me absolutely bonkers that I can't fast-forward over the Lion's Gate logo or Jillian's instructions. I've heard it, thank you very much, and I get it!
LOLOL! When I play the DVD on my kid's Xbox... it skips ALL of that and goes right to the main menu.
However, I usually watch it on the TV with a DVD player, and it doesn't actually bother me to see the same promos every day. I just run in place while they are playing and make it a 25 min workout and look at it as 5 mins I can get my HR up.
Who knows why THOSE 5 mins don't bother me at all, and I wanted to kick the TV screen during the "No More Trouble Zones" I was so bored. The mind is a strange thing.
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Does Jillian ever say in the intro (or anywhere else) how heavy the weights should be? The ones she's using look small, like maybe five pounds each? And she uses the same set for all the exercises. I have to vary mine -- for some moves, I can go as high as 15 pounds and for others, my six pounders do the trick. That is the key to the challenge factor, I guess. When it's too easy, go heavier.
And just one more note about the "structure" of the DVD -- it drives me absolutely bonkers that I can't fast-forward over the Lion's Gate logo or Jillian's instructions. I've heard it, thank you very much, and I get it! Just let me get to the workout and not waste these extra precious minutes. (I can skip the ad for the Biggest Loser workouts, thankfully.)
Originally posted by jillybean: Are the 20-min 30-Day Shreds that are on Comcast On-Demand different from the one you are talking about? There is a level 1 and a level 2 on On-Demand right now.
Yes, those are the same ones. Level 3 isn't on Comcast. I like that one a lot.
I also like the (48 min) "Metabolism Boost" that is on Comcast now, and do that about once a week.
I HATE the "No More Trouble Zones" probably because it is not fast paced enough... I did 30 mins of it one time, and hated it so much, I turned it off and didn't finish it.
But I really like the fast pace of the 30 Day Shreds and Metabolism Boost. Did Metabolism Boost yesterday... and the 20 min Shred FLEW by today.
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I just did the level 1 workout and my legs and arms feel like Jell-O.
My arms felt like that the first couple of days. I think that I posted that I did the 30 Day Shred and my arms were like rubber bands... and before I even stopped sweating the phone rang and somebody asked me to haul around these 90 pound boxes of music stands.
You'll get used to it. My arms were like jello... and I could already do 6-8 guy pushups when I started.
What size weights are you using? I mostly use the 2, 3, 5, and 8 pound weights. I asked my dh to buy me some 8 lbs as the 5 pounds were getting too light, and then I was horrified at how much they cost. Dh said, "Well, they kind of charge by the pound".
Level three has a couple of different exercises... but it is also similar to level 1, except everything is done with weights. Boxing, Jumping Jacks, Butt Kicks... all done holding weights. For some things (like boxing), 2-3 lb weights are perfect. For others, I like 5-8 lb weights.
I also do the "Metabolism Boost" with weights, as some of it is too easy without.
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
i think watching jillian on demand is a good idea. you will get used to her routine, and it won't challenge you after some time, and then you will have to sell her DVD on eBay (AH!) I am in a declutter mode so I do not want to add to my DVD collection. I remember when I first did the CIndy Crawford dvd--i am aging myself, i know--i could not walk for days. and then after 2-3 weeks, it was easy.
jill, i hear you about the strictness of jillian's ideas. I cannot do low carb. i get really weak, cranky and i am not a fun person. i also refuse to give up my chocolate, my brownies, my cherry blintzes (melt chocolate on top and i am in heaven), my TCBY cones, my cravings for peanut butter sandwiches, etc. i have a soda about once a week because i feel like it. i don't think the chemicals in my laundry detergent add fat to my body.
when i listen to jillian, i think she is more reasonable than what you describe in her book. for me, it has to be about moderation and balance. as i said before, i liked the Skinny Bitch book for the information but it pushed a strict way of eating and living. no dairy, no meat, no sugar, no no no no. that is just way too many "no's" for me.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
Are the 20-min 30-Day Shreds that are on Comcast On-Demand different from the one you are talking about? There is a level 1 and a level 2 on On-Demand right now. I just did the level 1 workout and my legs and arms feel like Jell-O. I noticed both Denise and Susan, that you felt it wasn't too terribly challenging. I definitely know you are both regular exercisers, and I am not, so it will be more challenging for me. I did like it. It was fast, it was a tough workout, I sweated like crazy and my muscles are tired now.
