Update

It seems that I have temporarily fallen off of the Shred bandwagon. I have decided instead to take up running and build my endurance. I am training for what will be my first 5k in about 2 months (I still haven’t registered, that comes later). If I am being honest with you guys, then I can’t run a mile to save my life right now. The best I have done so far is half a mile. I have completed my first week of Hal Higdon’s Novice 5k training, and have 7 more to go. I feel that running is what I would enjoy and like to do now. I will not put away Jillian forever – just for now.

Thanks for reading! Maybe if I buy myself a DSLR for Christmas, I will start a new healthy lifestyle blog like all of the inspiring ones I keep up with now!

Day 14: Level 2

Needless to say, I was NOT as motivated to get up and work out this morning as I was last night. I don’t know if I was just tired, or hungry and needing energy, but I felt out of it. But I did wake up an hour early and put it in my day.

The shred this morning was okay. I thought about doing Level 1, but I really love the arm work that is done in Level 2. (Especially when I put myself in front of a mirror ) I hate the oblique twists (cardio in circuit 2 I think?). I just hate it. I also hate the “skaters”. Sorry Jillian, but these things just aren’t my style. Today, instead of even ATTEMPTING these cardio exercises, I did jumping jacks for the oblique twists and did the beginner part of the skaters (not jumping side to side, just stepping). I think I will do Level 1 tomorrow, just to mix it up a little bit. I think it may be better for my body if I switched it up a little.

What do you think? Do you think after you do a certain workout so often it stops working? Would the shred, then, be a complete contradiction to this?

PS: I know I have viewers out there, so here is something fun I picked out for you to watch Enjoy!

Day 13: Level 2

Once again, it’s been a long day. I am EXHAUSTED, and I didn’t even go to my night class tonight. But, I managed to kick myself in the butt and turn on my DVD player and change the input on my TV. Yes, I shredded tonight. And boy, was it a good shred.

I really have no idea what got into me, but I pushed and pushed and pushed myself. Iwas inspired, motivated, working out to the extremes. When I started to get tired and wanted to stop, I screamed and made my body work even harder. For many of the exercises, I placed myself in front of my vanity mirror. Watching myself work out makes me push myself even harder I think, because I see that my body is changing and I am ready for that change to be drastic.

I completed all of Level 2, most of the exercises still focusing on the beginner’s steps. I do push myself beyond the beginner’s steps on what I feel is “easier” to me. For one of the circuits’ cardio portion (I think it’s the third but can’t remember, oops!) I replace one or both of the cardio exercises with jumping jacks, butt kicks, or just running in place. This is just for my convenience, early on in Level 2.

I am proud of myself and plan on doing the shred tomorrow morning before class. I am almost half-way done with Level 2 already… that is crazy! I think on day 15 (or some other day on level 2) I will switch out Level 2 for Level 1. I miss Level 1, lol. I can’t wait ’til I complete the 30 days and can rotate all 3 levels on a daily basis! I think that will be more motivating to me.

I always place italicized prompts at the bottom of my posts… anyone ever going to answer? My NEW goal for the 30 Day Shred is to have atleast one person comment on one of my posts. Please!

Day 11 & 12: Level 2

Wellllllll… Level 2 is HARD. Just when I thought I was getting comfortable and good with level 1. I took several days off, bad Emilee. But I’m not being hard on myself about it. It’s over now, and all I can do is get back into it! Right?

Day 11 was difficult. I felt rushed to complete the shred before work, so I ended up only doing the first 2 circuits (okay, maybe it was a little tiring too…). I was just in a bad/down mood that day, and told myself I was proud of doing ANY exercise at all.

I just completed day 12, and I completed all 3 circuits. I took SEVERAL couple-of-seconds breaks inbetween. I tried to stick with the suggested 5 second break when needed, but there were some parts of the circuits that I could only do 4 or 5 reps on. Once again… I’m not working myself up over this. I still have 8 more days on level 2, and I will just build up my endurance and strength.

I will say that level 2 feels like it is ALL strength. Even the cardio moves, I feel like I am not strong enough to complete them correctly. I will just have to keep doing my best.

Note to blog world: check out WWW.OPERATIONBEAUTIFUL.COM if you haven’t already. It is an awesome site and concept, and what Caitlin has done has inspired me to leave myown post-its around town and campus. It is exciting! I saw one… “Smile, it’s more infectious than the flu ” I thought it was totally appropriate for the flu season.

What do/did YOU think of Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred?

Day 10, Level 1

I am exhausted after my shower. I don’t know how I did it, but I did it. I finished day 10, which according to Jillian, is the end of Level 1. (Keep in mind from my last post, I may mix in Level 1 during days 11-20.)

