I feel good, I knew that I would, now {day 30 of the shred}

30-day-shred-day-30Pour me a glass of chardonnay.

Give me a high-five.

Do a little happy dance.

Serenade me with your favorite celebration song.

I just finished the 30-Day Shred.

Yep. Today was Day 30.

I did ten days on Level 1, ten days on Level 2, and ten days on Level 3 (killer!). I used 5 lb. weights and I gave it my all. My muscles were sore. I sweated a lot. I may have said, "You've got to be kidding me!" a few times.

But I did it.

In case you're curious here's a little Q & A about my experience:

Q. What is the 30-Day Shred?

A. The Shred is an intense DVD workout. It's a 20-minute workout with three circuits. Each circuit consists of three minutes of strength, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of abs. It is hard. It hurts. But, as they say, "no pain, no gain."

Q. Would you recommend the shred to others? What was your overall impression?

A. I'm not typically an exercise DVD person (I prefer running, hiking, swimming, breathing in the fresh outdoor air), but I knew I had to do something and the great outdoors isn't very appealing when it's 105 degrees outside. In that kind of weather, it just feels like you're walking right into an oven (not a good feeling). That said, this DVD is really well-done. It incorporates a lot of "oldie, but goodie" moves: push-ups, jumping jacks, sit-ups, jumprope, lunges, etc. There's no need to learn intricate dance moves and you won't get "lost" with the instructions (you may *WISH* you could spend more time "figuring out" the move instead of just doing it, but no-can-do...). I also like Jillian's personality and her approach. If I were a celebrity, I think I'd hire her as my personal trainer. She's encouraging, but also tough.

Q. Did you lose weight/inches? What were your "results"?

A. I have to admit that I'm a bit disappointed in the weight loss category. I probably lost 3 pounds total. I should have taken my "before and after" measurements, but I didn't. I do feel strong and healthy and good, but my clothes aren't falling off of me either.

I recently read something interesting over at Steph's blog - Confessions of A Breastfeeding Mother. In that post, she wrote, "I always keep on extra padding all over when I'm still breastfeeding. Especially in my arms and face. And then it's like right when they wean I finally lose those final clinging pounds." Sounds super familiar. I really didn't start "shredding" the pounds off after I had my first baby until I weaned her. Maybe our bodies just want to retain a little "extra" while we are sustaining another life. I'm okay with that.

Q. What are you going to do now that the 30 days is up?

A. The shred was a fantastic experience and I'm glad I did it, but I think I'm ready for something new. I plan to train for a 5K as soon as the weather cools down to a tame 90 degrees! Ha! In the meantime, I think I'll try working out with kettlebells (has anyone tried that?).

And there's always, my "back-up" workout:

flying-baby

I could do these kind of "arm lifts" all day long.

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27 comments on “I feel good, I knew that I would, now {day 30 of the shred}”

  1. Wow, awesome! Good job! It's so hard to stick with an exercise program with little ones.

    I was doing good until about 3 months ago and am just now getting back into it but just to get tone again. I'm 28 weeks pregnant,so I have to take it a bit easy.

    After my son, I found the last 10 lbs or so wouldn't drop until he weaned completely(17 months), and then I was able to really diet (cut out the fat) and push hard on working out. I'm sure that will happen again after this one, but I'm definitely going to keep doing some type of working out to maintain strength.

  2. You look amazing Steph, on your blog and in person! I cant believe how fast you've bounced back from your pregnancy. Im going to have to try me that 30 day Shred. Im a glutton for punishment. ;)

  3. Way to go, Stephanie! I just started a 90 health challenge myself. It's not easy with the little one. And I agree with the breast feeding weight not coming off until after weaning. Have you ever been to livestrong.com? The site is really helpful for keeping track of calories and fitness. Check it out if you get a chance (it's free for the basic tools).

  4. I think feeling stronger and healthier is the most important goal. I love your 'arm lifts' workout the most!! We are in FL and I totally relate to your heat issue. I have been wanting a Wii just for the Fit part of it!

    Great review! I love that it is a DVD, but it still pushed you and made you sweat.

    I didn't drop {really any} weight until a full year after I had stopped breastfeeding. I agree that mother nature keeps some extra calories on us for a reason.

  5. same for me. i didn't lose the final poundage until after my kids were done breastfeeding. it was amazing how much came off in my face when we stopped. crazy how our bodies work.

  6. I am so impressed that you completed all 30 days in a row. I seriously wanted to punch Jillian (and I aimed for her face during the squat and punch cardio move). I know she is good and tough but I needed someone to take the agression out on. I would rather run in the AZ summer. I run at 5:30 am, then I jump in the pool. :) If it gets too late to run (6:30 is too late) I Shred.

  7. Congrats! What an accomplishment. You're looking awesome. I totally go for the back up plan of baby lifting...that's pretty much my idea of exercise.
    Getting your body back post baby is just plain weird in my opinion. I lost all but 3 pounds of the baby weight within 2 weeks of having Levi. However, I still looked 6 months pregnant, and didn't fit back into my old clothes until he was 9 or 10 months old. But, now at 20 months I'm 5 dress sizes smaller than I was pre-pregnancy. I'm not complaining, but it was still a very strange and sort of absurdly drawn out experience.

