Getting started is always I believe nearly half the battle in trying to set a good habit in place. Physical fitness is the subject I’ve been most avoiding on the blog simply because I could never get started properly and be a sweating good example to you all. I’m a bit tight financially at the moment so a paid workout program in a swanky all setup gym is just not yet in the budget range. There was a time when I was more mobile physically, especially when I went on Living Asia Channel tours throughout the country as a writer, you can see how confident I was once upon a time in this photo taken by a fellow writer four years ago when I used to jump and flip all over the place especially at the beach. Hello, thunder thighs. I know for a fact that no matter how much I workout my thighs will always have some level of heft, I’m special that way.
If I could afford it, I’d go and do Barre (check out Rockwell and inside the Spa at BGC Fort) which is a stretching combination of ballet and pilates. Pole dancing looked physically promising and it actually excited me (the actual workout) but honestly speaking straight from the heart my moral compass will never point me in that direction because of what the workout implicates too openly (no offense meant to those who pole dance, I’m a Christian, it’s really what I stand for personally). Well, I’ve found a home video workout that isn’t new, it’s from 2008, but it works great for me and my mother so far and we happen to be a pair of NEARLY the worst couch potatoes around. Now, we’re mashed couch potatoes.
HOW I FEEL 5 DAYS INTO IT: What I can say is the first two days made my body hurt but the
tormentingstrenuous parts of the routine were quite bearable. I just finished the 5th day today early this morning and my muscles no longer hurt and my unused joints (shoulders/hips/knees) have ceased with the infrequent “snapping”, “cracking”, or “popping” sounds they were making before due to proper stretching and rotation, I’m quite excited to head towards the finish line of Level 1 and want to push myself further.
If she looks very familiar that’s because Jillian Michaels is THE original Biggest Loser coach for the acclaimed reality show. My ultimate goal for myself was not to lose weight, in fact I believe “30 DAY SHRED” is actually a hardsell title for what is actually an awesome combo cardio-strength workout that’s been reduced to a window of a 20-minute everyday session at a new difficulty level every 10 days. This is how simple it is and I love that you don’t need A TON OF PROPS to get rolling with this workout. All you need are a pair of light dumbells 1-3 lbs (mine are 3 pounds each) a workout mat, thick rug, or any mat you’re comfy lying down on, and 20 minutes a day for 30 days STRAIGHT. A laptop would be handy to play the workout DVD anywhere in the house where you feel comfortable to workout. Anyone can make 20 minutes for a bit of exercise, you don’t find it, you make it. The workout is simple, it consists of 3 videos of 3 intensity levels. You do the first video workout for 10 days, on the eleventh day you begin the Level 2 video, and on the 21st day you begin the Level 3 video. It’s that simple, then I believe you can continue with the Level 3 video as a regular workout routine once you complete the cycle. For your benefit, I discovered the Level 1 Video was made available on YouTube, I don’t know how much longer it will be on there so best to check this out now while you’re interested, watch this, give it a go and show yourself how easy this 30-Day Shred workout really is…at the start.
Warning, you will sweat a lot and then be surprised at how quick it is, the only catch is you have to do it everyday, it is a 20-minute commitment ANYBODY can make. Mom is on her fourth day of the Level 1 workout now, and I’m on my fifth, she joined me on the 2nd day. I sourced the two other videos but am truly planning to buy this DVD online and it’s available here from Amazon if you’d like to try another of Jillian’s 3-2-1 level method workouts you can try the more advanced and recent Ripped in 30 DVD , you can ask HouseofFlair to order it for you from the U.S. !