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Calling all Shredders! Calling all Shredders!

[ 15 ] 05/22/2009 |

Hey all of you Shredders!!  (or Shred the Second-ers!  Whatever you choose to call yourself!)  How goes the shredding?  You still better be shredding!  If you’ve had a rough day or missed a day, don’t get down!  Just get back to it. Now.

So, I did my first day of Level 2 today.  I missed a day last week, so I did an extra day of Level 1.  Just for kicks.  This is around the point in the Shred where I got a nice respiratory infection in Round 1 and was ordered not to exercise.  So, since I didn’t get the full effect of Level 2 here are my thoughts about it:

By now, I am not a fan of Natalie or Anita.  No one smiles that much while they are working out.  (You don’t, do you?!)  I love all of the plyometric (jump-training) moves that Jillian uses for cardio.  They are so good for you!  I still struggle with my knees so for a lot of the strength moves, I follow Anita.  But I am using 8 lbs weights!  That’s something, right?  Now, with the shoulder presses with a kick thingy, there are a couple of things going on here.  First, I really have balance issues, so I vaguely resemble a weeble while concentrating on my balance.  And my shoulders just shake when I’m doing the presses.  I heard on one of my other work out DVDs that feeling your muscles shake during strength training is a good thing!  It means you’re building new muscle fibers!  Oh, and I love, love, LOVE the walk out push-ups!  I could do those all day.  Then, we have the ab work.  Suck.  I hate them.  But I know they’re needed, so I do them.

During Level 1, I was a lot more sore than Shred, Round 1, I know this is because I’m using heavier weights.  Now, the soreness has leveled off some, so I’m curious to see how sore I’ll be tomorrow!  Also, I’m starting to see a little definition in my arms, and I LOVE that.  (At least I think I’m starting to see definition!)  So, as much as this work out sucks on some days, I do love it.

Now, how are you doing?  I want to know!!  Are you a Shredding newbie and interested in sharing your thoughts with a guest posting?  We’d really love to hear what YOU think of Level 2!!  Or are you a Shred the Second-er and want every one to know how much you hate love this work out?  Just give me a shout at aholmes10@cox.net!

Keep shredding!

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Category: MIND IT

About april: I'm a brand new cyclist! In just a few short months, the sport has reminded me that it's all about the journey, and I need to enjoy the ride. I live with my two dogs and two birds, and love to spoil my nephew. Oh yeah, and I'm 32. View author profile.

  • http://challenjulie.blogspot.com/ Julie

    Eight lb weights!?! That's awesome.

    I'm still shredding, but I must admit that my plan to do the levels back to back has not gone exactly as planned. I can only do the back to back Shred 3 days a week because I'm so sore on the days after my training sessions, that I can only manage to do one level of the Shred, not 2 in a row. Off to Shred right now, as a matter of fact.

  • http://justkamalam.blogspot.com/ Kamalam

    Eight lb weights are off-the-chart impressive. NO way am I there yet, nor in all likelihood will I ever be, lol. Yesterday, for the first time on level 2 I pushed myself to go from my one-pounders to 3 pounds. And not for every exercise, but for a few of the moves. 3 lbs!! The thought of 5 makes me nauseous. 8 is just insane, lol. So good for you! And really, good for me, too. Upper body stuff has never been a huge priority so I just don't have the strength, but little by little, I'm getting there. Yay!

  • http://ann-shesgonnablow.blogspot.com/ Ann G

    I LOVE SHREDDING!! I never thought I would say that about any kind of exercising but I absolutely love plugging that DVD in after That Other Kid goes to bed and kickin' my fat butt into shape! i look forward to it all day long. It has helped to keep my house cleaner, too since my son has to clean up every night before bed so I can exercise!! So that's an extra bonus!! I have done all of level 1 and I will do level 2 day 4 tonight! I even did it the other night when I couldn't start till 11:30 p.m.!! Yeah for me!! I'm still struggling and doing most of it with Anita, but I am doing it EVERY night and I'm seeing big results from it!
    I'm doing all my weights with 3 pound weights and feelin' good about that…I can't imagine doing any of the exercises with 8 pound weights!! Way to go, girl!!