Today, in honor of day 10, I chose to mute Jillian (Sorry JM, but sometimes just hearing you say the same thing over and over is UNmotivating) and put on my “Run” playlist on ITunes. And no, I don’t run. But it is upbeat music:

I felt so much more insync with the workout. I was more motivated, and honestly, with the music my mind was not focusing on how many more seconds I have to keep going or how many more minutes til the end or how many more circuits I have to complete. I just sank in to the music. I floated to the music. I punched my heart out to “Over You” and did jumping jacks to “You Oughta Know”. I loved it. I may do this more on throughout the next 20 days. I finished all of the workout successfully with about 1 or 2 five second breaks. I feel accomplished.

In other news (AKA not the shred) I don’t know what to do about this boyfriend of mine. Well technically, I just texted him and told him to never talk to me again, so I guess that means he isn’t my boyfriend. He didn’t talk to me all day (and I hear those of you whispering behind my back calling me a needy girlfriend, but hear my side…). Anyways, for the first NINE months of our relationship we were long distance. So we talked every day. We realized how important it was to talk and see each other. This feeling was MUTUAL. Well, he moved back 2 months ago, and basically just fell off the face of the earth. AKA he doesn’t need me to talk to all the time, he doesn’t WANT to talk to me, clearly, even in a single day. I just want someone who wants me. Who needs to talk to me. Who can’t stand to lose me. Who appreciates my faith and love for Jesus Christ.

I was thinking about it today, and I wanted to invite Brandon to Christmas Eve service with me. I invite him all the time to church, but he just doesn’t want to hear it. I figured, maybe since it is an important holiday, and he knows how much it means to me, that he would want to. Then I talked myself out of asking him. Because I know his answer will be “No.”. I know there is no hope. And I got to thinking… I don’t want to be 40 years old, taking my kids to Christmas Eve service without my husband. I want a family who grows in Christ. And I think about Brandon in my future, but I can’t ever see him doing this.

PLEASE, if you read this, PLEASE give me feedback. I know few people read my blog, but I need some feedback. About the shred. About my situation. Anything. I am desperate and unmotivated.

I hope to hear from you.

Leave me a note.

Day 9: Level 1

Not so much to say today… Only one more day left on Level 1 officially! I am a little torn about this. I’m finally getting comfortable and feeling like L1 is coming “easier” to me. But I guess it is a good thing, because my transition will be just about the right time. I’m a little scared too.. I heard L2 is very difficult! Either way, I will be glad to switch it up a little bit. I’m planning on throwing L1 into the L2-10 day stretch, I haven’t decided how many times yet. Either once or twice. Any advice?

Day 9 on Level 1 was good. I wasn’t going to do it today (sounds familiar, eh?) but got off my butt and did it. I still struggle a little bit, but I feel confident in completing all exercises because I am at my own pace (which has almost caught up to Jillian’s). La dee da da.

I have been getting more visitors to my blog lately… what is your guyses status on the 30 Day Shred? Are you researching because you want to try it? Are you on Level 1, or 2 or 3? Let me know!

Now a little dinner and off to the boyfriend’s Love!

Day 8: Level 1

WOW WOW WOW! I feel AWESOME. I was totally motivated to do the shred today (even though I did it a little later than planned but hey, breakfast and Regis and Kelly were what I needed!) and kicked butt at it. I went through everything… at a really good pace, and even did the anterior raise with side lunges with TWO weights ALL THE WAY THROUGH! (This may have a lot to do with my excitement:)) Don’t get me wrong, it was hard. I wanted to stop. I wanted to cry (again). But, I told myself I technically only have 2 more days on Level 1 after today, and it was now or never. So, I chose now. I am so proud of myself.

My only problem today (in general, actually) is my breathing. I try to follow a pace, but sometimes I act like I am hyperventilating. Or, I have to get back on a breathing pace with Jillian when she says inhale, exhale, and if I am doing the opposite then I “stop” breathing for a second and it really screws things up. Any advice? I guess it will just come to me.

Later (after I shower and grab some grub) I’m going to create a new page which will include daily activities and a “food journal”. I love browsing healthy blogs where the bloggers photograph their meals (which I think is a great tool to use as a food journal) so I want to try to do the same. I’m warning you, starting off will not be the best. I may not photograph everything, and my camera is a standard small one with not the best picture quality as those fancy thingys, but stay tuned, because I am willing and dedicated and will just better myself!

I am excited about everything today. Not only do I feel great about Level 1 today, I feel like results are on their way. I am excited to start eating better (for GOOD) and to see some dramatic changes in my lifestyle.

Come get excited with me!

Do you use a food journal? Have you found it successful, or hard to keep up with?

