Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Hey everybody,

Has anyone tried Jillian Michaels 30-day shred video to loss weight and if so, how did it work for you?  I recently ordered it, in order to drop some weight and get in shape before hitting the gym again.  My cw is 158 and gw is 140 by mid April.  any comments, suggestions???

I actually got it last week and have used it 5 times.  I'm pretty overweight (214lbs), but also relatively active.  The video is straightforward and easy to follow - no complicated dance routines, etc.  And since it's only 20 minutes long, you can motivated yourself to fit it into your schedule. 

I have found some of the activities in Level 1 really challenging, but at the same time I'm definitely noticing a difference in my endurance and strength in just under a week of doing it.  The reviews that I read of it even regular exercisers found it pretty challenging.  The one complaint that I've got about it is that with a previously injured knee, there is a lot of high impact cardio - like jumping jacks, jumping rope, running place.  However, since you only do 30 second intervals it's not too bad.

Yesterday was day 5, the second day my thighs were on fire and i needed to hold the sink getting off the toilet LOL, however it wasnt undoable and there is a modified version of most thing, plus as mentions its small intervals so anything time something started to be painful it was pretty much over and on to the next.  I am severly overweight 308 right now but started at 321 and already feel a world of difference, I was exceptionally active for my size as far as I can tell from the feedback of others on here.  I was impressed and didnt think that 20 minutes could be so productive and effective.  I expect to breeze through level one tonight or tomorrow and Im sure will then have to slow down on level 2, but look forward to the challenge.  Make sure you strech well, personally I think that her cool down isnt quite enough and think the thighs might have fared a little better if I had stretched more.

I imagine that you will do fine and enjoy nice results!! good luck and keep us updated 

My husband and I rented it on NetFlix and kept it for about a month.  Even Level 1 can be made to last a few weeks as you have a lot of control over the intensity of the workout.  I really liked the interval training aspect of it as well.  However, we also rented one of the Biggest Loser workout disks around the same time and I liked that one much better because there are 4 different workouts that are all very different.

Overall, the 30 Day Shred I would give 4 stars.  Defiantly one of the better workout DVDs I've tried!

I haven't looked at the DVD, but I have the book and the workout in the book with kick your backside, even if you are fit... that said, I would suggest getting the book, so that you understand her process and logic. Also, she has a website with all of her workouts... you log in (sign up, there is a fee) and then provide some info, goals, current status, activity level and then the site builds a workout regime for you... I used it last year. For about 4 months i did my own thing and lost 12 lbs... used her stuff for 2 months, lost another 15 lbs... i still use it, because I am not creative enough to create solid, use every muscle daily without injury circuits... i find it worth the fee... also, based on my usage of her other DVDs, the DVD workouts tend to be about 25-30 minutes... her circuits take 45-60 minutes, so definitely faster, longer lasting results...

Cheer

i'm at work and BURST OUT LAUGHING when the girl said she had to grab the sink to sit on the toilet... lol lol I DID TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol lol.  Now, when i go to the gym, i get REALLY mad because no matter what i do i do not get sore, unless i lift unhealthy weight. THIS, day 1, killed me. It was non-stop, and intense, i really couldn't walk for two days, new years eve my sister in law was cracking up at me because i couldn't get on the floor to play with my niece lol.  I'm a pretty normal weight, 155 right now (although of course, i'm here so i want to be less) so don't get discouraged if you can't move the day after lol.

I've pushed myself pretty hard with HIIT and tabata in the past and honestly I've never gotten stuck where I needed help to get up until I did 30 day shred.  I was in the middle of open floor and my pup wanted some love so I squatted down.  She climbs you if you kneel and knocks you over, doesn't climb if you squat.  Almost fell over trying to get up!! 

It's odd too because I'll get a good legs workout going but I've struggled to find something that I felt Really worked my inner thigh.  Search over!

I don't know if you have Comcast OnDemand but both 30 Day Shred 1 and 30 Day Shred 2 are available for free through the Fitness TV section. I did Shred 1 for a few days and like everyone else, could barely get up, walk, etc, and I too am pretty active, I run, bike, etc. I did Shred 2 yesterday morning and wanted to go again this morning, but my back muscles are so tender from the rows she has you do, I couldn't make myself do it. Even sitting at my desk now, I can feel the burn. And the abs on Shred 2 were EXCELLENT. The form she uses are really simple, and I feel really targets all ab areas well. All of the other moves are really simple for the most part. There's not a lot to figure out at all.

Anyway, definitely check it out. The 20 minutes of pain are worth it, and the way you rotate through the circuits (Weights, Cardio, Abs x 3) really seems to get you a great bang for the time invested. I definitely recommend it!

