Weigh-In Wednesday and Level 3

My weight has definitely been fluctuating this week - a difference of over 2 lbs all together - not sure what's up with that. But for the official weigh in today I'm very happy to report a loss of exactly 1 lb!! I'm so excited!! Since starting this intermittent fasting thing I'm finally seeing steady progress towards my goal - and I even mean "see it" literally, in the mirror!

That brings me to 3.5lbs lost in total - I'm gradually getting close to that 5lb button!!

And this has happened with me going back to only shredding 3 workouts per week, instead of 6! Woohoo! Why torture myself unnecessarily right?!

Off to do Level 3 now. I couldn't workout Monday - well, I could've if I wanted to get up early, which I didn't :). So, I worked out yesterday instead. It doesn't work out ideally to do the every other day thing this week, so I'm just doing 2 days in a row, to make sure I get my 3 days in this week. I haven't done Level 3 in almost 2 weeks, so wish me luck!

Level 3

Level 3 complete for another day.

FYI - I'm not planning on fasting while we're away on our little holiday ;)

See ya after the weekend!

Level 3

I almost forgot to post this today. I got up early and did Level 3 of the Shred before swimming lessons this morning.

I plan to fast from after supper tonight to suppertime tomorrow.

Levels 3 & 2

So, I thought I'd try switching up the order I do the workouts in. I figured that maybe doing Level 3 last would be harder because it's saving the hardest for last in a long workout.

But it was the opposite! Level 3 was a tad easier to do, but I could barely get through Level 2 afterwards. Especially doing the stationary squats at the beginning of Level 2 after just finishing the jumping squats at the end of Level 3.

I think I'll stick with my "normal" way from now on.

The next two weeks is swimming lessons, so I think I'm going to allow myself to only do one workout each workout day since I'm going to have to be getting up early in order to get it done.

Levels 1 & 3

Completed Levels 1 and 3 today. I feel so exhausted. I'm sure partly because mentally I was a little defeated by the weigh-in today. I just feel like this is all for nothing. I know, I know - do I want any cheese with that whine?

Looking forward to my rest day tomorrow though.

Levels 2 & 3

Today was Levels 2 & 3 again. Oh the agony!

I waited till Jacob was down for his nap before exercising (because the older 2 girls are gone at day camp, so they're not around to help entertain him). Which means I had less pauses to my workout, which means it was even harder. :) Also means I got nothing else done during morning nap so I'm going to have to be very productive during his afternoon nap. Yes, he's almost 18 months and still napping twice a day - very fortunate am I!

Tomorrow is my rest lawnmowing day.

Levels 1 & 3

So, I did Friday's workout today instead of Friday (because Nathan and I went for a quick one-night getaway for our 13th anniversary Thursday night).

Man, this. is. tough.

It's really hard to keep doing this when I'm just not seeing the results I'm hoping for. But I will keep at it for at least the rest of the month and then re-evaluate.

Levels 2 & 3

Yup, today I did Levels 2 & 3 and boy am I exhausted.

Doing Levels 2 & 3 together is obviously a little more difficult even than doing Levels 1 & 3 together because Level 2 is harder than Level 1.

Anyway, now that I've managed to pick myself up off the floor, I seriously need a shower. You wouldn't believe how much I'm sweating right now. Niagara Falls has got nothing on me.

Day 30 - Level 1 and Level 3

Today is the last day of my 30 Day Shred Challenge! Woohoo - I did it!!!

And did I ever end it off with a bang.

Today I did Level 1 AND Level 3!!

Today is also the first day of my new exercise plan. Unfortunately it still involves shredding. ;)

I will be exercising Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only and having the other days as rest days.

I will do two full workouts from the Shred each day I exercise - always doing Level 3, and alternating Levels 1 and 2.

So, today I did 1 & 3. Wednesday will be 2 & 3, Friday will be 1 & 3, Monday will be 2 & 3, etc. If I'm ever too busy to do both complete workouts, I will allow myself to do only one of them - but only once per week.

Either next week or the week after I will also start adding in a nutritional element to my plan. But I don't want to start it now because it's finally strawberry season!!! And I'm planning on having strawberries for virtually every meal from now till they're done - about 2 weeks. Love me some strawberries!! Strawberries in Cheerios, strawberries over ice cream, strawberry pie, strawberries by themselves, strawberry salad - hmmmmmm strawberries!!

And even though tomorrow is a "rest" day - I'm still going to mow the lawn - cause I don't want to do that AFTER 2 shredding workouts!

Day 29 - Level 3 plus

Today I did the first circuit of Level 3 twice, followed by the rest of Level 3. Whew!

Tomorrow is another rest day - yay!

Monday - Day 30 is going to be brutal.

One more day left!!!!

