You validated my experience with Shred. I think it is important for others to know that one needs to already be in decent shape to expect to be able to do Shred. Other workout CD’s can certainly help one with this.

Bob’s Cardio and Jullian’s sculpting CD’s all have levels 1, 2 and 3 in them and work great to get one in shape.

It only took me 4 mos. of these CD’s to get in good shape and increase my endurance. So now the key for me is adjusting my eating a bit and doing Shred 5 days a week. It’s only 20 minutes, anyone can work that into their day. I know I will need to continue to do Shred after I have lost my last 10#’s to maintain my muscles and to stay skinny. I do want to have a greasy burger, just maybe once a month or so.

Thanks Headless Mom for your encouragement. Anyone can work up to this. We shouldn’t settle for getting fat as we age, it’s a choice. I’m 43 and got so unhappy with my extra #’s and didn’t accept that my body is going through a “change”. If Helen (Biggest Loser) can be a size 8 at 48, so can I!!!

Being the type of person that always is looking for the “quick fix”, I bought 3 of Jillian’s DVD’s, 30 Day Shred, No More Trouble Zones, and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I started right off with 30 Day Shred. OMG! I was way too out of shape to start there and after a few days my calves, knees and shins hurt so bad that I lived on ibuprofin for days!! I decided to move on to something else to build up my stamina so I could make it through the cardio portions. I moved on to Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism, which is a very thourough, and much longer workout but at least I could make it through all 7 circuits of this one after a few weeks. I mixed it in with some fun kickboxing cardio DVD’s and eventually my legs quit hurting and I could actually make it though a workout without dying!!!

I just went back to 30 Day Shred 2 days ago and made it through the whole 20 minutes, including all 3 sets of jumping jacks!! I feel like I am getting much more from it this time around and plan on moving up to level 2 soon. Looking ahead to levels 2 and 3, I see a lot of exercises that I have already done from the Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD so hopefully it won’t be long before I can get to level 3.

Still to soon to tell if this will get me off my weight loss plateau, as the last 2 months haven’t done much in that department. BUT, I FEEL GREAT!! It is such a huge accomplishment for me. Oh, and did I mention, I’m 51 years old.

I have done level 2 for 3 weeks and it still kicks my , but is getting easier.

I tried level 3 over the weekend, when I was well rested. It is very hard, but not that much harder than level 2. I now think I will progress to level 3 — 3 days a week.

Just for fun, Monday a.m. I started doing level 1. and level 2 the rest of the weeks, level 3.

I should mention it took me 5 months of getting in shape with Bob’s Cardio and Julians’s sculpting, just to get in shape to even do shred. Shred is no small thing! I was 20-25 pounds overweight (last Nov.). Now, 5/2009, I am only 10 pounds or so overweight, and Shred has made all the difference. (minus the fried chicken and hamburgers). Perhaps if I started with Shred and changed my diet a little, I would have had more success back in Nov.

I am just now losing weight, big time. About 1 1/2 pounds a week without changing too much. Just gave up hamburgers and friend chicken, which I love. I still eat a lot.

Cathy S.