Getting shredded: Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred Workout

by Zoe
(Pittsburgh, PA, USA)

I've always considered myself to be in moderately good shape. I'm not an athlete by any means, but I can join a workout class or go on a hike and keep up with the best of them.

I've purchased many exercise DVDs in the past, and always found them to be a good way to fit in a workout, but never too challenging. After a day or two, I always felt like I was hardly sweating.

Then I tried the 30-Day Shred workout DVD featuring Jillian Michaels. She's the trainer from "The Biggest Loser" television show, and even just by looking at her cover photo on the DVD, you know she means business.

The DVD has 3 separate workouts; I figured I'd start with level one and move on from there. Well, I never made it past level one. I was lying on the ground panting by the end!

Jillian runs you through a few minute warm-up (arm circles, hip rotations), then starts you off with jumping jacks.

The exercises are all very basic and familiar, but she mixes it up by moving from cardio to strength-training and back to cardio. The total run time for workout one is about 20 minutes, maybe 25 minutes if you include the warm-up/cool-down.

I didn't want to admit defeat, so the next day I popped the work-out into the DVD, expecting it to feel a little bit easier this time. Boy, was I wrong!

Once again, at the end of level one, I was lying on the floor cursing Jillian Michaels. I kept at it for a week.

Finally, by the time I'd done it for 7 or 8 days, it did feel a tiny bit easier. I wasn't panting quite as hard, but I still "felt the burn." Oh, did I ever.

Even after a whole 30 days of shredding, I still found it challenging, but my stamina had definitely improved.

Theoretically, you should do level one for 10 days, level two for 10 days, and then level three for the last 10 days, thus equaling the 30 days in the title.

I always intended to move to level two, but level one is so tough, I kept at it for the whole month. Maybe next month I'll move onto level two.

Jillian Michaels is a great motivator; she explains the workouts clearly and encourages the viewer every minute of the workout. At times you hate her, but once you start to see the results, you begin to find her more likeable.

After 30 days of shredding, I noticed visible changes in my arms, legs, and abs.

If you want a DVD that will challenge even a regular gym-goer and provide real results, you should definitely try the 30-Day Shred.