The past month and half has been really eventful. I undertook three new challenges.
First was the 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels, the 30 day abs challenge that had started on June 1 and also yoga.
The Jillian Michaels shred was a routine that I'd attempted even last year. It has 3 levels spread over 30 days.Unfortunately, had to cut it short because I had to study and then it was time for a vacation. And I was absolutely not able to continue beyond level 1. I think I did level one for four days a week and four weeks! It was definitely an awesome workout.
And then I decided to start it again last month. So come May I started with level 1. This time I was bent on finishing it. So I started the first week. It was great. 27 minutes was the entire workout. and my body felt sore at the end of it. When I had to go on to the next week another friend wanted to join and so it all came together.
All the 3 levels have 3 circuits each made of Strength, Cardio and Abs. It was 2 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs. Combined with warm up at the beginning and cool down in the end.
Level 1- 1. Strength- push ups, squat press, bicep curls with lunges, dumbell rolls, chest flies and anterior raise with side lunges
2. Cardio-jumping jacks, jump rope, butt kicks, shadow boxing
3. Abs-crunches, reverse crunches, crunches with one knee on another, bicycle crunch.
Level 2- 1. Strength- walking push ups, squats with dumbell rolls, static lunges with dumbell roll, pendulum lunges and hammer curls, military press, cheer squat with v fly.
2. Cardio- squat thrust, high knees, oblique twists, ice skaters, plank jacks, double jump ropes
3. Crunches and plank twist.
Level 3- 1. Strength- waking planks, superman, dumbell cleaves, jumping lunges, traveling push ups, plank rows with leg raises.
2. Cardio- mountain climbers , squats with hops, shadow boxing and butt kicks with weights, jump squats, rockstar jumps.
3. Abs- pike crunch, sit ups and side plank raises
Level 1 was the easiest of the lot so to speak, but it kicks ass. I was sore the first 2 days and then my body kind of knew I was going to do more of it. Then it went easier. I went with the advanced poses in all the three levels. Towards the end when I had to take a breather, I would move into beginner poses but only for a few seconds and then back to advanced. Level 2 was a huge step. I thought I would die. The came level 3. The first day I was swearing ripely at all things under the sun. And then my body shut me up. I loved it and lived to tell the tale.
She delivers what she promises. Jillian, I mean. She knows her stuff. My body is more toned. I can see a marked difference in my limbs, they are tighter and toned. As for my belly, they have lost some inches for sure. The only mistake that I did was not to keep a record of what I started with and what I ended up with. Will do it next month though.
The only drawback I felt was the amount of warm up and cool down. I'd suggest a few more cool down stretches and knee exercises. But since I started doing an yoga after this I felt comfortable. On its own, definitely more stretches at the end.
Determination, motivation , both need to go into this one. Worked for me!!
First was the 30 day shred by Jillian Michaels, the 30 day abs challenge that had started on June 1 and also yoga.
The Jillian Michaels shred was a routine that I'd attempted even last year. It has 3 levels spread over 30 days.Unfortunately, had to cut it short because I had to study and then it was time for a vacation. And I was absolutely not able to continue beyond level 1. I think I did level one for four days a week and four weeks! It was definitely an awesome workout.
And then I decided to start it again last month. So come May I started with level 1. This time I was bent on finishing it. So I started the first week. It was great. 27 minutes was the entire workout. and my body felt sore at the end of it. When I had to go on to the next week another friend wanted to join and so it all came together.
All the 3 levels have 3 circuits each made of Strength, Cardio and Abs. It was 2 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs. Combined with warm up at the beginning and cool down in the end.
Level 1- 1. Strength- push ups, squat press, bicep curls with lunges, dumbell rolls, chest flies and anterior raise with side lunges
2. Cardio-jumping jacks, jump rope, butt kicks, shadow boxing
3. Abs-crunches, reverse crunches, crunches with one knee on another, bicycle crunch.
Level 2- 1. Strength- walking push ups, squats with dumbell rolls, static lunges with dumbell roll, pendulum lunges and hammer curls, military press, cheer squat with v fly.
2. Cardio- squat thrust, high knees, oblique twists, ice skaters, plank jacks, double jump ropes
3. Crunches and plank twist.
Level 3- 1. Strength- waking planks, superman, dumbell cleaves, jumping lunges, traveling push ups, plank rows with leg raises.
2. Cardio- mountain climbers , squats with hops, shadow boxing and butt kicks with weights, jump squats, rockstar jumps.
3. Abs- pike crunch, sit ups and side plank raises
Level 1 was the easiest of the lot so to speak, but it kicks ass. I was sore the first 2 days and then my body kind of knew I was going to do more of it. Then it went easier. I went with the advanced poses in all the three levels. Towards the end when I had to take a breather, I would move into beginner poses but only for a few seconds and then back to advanced. Level 2 was a huge step. I thought I would die. The came level 3. The first day I was swearing ripely at all things under the sun. And then my body shut me up. I loved it and lived to tell the tale.
She delivers what she promises. Jillian, I mean. She knows her stuff. My body is more toned. I can see a marked difference in my limbs, they are tighter and toned. As for my belly, they have lost some inches for sure. The only mistake that I did was not to keep a record of what I started with and what I ended up with. Will do it next month though.
The only drawback I felt was the amount of warm up and cool down. I'd suggest a few more cool down stretches and knee exercises. But since I started doing an yoga after this I felt comfortable. On its own, definitely more stretches at the end.
Determination, motivation , both need to go into this one. Worked for me!!
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