Day 7: Level 1

Okay, so I am back on track! I did the shred this morning, and it was so hard and painful and I wanted to cry. But I did it. I started my day off awesome. And it set the tempo for the rest of my 12 hour day of class, work and class.

After my “bad choices” post, I realized I can’t just exercise and eat what I want. I decided that I need to watch what I eat, like I did a year ago when I lost 25 lbs. So today for breakfast, I had oatmeal with granola and a chopped apple and lots of cinnamon. I’m starting to not like the apples. If I had a banana, that is DEFINITELY what I would choose. For lunch I had a salad with grilled chicken, and for dinner I had another salad with lots of greens. I am still a little hungry, so during Grey’s Anatomy (LOVELOVELOVE) I will probably have a treat.

Now to the shred: Like I mentioned earlier, it was hard, difficult, impossible, depressing, disheartening, and TOUGH, but I picked my a$$ up and decided that if I wanted it to get any easier, I needed to get into gear. So, I completed it. I am STILL having trouble with the side lunge and anterior raises. It just isn’t working for me. That is the one part of Level 1 I am so tempted to skip everytime. Like as mentioned in a previous post, I usually only use one free weight (3lbs, weak, I know) instead of the 2. And I won’t lie to you guys…. sometimes, I just do the side lunges and don’t do the anterior raise. It’s just something I need to work on. Another goal.

I hope you all had a fabulous day. I am looking forward to some much needed Emilee+bed time tonight!

Have you done the 30 Day Shred? What part of level 1 do you find most difficult?

Day 6: Level 1

Okay, so I am sorry to disappoint you all (mainly myself) but today was just not my day. I felt like I had the weight of the world on top of my shoulders (okay… just mainly a ton of school work to get caught up on, not really the world). I came home after work and had every intention of doing the shred, even though I was miserable and tired and didn’t want to.

I popped in Jillian, and about halfway through the second circuit, I just gave up. I know giving up sounds awful, but I felt like I really needed to focus and catch up on school work, and that I would feel better if I got the school work done as opposed to working out and not spending time on work. I got home 30 minutes late (we close at 6, one of my girls’ dad showed up at 6:25. awesome) and driving home 30 minutes at night in the dark (i hate this time change!) is just exhausting to me.

I don’t know why I am always tired. Always exhausted. Maybe I need to start getting up earlier, then start taking naps during the day. I try everything to give me energy, but nothing I have attempted has been successful yet.

So once again, I truly am sorry. I feel like I’ve let myself down. But tomorrow is a new day, right? I plan on shredding in the morning, that way I get it out of the way.

Day 6 was okay. I was just lolligagging through the first and half of the second circuits. Totally unmotivated. :-/ Hope you guys had a good and successful day though!

Here’s some inspiration for me, maybe you will find it inspiring too!

My mom! Isn’t she cute?! This must have been when she was like 20 or 21… my age now.

 

What do you do to boost your energy? Do you find it better for yourself to work out in the morning, during the day, or at night?

Bad choices

As an after-school teacher for K-5 students, I am constantly reminding my kids to make “good” choices. I also remind them that making “bad” choices has consequences. Why, then, do I continue to make bad choices for myself?

Bad decision 1: Dinner last night. I made dinner for Brandon and I, and needless to say I ate probably 3 or 4 times what I should have. We had meatball subs, I ate the equivalent of a footlong. We also had Caesar salad and some steamed broccoli. Honestly? I probably could’ve just had larger portions of the greens and would’ve been good. Bad Emilee.

Bad decision 2: Breakfast this morning. I just had to stop and get that Chick Fil A chicken mini’s breakfast, didn’t I? Speaks for itself. Bad Emilee.

Bad decision 3: Not finding the time to shred yesterday. I could have fit it in after work, but I just skipped it because I wanted to see Brandon and spend time with him. Oh, and I was lazy. Bad Emilee.

Bad decision 4: Back to #2…. since I ate breakfast about 45 minutes ago, I feel too full to be jumping around with Jillian right now. Looks like I’ll be trying to squeeze in the shred before work or after work. Maybe I’ll run before work and shred after. I wanted to exercise twice today to make up for yesterday anyways. Bad/Good Emilee.

Bad decision 5: Falling behind in my school work. I just haven’t had any motivation. Since I won’t be staying with Brandon anymore since his dad comes home tonight, I’m sure I can catch up tonight and tomorrow morning. Hopefully. Bad/Good Emilee.

After looking over all the BAD things I’ve done/not done in the past two days, it looks like I’ve got some of it figured out. I’ll run before work, shred after work, and catch up on school tonight and tomorrow morning. Will be posting later tonight!

What do you do to motivate yourself to get things done/to feel successful?