Day 28 - Level 2 plus

Today I did Level 2 and the first two circuits of Level 3, and I felt like I was going to die - just like she says! Yeah, she really says that - she's so encouraging. During one part of level 2 she says "I want you to feel like you're going to die!". And you really do.

So thankful tomorrow is a rest day!

Day 27 - Level 3

Today I "only" did Level 3.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a rest day, but it works better for me if Friday is a rest day so I'm going to switch them up.

I only have 3 more days of shredding left in this challenge - I am 90% done!! Course, with my new plan, things are going to seem even harder when this challenge is over so I'm not sure that's any consolation :)

Day 26 - Level 1 plus

What did I get myself into?! I'm exhausted!

Today I did Level 1 and the first two circuits in Level 3. Wow.

I may need to wring out the carpet from all the sweat that dripped off me during this workout. Insane.

The thought of adding that final circuit..... shudder!

Day 25 - Level 3

I very much enjoyed my rest day yesterday!

But it was back at it with Level 3 today. And now I am off to mow the lawn!

I need it after the eating that happened on the weekend - Olive Garden on Saturday evening, and then we went for lunch Sunday afternoon to a local Mennonite buffet restaurant - hmmm, cottage cheese perogies!!

Day 24 - Level 2 plus

Today I did Level 2 plus circuit#2 of Level 3 (circuit 2 was dumbbell cleans, jumping lunges, arm punches and butt kicks and jumping jacks with weights, and full situps).

I am exhausted.

And very thankful that tomorrow is a rest day!

Day 23 - Level 3

I did Level 3 today.

Level 3 is pretty killer, so I decided that since I've just started my "gradually ramping it up schedule", I would only do Level 3 today.

Here's the plan....

Tomorrow (Day 24) will be Level 2 and one circuit from Level 3 (probably circuit#2).

Sunday will be a rest day.

Monday (Day 25) will be Level 3. (And I'll probably mow the lawn)

Tuesday (Day 26) will be Level 1 and two circuits from Level 3.

Wednesday (Day 27) will be Level 3 - and I may do one of the circuits in Level 3 twice.

Thursday will be a rest day (I reserve the right to change Wednesday & Thursday around if it works better).

Friday (Day 28) will be Level 2 and two circuits from Level 3.

Saturday (Day 29) will be Level 3 - I will probably do one of the circuits in Level 3 twice.

Sunday will probably be a rest day, though I may be tempted to just do Day 30 and be done, we'll see. It works out better in the plan if it's a rest day though so I'm sure I'll stick with that.

Monday will be Day 30 and I will try to do all of Level 1 and Level 3 together, and that will work out very nicely to be the first day of my new plan.

Day 22 - Level 1 plus

(See edited parts below)

A refresher for those just joining me. There are 3 workouts on the 30 Day Shred DVD. The first workout is called Level 1 and you can see my full review of this workout here. The 2nd workout is called Level 2 because it is harder than than the first workout (Level 1). You can get the scoop on this workout here. And finally there's the torturous Level 3 which is (as I'm sure you've guessed by now) harder than either of the first two workouts. You can get the cold hard facts of Level 3 here.

I first did them in order two times through (1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3) and then I switched things up again and did Level 3 the most as it's the hardest, alternating the others levels (1,3,2,3,1,3,2,3)

Now I'm switching it up again.

Today I did Level 1 and the 1st circuit of Level 3 (that's the circuit with walking planks, supermans, mountain climbers, plie jumps, pike crunches and scissor crunches).

I want to eventually work up to doing two full workouts in one day, but I didn't want to kill myself by doing it all at once. :)

I still haven't decided for sure what I'll do tomorrow - either all of Level 2 with the 2nd circuit of Level 3, or all of Level 3 and doing part of Level 3 twice.

Eventually I'd like to do all of Level 1 & 3 once day, and all of Level 2 & 3 the next day.

Any thoughts on how to gradually get there?

Edited to add: Part of my next plan of attack (after this Shred Challenge is over) will be do to Level 1 & 3 on one day, then have a rest day, then do Level 2 & 3 on the next day, then rest, etc. My theory - this should give me the best bang for my buck...

I'll still be doing the same amount of exercising as I was doing the Shred daily.

In fact, I'll probably be expending more calories during this way of exercising, cause I'll be working even harder due to the longer timeframe.

I'll be giving my muscles the 48 hr rest period needed for repairing and strengthening.

The rest of my plan (ie nutrition) will be revealed after the Shred Challenge is over - stay tuned!

Day 21 - Level 3

Finished another round of Level 3.

Stay tuned tomorrow when I switch it up again.

Day 19 - Level 3

Another day of Level 3 complete.

Man, this is a tough workout. Seriously. Dude.

You should try it!

Day 17 - Level 3

Managed (gasp) to finish (panting) Level 3 (drip, drip) one more time!

My legs are feeling the burn.