30 Day Shred Update

So I did level 2 of the 30 Day Shred somewhat consistently last week and today when I took my measurements, I have lost 1.75 inches overall. I will post the actual measurements later on in the sidebar.

The workout has a lot of squats and lower body exercises to my loss if from my lower body. Hips and thighs. But, I'll take it! I've decided not to worry about what the scale says because it's not moving too much yet inches are still coming off.

I figure if I can stay with an inch or more each week that by the time we go I should be quite a bit smaller than I am now. All I want to do is be able to wear a bikini. Keep your fingers crossed!

Motivated

I've mentioned that I'm doing the 30 Day Shred, and man, it is hard. I did level two tonight for the first time and had to stop 2/3 of the way through and finish with 1/3 of level one. Oh well, it's done so that's all that matters.

Anyways, I've found a way to motivate myself. I've been wanting some smelly shower stuff for a while now and have been too cheap to buy any... Well, Victoria's Secret, one of my favorite stores, always does the 5 for $30 on bath stuff so I went ahead and got items in the Love Spell scent as that's the perfume I wear. I got hand cream, body butter, body mist, shower gel and body lotion. Mmmm!

So my plan is this: If I exercise the night before and the morning of I can use the good smelling stuff. If I don't, then just soap. It's weird, I know, but it will work for me.

My other motivation is hanging on the wall in my pantry/walk in closet (I live in a dorm apartment, hence the combination). What is it you ask? A bikini. I know, I know. The girl who needs to lose 20 pounds to even contemplate fitting into a bikini is going to use that as motivation. Well, I'm telling you. It's going to work.

To prove it to you, I'm going to post my weight and measurements here on Mondays. While it is going to be overly embarrassing to begin with because my weight is higher than I'd like it to be, but it will be another motivator. I'm all for them!

Um, excuse me please.

I've mentioned that I'm doing my Second Attempt at the 30 Day Shred and well, excuse me? I weighed myself Monday morning at home, then just for nothing I stepped on the scale I have down here at school last night and apparently I'd gained 4 pounds. How the hell? Jillian Michaels, you are on my list! I do realize that there is probably a bit of difference between the two which I will figure out this weekend, but 4 pounds! THEN, I was a tad irritated this morning so stepped on again and it said I had magically lost 3.2 of those 4 pounds overnight. Yeah, I'm not buying it either.

It's a fairly new scale for heavens sake! I've only had it for a year and a half and put a new battery in it two weeks ago.

So what would you do? Just forget about the scale and meausre any weight loss by how my clothes fit? I do like that idea, but at the same time I like numbers. Seeing them go down that is!

Second Attempt

I am restarting Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred. It is my second attempt. The last time I began I went two days, skipped a day, and then that led to just plain stopping. So, I'm starting again. Day 1 of the Second Attempt was yesterday and to be honest I was quite surprised at myself. I had only done it for two days in during the First Attempt and was dying afterwords for the remainder of the week, but today am not sore at all. Another surprise: I was able to do 5 push ups. I know, that's nothing, but I have never been able to do them. My inspiration is this:

(Picture from Victoria's Secret website.)

I am going to fit my damn ass into a bikini come hell or high water. There are also a few other things I plan to fit into by the time we leave for Hawaii, if you know what I mean. I have 3.5 months. It's possible, right? I mean, if reality all I need to do is lose 25-30 pounds. That is totally do-able, even for me, in 3.5 months. Granted, I won't look quite like her, it is my goal to be able to wear it proudly on the beach and for Andrew to think I look damn good.

In addition to re-starting the Shred, I also got a belly dancing workout dvd from Barnes and Noble that I'm pretty excited about. So, I'm hoping that between Jillian kicking my ass, the belly dance workout and 1 mile on each the treadmill and bike 4-5 days a week and eating well that I should be able to get rid of some flab and become bikini ready. Keep your fingers crossed.

Do any of you have tips or suggestions for losing a good amount of weight fairly quickly?

30 Day Shread and 3 more chances to enter the GIVEAWAY!

Post 97: Drawing at post 100 open to anyone who leaves a comment with a valid email address (only so I can email you if you win) for a $10 Starbucks giftcard.

I said yesterday that I would talk about Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shread. I really like her on the Biggest Loser and I now know that's only because she's not training me! My gosh, she is tough.

Yesterday was my second day and I really didn't think I'd be able to do it. Finally at 9 o'clock last night I decided I couldn't slack off and did the program. Holy hell am I sore this morning. I thought yesterday morning was but, it's worse today!

I'm not complaining too much though, I just want to see results. I do realize that I'm going to have to eat better and I am so hopefully that will help, too. I've been reading a lot of the reviews on Amazon.com and they are pretty mixed. Some say that they've gained weight, some have lost, etc. I tend to think that those who have gained are just doing this 20 minute workout and eating the same and probably not doing anything in addition. I am hoping though that when people have said after 4 to 5 days it stops hurting! I swear my legs are about to fall off. The girl is all about squats and jumping, jumping, jumping.

Have any of you used this program? Did you stick with it? Did it work?

I'll post updates throughout the 30 days and we'll see what happens!