Before Christmas, I did this video 5-6 days a week... it totally rocks.

I am in better shape than I have ever been, I have more muscle definition than I have ever had and would recommend it to anybody, on any level of fitness.

I have changed my shape with this video, my upper body has the v -taper she talks about in the video, and I have the 6 pack abs ( but they are still covered up by some pregnancy, c-section skin), but they are there.... and I love them.

I have slacked off and need to get back on the 30 day shred wagon.

But I just ordered her making the cut book and the 5 disc total body workout set.. I really like the shred, I just wanted a change up.

Like I said, I got my upper body where I want it, Now I need to work on my legs and thighs. (the thing about trying to sit down the next day is totally true, but if you stick with it, it goes away in no time)

Sorry to have rambled. Good Luck

Jill tried to kill me.  I am convinced... the 30 day shred, level 1 killed me.  :-)  Seriously... I ended up with a herniated disk, with nerve compression.  Where did the herniation come from?  No idea.  When did it happen?  No idea.  BUT, when I was doing the video, particularly the lunges, I would feel a pain in my lower back and down my leg.  Eventually I couldnt walk, sought treatment and now I am almost 100% better.  I am the cardio queen and am back to running, etc... but

I am convinced Jill's video killed me!  :-) 

All kidding aside, something about lunges causes me great discomfort so I have shied away from that video.  I do admit however, I laughed myself stupid the morning after I did the video the first time and I believed I was going to die on the toliet because I lacked the strength in my thighs to get up!  LOL.  The video and the Biggest Loser sometimes looks easy but it was the hardest thing I have ever done.  I am glad you guys are sticking with it and getting results.

Jill tried to kill me....   

I just bought it, and, similar to everyone else...it's a great workout, regardless of your beginning fitness level.  I'm small (120#, 5'0") and in relatively good shape (rock-climbing twice a week, pilates 3-4 times a week, yoga once a week, some other form of cardio once a week) and level one totally kicked my butt.  Already by the second time through, I'm feeling a major difference in strength in some of the exercises.

Regarding health, joints, etc: one of the reasons I work out is because I have bad arthritis in my hands, spine, hips and feet.  On the one hand, I built myself up with lower intensity workouts first; on the other, she does good warm ups and really emphasizes healthy posture.  My joints have been fine.  If you have health concerns, I recommend watching the DVD once through and paying attention to all of her posture tips.

But yeah, don't plan anything too intense the next day -- I have to climb 10 flights of steps to get to work and my thighs were SCREAMING on the morning after day one with Jillian. 

I like it for its simplicity and buttkicking, but I do recommend doing your own warmup and stretching before you do the workout. Jillian's pretty casual about that aspect and I've paid for it.

I love the 30-day shred. It was my first work out DVD, since then I've bought two more DVDs because I loved the shred so much I decided to try some others.

I think it's really helping me, since I've started doing the shred (like two weeks ago) I've been losing weight very consistently. I have a digital scale and I'm generally losing .2 lbs. every other day, and I keep getting compliments on how great and in shape I look, even though I've only lost about 5 lbs. since November and I wasn't getting these compliments in November!

I specifically hate arm and leg strength training (abs I could do forever though) so the shred is great because she does 3-2-1, 3 min. strength (arms & legs) 2 min. of cardio, and 1 min. of abs, and then repeats that 3 times with different exercises.

Definitely go buy it! I believe it's on sale at Wal mart and/or target right now too!

got this video yesterday and was surprised.  I think the exercises were great and i felt comfortable doing them because my trainer has me do most of the same exercises or variations of them.  However, i don't think doing three 6 minute circuits is enough to get someone "shredded".  i didn't find any of the exercises to difficult either, maybe because i am familiar with all of them.

I typically do circuits for an hour with my trainer and have seen great results.  i don't think 20 minutes is enough time to give your body a full body workout.  i will say that her 3-2-1 strategy is very effective  ( as well as her exercises) i just think if you want to see the results you should do a level at least 2x maybe even 3x.  i think once is a good workout if you are short on time and that's all you can do.

i worked out yesterday morning for an hour and then came home and did the biggest loser cardio dvd followed by level 1 of 30 day shred and was a little disappointed that i wasn't pushed as hard as i thought i would be.  i got both videos yesterday and decided to try them out.  if i were you and you were going to pick one of the other, the 30 day shred is a better video choice.  again, i just think 20 minutes might be sufficient if you haven't worked out in awhile that you will see results, but over time, you will need to do more than 20 minutes a day.

i hope that helps!