Posts by jjcarwile

I broke my weight plateau this week! 

I've completed 6 days of Level 2 so far. It's getting easier and my stamina is way up.  The oblique twists kill me.  They really leave me winded and make my upper-outer thighs burn like heck.

I agree with the other poster that the Level 2 cardio also has a serious toning component for many body parts.  I don't like the last abs workout. I think my poor flexibility prevents me from properly twisting my leg underneath my body.  I now do ten of those and then get on my back and do the double crunches for the last 30+seconds. 

I'll evaluate where I am on day 10 to determine if I want to jump to Level 3.

I have a question for everyone... what are your plans when you complete the three levels?  I was thinking of continuing the video maybe 3-4 days a week, alternating days maybe.  I also walk very briskly every morning for 2 miles with my husband.   When it gets really cold, I'll either walk in the afternoon or just do video workouts.

Murrill,  like you I assumed that 30 days with 3 levels meant 10 days per level.  I finished Level 1 on Thursday.

Have done Level 2 twice.  It's no cake walk.  There's almost nothing similar to the exercises in the first level.  No anterior raises with side lunges! Yay!  LOL! 

I woke this morning with my back feeling a little tight. Nothing major. Didn't feel the back when I did it again today.  Level 2 is intense and interesting. Lots of planks.

Remember in Level 1 when Jillian says, I want you to feel like you're floating during the jumpropes?  Well, during the "double" jumpropes in Level 2, Jillian says, I want you to feel like you're dying!  Wow... talk about upping the intensity...  :-)

You asked, "The site is quoting that on the "burn meter" 733 of 1,550 cals what does this mean? So if I am deficient in 400kcal by eating 1100kcal a day surely this would work."

The burn meter shows how many calories (733) you have burned at that time of day based upon the activity level you have entered (sedentary, light, etc) plus additional activities you may have logged.  While you are sleeping around midnight, the burn meter hits 1550 of 1550!! 

It is true that we lose a pound with each cumulative deficit of 3500 calories. However, as everyone here on the site will tell you, when you eat TOO little, your body will retain every calorie it can. The deficit must be created around a proper caloric level, which means a greater deficit might be best achieved through an increase in activity.

Our bodies are incredible machines and are built to survive, so when you don't eat enough the body believes you are in a dire place and are starving. It goes into "starvation mode" as you've been told here.

Hi murrill,

You probably noticed from the posts here that after the first day, most of us were too sore to go on day 2! 

Today was Day 7 for me.  I surprised myself when I made it through the jumprope routine!  Before today, I had found the burn in my legs too much to bear.  Progress!

My shoulders still DIE during the arm lifts with anterior lunges.  Today, on the second routine I turned the weight upright and did curls instead.

I'm kind of excited about Level 2.  I love variety. I do find this three set, three phase routine literally flies by.  It's awesome!

Good luck to you and everyone here!

Today was my first day doing the workout.  Level 1 is fairly tough but not impossible.  Okay, I may have done a few less reps than the ladies on the video, but it was my first day! 

It went by so fast. I encourage everyone to give it a try.  I can just anticipate seeing the results from this workout!!!

Very cool feature! I knew you could do this when searching for images to narrow your results.

For recipes, it's genius!

I like Kotov's suggestion of working on the deficit side rather than the calorie cutting.  I've just starting thinking like this as well. 

I'm also zigzag-ing on my calorie intake to keep my body guessing and not entering starvation mode. I want to go out to eat tomorrow night, so that's my biggest calorie day!  I'll also be sitting in a class all day Saturday, so I will probably do a little "fidgeting" to burn calories and make sure I drink a lot of water. (Restaurants are almost always higher in sodium than my kitchen.)

I see no one responded to your post. I searched this topic in the forums to see if anyone had an opinion of Larrian Gillespie's book, The Menopause Diet.  Her website is here:

http://www.menopausediet.com/

I have read the book. She makes some interesting recommendations about eating, including some minor food combining (which always seems weird to me). There are some great recipes in the book too.

I haven't shopped in a Wal-mart for four years now.  Just prefer a better shopping experience, period. I know they save folks a lot of money, but they are not the lowest game in town on every item.

Personally, I read the grocery sale papers and use coupons. I save anywhere from 30 - 60% according to my receipts each week. It's like a sport for me!

Never liked the produce department of Wal-mart.... of course, there was that time 7+ years ago I slipped on a grape and fell. My adorable young children kept walking like they didn't know me, too embarrassed apparently! hahaha  we all still giggle about that.

I learned about HIIT here in the forums and am so happy that I did!  My walking routine was not only fairly boring, but it wasn't giving me the burn or yielding the results I have been seeking.

So, after my first week at HIIT (Sprinting), I feel great. I go out between 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. and while I, like Vanessa, am a bit self-conscious about the routine, I'm  over it. I'd rather have folks "wonder" than not get into those skirts I want to wear!

Last weekend, I bought a Biggest Loser Boot Camp video which also kicks my butt even at level 1. Heck the WarmUp even makes me sweat!!  I do that on alternating days from HIIT. If it rains, I'll just switch up the exercise routines. Planning is KEY!

I came here with a 10 lb goal and am already halfway there. 1.5 pounds lost just this week. Today, I measured a few places and recorded it, and from memory, I think I have lost 1/2 inch in my waist and hips since measuring a couple weeks ago.

At my age, 49, the weight just does not melt off, (read: sticks like fat glue) but the switch up of exercise routines this past week has had a significant effect. I totally credit HIIT for the significant assist!!!!