30 day SHRED

Okay, so I've been stumbling around, complaining about the post-pregnancy 20 pounds that have stuck on and not really doing anything about it. I've decided that I'm ready to start doing something. I'm done complaining (it only took a year).

I had been doing some reading online about Jillian Michael's 30-day Shred (the crazy trainer from The Biggest Loser). Now, if you have noticed, most winners of The Biggest Loser (TBL) are Jillian's trainees. The woman's awesome! Dang awesome! How does that insane intensity relate to a $7 DVD? I'm about to find out.

Day 1

I started today by taking some before pictures and measurements-not the most fun thing I have ever done. Emma Kate woke up from her nap, so she played with my 3 lb hand weights for awhile and then got put into her high chair for lunch (and a show). I then put in the DVD and got started. And that's when I realized I needed the DVD remote to do anything.

I looked everywhere for the stupid thing, but could not find it. I did, however, find 3 other remotes that I have no idea what they go with. So when I was about to just give up and put on the Imagination Movers for EK, I remembered that our Cox remote is universal. So I looked online, finally found the code, crossed my fingers (not sure which outcome I was hoping for), and wah-la. It worked. My grand excuse was now trashed like those 3 random remotes I found. So here we go...

Oh. My. Goodness. After about one minute into it I was seriously regretting it all. My face was beet red, my breathing out of control, my hands kept hitting the fan with every jumping jack, and EK was hollering at me because I was playing with her new toys (the hand weights) while she was stuck in a high chair. To say the least, it was a high-stress situation. But I didn't give up, in fact, I surprised myself and did the entire workout. Now mind you, it's only a 25 minute workout, but they are some serious minutes! I only had to pause twice, once to get EK out of the high chair before she climbed out, and the second time to go get her another hand weight because she wouldn't stop screaming at me. I really did it. Afterwards, I was tired, but I wasn't beat like I am when I try to run. When night time came, I felt a little stiff, but I was hopeful that the morning wouldn't be too bad.

Day 2

Uh, yeah, I woke up and needed someone with a giant spatula to scrape me off the bed. Every muscle ached and burned. Holy cow! How am I supposed to Shred today? I hurt WAY too bad to do this today! 10:00 rolled around, I put EK down for her nap and proceeded to play on the computer (I had to check out how my flowers were growing in Farm Town after all). I was hurting. But then Facebook froze. I closed my computer and thought, well, I might as well try.

I turned the DVD on, had my hand weights, water, and the phone in case of a "my-muscles-quit-working-and-I-need-help-off-the-floor" emergency, and I got started. The first few minutes, ay yi yi, were tough. But I pushed on. Before I knew it, and I usually know exactly how long I've been at something like exercising, I was doing the cool down. What?! I'm done? I did it? I... really... did... it? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually just got done. I decided afterwards that I would chronicle this crazy journey I began. Every day I will add how the workout went, I'm sure my posts will get shorter, don't fret. I will also record my progress-I'm going to take my measurements every week.

I proved to myself these past two days that I CAN do this. And now I'm telling myself, and all of you, that I WILL.

Day 3

I went to bed last night hurting, and, surprise, I woke up this morning hurting. Aching. All over. Heaven forbid I drop something on the floor, it sure wasn't going to get picked up. Every task seemed like a monumental one... and that dang 30-day Shred DVD sitting on top of the TV was like Mount Everest to me. But I thought, I might as well try... and I did.

Again, Emma Kate was in her high chair for lunch. Of course she didn't want to stay there because Mommy looked like she was having way too much fun dancing around the living room and she wanted to join in. At first it was really tough. I could barely hang in there to finish the first round of jumping jacks. But as the workout went on, my muscles loosened up and I could do more. A lot more. I found myself beginning to follow the girl doing the advanced moves, as opposed to the one doing the modified, "easier" ones. I thought, "Am I for real right now?" I even bumped up my weight on some of the moves, using 5 pound hand weights instead of the 3 pounders. (Don't laugh, 3 & 5 pound weights get pretty heavy after a while)

My biggest obstacle was the crunches, and not because they were hard. I actually LOVE doing crunches. It's weird. I could do hundreds a day. It hurts and burns, but I don't mind it for some reason (I think it's because I can lay down and workout at the same time). So anyway, this time it was almost impossible because every time I laid down to do the crunches EK would try to saddle-up and ride me like a horse. When she figured out I wasn't playing a long, she turned around, sat on my face, and started smacking my stomach (riding a horse that doesn't move is, after all, boring). I couldn't do anything because I was laughing too hard at how hilarious my situation was at that moment. It's crazy, but it's the little, seemingly meaningless, things like this one that make being a mother so awesome (and so hysterical).

Workout #3, done. Shredded.

Day 4

Anthony graduated today, so I had no idea when I was going to be able to workout. We had a big day with family and I was beat my the time it was all over. But I did it! It was VERY hard. I guess I really didn't have any more energy left, so I had to pull from deep within to find enough to finish the workout.

Day 5

Anthony and I shredded together. =) He now has a new understanding of what I'm talking about when I mention how serious this workout is... and he will most likely have an even better understanding when he gets up tomorrow morning. Jillian doesn't discriminate--she is an equal-opportunity butt kicker.

By the way, it's getting easier everyday... well, I'm getting better. I can tell I'm getting stronger and gaining endurance. Also, I was able to wear a skirt to church today that I haven't worn since before EK was born. WOOOOOOHOOOOOO! That is definitely a good thing. =)

Day 6

Anthony and I did the workout together, again. I think working out with a partner is much more fun than by yourself. Although I do have to stop to laugh sometimes (Anthony is pretty silly when he does his hip circles). Two more days until I take measurements again and see if anything's changing.

Day 7

Today was my anniversary. I decided to wait until Anthony got home from work to workout with him. Well, when he got home we immediately began cooking dinner. Our favorite dinner. Shrimp and grits. Oh it was good! The only problem was when we were done we were both so stuffed we couldn't even begin to imagine shredding. So no workout today. And I'm alright with that. It was a good day.

Day 8

I decided to go ahead and shred during EK's nap. I have been waiting for Anthony, but I thought it would be best to go ahead and do it after what happened last night.

Oh boy! It was tough today! I'm not sure if it's because I skipped a day or maybe because I had a heavy dinner, but today was HARD.

I took my measurements again. Guess what?! I lost...... 4 INCHES!!!! Here's the break down: 1" from each upper arm, 1" from my chest, 1/2" from my waist, and 1/2" from my hips. I think that's pretty dang good for my first week! I have no idea how many pounds I've lost, we don't own a scale. But I am so happy with the results I'm seeing so far.