RIPPED (sort of)

I completed the Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 three weeks ago. I worked out Monday-Friday for a month following levels 1-4. each level per week. I enjoyed that there are 4 levels to the DVD and after just one week you can move on. The one thing I didn’t like about the 30 Day Shred was that it was 10 days of the same work out over and over again. It got a little boring after day 5 or 6. I also liked that there were a lot of new moves, and some were much more difficult than others as the weeks advanced.

I didn’t like all of the jumping. I have really bad knees and I found some of the jumping moves were just too hard on my knees. Plus, I work out at 4:30 am in our living room, which shares a wall with our master bedroom. I try not to be too loud while my husband is sleeping. It is hard to be quiet when all the cardio moves involve jumping. I found myself modifying what I was doing for cardio a lot. I would run in place, do jumping jacks or jump rope instead of some of the other jumping moves to give my knees a break.

Overall, I think the DVD provided a great work out. Am I ripped? No. While I didn’t see any results on the scale, in fact, I have gained 4 lbs over the last month…I do notice that my abs are more defined and the muscles in my arms have gotten to be pretty awesome. Perhaps the 4 lbs gain was muscle? My honest opinion, it was a great work out and I will probably rotate it back in at some point, but I like the 30 Day Shred better. I had better results and it wasn’t as harsh on my knees. I liked the girls in Ripped better than the girls in 30DS. Well, I didn’t mind Anita in the 30 Day Shred, but Natalie cheated a lot and didn’t do the advance moves all the time when Jillian wasn’t watching her.

I have started the 30 Day Shred again. I am on my first week of level two already.  I will let you know how my second run at it goes. I completed it the first time from mid-July to mid-August of this year. I want to try out Jillian’s 6 week abs program, but I want to wait until after the holidays to give it a fair go. I know I will eat my weight in casseroles and pies on Thanksgiving and that I wont refuse sugar cookies or Peppermint Mochas at Christmas, so I will probably start the 6 weeks abs in January after we come back from Gatlinburg and are eating super clean and I can really hone in on those ab muscles. I can finally say ab muscles again because I can clearly see where they are coming back and I am so excited! I gotta keep it up and chisel some more. I also am planning on trying the Advocare cleanse after the holidays as well. I have read soooooo many great blog results on the cleanse to not give it a try! It sounds safe and works for a lot of people. It isn’t too drastic, I think it will be perfect. (Minus the whole not having caffeine for 10 days. Yikes)

I have been working out nearly every weekday day since July of this year. It has become a habit that I have missed of my younger fitter self. I try to eat healthy 75% of the time, with weekends being a real test. Especially during football season, am I right? I wont completely deprive myself, as I feel you gotta live and enjoy a little. I want to be able to have a beer or two on the weekends or a cookie or chips and salsa now and then without feeling completely guilty for it. It is all about a maintainable lifestyle not just a diet. Diets have an ending.

Are you doing any fitness programs right now? Tell me about them. I am always looking to try something new!

Linking up with Skinny Meg for WOW and Heather, Bailey and Ash for Weigh In Wednesday.