Denise, I agree-I like that it's not dancing(i take 2 dance classes, that's enough dancing for me!), I love that you are changing moves a lot. I get very bored with workouts where you keep doing the same thing over and over. The fast pace keeps you going, not time to think about how much I hate to exercise, LOL!! I also like that she is, as you put it, "sour and morose"LOL!!! I think her hard-A** attitude is a driving factor in getting people to keep at it.
Jill
Goal for next 6 weeks:
Go to the gym 3x/week for a minimum of 45 minutes each time
Originally posted by jillybean: I will admit that some of what she writes about may be practical in certain geographic locations or based on income but to implement everything she recommends, for me, would be impossible.
PS... she is in Southern California... and she is, right now, VERY well off.
But LA... would pretty much be the Mecca of extreme and good or bad thinking, I think.
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Originally posted by jillybean: I feel like she is telling us that even one soda is like poisoning your body.
Yeah… she HATES soda. Sugar. Diet. Hates it all. I think she had a wicked diet soda habit. She’s like a reformed smoker.
quote:
I have eaten this way before [no carbs at dinner] but to never make a carb with dinner for me just does not work. We do have dinners where we eat a protein and a bunch of veggies but I don't want to do that every night.
I agree with you. Not to mention, HELLO?, most of the world eats rice at dinner and don’t have a weight problem until they start eating a Western diet.
On the WW’ers board, you can roughly tell how old people are by what diet bias they have. People who are about 45-60 have a “OMG fat is bad” bias, because we were in our 20’s and 30’s in the 1990’s when Snackwell’s and Fat Free Entenmanns were flying off the shelf and the hot diets were all non-fat.
People who are 27-45 have a “Carbs are evil” bias, as they were in their 20’s and 30’s 5-7 years ago, when “Low Carb” was the hot diet.
Somebody posted on the WW’ers board, her typical week of eating and asked for feedback because she was doing fine for 3 days and then eating a package of cookies.
At first glance, her menus looked REALLY good… VERY healthy, but there was something “odd” or "off" about them. Then I realized that she was having stir fry and no rice. Or jambalaya and no rice. Or chili and no corn bread. And I realized that EVERY meal was just a little “weird” and missing the carb that goes with it.
And one of the WW’ers “Good Heath Guidelines” is to eat some whole grains… and she had one serving of Fiber One for breakfast. And I was… well you are trying to eat NO carbs… and then go insane and eat an entire package of cookies. How logical is THAT?
So long story… yeah, I agree with you. Stir fried vegs and chicken breast… and no rice… is just weird and not do-able long term.
quote:
Oh, I just thought of something else: Her food plan in this book has a fish or beef or chicken for each dinner. I listened to a podcast of hers from June of this year and she was talking about how she eats almost all vegetarian-a bit contradictory.
I don’t know how book publishing works. But I think that she wrote the book in 2007-2008. And it was released about Feb or March 2009. I think that she became vegan-ish in October or November last year/2008. So, I’m guessing that the book was already written and submitted before she stopped eating most meat.
I think that she is probably realistic in that MOST people aren’t going to give up meat. But so much of what she says is sort of unrealistic...
Her losing plan sounds MUCH more strict from the book, then what she tells people on the radio. Usually, she tells people (on the radio) not to go below their RMR or the calories you need to pump blood and grow hair, etc.
But, mostly, I think that she wrote most of the book a couple of years or 18 months ago… and it was on bookshelves after she stopped eating meat. I think that she probably eating meat after she wrote it.
quote:
Sorry for such a long post.
Doesn’t bother me! Thanks for taking the time to write it up. I enjoyed seeing your thoughts on the book.
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
I wanted to wait until I read more of the book to answer your question. Do I like the book? Yes and no. She offers a ton of information. So much that I actually feel like I have to re-read it one or two more times to really absorb all she writes about.
She writes very passionately about how dangerous chemicals, medications, etc. affect our hormone levels and create problems with metabolism. I think she provides a lot of interesting information in the beginning of the book about hormone imbalances and I was pretty excited about what I was reading. I will admit that some of what she writes about may be practical in certain geographic locations or based on income but to implement everything she recommends, for me, would be impossible. Where I live, I am quite limited when it comes to buying organic. Our grocery store has some organic produce, not a lot, and the meat and dairy areas also are quite limited.
Jillian talks about chemicals in things like plastics, cleaning products, make-up, etc. I certainly do agree with a lot of what she says in this section too but I don't believe for one second that the scent in my laundry detergent is the reason I can't lose weight. I know she is talking about the "big picture" and that was just one example she used, but I can for sure tell you I probably will not be switching out a bleach-type cleaning product and using lemon juice. I guess you can pick and choose from her book and do the best you can.
