Has anyone actually done 30 days of 30-day shred DVD?

I've seen many posts of people starting this program and loving it but I couldn't find any posts of people that have actually done the program for 30 days or even for a couple of weeks. I thought of doing it myself but I would like to have some feedback of people who have done this before. Did you lose weight? Toned up? How would you place/rate this DVD program and its 20 min routine among other cardio/strength workouts? Thanks!

I use 5 lbs weights.

You have to use the amount of weight that challenges you.  I believe on the video they use 2 or 3 lb weights.  I find that I need much more weight especially on the chest fly exercises. 

Now that I am a member of the Church of Jillian, can all the shredders now be referred to as "Shredologists?"

In regards to weights, I use 1 lb. weights because I am looking to tone muscle, not build muscle.  I want a leaner, meaner (Jillianesque) body.

I have so much energy when I shred twice a day so I hear you PrissyGirl!!!

Original Post by healthmd:

There you are shredders! Thank you so much for the replies, I knew there must have been someone that has done it. And you got me inspired to do it more often, 6 pack abs? I'm with you fabnina if I get any pack I'm happy. LOL  Go ahead break that seal!

It's amazing that you get so much out of it in 20 min. And I'l have a look at Jillian's book "making the cut", thanks for the tip j_lo_cal, and kudos to your Ken abs, I want one too! Let me know how you like Jillian's Wii fit game. I didn't know BL started already, I've never watched any season of BL, just the end of last season when Michelle won. But just watching the summary of their journey, did get you inspired to go on.

And it's good to know many got results doing either everyday or 3-5 x weekly. I'm also trying the C25K, allisonwondrland. Last week I was doing week 7 but it got all screwed up during the holidays and I haven't run this week either. I think I have to go back to week 5 or 6, but I must say, I didn't get the running bug yet. I don't know if I'll ever be able to call myself a runner but at least I'll try to finish the program. Don't want feel like a quitter. Prissygirl, 2 x a day is pushing it! I'll be happy if I do it at least 5 x a week! Don't you get too sore from doing it twice in a day?

Hey buggyhair I checked that other 30day challenge thread, thanks for the link. So you kept doing it since November? Do you have Ken's abs too?  I think I'm going to keep a log with the days and weights I used. I've seen the list of weights you used for the exercises but I'm not sure about going over 3 lb weights.

So I have one question, how much weight are you using it? I feel the 2 lb I use is not enough.

I'm using 5#, 8# & 10# dumbbells.

Original Post by j_lo_cal:

Now that I am a member of the Church of Jillian, can all the shredders now be referred to as "Shredologists?"

In regards to weights, I use 1 lb. weights because I am looking to tone muscle, not build muscle.  I want a leaner, meaner (Jillianesque) body.

I have so much energy when I shred twice a day so I hear you PrissyGirl!!!

lol @Shredologist

Original Post by j_lo_cal:

Now that I am a member of the Church of Jillian, can all the shredders now be referred to as "Shredologists?"

In regards to weights, I use 1 lb. weights because I am looking to tone muscle, not build muscle.  I want a leaner, meaner (Jillianesque) body.

I have so much energy when I shred twice a day so I hear you PrissyGirl!!!

 Shredologists! LOL, that's a good one, j_lo_cal!

Good job on doing twice, I might even try too!

Now j_lo_cal, I don't think you're going to bulk up with 2, 3 probably not even 5. It's very hard for women to bulk up easily. Wow, tracybee, 5 lbs! I tried holding the 5 lbs at the gym just to get a feel for it and it felt heavy! But I guess from the many posts, like augenblick, you have to vary the weights depending on the exercise. I think I'm going to buy a set of 4 or 5 lb weights so I can vary depending on the dificulty of the exercise.

Now buggyhair, forgive me my dumbellness, but are #5, 8 and 10 the same as 5, 8 and 10 lb?

Keep shreding, shredologists!

