I've been doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred workout program for the last few weeks. I started it a couple of weeks before I went into the hospital, but had a good two weeks off before starting over. Jillian Michaels is apparently from the biggest looser, but I've never seen the show so can't say it was what inspired me to buy the DVD. I was looking for shorter workout DVDs and liked her 3, 2, 1 program (3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute abs - broken into circuits). I have to say, it's one hell of a workout.
I suffer from both Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis; one affects the musicals and the other the joints and both make it challenging to start any workout routine. I have to be really careful not to do anything that is high impact or I could end up unable to walk later in the day. I have to listen close to what my body tells me and alter things as I go. When I first started this system, my knees were killing me. I had to give it up for a good week to recover and figure out a way to alter the workout not only avoid injury, but also make sure I'd get enough out of it. I ended up bringing my laptop into the room that I have my elliptical machine in so I could jump on that when she was doing jumping jacks or any other high impact cardio moves (which are really hard on my back) and when she did lunges, I started doing leg extensions standing on one foot. Level one of her DVD, took me 2 weeks to do (instead of the one week that's intended). I knew it was ok to move on when I strong enough to keep up with the pushups and had enough time to assess any pain I was having. Once I knew I wasn't causing a flare up, I moved on.
I started level 2 last week. Wow, it's hard! The good news for me was that a lot of the moves are low impact (or had a variation that was) so I had to improvise a lot less, but it's a much more advanced workout and it's really hard for me to keep up with. A lot of the moves require you to use your own body weight (there a lot of plank poses used for both strength and abs). Again, I know it will take me at least 2 weeks to move on to level three, but I'm still feeling really good about all I have achieved.
I'm also seeing big changes in my body - exciting changes. This morning, I noticed that the pushups and plank moves are paying off because I have a natural cleavage & shape (without a bra) that I don't remember ever having before (either that or I didn't know enough to appreciate it while I did). I also see lovely curves forming in my arms that haven't been there in years (I used to have a trainer and once upon a time had really nice definition in my arms). Best of all, I see shape forming in my abs, that I feared would never form again! I haven't had the courage to check out my bottom half yet (God, I miss my ass! I had a great ass!), but I'm pretty certain my husband will let me know when those changes take effect. I've already caught him checking me out a few times in the last few months and it's given me such a feeling of accomplishment! He's even mentioned the word 'hot' a few times! I thought 'hot' was well and truly gone and I mourned its passing.
Over the summer, while wearing a two piece bathing suit in my parent's pool (I wouldn't venture out in public in a two piece just yet), my mother told me I looked good ('making real progress' as she put it)! Anyone who knows my mother knows that she does not hand out compliments unless they are genuine. She doesn’t blow smoke up anyone's back side! When I was fat, she let me know it. She actually cried, saying things like "What happened to my beautiful daughter?"... Talk about a confidence crusher!
In the last four years, I have lost 50+ pounds (yes, I got VERY big with my pregnancy, but admittedly, I lost most of it a couple of years ago). This year's birthday was a milestone birthday and I decided that I wasn't going down without a fight. I want a few more years of sexy. I want to catch my husband checking me out when I get out of the shower. I don't want my days of stilettos and skinny jeans to be over. I know I can't stop the hands of time, but I sure can try to slow them down a little!
I suffer from both Fibromyalgia and Ankylosing Spondylitis; one affects the musicals and the other the joints and both make it challenging to start any workout routine. I have to be really careful not to do anything that is high impact or I could end up unable to walk later in the day. I have to listen close to what my body tells me and alter things as I go. When I first started this system, my knees were killing me. I had to give it up for a good week to recover and figure out a way to alter the workout not only avoid injury, but also make sure I'd get enough out of it. I ended up bringing my laptop into the room that I have my elliptical machine in so I could jump on that when she was doing jumping jacks or any other high impact cardio moves (which are really hard on my back) and when she did lunges, I started doing leg extensions standing on one foot. Level one of her DVD, took me 2 weeks to do (instead of the one week that's intended). I knew it was ok to move on when I strong enough to keep up with the pushups and had enough time to assess any pain I was having. Once I knew I wasn't causing a flare up, I moved on.
I started level 2 last week. Wow, it's hard! The good news for me was that a lot of the moves are low impact (or had a variation that was) so I had to improvise a lot less, but it's a much more advanced workout and it's really hard for me to keep up with. A lot of the moves require you to use your own body weight (there a lot of plank poses used for both strength and abs). Again, I know it will take me at least 2 weeks to move on to level three, but I'm still feeling really good about all I have achieved.
I'm also seeing big changes in my body - exciting changes. This morning, I noticed that the pushups and plank moves are paying off because I have a natural cleavage & shape (without a bra) that I don't remember ever having before (either that or I didn't know enough to appreciate it while I did). I also see lovely curves forming in my arms that haven't been there in years (I used to have a trainer and once upon a time had really nice definition in my arms). Best of all, I see shape forming in my abs, that I feared would never form again! I haven't had the courage to check out my bottom half yet (God, I miss my ass! I had a great ass!), but I'm pretty certain my husband will let me know when those changes take effect. I've already caught him checking me out a few times in the last few months and it's given me such a feeling of accomplishment! He's even mentioned the word 'hot' a few times! I thought 'hot' was well and truly gone and I mourned its passing.
Over the summer, while wearing a two piece bathing suit in my parent's pool (I wouldn't venture out in public in a two piece just yet), my mother told me I looked good ('making real progress' as she put it)! Anyone who knows my mother knows that she does not hand out compliments unless they are genuine. She doesn’t blow smoke up anyone's back side! When I was fat, she let me know it. She actually cried, saying things like "What happened to my beautiful daughter?"... Talk about a confidence crusher!
In the last four years, I have lost 50+ pounds (yes, I got VERY big with my pregnancy, but admittedly, I lost most of it a couple of years ago). This year's birthday was a milestone birthday and I decided that I wasn't going down without a fight. I want a few more years of sexy. I want to catch my husband checking me out when I get out of the shower. I don't want my days of stilettos and skinny jeans to be over. I know I can't stop the hands of time, but I sure can try to slow them down a little!
Comments
You look awesome! I know I didn't get to see you during the last trip, but I talked to a guy that was at your sister's wedding and he told me that you looked "smoking hot". We went to school with him and he said you looked even better than he remembered! His exact words were "It was like she hasn't aged!"
I thought you may enjoy hearing it! [even if I can't tell you who said it without risking my neck lol]
But please tell who ever it was I said thank you!