A day I have been dreading and anticipating has arrived: I have finished the 30-day Shred.

Anyone who has done Level 3 of The Shred knows why I couldn’t wait to finish. In fact, after every completed set of exercises yesterday, I sputtered out, “DONE!” as if I would never have to work as hard again in my life.

Ha.

So, why the “dreading”? Well, I knew I’d post photos and, frankly, I was worried about these. Did I really look that different? What’s with this skin still around my belly button area.

Oh, so you mean to tell me that I’ve got to keep working at this?

Overall, I’m thrilled to have done this program. I started it on March 2 and finished on April 6—a little more than 30 days but those selective days off were good when my knee or neck was bothering me.

OK, OK, enough writing—here are the photos:

Before from the side:

20 days in:

Day 30:

And, from the front, before:

20 days in:

Day 30:

(yeah, I know my photographs aren’t exactly the same crops, zooms and brightness; I’m working on that)

I started at 138 pounds, which isn’t bad for a 5’9″ red-blooded woman, but considering that I have “small bones” and the bustline of a 12 year old, 138 feels a little too fleshy.

About halfway through the Shred, I was startled to see that I actually GAINED two pounds and was up to 140. I reasoned that perhaps the extra weight was muscle. Or pizza.

But, after that high, I lost a bit. I’m down to 136 right now. I’d like to get down to about 130 but I’m not going to freak out about it. My weight for most of my thirties was 125, but when I look at photos from that time, I look a little too angle-y and all limbs.

Plus, now, I feel different. My arms are muscley—not in a way that anyone would notice, but I feel muscles in my forearms that I never knew I had before. My midriff is tighter and, although I have a bit of a pooch, it isn’t as thick as it used to be.

But, perhaps the biggest reason to do this? I raked all of my flower beds on Sunday (after Shredding) and didn’t hurt afterward. I can chase the kids and not get winded. I run up and down the stairs a zillion times without feeling like I’m “gargling my heart”.

And, you know, I think I’ve even warmed up to Jillian. After all, anyone who can get me off my butt for 30 days is pretty amazing.

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Just started Level 3 of the 30-Day Shred. I’ve been consistent except for a few days I’ve taken off here and there.

So, how’s it going?

Well, I’m not going to weigh myself anymore because my weight is really going nowhere. And, while I know my weight is “just fine”, seeing that little needle hover in exactly the same place day after day does nothing for my psyche.

Also a week ago, I was visiting my wonderful Physical Therapist who helps me with my neck-and-shoulder issues, and I was complaining that I still have that “tire” around my midsection. She suggested that I need to up my cardio by a wee bit to try to burn off that extra fat. So, after Shredding for 20 minutes, this past week I have added 10 minutes of cardio on our recumbent bike.

Is this working?

Here is where I was when I posted my first post on March 7:

And here is me on Day 20 of my Shred:

(honestly, I can’t tell if my pants are hiked up more or if the bulge is reduced)

Here’s another angle; taken at the start of March:

And now:

Heck I don’t see much, do you? But, I do see something here, which wasn’t before:

Oh yeah, a little bitty muscle trying to come forth.

I’ll be back in ten days with another round of humiliating photos, so stay tuned!

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