I started this 30 day challenge with a single goal: to increase my strength and tone up to make me a better runner! Over the last four weeks, I’ve tracked my shredding progress in this post.
To summarize the challenge:
- My initial plan was to shred everyday for 30 days. I ended up shredding 21 out of 30 days, which I think is pretty good. For a girl who NEVER strength trained on a regular basis, 5 days per week is a miracle.
- I did each level of the shred for a 10-day period and then switched to the next level. I used two 3-lb hand weights for the strength moves. If I were to do the shred again, I would buy a variety of weights (a set of 5 pounders would’ve been nice) so I could challenge myself more on some of the moves).
- In general, Level 1 was too easy, Level 3 was too hard, and Level 2 was juuuuust right. (I’m like Goldielocks, what!)
- If you have knee issues like I do, you will not be able to do ANY of the levels in their entirety, even the modified moves. There’s a lot of lunges and squats, which are simply out of the question for me. I substituted lunges or squats with jogging in place or doing sit-ups.
- Jillian is crazy.
The big question on everyone’s mind is, of course, did the 30-Day Shred WORK? Well, here are my before and after pictures and measurements (there is no sucking-in involved, I promise):
Front View Before:
Front View After:
Side View Before:
Front View After:
Back View Before:
Back View After (OK, I might be squeezing harder in this photo than the "before" shot, but not much!):
| Body Part | Before | After | Difference |
| Hips | 35 inches (at widest part) | 34.25 inches | – 0.75 inch |
| Waist | 26.25 inches (at narrowest part) | 25.75 | -0.5 inch |
| Biceps | 10.25 (at widest part) | 10.75 | +0.5 inch |
| Thighs of Steel | 22 inches (at widest part) | 22 | No Change |
Honestly, I cannot believe that I lost 1.25 inch from my hips and waist AND I gained a half inch on my biceps (that’s a good thing!). Interestingly enough, my weight did not change at all (well, it’s in the lower part of my "happy weight range," so maybe I did drop a pound or two, but nothing significant). I just got more "shredded!" I think the measurements speak more to my improvements than the pictures do.
The one area I can see a difference is in my arms — dozens of push-ups each week will do that to a girl! I also feel a lot stronger when running. Running used to be very tiring on my upper body, but lately my arms do not hurt when I run at all. Also, I asked the Husband last night if he thought I looked any different, and he said the one area where he can really tell is my arms as well. Woo goo! Biceps of steel, here I come!
All in all, I think the 30 Day Shred is AMAZING. It WORKS! And it taught me that strength training doesn’t have to be this big "thing." I will definitely stick to shredding in the future.
Have you shredded? Do you love it?
I definitely see an improvement in your before and after pictures. Front view your legs look trimmer, side view you can see improvement in your abs and your rear delts are more prominent in your rear shots. Good job and thank you so much for sharing your results!