30 Day Shred - Day 02: Taking it 30 seconds at a time

I found out the perfect way to pace in order to complete my exercise: count and don't look at Jillian. Looking at how they they pace themselves makes me lose the motivation to complete a move.  I tire out trying to keep up before the time I'm supposed to finish.  So I changed tactics and decided to just simply listen to what we're supposed to do next (since I've already memorized it), maybe look to see the form, then just start counting to see if I reach 30 seconds.  I realized that most of the time each move doesn't really reach the count of 30.  Counting lets me know that I'm near my goal, which motivates me to push forward.

That said, I almost completed them! I just need to get through the aches of the push ups and crunches.

30 Day Shred - Day 01: Kept dropping the ball

So yes, I re-started once again since I can't remember when I last exercised. In any case, I'm trying to catch up on lost time. I tried Jillian's "Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism" this afternoon. I don't remember how long I lasted before I gave up. But it was enough to leave me panting for breath. Then I did the Shred in the evening.

I wouldn't mind trying the "Banish Fat..." video again tomorrow afternoon. Then the Shred in the evening. Maybe do the "Walk Away The Pounds" in the morning for as long as I wake up early. Hopefully this would get my body FINALLY losing pounds.

30 Day Shred (reboot) - Day 03: Not quite THE Shred

I pulled a muscle near my left knee and had to take it easy. But not too easy. I decided to do some light exercise instead. I used the 2-mile exercise from the "Walk Away The Pounds" DVD. I guess I can count today as day 03. I'm learning that it doesn't matter if it's the Shred or not. As long as you exercise.

I also learned a bit about Base Metabolic Rates (BMR) and the Harris Benedict Equation. I learned that I have a BMR of 1,352.1. Using the Harris Benedict Equation, I also learned that if I led a sedentary life of no exercise and just sitting on my butt, I would have to eat about 1,622.52 calories worth of food if I want to maintain my current weight. If I want to lose weight, I'll have to maintain about 1,122.52 calorie intake. But here's the thing, it's unhealthy to go below 1,200 calories a day. So being sedentary just won't do.

So I'll really need to exercise. Even light exercise would do. Having light exercise, the numbers change. I'll need 1,859.1375 calories now to maintain my weight. If I want to lose weight, I should eat at most 1,359.1375 calories. I'm good with that. :)

30 Day Shred (reboot) - Day 02: I've been here before

Gosh! It feels like I'm back to square one! I can't seem to finish any of the moves! But I was able to get through it. I'm out of breath. My muscles are tight. But nothing is aching... yet.

30 Day Shred - Day 01: Reboot

Yes. I decided to reboot. I was out for a week. I was on a 4-day trip with my best friend as well. We went to Zoobic and took to the TreeTop Adventure in Subic as well. Normally, those trips would be tiring since there was a lot of walking, hiking, trekking. But wonder of wonders! I wasn't winded. I didn't need my asthma medicine. It was hot and humid though and I needed a lot of water. Aside from that, I really didn't tire easily and was pretty much full of energy the whole time.

I had a choice of continuing the Shred under level 2. But I decided that I really want to start all over again. There's no shame in that. There is a bit of shame that I wasn't able to complete the 20-minute workout again. Perhaps it's because I decided not to do the modified moves and opted for the full moves instead? The push-ups were my downfall. My energy quickly sapped away as I attempted to do complete the full moves. But I'm not going to move to the modified moves anymore for level 1. I'm just going to keep at it until I complete the full moves.

Aside from that, I had earlier taken the 8-minute tae bo work out of Billy Blanks. I barely finished that too. But at least I still got some sort of exercise done.

30 Day Shred - Day 16: Bad choice or good mistake?

Feeling that I need to give a bit more effort in my workout, I decided to switch it up and mix in the more advanced moves into the routine. From being unable to finish 3 minutes of the workout, I ended up resting through almost half of it. Yes, it was hard! But I really do feel that if I don't put in the effort and just stay on the beginner's mode, I won't be able to get the results I want. My body is aching in some places now. Specially the legs.

I'm thinking if it was a wrong move though. Let's see after a few more days. Target: complete workout tomorrow. How to do it: I have to get the body used to some of the moves. I'll use workrave so that I can get up from my laptop every now and then and use the short breaks to practice a move for a minute. That way, I'll be able to get myself ready for Jillian's workout in the evening.

30 Day Shred - Day 15: Back on track

I'm seeing a pattern here. If I stop a day after the first time I do a level, I find that my body is ready to finish my exercise. I was able to almost finish Level 2. Just 3 minutes off this time. But that's a lot for a 20-minute workout.

My best friend notes that maybe I should keep track of my food intake. I'm thinking of loading up on fiber supplements whenever I feel hungry in between meals.