I'm all for her suggestions about eating as clean as possible. Avoid as much processed food as you can. In my opinion, I feel that she is not into the "everything in moderation" mindset. This could be a bad set-up for me. Because as I read on (and I am not 100% through the book yet) I feel like she is telling us that even one soda is like poisoning your body. I hope I'm not offending any JM fans-I do really enjoy her podcasts and for the most part think she has a lot to offer in the way of fitness.
From a nutrition standpoint and her meal plan ideas: seems to me to be a high-protein, low-carb deal. Not as strict as Atkins or South Beach, but no carbs with dinners. She puts the most concentration on carbs at breakfast/lunch. I have eaten this way before but to never make a carb with dinner for me just does not work. We do have dinners where we eat a protein and a bunch of veggies but I don't want to do that every night.
My other issue with her meal plan: The highest calorie food day comes in at about 1300 calories. There was one day that it came to 1,000 calories for the entire day. She recommends 4-5 hours/wk of intense exercise including cardio and strength training. You are going to have a serious calorie deficit and of course you will drop weight. I'm not sure that this plan has anything to do with re-balancing your hormones as much as cutting calories and increasing exercise. She talks earlier in the book about increasing food volume and still losing weight. Seems like an increase in exercise, decrease in calories. Calories In vs. Calories Out. Nothing knew to learn there.
She does mention something I do find quite interesting: Our bodies know what to do when we eat an unprocessed, chemical-free food. It knows how to break it down and distribute it through the body. She says when we eat a processed food, like a Cheeto, our body does not recognize the chemicals in that food, and our bodies go kind of "whacky" trying to figure out what to do with that stuff. I do find this quite an interesting concept and plan to research it more myself.
I like the whole eating organic and as much chemical free food as possible because I do think that processed foods are not good for us. I think she has a genuine desire to improve the health of people in this country. She is very smart, has done a lot of research, and I believe spent a lot of time writing this book.
Oh, I just thought of something else: Her food plan in this book has a fish or beef or chicken for each dinner. I listened to a podcast of hers from June of this year and she was talking about how she eats almost all vegetarian-a bit contradictory.
Anyway-to sum it all up-interesting scientific info which I always like to read (don't always implement agree but like to ingest the info anyway). Motivational-she writes like she trains-with distinct passion. Her plan-not completely practical, for me. Her food recommendations: Very healthy, but very low-cal.
Once I am completely finished I'll update. Sorry for such a long post.
Jill
Goal for next 6 weeks:
Go to the gym 3x/week for a minimum of 45 minutes each time
i get knee pain in my left knee. instead of forward lunges, i do backward lunges (just step back).
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
Oh.... and a friend of mine on the WW'ers board used to teach fitness classes (I think 10-20 years ago). She said that she thought that the 30 Day Shred recommended a couple of iffy things that were no-no's from her fitness instructor days. She didn't say what they are... But I'm guessing that it might be sit-ups? Although situps were pretty basic about 15-20 years ago, I think.
I also don't do a lot of the walking lunges or squats. With my knee, I'm REALLY careful about GOOD, GOOD form when doing lunges or squats... and I just can't do them as fast as Jillian and her professional dancers (AND maintain good form). So I basically just do a lunge and stay there and do the arm movements.
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
I am doing the "JillyBean" work out today and carrying rocks from the front yard to the back yard. I shall be thinking of you.
Feel better with the flu!!! So much for "cold and flu" season. I guess it is all year round.
Jillian also has a "No More Trouble Zones" and a friend of mine really likes it. I watched a little of it, and it seemed like MOSTLY strength (but I could be wrong, as I didn't sit on the couch and watch the whole 50 mins. )... and I just like cardio better. Or the "30 Day Shred" or "Metabolism Boost" with cardio and strength together.
I only started doing strength when I dislocated my kneecap... and first I had to do the strength to rehab it... and after that, hoping that it would keep the kneecap in place in the future. And pushups are good so if you do fall... you actually have the upper body strength to pick yourself up again (and not take off your skis).
But I've been very happy with the "30 Day Shred".
Have you been reading her book? Do you like it?
Denise
Posts: 9200 | Location: Silicon Valley, CA | Registered: March 17, 2004
Denise- Thanks for the tip about her workout on Comcast On Demand. I was home sick yesterday so I went through On Demand and found that her 30-Day Shred and Metabolism Boost and one other of her workouts is on! So, when my body is back to normal from the flu, I will try those out. I read great reviews about the 30-Day Shred.
Jill
Goal for next 6 weeks:
Go to the gym 3x/week for a minimum of 45 minutes each time
