I've had this problem for 6 months. Even after losing 41lbs and becoming a regular runner, I still can't finish level 1.. and I mean like, I can't even get 5 mins into it!!
The part that kills me every time is the jumping jacks and then the jump rope, back to the jumping jacks... my calves give out on the jump rope part!!!

Everything else I can do!! I feel like a stinkin' failure everytime!!!

You'll get there. The key is to not stop moving. If you can't finish the jumping jacks, just jog lightly in place. I have to do that some days when my body just isn't into it.

Like Candeka said, just keep moving! The jumping jacks and jump rope are the worst for me too and to be honest, I can only get through the first thirty seconds of jumping jacks all the way. After that it's jogging in place. Same for jump rope. There's a 30DS thread over in the Fitness Videos. You should check over there for more support from those of us doing the workout currently!

They said it...don't stop moving!! jog in place or whatever you have to do, but don't stop, you'll get better...it doesnt get easier, but you do get better!!

If this is a goal, rethink the approach.

30 Day Shred is rated advanced at www.collagevideo.com.

If you aren't quite ready for that, perhaps take on an intermediate or intermediate/advanced DVD for a while to build up the endurance/strength and then come back to the advanced 30 day shred to see if you get up and over the jumping jacks hump?

It's challenging for you -- it isn't that you are a FAILURE. You just aren't there yet.

And speaking as an beginner/adv beginner DVD person, I'm like "Dude! I can barely stand to just WATCH 30 day shred and she's up there doing level 1 all but the jumping jacks! WTG!"

We all progress in fitness at our own speeds. Take heart.

GL!
A.

its ok at some point you will get through it. your not a failure. i mean think about it you could turn on the video for 5sec. and then say screw it. but your not your making an honest effort and improving over time. That is detication and strength. That is Perseverance! AND That is SUCCESS!!!

When you say your calves give out -- in a "muscles exhausted" way or is it more of a tendon thing? Because you might be going more up on your toes to do the running in place and then you would be working them a lot. You could do specific exercises to strengthen those which might help your running too, the one where you go up and down on your toes at the edge of a stair step. (Don't know what it's called, usually people think of it as a stretch but you can practice the "lifting" part as a calf builder.)

That said, the 30DS knocks me out too, but it's the arm pumping bits. Will they ever not hurt? I actually got better over time at the lunges and squats! I do them a lot separately from watching the video. Like when I'm sitting at my desk and my butt gets tired I get up and knock out one of the lunge/squat routines.