This Life, Redefined...: Shredded

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Shredded

Well, I did it. Despite the joys of toddler wrangling with an angry and full-of-energy two-year old at 10pm last night, I still managed to start the 30 Day Shred.

And I kind of hated every minute of it.

Of course, most of that hate came from the fact that I really can't stand the running dialogue that trainers insist on keeping up through work-out DVDs, because the work-out itself is pretty good. It's quick, but intense, which is what my schedule calls for right now, and I am definitely feeling the effects of it today. But for some reason, the more I hear the little voice in the TV telling me that I just need to 'push through the pain', the more I think, 'You know what? I really don't need to push through anything. I'm just going to go eat some cake now, thank you very much...', and I'm pretty sure that's the opposite of what they're shooting for.

So, I should probably fix that, if possible. I'm planning to trade out Jillian's constant harping about how a twenty minute work-out DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY DOWNTIME tonight for some upbeat music, and I think I might actually enjoy the shredding process as a result.

Or, at least not openly despise it, which might be the best I can hope for when it comes to exercising these days...

(Has anyone ever actually made it through all 30 days of the Shred? Or does anyone know anyone who has? Outside of that before and after photo I've seen on Pinterest, I've never heard of anyone sticking with it, and I just want to know if it's worth it, or not...

Did I mention I'm going to be in a bathing suit/beachside wedding photo in five weeks? I need to make sure I'm not wasting my time, here!)

5 comments:

Maggie B.February 1, 2012 at 2:37 PM
I've been thinking about trying it, but I don't actually have any space in the TV room to work out. :( I know someone who did it... she liked the work outs, but was sad that it made her thighs bigger (she says). But since she's a stick, I can't tell any difference....
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousFebruary 1, 2012 at 3:21 PM
I did it the full 30 twice. It does provide some results. Nothing super crazy, though.
ReplyDelete
Replies
ShannonFebruary 1, 2012 at 7:19 PM
I have not made it through more than 2 days of the Shred (kills my knee!) BUT I used to swear like a sailor at Billy Blanks during Tae Bo. To the point I'd throw the remote and storm out of the house for a walk. :) I get where you are coming from on that!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete
Replies
MelissaFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Honestly...I really, really love The FIRM workouts. I can't stand Jillian. She drives me INSANE.

I like the idea of muting her though and putting on some music instead if you can still follow the cues well enough. :)
ReplyDelete
Replies
carolineFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:00 PM
I've never mead it through all 30 days, but even 15 days was useful. I also hate Jillian's music. So I turn down the volume so that I just hear when we are changing exercises, and I listen to my workout playlist instead! MUCH better. I also like the MyTrainerBob videos, too - he's much better than Jillian, but I am unlikely to choose his 60 minute workouts. :(

Good luck!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Leave a comment, if you'd like...I'd love to hear from you!

2014 List

1) Send more mail...thank you notes, birthday cards, and 'just because' messages.

2) Be nicer, in general, to my husband and family. They deserve a much less crabby me than the one they were stuck with for most of 2013.

3) Make more of an effort to communicate with the long-distance people in my life. I got away from facetiming with my sister on a regular basis, and I miss it. Plus, now that she's making me an aunt, I think it's even more important that we get back into the habit of seeing each other every week. I do not need her new baby asking 'are you SURE you have more than one sister?', just because Aunt Mary lives in Indiana and Aunt Tara lives all of the way in Georgia.

4) Call or email or even text my friends from college more than I do now, which is hardly at all. Just because we can pick up after not talking to each other for months like no time has passed at all does not mean I should keep letting all of those months pass without the talking. I'm afraid the picking back up can't keep happening in a friendship like that.

5) Do one fitness/health related challenge each month. - You know all of those '0 to 1,000 sit-ups in just 30 days!!' kind of schedules that pop up on Pinterest all of the time? I'm going to start doing those. One each month. Fifteen minute plank? I'M COMING FOR YOU. I'm also throwing my meat-free/sugar-free/alcohol-free months in this category, as well.

6) Run another organized 5K. - It was so much more fun than I expected. Minus the running up a hill part, anyway.

7) Renew my vows with Steve, in Vegas, by Elvis, for our 10th anniversary in October.

8) Create an art wall somewhere in my house.

9) Organize a workspace for me

10) Attend The Blathering in Seattle. - Charleston was such a great time, I'd love to make it back for the Seattle trip.

11) Read at least two books a month.

12) Take Brigid camping.

13) Find a yoga studio and start taking classes regularly.

14) Write something, anything, not blog related.

15) No spending money on new clothes this year. Using gift cards and rewards points are fine, but I need to get out of the habit of spending money on new stuff, just to make myself feel better. I swear, shopping is my addiction, but the high I get from buying a new sweater probably isn't enough to justify the amount of money I spend on clothes I don't need.

16) No buying anything at all unless I absolutely need it. I have a bad habit of stocking up on things at sales (candles, lotions, make-up, beauty products), even if I have a cabinet full of the same stuff already at home. I will use the cabinet full of crap before I add more crap.

17) Be more consistent in updating my family blog, because my parents give me a hard time when I let it lag, and my personal blog, because I'm not as happy with myself when I let it lag.

18) Find a general practitioner and get a physical.

19) Post at least one picture a day on Instagram, to get myself into the habit of taking more pictures of my sweet girls, since I find entire events have passed where I've forgotten to photograph said events. Like Christmas. Sadly.

20) Get a haircut. - You can laugh at this one, if you must, but I did not get one single haircut in 2013. In fact, I haven't had a haircut since before Caitlin was born in November of 2012. I do not even know how this happens, but I know it must end. Soon. I think a Locks of Love kind of donation might be in order. My hair, it is long.

21) Make an effort to get to know the neighbors. - I tend to not get dressed/leave the house on the weekends, and this extends to not fraternizing with anyone who lives near me, because I'm afraid people will judge me for my make-up free, sweatpants clad weekend laze. I should probably get over that.

22) Write more thank you notes. - I am terrible at writing thank you notes. I should not be so terrible.

23) Buy new rugs for my new house. - The sunroom and foyer, in particular, need something fun.

24) Be more fearless in forming and maintaining relationships. - There are many times where I think of something I want to send to someone, whether it's an email, text, card, or what have you, and I don't, because I'm afraid I've maybe overestimated whether we have the type of friendship where I can do something like that. I don't want to worry about stuff like that anymore.

25) Put together an Advent/Christmas activity calendar for Brigid and Caitlin. - I did that for Brigid when I was home on maternity leave after Caitlin's birth, and it was so much fun. I didn't get the chance to do it this year, and I feel like I missed out on some part of the excitement of the season. I'm bringing it back.

26) Institute a once-a-month date night with Steve. Or date lunch, I guess, if necessary.

27) Institute a once-a-month girls' night, whether it be with my old college roommate, my SiLs, or the neighbors. I should get out of the house at least once a month with people who do not live in my house.