Wednesday Workout Blog Hop

I am so excited to join My Fitness World and Let's Move it Momma for a brand new blog hop:

I have been doing Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred for 16 days, doing Day 17 today!  I can definitely tell a difference in my endurance, stamina, definition, and loss of inches. 

#1 What has helped me with this particular workout video is that I am determined to finish it. 

#2 I workout at the same time every day, when both babies are laying down for their nap.

#3 I do not try to keep up with every single rep that they do on the video but I do not quit.  I start when they starts and get in my own rhythm and don't break my rhythm until it is finished.

#4 I did Level 1 for about 4 days before I moved on to Level 2.  Level 2 for about 4 days and then on to Level 3.  I did this because I didn't want to get bored with the same level over and over again.  When I moved on I wasn't always ready to do the advanced so I just stayed with the adapted version.  Now that I have done it for a while, I continue to rotate each day, i.e. Monday-Level 1, Tuesday-Level 2, Wednesday-Level 3, Thursday-Level 1, etc.  What I have done, though, is move up in weights.  Instead of doing the 3lb weights for Level 1 and parts of Level 2, I have moved up to 5lbs weights.

#5 If there is a move that I cannot do for whatever reason, I modify it but I keep it at the same intensity level.  I cannot do jumping jacks-read about that here-so instead I jump from side-to-side (like jumping over an imaginary line) and I bring my arms up and down just as if I were doing it.

#6 I try to mentally trick myself.  The Shred is 3 circuits consisting of 3 levels within each circuit.  You do strength training for 3 minutes, cardio for 2 minutes, and abs for 1 minute.  Within the 3 minute strength training you do one move for 30 seconds, another move for 1 minutes, go back to the first move for 30 seconds, and the second move for the final minute.  If there is a move that I find hard, I try to picture a clock in my mind with the second hand going around it.  "Ok, that should be about 10 seconds, 20 seconds, etc.". 

After doing the video for these last few weeks, I know that say strength traning x should amount to about 22 reps.  So in my mind, I count by 5's.  I try to totally block out Jillian's voice and just count and breathe to myself.  So 22 reps is only going to 5 four times.  I know that sounds silly but it helps me.

I can't wait to read everyone else's tips, recipes, and motivations!