Jillian Strikes AGAIN

I've read about the importance of varying your workout routine, but never paid it much mind. Since May, I ran almost daily and managed to work in some light weight lifting every few days. I liked my routine. I figured it worked. I felt healthy.

It turns out that repetition is the devil.

Yesterday, I decided to spend twenty minutes exercising with Jillian. The gym was overly deodorized (I don't know how anyone can tolerate the scent of the stuff they use to clean that room) and cold, so I opted to workout in our living room. Nearly three months after last working out with Jillian, I found myself talking back to the TV screen, sweating uncontrollably, and repeatedly telling G that Jillian was horribly brutal after a prolonged break even if I had been running and lifting some light weights. Maybe you're not surprised, though, based on my previous workouts with Jillian.

It was a mildly torturous twenty minutes, but I felt great by the cool down. In fact, I felt awesome the rest of the day. I decided I should do the workout first thing in the morning several days a week to make sure more muscle groups are exercised.

I felt that way until 6:45 this morning, when I stumbled out of bed to turn off my alarm clock (a good eight feet away). And I really did stumble. I wasn't prepared for the intensity of the pain that continues to radiate through my butt, upper thighs and armpits. Even now, at 9:30 PM, my husband, whose right calf and foot is confined to a plastic boot, moves with more grace and agility.

Needless to say, I did not do the 30 Day Shred this morning. I'll do my best to fight through the pain tomorrow morning, though...

Building a Healthy Nest, Part II

As promised, here's a brief introduction to our exercise routine.

In early January, one of my dear friends introduced me to Jillian Michael's The 30 Day Shred. The DVD is comprised of three different workouts (levels 1, 2 & 3) that are each twenty minutes long. They're killer. The first time I spent time with Jillian I thought I was going to collapse after just 10 minutes. I was dripping sweat, my arms functioned like wet noodles, and it was all I could do to keep from swearing at Jillian. By the end of the 20 minutes, I realized that despite my daily trips to our little gym, I was terribly out of shape and had almost zero strength.

We bought our own copy the next day.

G and I "spend time with Jillian" (as we call it) about five times a week. We've progressed to Level 2, but don't think we'll face the challenges of Level 3 anytime too soon.

After a few weeks of spending time with Jillian, G played tennis and reported that for the first time in a long time he maintained a high level of energy throughout the match and wasn't winded. I also went for a two mile jog a few weeks after we bought the dvd and never broke pace or felt like I needed to quit. It must be doing something!

Now we mix it up with one of her new DVDs (click here). We like this one, too, but find The 30 Day Shred to give us the most intense, productive workout.

Jillian, Jillian, Jillian...

On Monday, I reverted to Level 1 of The 30-Day Shred. My energy level was pretty low over the weekend and I was worried that the combination of three days of not working out and my cold would make Level 2 unbearable.

How naïve of me to assume I could handle Level 1.

I’ll admit that Level 1 is easier than Level 2, but it was still torture. Starting with the first set of strength moves I knew it was going to be tough. It was at that point I realized that Level 2 exercises some different muscle groups…and that during the three weeks I’d spent on Level 2, the muscle groups I gave so much attention to in Level 1 had lost some of their strength. To save myself future pain and suffering I am going to switch up my routine so that the muscular strength gained during Level 1 isn’t lost when I’m working on Level 2 or 3. I think an every-other-day plan will do the trick.

I like Jillian because her workouts are short and super intense, but I’m open to suggestions for other workout dvds. Any recommendations? I already own a complete collection of Judi Sheppard Misset’s jazzercise videos, so I’m looking for other options…

Jillian the Enforcer

I spent some time with Jillian last night. Although I've spent time at the gym over the past few weeks, I've put off her intense training sessions due to the nagging symptoms of my cold (my wheezy cough can go away any day now...). It was rough. Punishing, in fact. Her workout was a reminder that even though these cookies were easy to bake, eating them was a really bad idea. The pain that radiated in my thigh muscles in combination with her reminders of the importance of a healthy diet made me feel really guilty about the five cookies I consumed that day (they are really, really good). I suppose having someone make you feel guilty is okay - especially if you stray from a diet and exercise routine you've committed yourself to...

Jillian's No More Trouble Zones is great for mixing up your regular routine. It's a lengthy dvd, but is divided into five minute segments that focus on particular areas of your body. While the entire dvd is great, I really like the last three or four routines.

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