Becoming a Shred head // Level 3

Holy balls!   I was so happy about making it to 30DS level 3.  At this point I felt like I was on the home stretch and was certainly realizing results.  My clothes were fitting much better, I was looking trimmer, and feeling stronger.  

I was feeling so confident going into this level that I purchased a pair of 8 pound weights, Ripped in 30 (RI30), and Kickbox FastFix.  Yes, I admit, I officially have a full blown lesbian crush on Jillian and love what that biotch of a drill sergeant is doing to my body.  I wanted to take our relationship to the next level and have something to turn to when I finished the 30DS.  You are welcome, Target!

Anywho – onto the actual level itself.  In this level you will see some of the same moves you did in previous levels such as jumping jacks, shadow boxing, and butt kicks but this time she adds weights.  Yes, you read that correctly – weights with mother effing jumping jacks.  But to be honest, I kind of liked it and this going to sound incredibly weird, but I felt like I was flying.

What sets this level apart from the previous levels is that it is all about the plank/push-up position and jumping.  It is truly apparent in this level that Jillian has a total hard on for the core area.  And just like the other levels, this level seems pretty much impossible, but I promise you by the end of the 10 days, everything will be manageable.....for the most part.

I effing hated all the jumping - mainly, because they are stupid hard and I am uncoordinated.  The worst was the jumping lunges.  I had a very difficult time maintaining my footing and was toppling over like a strung out street walker in stripper heels.  I also absolutely hated the scissor crunches in circuit one and even on day 10, I could not make it through the entire set without grunting like a moose in heat.  

My favorite moves were the dumbbell cleans, shadowboxing, and sit-ups.   The dumbbell cleans allowed me to try out my 8lb weights and honestly I thought this was the easiest exercise in the whole series.  The shadowboxing was cool because I like punching things and enjoyed the sit-ups mainly because of the Rocky reference.

So as you can read, I have a love-hate relationship with the 30DS.  Or in other words, I hated making room for it each and every day for 30 days, but I absolutely love that I was able to accomplish it and the results that I saw!!  On September 3rd, appropriately Labor Day, I finished my 30th consecutive day, and graduated as a Shred head, 5 pounds lighter.  And although I did not take measurements, I did take pictures of my progress.  Sweet Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I cannot believe I am posting my belly.  But, if I can be motivation for one person out there, it will be absolutely worth it.

Results of the 30DS

Now that I am done and seen such progress, I am scared to stop.  So I started RI30 the very next day.  Now, I don’t think I can commit to doing it 30 days consecutively, that’s just too much to ask.  So my goal is to do it 5 days a week in conjunction with my normal workout routine.

You can read about levels 1 and 2 - here and here.

And for good measure, these are the exercises in level 3.  Happy Shredding!  ~ Jen J.

WARM UP

• arm crosses
• backwards windmills
• double jump rope
• high kicks
• butt kicks
• knee circles

CIRCUIT 1
Strength = 3 minutes

• walking plank
• superman
• walking plank
• superman

Cardio = 2 minutes

• mountain climbers
• sumo hops
• mountain climbers
• sumo hops

Abs = 1 minutes

• pike crunches
• scissor crunches

CIRCUIT 2

Strength = 3 minutes

• dumbbell cleans
• jumping lunges
• dumbbell cleans (opposite arm)
• jumping lunges

Cardio = 2 minutes

• shadowboxing w/ dumbbells in half squat 
• butt kicks holding dumbbells
• shadowboxing w/ dumbbells in half squat
• jumping jacks holding dumbbells

Abs = 1 minutes

• situps

CIRCUIT 3

Strength = 3 minutes

• travelling pushups
• plank rows w/ leg raises
• travelling pushups
• plank rows w/ leg raises

Cardio = 2 minutes

• jump squats
• rockstar jumps
• jump squats
• rockstar jumps 

 Abs = 1 minute

• side plank raises

STRETCHES