30 Day Shred: Day 11

OMG. Yeah ok so I need to learn how to do a plank position. That would make this workout of Level 2 a bit better. Besides that it wasn't really that bad. Instead of the double time (excuse the use of a Tae-BO term) jump ropes I did double time punches. I tried to do all the plank thingies but I modified some to be able to do something. I looked up on Spark People how to practice the position so I will give it a try later tonight.

I should probably not drink coffee before the workout but eh... gets the heart racing. Just kidding, don't do it. I am going to keep on trucking through it, and honestly, the weighted version of a backward crunch, you can do it. Without the weights I would have felt like I was doing level one but I can do that kind of weight lifting all day so it might just be me.

Tonight is Coq au Vin a la tallegatte noodles. I hope anyone on level 1 doesn't get scared for level 2, just practice plank position!!

30 Day Shred: Day 10 & Rest day

So Day 10 of the shred wasn't doing the shred at all. I walked, a lot. I went to the farmer's market, up the hill (and I mean HILL) to my place, then to the beach for an hour of walking in the sand a surf, and then walking around the supermarket. So I did exercise just not the structure of the shred!! This is also the last day of level 1 so I am onto level 2 for day 11 after my rest day today!!

So for Day 10 I took my measurements:
Weight: 117.5kg (259lbs)
Waist: 116cm (45.6in)
Hips: 135cm (53.15in) *my only increase*
Thigh: 80cm (31.5in)
Upper arm: 42cm (16.5in)
Neck: 38cm (15in)
Calf: 48cm (19in) *yup exactly the same!!*
Weight to Hip Ratio: 0.87



Before and After Day 1 vs Day 10

You can see the difference in the waist, the little circle has moved a bit over on the shirt on how it fits. My bum is a bit smaller but not by much yet.

Looking great for the start of day 11 level 2.

30 Day Shred: Day 7, 8, & 9

Ok, no I didn't stop! I have been super busy. For Days 7 & 8 I did my own exercise and not the shred video and I did do the shred today (Day 9). I feel it, I feel the abs mostly and my foot is doing some weird thing (but because I wear flip-flops it is probably because of them not the workout).

Workout:
I did kill out the jumping rope things and did punches instead. MUCH better!! My legs are not trying to rip themselves from my bones anymore. The arm raises with the sideways lunges, still bait difficult but not too terrible. The bicycles are finally coming together. Only one more day of level 1 then I move on to level 2 after a rest day.

Tonight is stuffed bell peppers and it should be fun! Hope everyone is having a great week!!

30 Day Shred: Day 6

So after my rest day I got back to it!! I replaced the jump rope thing with bum kicks. This seemed to work a lot better for me!

So... I found out today my scale is a LIAR!!! LOL. Either my stupidity or my idiocy of my scale is to blame for this... let's blame the scale shall we? After taking it off the carpet and onto a wood floor I am now a new weight!

Weight:
117.5 kg or 259 pounds so thats 6lbs down!!!

Workout:
I did replace my jump rope with bum kicks. Being off a day didn't seem to affect the workout at all. My body is used to it now and I hope I lose more weight so Level 2 in 6 days will be good for me to move onto!!

Having beef, with cheesy potatoes and a good number of veggies!!

30 Day Shred: Day 5 & Rest day

Yup, yesterday I did do the shred, actually really early in the morning. However, today is a rest day. Tomorrow will be counted as Day 6. Why no shred today? Because my body told me no, and it said it loudly. Technically you should do 5 days of workout with 2 days of rest inter dispersed. But I will be doing 5 days of workout and 1 day of rest (after day 5, 10, 15, 20, 25).

So here we go!

Weight: 120kg :( Poo.... Oh well. I can feel the muscles working and that's really all that matters!

Workout:
I changed up the workout, when doing those jumping ropes I decided part of the way through, instead of stopping to do punches. Some reason the calves just HATE that one mixed with the jumping jacks. I can do it in the last circuit when they are not together. Everything else is going great!! I think I am going to extend my warm up for my legs. Bicycles are actually getting a bit better, although my legs still shake too much for me to do the whole motion. But I am getting much better!!

I was awful in food for the last 2 days, I do not want to discuss it and I will strive to do better. Tonight is Organic pork shank on the George Foreman with buttered (farmers market butter!) rice and peas/green beans.

Hope your efforts are going well, whatever they are (I really wish I could do the chocolate diet but eh only in my dreams right? *laughs*)

30 Day Shred: Day 4

Today I went to the Farmer's Market with my LBF and then we went to Kilamonjaro for a great Scottish breakfast. We came back to the flat and worked for a bit then were off again to two Craft Fairs on Prince's Street. After all that we both did the workout. My poor LBF didn't really do any of the exercises in his PE class so a lot of them were new to him entirely!


Workout:
Today the jumping jacks were ok but those darned jumped ropes are just a killer in the 1st workout and the last circuit! Everything else seemed to breeze by and I had to stop and help my LBF to get into positions he was not accustomed to at all! It wasn't as bad today but I did get on the scales in preparation for tomorrow... I still weigh more then my scales can show :( so my weight is 120kgish as of today. Normally I weigh myself in the morning before breakfast so weighing myself after a big meal probably wasn't good. I feel the muscles getting stronger and push ups aren't as bad anymore. I am going to push on through it. I hope by Day 10 I will be following Natalie not Anita... And speaking of Anita I do not think you should have an anorexic looking person be the "easier" version. Or at least have her wear a tank top like Natalie!

