Monday, March 14, 2011

Body By Jillian AKA The Perfect Storm for a PMS Meltdown



















I bought this video months ago, but didn't get around to trying it until Friday. Why did it take me so long? Well, you need a yoga mat (unless you have carpeted floors) and hand weights. I have some 3 lb hand weights "somewhere" in the garage, but I'm not about to dig for them (they were in storage for 5 years, so I have no idea what box they'd be in). Friday, I went to Target and bought some 5 lb weights. MISTAKE #1!

My reasoning at the time was that I didn't want to buy another set of 3 pounders. Besides, I'm pretty fit now, right? I can do a 20 minute video with 5 lb weights, right?

HAHAHAHA.

So I got home from work on Friday and I was all excited to DO THIS. I put on my workout gear, even had Josh take a picture of me getting ready to kick some Jillian tail.

Poking fun at Jillian will result in karmic smackdown

Yeah, that's my tough girl face. That's me thinking I am going to breeze through this without breaking a sweat. That was MISTAKE #2.

Not many people know this, but Jillian is all-seeing and all-knowing. When you mock, even in a joking manner, a karmic smackdown will ensue. Trust me on this. Never mock Jillian or think for one minute you can beat her at her own game. You will lose.

I asked Josh repeatedly to let me do this in private.You see, my ex-husband once told me I look funny when I run. That has stuck with me and I don't like to be looked at when I do any type of exercise now. Unless I'm on the gazelle, because face it, everyone looks stupid on that thing. Josh insisted on watching. That was MISTAKE #3. Because, you see, my husband is incapable of watching idly. No, he decided to play devil's advocate, which is to say he's Team Jillian. My own husband. Traitor.  So while I'm struggling to keep up, and realizing that those 5 pound weights were my WORST PURCHASE OF ALL TIME, I've got my beloved behind me telling me to keep up, go faster, stick my chest out, keep my back straight, etc.

I dropped those five pound weights (I was only halfway through the video), took off my shoes, glared at him and said "YOU do it."

Never one to back down from a challenge, he tried. God bless him, he tried, but Jillian defeated him as well. Now, Josh is in really good shape. He's no stranger to weights or working out in any form, but even he said the 5 lb handwieghts were a bit much for this.

I crumpled on the couch and cried (remember, PMS). DEFEAT.

But yesterday I decided to try again. I purchased some lighter weights, and yesterday afternoon I took on Jillian in private (Josh was in the office and obeyed my orders to not watch this time). And you know what? I made it all the way through! It felt great, and I absolutely loved it and enjoyed it. I am going to actually take the 30 day thing to heart and do it every day and see how my body changes. April 11th will mark the 30th day! I'm really looking forward to sticking to this... It takes me the same amount of time (or less) than I devote to working out on the gazelle, but it does so much more for my body. I already can't wait to go home tonight and do it again!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this workout if you've done it.

6 comments:

  1. I lost THIRTY pounds doing this DVD. And I used 2-lb weights... stick with it! And my man is never allowed to watch me do the DVD either. It's waaaaaay too much pressure. Anyways, congrats on starting this; Level 2 is where all the magic happens! :)

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  2. Wow! Thirty pounds? In thirty days, or did it take longer? Maybe I can finally lose these final 10!

    I look forward to level two, but I know I need to spend at least a week at level 1 before I'm ready... also, I really suck at pushup.

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  3. I LOVE level 2 of this series. Level 3 is really challenging, lots of exercises where you truly support your body weight (plank, crazy push ups).

    It most definitely gets easier as you go on doing it.

    I think it's awesome since it's so QUICK!!!

    Jillian is no joke! :)

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  4. It took me about six months to lose the 30-lbs, and I would say that I did the DVD 3-6 days per week. The whole 30-day thing (if you ask me) is asking a little much of the human body! I think I dropped most of the weight after doing Level 2 for a little bit; it takes a little while to develop enough strength to do all the exercises correctly, but, when you can finally do them all correctly, your body will respond!

    Good luck!

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  5. I agree, Ryan, it does seem that doing it every day would be a bit too much for most bodies to take. I have some knee/hip issues on my right side, and I hope they don't flare up and hold me back. But as of now, my plan is to try to do it every day for 30 days, since I do already workout at least 20 minutes per day... just not quite like this! Haha.

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  6. Awesome! Good luck and kick some butt!

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