I bought the shred quite a few months ago - and I swear by it - with my heartrate monitor you burn 300 - 400 calories in 20 minutes - you can't beat that - and the levels definitely increase in intensity.  Basically as soon as I could get through one level - doing every rep and not stopping I'd move to the next level.  Once I got up to level 3 I would cycle in some of the 1's and 2's occassionally since they are different exercises.  I don't do them on back-to-back days as Jillian instructs though - too much strength training and I think it's more effective ifyou have a day to recover in between.  The BL Cardiomax DVD is a good one to throw in between days - or more intense weight training.  It's definitely worth the money - and definitely use heavier weights than 1 pound!  You're not going to get bulky by using an 8 or 10 pound weight - especially when you're doing 30 second to 1 minute cycles!  I figure if you're going to work out for 20 minutes you might as well push it to the max and burn as many calories as you can - good luck!

Original Post by j_lo_cal:

In regards to weights, I use 1 lb. weights because I am looking to tone muscle, not build muscle.  I want a leaner, meaner (Jillianesque) body.

 Jillian can probably bench press you. 

As a woman, with a calorie deficit, you will NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT gain muscle mass by doing weights.  You could do this routine with 20lbs and you would not gain muscle mass.  Women simple do not bulk easily and building bulk with a calorie deficit is physically impossible for both sexes.

So don't fear going up in weight, up the weight and you'll get stronger muscles, stronger muscles aren't bulkier muscles and stronger muscles burn more calories.  Plus once you lose the fat sourrounding the muscle, you will look WAY more toned. 

Original Post by workzalot:

 It's definitely worth the money - and definitely use heavier weights than 1 pound!  You're not going to get bulky by using an 8 or 10 pound weight - especially when you're doing 30 second to 1 minute cycles! 

 I would be worried about doing some of the exercises with an 8 (even 5) pound weight! Like the jumping jacks? I feel like I would snap my elbow with that type of quick motion! Snap it like a twig.

Even though I cannot stand Jillian (curse me if you like) I like the 20min circuit training idea.  I'm on day 7.  I am also doing each day as a rotation, not in steps. (day1-workout 1, day 2-workout 2, and so on) I'm not getting bored and I feel that it changes up my muscle use.  The push-ups are killer!  I have to take it a bit easy because of a hip issue but I still get a great workout in a short time.  Hopefully I can make it the full 30 days.

I use 3lb weights.    If your weights seem light during the 'fly' try putting your legs up in a 'table top' position and engage your abs--it makes your whole body work harder!

Just ordered my video. I should get in in a week and I can't wait!

I will have to replace my weights soon, though because I have wussy 2 pounders that I found at the Goodwill.

The answer is yes (#) is the sign for pounds when writing (I'm a retired baker). I'm hoping to be able to increase those weights to 8, 10 & 15 in the near future.

I have just bought and started the 30 day shred by Jillian 2 days ago. Before starting to lose weight and this dvd I was a very sedetary (hope I spelled that right) person and just sat around ALL day long. Before starting this dvd I was down to 232. Now that I have done this for the last few days I am back up to 235. Why???? Is this normal when you start working out like this? I really love the workout even though i really have to push myself through it as heavy as I am. But the weight gain has really got me down and feeling all the hard work the last week with diet and then last few days with workout has been for nothing. I am on a 1300 calorie diet and have stuck to it faithfully.....If this is normal how long does it take to start showing a loss in weight again?

Thanks buggyhair, I didn't know that, I  thought # was the sign for number only. I'm not ready to go past 5 # just yet. 10-15 # are heavy! Baker ? My goodness, that's a tough job on the weight! I love all things baked.

runbaby, you gave us so many good tips! i never thought of doing the workouts alternatedly, although I'm not sure how I would perform on workouts 2 and 3. I've only done the first one. And no kidding about the pushups, I do as many as I can "army" style then I switch to girly. I'll buy heavier weights, the 2 lb one is too light, specially for the chest fly exercise, but I'll try your modification with the legs up to see how it feels. Thanks. Now, you can't come to a shredologist from the "Church of Jillian" and say you can't stand Jillian! LOL. I must confess that there's something about the way she looks that bugs me too. She has sad eyes and a face expression of someone that just ate something bad. But she is a very good and tough trainer, no nonsense style and straight to the point. I do admire her honesty. That's why the people she trains usually wins BL! Her books are good too.