  8. Hey Steph, good on ya for finishing that 30 day workout. Whew! I've been training on and off with KBs for about 6 or 7 years. I've been following Pavel Tsatsouline (dragondoor.com) and Crossfit.com for several years, too. It's a phenomenal workout that uses great biomechanics for overall core strengthening. KB workouts incorporate great muscle balance as well as flexibility--a key for great physical fitness. We own a few in several sizes. But, when I was pregnant, I just opted for lifting a milk jug to do KB swings and lifts. Much less expensive and 1 gallon of water gives you a good 8 pounds!

    FYI, still nursing my toddler, and I attribute that fully to the fact that I haven't shed the last remaining 5-8 pounds. Our bodies need the extra fat to keep producing milk. It does a little one's body good!

  9. You look so fit!

    I worked out hard core for FIVE months while I was nursing and didn't lose one single pound. Two weeks after I weaned Sassy the pounds started melting off. It was incredible!

  10. I train with kettlebells about 2x a week; the rest of the time, I am training for my half marathon. The kettlebells are great b/c they keep your heart rate elevated the entire time. Just a warning- no matter how many times I do it, my legs are always very sore the day after I do kettlebells. I stretch, I do yoga, I do everything to keep those babies warm and flexible, but inevitably, the next day, I wake up and hobble around a bit. But it's usually only a day. I definitely feel more lean and much stronger now that I'm doing kettlebells. Good luck!!!

  11. Way to go! I am curious about her program; I may have to give it a try. Thanks for reviewing it and offering your feedback!

    This hot weather makes exercising outdoors tough, but if I don't get in my quick 30-minute run every morning (all I can really fit in our busy days), the pounds start tacking on.

    Once I hit 40 a couple of years ago, everything I knew about my body changed, my metabolism, my shape, my skin... Oof! So, exercise has, in my mind, become necessary, not just nice! I don't seem to lose weight, but I do measure inches and that is where I see the big difference. That and my clothes fit better. Plus, I just feel better, and that is really the point, right?

  12. Way to go Stephanie! So proud of you for accomplishing that because as you know I just finished the 30DS as well and it was tough. I have never used kettlebells but would love to try it out.

  13. Woohoo! I just got on here to see if you had blogged about it yet! I was going to email you and ask how you felt after your last day yesterday! Congratulations! I am half way through...haven't lost much weight either, but definitely noticing a difference in my upper body and strength. The only bummer for me is that my knees are shot...I have had to modify the cardio a bit (which is so frustrating for me) because my knees got beat up! I think it is a combo of the shred and the 6 mile run/walk we did the other weekend. Ugh!

    I think you read my mind before you post too! I was going to ask you or anyone else on here if they are anything like me and can't seem to get rid of some of the padding while nursing!? UGH! I can't seem to lose some of this no matter what and unlike many of my tiny friends, nursing does NOT help me drop the pounds. I am eager to see if it will come off more easily after I stop nursing. I didn't have any time between my two kids to know if it will come off. (My oldest stopped nursing at her 1st birthday, and I didn't know I was pregnant at the time, so I have had these hormones going on for a long time!) So, I guess within a few more months, once #2 is weaned I will find out the truth!

    SO proud of you for finishing...oh...and remember, even though you say you only lost 3 lbs, muscle weighs MORE than fat, and there is NO way you can do the shred without gaining muscle, so be really pleased and proud of yourself!

  14. Good job! I have done absolutely nothing to work out or get my body healthy in the last couple months. Nothing. So much for my plan. I hate running, and this morning I considered starting up (at the crack of dawn, of course, while it's only 85-90 or so and not yet at that 105 degree mark...). It may happen, it may not, but I definitely need to do something to tighten this tummy and un-wiggle these thighs of mine. How much did the Shred cost? I may need to invest.

  15. O, and, by the by, I love the darling pic of your sweet girl at the bottom of the post - she's looking so big & so sweet! She looks so happy & ready to take on the world!

  16. Hurray for you, Stephanie! Way to stick it out and make it through the whole 30 days! Sorry you didn't see as much weight loss as you were hoping, but I think you're right about the body liking to hold on to some reserves while you're still nursing.

  17. It's eery how much we're alike sometimes. I was just tweeting about how I am finally able to jog part of my walk and wondered if I'd ever make it to running 5k! lol

    You look great, by the way. You can't tell you just had a baby... or even that you're still nursing. Hot mama!

    Nell

  18. You go girl! It's about time. Yes, K-bells are awesome. Was wondering if Jillian has a maintanince plan for you? The k-bells come with a DVD for the first few moves you need to learn. Then you could prolly write your own little workout by mixing J's stuff and the work the k-bell thrusts, squats and things...from my own experience you will LOSE inches when lifting heavier than you think you can. And stretch! I got seriously STIFF when doing all that weight lifting.

  19. It must feel so good to say you did the whole 30 days even if you didn't get the exact results you wanted. But I think FEELING strong and in shape is so intangible yet totally the best part of working out.

    My uber-fitness-lover friend just tried kettlebells last week and loved them. Can you buy those at the same places you'd buy free weights?

  20. Wow! Good for you, Stephanie!! Did you do the whole 30 days at one go, or did you take a few rest days? I'm on day five now, but don't know if I'm going to make it 30 days without a break!

    From my experience, some women keep that extra "padding" while nursing, and then it almost magically melts off after weaning. Then...there are those like me who struggle more with weight when weaning begins. Both times, I've had to adjust my calorie intake to accommodate for not nursing anymore, or else I'd gain pretty quickly.

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