Exercise Update: 3+ weeks later my Skinny Jeans Fit!

I had an exciting moment last night... but the reason it was exciting goes back to 2 weeks ago. Confession: I don't like jeans. I love the way they look, but I can't stand the way they feel. I like to be comfortable and cute, but jeans are just not comfortable to me. It's extremely difficult for me to find a pair that fits my body and that I also actually want to wear. Well, I found a pair at Nordstrom Rack a few months ago that felt OK, and they were a decent price, so I got them. 

I hadn't worn them in a while, so I took them off the hanger a couple of weeks ago to give them a shot. Random: do you fold or hang your jeans? I love hangers like the one below. I also use hangers like this to keep my boots out of the way. You just clip them on and they pleasantly hang in the closet, instead of lying cluttered on the floor.

Back to the story: I put them on, and not only were they tight on my thighs, but they would NOT zip. The zipper would have probably broken, or I would have sustained internal bruising and bleeding had I forced them to zip. 

I started exercising on January 21, with a simple routine: cardio for 20 minutes every day. Every SINGLE day. I'll be honest: I have missed two days since January 21. However, each day after I missed I did 40 minutes instead of 20. I switch my routine up each day. I either do a brisk walk on the treadmill (between 3.5 and 4.5 mph...sometime I go crazy and jog at 5.5), or use the elliptical. In terms of eating, I haven't changed anything. 

I'm guessing you're saying to yourself something like this: "Please. 20 minutes a day and she's not even running? How much good can that really do?" 

Well, this is exactly what it can do. I put on my skinny jeans last night, and they were no longer tight on my thighs, and they zipped! They are still slightly snug for my taste, but it was a vast improvement from two weeks ago. I have not weighed yet, because weighing kills my motivation. I usually expect something dramatic, then it's only three pounds and I sink into a depressive state of yoga pants, hoody, candy, and Hulu Plus.

I avoid taking full-body photos for the most part, but here's a picture from December 27, and then today. It's not a drastic difference, but I feel great, and even this slight change has increased my motivation times 100! 

Evolution of Emotions during Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Level 1

It's official—and unbelievable—I did cardio for 20 minutes each day last week. Even on Saturday and Sunday! I'm easing back into working out, because it's been (picture my head drooping in shame) a year since I've regularly exercised. And believe me, my body has felt it. After multiple sinus infections, a bout with mono, the flu, and a few colds thrown in to even out the mix, I decided last week that I was tired of not feeling well. I've been jogging each day at my local Gold's Gym, but to my chagrin, it closed at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Enter the DVD of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred that I ordered months ago from Amazon but until Sunday was still resting in the shrink wrap packaging. After I opened it, there was definitely no more resting. 

My unassuming roommate, Emma, had no idea what she was getting herself into after she agreed to give Level 1 a whirl with me. At the onset of the video, I felt energetic and ready to go. Let's be honest—Jillian has a fantastic body. Plus, my good friend Gayle told me about a friend of hers that has seen incredible results with the workout.

A couple of minutes into the exercises, I still felt positive, but I was astonished at the intensity of the routine. I figured Level 1 would be fairly mild, and that at the end of the workout I might have broken a light sweat.

By the time we were 10 minutes into the diabolical exercise routine of death, I checked the time (which I could barely do, because if you take your eyes off Jillian for even a second, she will know and you will be chastised), and could not believe I still had 10 more minutes to go. My heart was pumping and beads of sweat formed on my forehead and upper lip. The light sweatshirt I had on now felt like I was sporting a heavy parka at the equator. But Emma and I persevered. Obviously, we could do this!

During the last half of our workout, I felt more of an intense push than I can remember in the last 2 years. Obscenities were yelled, water chugged, and groans uttered as we somehow trudged through to the end. The end of what would have been our lives if we had been on Level 3. 









I will never, ever complain about the treadmill or elliptical again. Nor will I ever underestimate Jillian Michaels. She is a taskmaster. And that's a good thing. I've been unimpressed with exercise videos in the past, but two days later, my butt and quads are quite sore (I did the treadmill the day after, the thought of doing the video again in my state of jelly-like weakness scares me right now). Even after only one use, I guarantee this video will get your results. It's only $6.99 on Amazon . I will keep you posted on my progress!