We Meet Again, Jillian...

About two years ago I decided it was time to do something about the scale. At that point in my life it was hovering around 178-180 which is the most I had ever weighed. Being a fan of the Biggest Loser, I chose Jillian Michaels to help me out with this.  I went to the store and bought a couple of her books.  I chose this one to start with:

She has a program in there that is very similar to her 30 Day Shred video, except that it isn't the same workout every day (she switches up the muscle groups so you don't over train the same muscles) and instead of being a 20 minute work out, it ends up being about 60-80 minutes.  Basically, it rocks your socks off.  It was probably the hardest workout I've ever done.  I followed the plan for 8 weeks and lost about 25 lbs.  The only reason I stopped the workout was because my local gym was overcrowded and it drove me crazy.  Okay, admittedly that's more of an excuse than a reason but it is what it is.  This particular program of hers (unlike the Shred) requires access to a gym and equipment.  

I haven't worked out with Jillian since.  I hovered comfortable around 155 lbs after those 8 weeks, went to Hawaii to celebrate my workout success, and got complacent.  I thought I could stay at 155 lbs and stop working out and counting calories without gaining weight.  I thought I knew portion size and calorie content in items to be able to continue making the correct choices so that the weight would stay off.

I was very wrong.

Flash forward to July.  The portion sizes I was eating had increased along with my backside.  I found myself once again looking at the 170s and wondering how I had gotten there after all my hard work.  So the process began again, although this time without a gym membership.  Running has always been the fastest (and most hated) way for me to trim up so I decided that I wanted to begin there.  I have asthma so running for me is difficult--every breath sometimes feels like I'm suffocating.  This is a big reason why I want to run.  Strange...but let me explain.  The more I run, the less I struggle with asthma.  If I can push through and get the mileage in, my asthma fades to the background and doesn't bother me as much.  That in itself is a HUGE reward for me.  So I chose running over Jillian.

But now I am training for a half marathon and as part of the training program I am on, I need to do some strength training 1-2 times a week.  So last night after a 3.75 mile run, I busted out my dusty old 30 Day Shred video and caught up with my friend Jillian.

I think I might hate her.  :)

I am happy to say that it wasn't as difficult for me as it was the first time I did the video.  I distinctly remember not being able to walk for a week and wondering how 20 minutes could possibly make someone so sore.  I was pleasantly surprised that the things I dreaded in the training program in the past (butt kicks, etc.) weren't nearly as difficult as they were before.  I was not surprised by how hard the ab workout was for me.  Helloooo neglected muscles.  Either way, I will definitely be adding this video to my go-to exercises because for being only 20 minutes long, it most assuredly gets the sweat going.  

A lot of you are doing Sly's Challenge of doing the Shred every day in October.  To you brave (and perhaps crazy? :) ) souls...I salute you.  Jillian doesn't mess around and she makes you work for results.  I can't wait to see your progress at the end of this challenge!

Also, I want to say hello to my new followers!  Thank you for checking me out!  I can't wait to get to know you!