Anyways, tonight is organic chicken, rice-a-roni (don't get excited American living in the UK, I brought this with me on the plane), and farmer's market broad beans. Tomorrow is breakfast, no lunch, Neil Gaimen and Tapas for dinner.

Hope everyone is having a great week!!

30 Day Shred: Day 3

I woke up this morning to a sore shoulder and a very achey wrist. That ganglion hasn't completely gone away and those pushups are what is making my wrist unhappy. I caved again with the ice-cream but oh well, and I had a healthy dinner then a little bit of duck with noodles.

Workout:
I had to be in my flat for this workout so no cushy rug to workout on. I got through it and my wrist complained through the pushups but I did them, with a cushion under my knees so i could do them properly. The arm raises with the sideways lunge were much easier today. My muscles are remembering what they are suppose to do. My calf was misbehaving again during the first cardio and those jumping rope ones are just evil! I know its just my lazy muscles complaining but geesh. I look forward to when I can do the whole routine without them seizing in the first bit. However, the rest of the workout isn't too bad. The bicycles are still pathetic looking but getting much better.

For lunch will be mozzarella cheese, an apple, a banana, some raspberry organic yoghurt (really it is, its from a whole food store and all...), and some duck with noodles. Tonight is farmer's market honey&mustard sausage with rice stuffed in bell peppers. My oh My, I LOVE stuffed bell peppers!

So tomorrow will be the shred along with a farmer's market trip, craft fair trip, and a bus ride back. So we shall see how all that goes!!

30 Day Shred: Day 2

So, the first day didn't put me off and with some encouragement from Mommy Needs Yarn and others on Plurk I plunged into Day 2. Yesterday, I had an apple, banana, and 2 mozzarella balls for lunch (due to being off the Depo I need to eat calcium containing stuff and mozzarella cheese being a soft cheese here it works and well, I LOVE IT). Then for dinner was home-made tomato sauce made from farmer's market ingredients and little salt and pepper. Along with wheat spaghetti and  some cream cheese. However, I did eat some ice cream, but I did limit myself  to how much I ate.

Work out:
Today, the workout did seem to be a little bit easier for me. I didn't feel like I was going to die halfway through, but the jump rope  part of the exercise still make my feet hurt. I am going to try wearing shoes tomorrow, hopefully that will help. My bicycle exercises were a little bit better but I still can't do them. However I know that I'm improving. Only my shoulders  were a little sore today, but I knew that was going to happen. It was really hard to do the lunges with the weight  raises, I think it'll take some time to get used to those. I had to stop a few times but I think after a few more days it will be is bad.

 I will probably be having two  apples  and a banana today for lunch. We had bacon and egg  sandwiches on artisan bread, with some  vanilla tea that I sweetened with honey and coffee that I sweetened with Splenda. Tonight, it's going to be turkey of some kind with probably broad beans from the farmers market.

 I will be doing my measurements after each 10 days and my weight every 5 days. If you want to find me on spark people you can click on the link in my sidebar and it will go straight to my profile. There are a lot of  podcasters that are doing the 30 day shred and a lot of people on  Ravelry who are joining in as well. It isn't easy enough work to do even if you're not fit,  so give it a try.

 Hopefully, I won't get the 2nd day stiffness tomorrow. I think there will be some paracetamol taking tonight. Have a wonderful day!

30 Day Shred: Day 1

I had watched the DVD last week to see what I would need and what I would be getting myself into for these next 30 days. I knew I needed weights so I figured the small 50ml (500g or 1.1 lb) bottles of water would do great for starting out weights. I had my LBFs rug in the living room to use as a pad and enough space to do all the exercises.

So for Day 1 I took my measurements.
Weight: 120kg (264.6lbs)
Waist: 121cm (48in)
Hips: 134cm (52.75in)
Thigh: 84cm (33in)
Upper arm: 43.5cm (17in)
Neck: 40cm (15.75in)
Calf: 48cm (19in)
Weight to Hip Ratio: 0.90 (which makes me an Apple shape YIKES!)

So... Yeah, those measurements suck! I went off the Depo to lose weight and it seems I just gained more! But I am assured it will come back down again once my body levels itself out.

Workout:
Holy Moley, how out of shape I have gotten! I used to be able to do ALL of the exercises when I was in High School. Granted I was about 100lbs lighter, yup, I was 168 at my lowest in my Senior year of High School but lets be fair I was normally 180-200 so 70lbs. I was 205lbs when I started the Depo in July 2009 and I just came off it at 264lbs in July 2011. (You see why now, it was starting to wreak havoc).

So the sets feel like they take forever and some are like, oh ok moving on now? I can do crunches and reverse crunches but I CAN'T seem to be coordinated enough to do bicycles. The cardio is pretty easy except those butt kicks and jump ropes, by the time I get to them in the workout my feet are screaming (yeah, probably should wear shoes). The strength is ok but I can't seem to do those sideways lunges, well I can do them its the lifting the weights to my eye level thats hard. I blame that on years of backpack wearing, my muscles in my arms are so tense its like feeling a brick wall. Hopefully this will help.

I took about 30 min to cool off then I took the ever dreaded picture!

I look ever so happy to be taking this pic.

See that tummy and that butt?
Say good-bye to them!

I think this outfit will look much better when I lose inches.
It is the inches I worry about not the weight!

So there we have it! It is best to cool off completely before taking a warm (not hot) shower, if you are doing the exercises in the morning. That cools your muscles from one workout and then warms them gently for the every day stuff you have to do.