Congratulations faithymom, you're on your way to becoming a shredologist.

jblarghp, I've done only workout 1, so I can't say for sure, but do they do jumping jacks with weights? I'm surprised. As of now 10-15 lbs would break me just by buying them,  the arms and the wallet!

Yesterday I started the 30 day shred seriously. I've only done once before, but now I'll try to do it at least 5 x a week. Even though going to the gym and doing 30 min HIIT on the eliptical plus some lower body strength machines, I didn't find excuses to not do the shred.

Jan 8 is my day 1 of the shred. I feel fine, with light soreness on the arms, and I just used 2lb weights! The abs section was quite easy, I've been doing a lot of abs in the last months and cardio was also good, the only thing bugging me at the jumps was my breasts! I forgot to use a sportive bra and the bouncing was killing me! I was doing the butt kicks holding my breasts! LOL. But the strength part, that was the tough one! the push ups were killing  and the other moves, even with the light weights my arms were feeling very heavy. Good, that's what I need. I'll try to do it again tonight, with better bras of course!

christie- You may not being eating enough...

I don't know for sure, but it seems like 1300 cals is too low especially if you are working out.

Make sure you are keeping your calorie deficit at 1000 per day so you don't put your body into starvation mode because then it'll hang onto (by storing as fat!) every calorie for dear life...literally...

I'm 215 and my body needs 2300 calories just to function in a day (I have my activity level set at 'light' on my profile) so if I do nothing else as far as exercise I shouldn't eat less than 1300 calories each day...and if I work out I need to eat more.

Original Post by thermal:

Original Post by j_lo_cal:

In regards to weights, I use 1 lb. weights because I am looking to tone muscle, not build muscle.  I want a leaner, meaner (Jillianesque) body.

 Jillian can probably bench press you. 

 Ha!  I wish she could bench press me.  I actually went home and realized I use two pound weights, so I suppose I'm on my way there!

Day 2 of 30DS - workout 2 - yeah I jumped to workout 2 like runbaby suggested. I must say I think it's a good idea. It was much tougher than workout 1 but it worked completely different muscles. I said I was feeling my arms with workout 1, in workout 2, I felt mostly on the legs, with the stationary squats and those jumps on a planck position!! my quads were burning so much! I found my self switching to the beginner modifications a few times. And Jillian keeps saying don't stop, no break! and she is always taking a break herself to "explain".

I'll try workout 3 today, changing the workouts within the same week might be good to workout different muscle groups and to avoid boredom as runbaby said. If I survive workout 3! I'll let you know how it goes.

Original Post by healthmd:

 And Jillian keeps saying don't stop, no break! and she is always taking a break herself to "explain"..

 Haha! I was doing this with my mom and she kept pointing that out!

I haven't done workout 3 yet either, but I've watched it out of curiosity. They do do jumping jacks with the hand weights, and I swear I would not be able to do it with more than 5 pounds! I think that would mess with my joints?

I've kind of been slacking...
I'm going to do it today with an extra ab routine thrown in, because I don't feel Jillian's workout in my abs at all!

I just did work out 3 (day 9 for me)!  For the jumping jacks w/ weights I don't keep my arm straight, I bend at the elbows.  I feel it alot in my tricep area this way.  When I keep my arms straight I don't feel like I have any control over these wiggly arms!  Look out Jillian--a weight is comin' at ya'! 

anybody else change things up a bit?

I'm on day 7 I took 1 day of rest and the other I did Yoga, I have bad knees and the squats kill me! I feel so great so far besides a bit of soreness. I have only been doing the 1rst wrkout. I haven't been very active before I began so i am trying to work up to the next level. It's encouraging to hear all the positive responses!