Well, I did it. I did the Shred for 30 45 days. I wrote about my Exhaustion in December, the 14th to be exact, and I don’t know what happened but something clicked. I don’t know what it was, maybe it was the pathetic nature of it all, but I’d had enough. It was time to reclaim me.
I started working out.
I started the 30 Day Shred.
I started out kind of slowly but then I kicked it in to gear. I really started going. I’d say from December 14th – 31st, I was pretty much just trying to keep up with the sugar and the pies and the cookies and the potatoes and the cheese and doing all in my power not to gain 10 pounds for the holidays. Merry Christmas to me, fat ass. But I didn’t. I didn’t gain the holiday 10, or even 5.
January 1st – It was time to get serious. It was time to not just stave off 10 pounds but to Get In Shape. I was good in January. I worked out. I ate well. Of the 31 days in January, I think I worked out 27 days. I took 4 days off. I ate well. I avoided most alcohol. I was better. I wasn’t great, but I was better. Hell, we’d going out for Mexican food and I’d hold myself to TWO chips. TWO.
I worked out with Jillian almost all of those 27 days. There were a few days where if I saw Natalie one more time, I was going to karate kick the bitch in the teeth. OK, not really. But only because she could crush me with a look. There were a few days where I did No More Trouble Zones instead of the Shred (and that skinny bitch with the fine ass in the green top, yeah, I wanted to karate chop her too). (Should I mention that I don’t know anything about karate other than what I learned in the Karate Kid. Wax on. Wax off.) There were the days I ran on the treadmill that’s been gathering dust in our house, instead of Shredding. There were days when I did the weight loss Pilates that made me feel like I hadn’t worked out in decades. And then there were the days when I did nothing. Nada. Niente. But most of the time, I Shred. But there were days when I was sick and worked out anyway. There were the days when Paul was home from work when I did the Shred and then did MORE. There were some good days there and I felt good on top of it.
If Jillian told me one more time not to phone it in, I could have thrown the damn DVD into the pool. Even after 45 days, I still feel like with every jumping jack, my uterus is going to fall out. Clearly I’m not doing enough any kegels. Lots of people complain about the plank jacks, those were easy for me, but the rock star jumps make me want to pull my fingernails out one at a time. For some reason, Level 3 was kind of easy (minus the rock stars) and was the fastest 30 minutes of my life. The days when I ran on the treadmill, I actually felt good, felt like it was easy. Who knew?
So did I lose any weight?
Well….
Not really. I lost 5 pounds. All in one week, the other weeks, I lost nothing. But… I lost an inch from my chest, hips and thighs and two inches from my waist. And my clothes fit better. I feel like I’m getting into shape. The scissor kicks are easier. The ab work is easier. The entire thing has been really good for me, my energy and my self-esteem.
While I didn’t get the results I had hoped for, I do feel like a habit has been formed. I want to keep going. I want to keep working out. My hope is to keep it up with the Shred, No More Trouble Zones and more over the next 2 1/2 weeks. And then I’m going to Houston. After Houston, I’m hoping that the weather will cooperate and I can start running outside. I’d like to do a 5K in late March/early April. I’ve done 5K’s before, but it’s been a long time.
I want Courtney to know me as the mom who exercises. The mom who takes care of herself, eats well, exercises and can keep up with her. I want to be that mom to her. I want to be that person. So, I’m going to stick with it. I’m going to keep up with the exercise. I’m going to be the person I know I can be.
So, the proof is in the pudding, right? Here are the pictures. They aren’t very good and, clearly, I need to stand up and quit slouching.
Before and after from the front
Back view, before and after
Before and after, side view
You did awesome hon! I’m on day 3 take 2… but you help motivate me so I know I can do it!
Based on those photos, you’ve made some AMAZING progress, lady! Congrats! Go celebrate… with a fat free yogurt or something (heh).
That’s the Shred! You have made amazing strides!! Awesome!
You did GREAT! The measurements, the pictures, the fact that things are getting easier…wonderful.
I am so excited for you! I have heard so much about the Shred. I am doing Weight Watchers right now and am already plateauing because I don’t have a TON to lose, but my goal is under my body’s “comfortable” zone, so I am thinking the Shred may be the key to help kick it up a notch!!
yes, yes, YES! I SEE A DIFFERENCE! awesome! I generally alternated between the Shred and No More Trouble Zones, Burn Fat Boost Metablism and other stuff, too. I get bored with the same ol’ shit.
you’re doing GREAT, KAREN! I love seeing before & after photos like this! (and, hey, you’re lucky to have 2 sports bras… I only have one…)
i haven’t been dieting at all… i need to get on that…
by the way, i like the new blog look
Way to go!!!!
I tried shredding it killed my knees and shins. I gave it up because of the pain in those two areas. The pain where I wanted to feel pain? Was awesome.
I am so impressed with what you’ve been doing. Congrats!
Woo Hoo! Look at you – awesome Karen! The measurements are great and the sentiments for your future with Courtney sound wonderful! I’d love for Tommy to know me the same way.
AWESOOOOOOME! Good for you, Mama!!! I am a huge fan of before & after pix!…(yes, if you stand up straight, you’ll look 5 more pounds lighter!) This post is hysterical!!!! (karate kick the b**** in the teeth) and was a pleasure!
Hilary, Thanks so much!! I thought about retaking the after pictures but I’d already changed and I’m lazy like that. Maybe the after-after pictures!
Thanks Julie! I just need to stick with it. Maybe we should aim to run a 5k in the spring. You know, when it’s warmer.
Natasha, it definitely messes with your knees, no doubt about that! I try to ignore it and hope that it’ll go away. Thanks!
Dude, sometimes I have to WEAR two bras to minimize the impact to my face. It’s definitely getting easier but I need to stick with it.
Katherine, I definitely need to work out AND eat well to see any difference at all. My goal is under my comfort zone also so the exercise needs to be a constant in my life. Ho hum.
Thanks Bill!! And THANK YOU for helping to motivate me and help me get back into the swing of things. You guys rock!
Thanks Vicky! I’m loving how I feel and how I’m looking (or starting to)!
Thanks Kristen!! And thanks to you and Bill for helping me to kick my ass into gear and stick with it! I’m looking forward to keeping up with the exercise.
Kelly, you can totally do it! It’s amazing how much better I feel now that it’s “over” and my clothes are fitting better. YAY!
You look great! I need some of that motivation!
Thanks Jayme!! It can be a real pain in the ass sometimes but I love seeing the results (even if it does seem to take forever).
should be called the kung-fu-kid so people won’t hate this movie but it was great