I've got a small library of fitness videos in our basement. Maybe you have a similar collection yourself. You know the ones I mean.....that one that helps you "shape up with weights"........or how about that one that promises to get you "bikini ready fast!" Yep. I've got a lot of them. In fact, some were purchased so long ago that they are of the VHS variety. The problem is that none of them have ever really held my attention or kept me excited about the workout process, and I've ended up assigning a permanent place on the shelf for each one of them where they are now gathering dust. So, when I decided to take a break from my personal training sessions at the gym recently, I knew I was going to have to find something to help me stay focused and motivated to work towards some specific goals on my own at home. After reading plenty of online suggestions, I decided to give this one a whirl...... My husband and I used to watch every single episode of The Biggest Loser, so I felt like I knew Jillian Michael's "gym personality" pretty well. She definitely seems motivational .......plus, do you see that phrase at the top of the cover?? "Lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days!" Um....yep...say no more! I'm in! (It's those very small but very important key words: "up to"..... that I failed to realize in the beginning.) Nonetheless, let the shredding begin! So, I started on a Tuesday........ July 1, 2014. Before I turned the DVD player on for the first time, I decided to take my "before" measurements in hopes that I would see some desired changes in the "after" ones 30 days down the road. I also took a "before" picture of myself, but I don't dare post it here. Just suffice it to say, I had a few extra rolls that I really wanted to get rid of! Cute on this guy, but not so much on me!....... The plan for the 30 Day Shred was pretty simple. The DVD had three levels. I was to do the workout at each one of those levels until I felt ready to progress to the next level. I decided to go ahead and label my calendar with 10 days for each level and mark them off as I completed each day. Well, while it wasn't a cakewalk, I DID get through Level 1 with minimal pain. Here's a shot of my calendar...... See? Looks easy enough, right? I did find it pretty ironic that while the "Warning" screen at the beginning of the video says this.... Line 7: "If you feel discomfort or pain, do not continue.," ......our girl, Jillian says this........ .....and so I did just that.......to Level 2....... Level 2, Day 1 was hard, but for some reason, Level 2, Day 2 was even worse! For the first time in this 30 Day Shred I started thinking about just rolling up my mat and going upstairs for good. The best part of putting your fitness business out there in Cyberville for the world to see is the built-in accountability it provides. I didn't want to be a quitter, so......I decided NOT to roll up my mat! Unfortunately, the next several weeks weren't quite as smooth for me. Doctor appts. for myself and my parents, trips out of town, and, most importantly, a HUGE family loss on July 14th took away my desire to focus on my workout schedule for a bit. Even so, I DID finally complete Level 2 eighteen days after I started it. I started Level 3 on July 30th. Knowing that I was starting the very busy pre-planning schedule of an educator the very next day, I tried my best to keep myself mentally & physically accountable each evening when I got home from work. That was MUCH harder to do than getting it done in the mornings as I had done with the first two levels. Also, Level 3 was SUPER hard for me! Therefore, I wasn't just skipping down to the basement every night now. That's for sure! Here's the good news: I COMPLETED the 30 Day Shred last night! Sure, it took me 46 days to do it, but hey, the point is....I finished the drill! Here's the bad news: I didn't lose any weight. Well, maybe a pound or two, but certainly not "20". Remember those two words "up to"? Yep. I'm learning that it's all about word choice in these DVD descriptions. I must confess that some of these things may have played a part in this bad news...... But, guess what....... I'm not even remotely sorry for any of those treats. They were all part of these #100happydays I'm also putting focus on in my life right now, and they served their purpose well! I have no doubt about the effort I've brought to this process. I know I've pushed myself to give it all I have every single time I've fired up the DVD player. I actually DO feel more toned. My clothes seem to fit a little better, and that's really why I started this process in the beginning. Remember those measurements I took the very first day? Well, I took them again last night after I did my "I DID IT!" happy dance. Here's the deal: I've lost 1" in my waist, 1/2" in my hips, 2" in my left thigh, and 1 1/4" in my right thigh. (I actually GAINED 1/2" in my "chest area", but my husband thinks that's a great place to gain, so......) Now, those numbers may seem extremely insignificant to you, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this since there was almost no weight loss. In fact, I'm so proud of myself for these results, I went out today and bought myself a reward. Wanna' see it? I may not be totally "shredded," but I'm about to embark on a new journey..... to get "ripped." I'll let you know how it turns out. Wish me luck! ;)
Until next time, ~Dot
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AuthorHi! I'm Dot. I refuse to succumb to the "empty nest syndrome"! So, this is my journal.....my photo album.....my attempt to enjoy the next chapter of my life as it unfolds. Welcome to The Roomy Nest! Archives
January 2020
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