30 Day Shred Week 1

Level 1 Overview

I've read other places that people consider this level an intermediate as opposed to a "beginner".  If you have injuries, bad knees, etc. not even this level will be okay for you.  The workout consists of cardio, strength and ab work.  In the cardio sections, there are jumping jacks, punching while in a squat (boxing), running in place (kick your butt), and imaginary jump rope.  In the strength sections, there are push ups, lunges, squats, and flies with weights.  The ab section includes crunches, oblique crunches, bicycle crunches and leg lifts.

Day 1:

  I thought, 20 minutes...no problem.  How hard can it be?

HA! I was schooled.  I did level 1 of the shred and by 1/2 way through I was tired and hurting in places that hadn't been worked out since before by 1st pregnancy (or longer).  Jillian was not as mean as I thought she would be but she doesn't stop for mid way stretches or breaks because its only 20 minutes.  Every exercise works more than one part and they are not hard to learn like a big aerobic dance workout.  The exercises burned so they must be working.
As the 2nd half wore on, I found myself cussing to myself (kids are napping) and just wanting it to stop.  My muscles are shaking and I am sweating a ton.  Lord I hope I don't wimp out on this.  I really want to do it the whole way through.

Day 2:
 Owwww...I'm sore. (whiny tone)

But I did it even though my 4 month old woke up right near the end, I finished.  Still on Level 1.

Day 3:
Still sore but not worse than yesterday.  I had a hard time getting to the workout because my 4 month old kept waking up from his usual long nap.  So my husband tried it with me tonight.  He works out regularly and is in much better shape than I am but he still worked up a sweat with level 1.

Day 4:
Still sore. Mostly in my calves, quads, and shoulders/chest.  The hardest thing is that I am sore because of the workout and working out the same way is painful.  I am not one to happily step into causing myself pain.  I keep hearing it starts getting better around now...we'll see. My husband did TDS with me again. :o)

I am having a lot of trouble near the end of certain sets because my muscles are so tired and shaky.  Fun stuff.

Day 5:
I took a day off here because I had no time during the day and no energy that night.

Day 6: 
Still sore.  My legs didn't want to do some of the things I was asking them to do.  But I got it done.

Day 7:
I don't want to work out but I'm going to anyway....Does this ever get easier?

I did Level 2 out of curiosity. Seriously a new Level of difficulty.  She seems to like the plank position more at this level.  Ouch, can't wait to see what's sore tomorrow.