[011] Mid-week Check-In

Dear Jillian Michaels,

I love and hate you at the same time.

You have managed to kick my ass for 20 minutes a night for the past two weeks with 30 Day Shred. For 20 minutes, I am huffing, puffing, grunting and occasionally collapsing from the pain. I've wanted to stop the DVD and tromp upstairs with a pout on my face. I've wanted to scream obscenities at you -- "Why the fuck are you so crazy, woman?!" -- while sweat droplets fly off of my forehead. I've wanted to just give in, put your DVD away and go back to the gym, where I can watch TV without your voice telling me that you want me to feel like I'm dying at the end of the work out.

I haven't done any of those things, because quite frankly, I think I love you.

You have managed to kick my ass for 20 minutes a night for the past two weeks with 30 Day Shred. For 20 minutes, I am huffing, puffing, and occasionally collapsing from the pain. Every burn in my leg, every sweat droplet that pours down reminds me that I am only getting stronger. I can feel the muscles in my arms, legs, and abs burning and working and though I'm not dropping the weight like I'd like, I can feel my body changing. I am sleeping deeper and better and waking up with more energy than before. I'm recommending your DVD to anyone who listens; it's much cheaper than a gym membership and only takes a measly 20 minutes a day. I could spend those 20 minutes reading celebrity gossip while watching The Golden Girls, but instead, I make the choice to work out with you, Anita, and Natalie. I may not lose 20 lbs in 30 days like your DVD claims, but I feel so much better.

So thank you, Jillian Michaels, for kicking my butt each night. I plan on purchasing your other DVDs and using 30DS whenever I can.

Sincerely,

Tritia

[010] Sunday Weigh-In // Weekly Recap

Current Weight, as of 11 AM 02/06/11: 157 lbs.
BMI (according to National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute): 25.7 (overweight)
Pounds lost since last weigh-in: 1.3 lbs
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Goal Weight: 130 lbs.
Deadline: June 4, 2011
Pounds needed to lose per week: 1.5 lbs.

I'm a bit frustrated with the whole weight loss thing. I know, though, that it's mostly my fault because I haven't really changed my diet, and I know changing diet helps with losing the weight. I should be down 9 lbs. by now, if I had managed to lose 1.5 lbs./wk. Instead, I seem to hover between 155-157 lbs.

Despite this, I do have some good news. Seems that the 30DS is working. My stomach feels tighter and a bit slimmer and my endurance is definitely up. Though Level 2 still kills me, it has gotten progressively easier.

This is a short update, I know, and I still need to do my mid-week one!

[009] Midweek Check-in

Phew.

That's all I really have to say about 30 Day Shred.

Since I started the regime a week and a half ago, I have been pretty consistent in doing the exercises every night. I started with level 1 and decided to move up to level 2 a few nights ago, figuring I'd be okay to do level 2.

Oh boy, level 2 is kicking my ass SO HARD. I can't even do some of the exercises without having to stop midway to catch my breath or, you know, give up. The plank exercises are what kill me, but they're definitely working. Hell, level 1 kicked my ass at first and now I can go through all of the exercises without stopping.

I've only been at it a week and a half, but I'm noticing small changes: my knees don't hurt anymore; my arms feel toner (I keep flexing to feel my biceps, lol); I'm sleeping deeper! (after many months of having issues sleeping); and I think my abs feel tighter (I could be imagining that, though, ha!). The DVD was well worth the $9 and more. I still plan on going to the gym, obviously, since I have a membership there, but on the weeknights when I know it's going to be horrendously crowded, at least I have this DVD to fall back on! I plan on getting her other DVDs just to complement the 30DS as well.

In other news, I had an eye appointment today in Westlake Village and thought I'd be smart by taking the back way. I'd never driven the 23 before today.

Scary stuff, let me tell you. Curvy roads in the rain and an already nervous Tritia do not mix. But I made it there on time; appointment took less than 10 mins. I got lots of extra samples of eye drops though, lol.

Until Sunday...! :)

[008] Sunday Weigh-In // Weekly Recap!

Current Weight, as of 11 AM 2/13/11: 155.9 lbs.
BMI (according to National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute): 25.5 (overweight)
Pounds lost since last weigh-in: --
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Goal Weight: 130 lbs.
Deadline: June 4, 2011
Pounds needed to lose per week: 1.5 lbs

Okay, because I was busy on Sunday, I didn't get a chance to update. However, the above weight is still correct.

I'm starting to think that my body doesn't want me to lose 20 lbs.

Okay, honestly, I know it's because I haven't really modified my diet. I admit that I'm continuing to eat what I usually eat, just lesser portions, and I'm still not dropping the weight like I'd like to.

I've continued to do the 30 Day Shred and holy cow, does it hurt, lol. Level 1 is challenging and I attempted Level 2 last night. I couldn't even do all the reps for level 2, it's tough. On the upside, even though my weight didn't change, my endurance is certainly stronger, especially in my arms!

I'll do a mid-week check in tomorrow. I might have to start weighing myself twice a week now -- but we'll see how that'll go!

[007] Midweek Check-in

If you read my last blog post, you'll see that I purchased the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred DVD. After unwrapping it from its DVD confines and putting in the player, I figured, Hey, this can't be that bad. I'm already at the gym five days a week.

Oh, how I was so very, very wrong.

I started Level 1 and by the end of the 20 minutes work-out, I was sweating. And panting. And shaking. I'm pretty sure that I would've passed out if I had been standing a few seconds more. To top it off, overly-confident Tritia here figured the 5 lb. weights wouldn't be too bad.

Again, how I was so very, very wrong. I could barely lift them for one of the exercises and had to stop midway.

I don't know how many of you have embarked on the 30 Day Shred, but damn. Girl knows how to nearly kill you on the first day, that's for sure. I felt like I had been at the gym for hours instead of in my living room for 20 minutes/

I woke up very sore the next day, especially in my knees and shoulders, and ventured out to Wal-Mart to get lighter weights (3 lbs). That night, in all of my sore glory, I did the exercise again. The 3 lbs. were still too heavy, and now I was feeling like a wuss, but I didn't want to end up pulling a muscle or something.

I had bought 2 lbs. weights for my mom, and on the third night of my venture, alternated between the 2 lbs. and 3 lbs. weights. That definitely helped, and even though I was still huffing and puffing and trying not to collapse at the end of the work-out, I didn't feel as weak as I did after the first day. My endurance is building, I can feel it!

I just have to be a little more mindful of what I'm eating; again, not really changing anything, but I need to get serious about my weight loss/health thing.

[006] Sunday Weigh-In/Weekly Recap

Current Weight, as of 11 AM 02/06/11: 155.9 lbs.
BMI (according to National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute): 25.5 (overweight)
Pounds lost since last weigh-in: 1.3 lbs
~~~~
Goal Weight: 130 lbs.
Deadline: June 4, 2011
Pounds needed to lose per week: 1.5 lbs.

So I am finally back on track again after two weeks of not losing any weight. Though I was only a little bit more mindful of what I ate this past week, I've upped my workout level at the gym. It seems to be helping a little, yes? I was able to lose that weigh I've gained, although I am behind in how much I should have lost by now. Guess that just means I have to work harder!

Even though going to the gym is great, I wanted something different. Something that would challenge me a little bit more and keep me from getting bored and concocting excuses not to hit the gym. I'd heard about Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and decided I wanted to give it a try, especially after reading all of the great reviews about it. I currently only have 5 lb weights and they absolutely killed me tonight, so I need to go to the store to get the 3 lb. weights. I'm excited to have something different, though, especially since I cant really afford the burlesque dancing classes that I wanted to take.