I did the 30 day shred for the first time this morning. OMG - It's a lot harder than I expected it to be! I figured that a 20 minute workout would be no problem. Wow! How long does it take to really get good at it? I feel a little defeated.

Don't be defeated, it's very hard and I've not mastered it yet and I've been doing it 30 days. It's not supposed to be the kind of workout you can breeze through - even the instructors cheat a little bit.

Anyway, like I said, I completed my 30 day shred - I ended up taking 6 days out throughout the month to recover, and I also did exercise biking, calorie counting, and for a week and a half I've also been doing a bikini workout from Women's Health Big Book of Exercises (about 45 mins three days a week).

So, in that time I've lost 3.5 pounds, 1 inch off my waist, 2.5(!) inches off my hips and 1.25 inches off my thighs. That's almost 5 inches in total. I now have a 26.5 inch waist, which I'm very pleased about!

I'm going to continue doing the shred for another 30 days, but doing one level after another, so first day will be level 1, second level 2, third level 3, then fourth will be level 1 again, fifth level 2, etc.

Don't feel defeated! It's going to take a few days to feel like you're NOT going to die during the first 15 minutes. Especially if you haven't been working out much prior to starting. You're going to be fine, just try and stick with it

I did L1 Day 10(!) yesterday. I'm soooo happy to be moving on to Level 2 because L1 is getting a little boring for me. Chary: I also got some heavier weights for the chest curls and a few other arm exercises (I added two arm exercises during the workout). I'm now using 6lb weights along with my 5lbs-ers. It makes a difference. The one thing that has surprised me the most through this entire thing is my LEGS! I can't believe how much stronger they are now. In fact, I've noticed that when I get up, my quads are so much more firm...weird huh? I like it!!! Can't wait to see more results.

I'm so proud of us! Wish me luck today

eta: Belease - Congrats for sticking with it and doing so well! 5 inches and 3 and 1/2 pounds is quite an achievement. Here's hoping I do as well as you!

Belease, that's awesome!! Did you take any before/after pics?

Day 8 of Level 1 finished! That felt GREAT. I felt good going into it (the scale was back down today, which was nice), and I felt really strong throughout. Got some 5lb weights for the middle section, still using the 3lbs for everything else.

I'm feeling so much stronger! Woohoo!

Yay chary! How do you like the video? Is it getting a lot easier for you? I'm nervously excited about doing L2 today.

Noticing the push-ups are getting easier too. Still can't do a regular push-up but I don't know that I ever will!

zephyr--I haven't really noticed a difference...atleast not visually...I measured the day I started and then again after 10days at L1...not much difference...but I can feel my legs & arms getting stronger now that I've completed L2D8

mybody--Don't feel defeated! It's a tough WO! I mean, it's JM & she's one tough cookie!! Don't give up! It doesn't get much easier, but it's do-able!!

belease--Congrats on your WL & Inches!! I can't wait to measure after my 30 days!!

Kali--Hope L2 was good for you!! It about killed me the first time! Heck, it still kills me and I"ll be on D9 tomorrow!!! I can't do reg. pushups either, but have built my way up to going down just a little during the first move of L2...so I guess you could say it's a half-reg-pushup! haha GOOD LUCK!

Chary--Good job...L1 almost complete!! I stuck w/3lb wts, but after my initial 30 days, i think I may incorporate my 5 pounders when I do L1 again!

Kali, congrats on those pushups getting a little easier! I'll be doing the fake push-ups for a while, too, I try a real one every now and then, and it seriously feels like I'm going to hurt myself. :P

I feel great, though, I've had a TON more energy today. Looking forward to day 9 tomorrow!

Completed Day 16 of Slimdown. 30 Day Shred Level 1.

Just did L1D2 and wow!! Much more difficult then D1 although probably has something to do with the fact that I was still sore. I made it though!!!

Don't feel defeated, the first time I tried it I quit about 5 minutes into and didn't even try again for almost a yr! Now when I do it I feel so wonderful afterwards. I made myself try it again and made myself a promise to stick it out through just one whole 20 minute session. Once I did it once I felt good and every time I do it now it gets a little easier for me.

Thanks for all the uplifting messages everyone! My husband (who is in pretty good shape) did the workout last night and he said that it was really hard for him. So it made me feel better that he didn't just breeze right through it! He and I are going to start doing it together, so hopefully that'll motivate me to get through the whole workout without giving up.

Great idea to do it with your hubby! I'm sure that will make it easier!!

Level 1 Day 9 finished! It felt even better than yesterday. I can't believe how much I've improved since I started, days 5 and 6 were SO HARD for me. One more day of Level 1!!

yay chary!!!!!!!!!!!! awesome

I didn't end up doing level 2 yesterday (dammit!). I was so tired and soaking wet and COLD. Was lazy and nothing was motivating me to turn on that dvd (oh, the SHAME!). I did sign up for a bootcamp class today...so I wont be doing Shred but I was intrigued so I had to try it. I'll let you know how it went if I live to tell about it.

Keep up the great work ladies!

Hi everyone! Now that I'm home, I'm ready to see what all the fuss about the 30DS is I ordered the dvd from amazon and am going to start tomorrow. I'm excited but pretty nervous. I'll check back with you all after I've done the first day!!!!!