  • http://www.smartstrongsexy.blogspot.com/ Brooke

    i'm just about to start level 2…although i'm still sore from hiking yesterday,so i was thinking about being lazy today.

  • http://jessleftthelighton.blogspot.com/ Jessica

    This is my first time shredding and it's really going ok. I skipped day 4 because we were gone all day, but here I am after my new day 4 at 10:30 at night because I can procrastinate like the best of them.

    And I'm already discouraged. I have my measurements and weight but someone (my dear children) messed the the calibrator or whatever and so I have no idea if I gained, lost…I am getting a new scale tomorrow and it's going to be a good one. I'm feeling like a big fatty after church today so I need to know if I've lost anything or if I'm living in a dream world. Frustrated/sad…Ok, enough of the pity party.

    Anyway, great job with the 8 lb weights!! That's impressive.

  • http://newlyweds.wordpress.com/ Jenna @ Newlyweds

    I love shredding, but I am still on level 1 day 5, and sore. I can't imagine using 8lb weights, thats awesome. I use 3lbs and doing the shoulder presses feel like my arms will fall off.

    Can't wait to find out the new challenge!

  • http://www.theporcelaindesk.blogspot.com/ Tami

    Okay, so I know that you guys are done with the official shredding challenge thingy BUT since coming to the site last week and joining the Shrinking Days of Summer, I've been doing some searching around here. Imagine my suprise when I read about this thing called Shredding. I HAD to know what this rage was you were talking about. Off to dogpile it. Then I started reading reviews else where. Now I knew I had to get the dvd and push myself to do this for 30 days. This morning when my husband left for an out of town trip, I raced out the door with my 3 and 4 year old in search of The Shred. Found it, watched it while knitting (so sad! but I like to do that so I know what to expect) and then saved it for when my husband would get home tonight. He came home and I told him it was time to exercise…hee hee. He thought we were heading to the garage to the treadmill and elliptical. Silly husband. Let's just say that by the time we were doing the ab work of ciruit 2 I asked him if he loved me. I was quickly informed, “NO!”. Even my husband says that it doesn't seem like it should be feeling as hard as it does. Seriously…I'm in love! Really the leg work is just what I am hoping for in preporation of a hike to the summit of St. Helens in a month. Thanks for all the talk about shredding. Now…I'm shredding!

  • shrinkingjeans

    That is awesome, Tami!!!! I love how you got your husband on the bandwagon
    right away, too. It really is the most intense, but rewarding workout I've
    ever tried!!! Good luck with your 30 Days and thanks for being part of the
    Sisterhood!!

    -Christy

  • http://www.theporcelaindesk.blogspot.com/ Tami

    As we were working out yesterday I asked him if he loved me…mind you we were on the abs of circuit 2. “NO!” was all that I got. This morning he can't stop talking about what a great 20 minutes it was. Hee.. hee..

  • shrinkingjeans

    Hilarious!!! Ask him again in 30 days :)

    -Christy

  • shrinkingjeans

    Tami, that's hilarious!! -Melissa

  • SJs_April

    I love it!! Tell him, just wait until Level 3! ;o) Good luck Shredding Tami!

  • http://www.theporcelaindesk.blogspot.com/ Tami

    We've been at it for 3 work outs so far and Oi! We are sore but thrilled! I haven't felt like this since working with a personal trainer. Every evening and every morning (the instant we climb out of bed and put weight on our body) do we find a new area that is either sore or tight. The quads were #1 and this morning its the calves. My abs…the side so maybe obliques…have been sore for a couple days. I LOVE that even though you feel like you're going to pass out you know that it's just about over. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE those 20 minutes just don't like it when I try to get on the elliptical or treadmill at 5:30 am. :-)

  • http://tammyisblessed-30dayshredchallenge.blogspot.com/ Tammy

    I've been shredding about 4 times a week for awhile now. But I've decided to take it up a notch and do the 30 days in a row – with some personal variations. I will be blogging every day about my progress. If you're interested you can check it out at http://tammyisblessed-30dayshredchallenge.blogs…

  • http://tammyisblessed-30dayshredchallenge.blogspot.com/ Tammy

    Completed Week 1 of my shredding challenge. I've been alternating Levels 1, 2 and 3 every day to keep my body guessing. Down 1.1 pounds today, just under 6 to go!