The Shred

because the elevator in my parents’ building is busted, and I had to climb up the stairs carrying my laptop and two big bags of farm share vegetables.

They live on the 16th floor.

Bob Harper can suck it.

partly because my DVD of The Shred is still up in my apartment in Massachusetts, and it’s not available on Netflix Instant like I thought it was. So I swung by Barnes & Noble on my way home, and while they didn’t have The 30 Day Shred, they did have the Biggest Loser Boot Camp. It has the same 30-minute, 3-level structure, so I bought it.

I like it. It’s run by Bob Harper, the (gay?) guy who apparently runs/coaches the Biggest Loser. You probably know him better as that guy from the oatmeal ads on Hulu. (That’s where I knew him from.) I liked the format because there are a bunch of dudes and ladies working with him, and not all of them are in super perfect shape. Bob and Ali (who won the Biggest Loser apparently) are super hot, and then there’s two other dudes and one other chick who look like regular people. Like, hey, that lady’s arms waggle when she does these rows with the weights, and look at the way that guy’s spare tire scrunches when he’s doing these lunges. They’re just like me! And they complain and grunt at Bob when he makes them hold something for too long. Just like me!

The workout itself was good. I held my own, for the most part, but there is definite room for improvement over the next 10 days or so of doing this level. My only beef with it is that there isn’t much of an ab workout in it - although that might be because it’s a level one type workout and I have ab muscles for days (although they are stealth abs).

So. That was my Day 1. How was yours?

I did NOT just run up (and back down) two stories’ worth of stairs to catch my train back to New York with 20 pounds worth of weights in my backpack only to have you lot cop out on me.

-yodelmachine

Who’s gonna give it another shot with me? Let’s start August 1. Monday.

Who’s in?

-yodelmachine

I’m gonna keep on doing level 3 until the end of the month, then on October 1st I’m going to start it again from the beginning and shred through October. Then in November I’m going to do The Shred WITH WEIGHTS. Because I apparently like this abuse.

I’ve only weighed myself a few times the past month. I haven’t seen any huge shifts either way. However, my pants are fitting differently and are looser in parts so this is doing something for me. My mood is better too.

Is anyone else up for The Shred with Weights in November?

- Maggie (fluffybattlekitten)

because I had a cold. Hoping to start back on Monday to finish the last 10 days at Level 3.

—Frageelay

I have huge deadlines today, and my responsible brain kept saying to work first, then try to fit in the shred later. I opened my documents and started working, but I felt yucky about it. What better time than right now to say I come first? Work is ALWAYS there. Every time I cross one thing off the list, four more items appear. I have to make this taking care of myself wholly thing a real habit. So I changed into my shorts and did it. It didn’t feel like I had to make myself do it, like I didn’t want to work out. I just had to tell myself it’s OK to put that first. To make my health and well-being a priority in my life every single day.

I don’t know. I’m 43 and this is the first time in my life I’m really understanding the truth of that and feeling it inside my body. 

I’m looking pretty good naked, too.

kfedup/kelly

I always skip level 2 now - Level 2 KILLS my knees. Every time. Level 3 has a lot more plank type stuff… but it’s my favorite level of the three. 

Don’t be scared, anyone.

So I’m considering moving up to 3 today… has anyone done this one yet? I’m scared but honestly Level 2 bores me - not that it’s easy but I just can’t get into it so I’m ready to move on.

Oh, and those V-raise, squat things? They can kiss my ass, I will never be able to do a full set of those, my arms are just not strong enough.

-sunnybucket