Jillian Michaels

I've had a few things going on over the last few months and it has impacted my ability to get to the gym as much as I was used to and as much as I would really like.

On the days that circumstances prevent me from being able to go, my goal is to work out with a DVD at home.

I am not a big fan of those work out programs you see on infomercials. This is because I don't know if they are really worth all that money. And I am cheap frugal.

One DVD I can attest to is Jillian Michaels Shred DVD. When Ava was turning 1 and I realized I was going to need to get my fat a$$ back to work, I decided that I needed to get into shape. For six weeks I worked out to the Shred DVD. The first time I actually tried it was when Ava was only 6 months old. I worked out while Ava was napping and just before I was going to have to pick Oliver up from preschool. Big mistake. I had not exercised at all, and I was Uber lazy. This workout took everything out of me cardio-wise and as I sat in the car after, needing to get to the preschool, I debated whether it was safe to drive. I sat in the driveway, breathless and red faced, fairly certain I was going to pass out any minute. I realized then that I needed to start slower and then started with going for long walks.

I loved my walks and would regularly walk 10k, pushing Ava in the stroller. When it was snowy, we walked around an indoor track. By the time April came around and I decided to restart the Shed DVD, I was prepared.

I loved the DVD. I lost at least 20 lbs with that DVD in 6 weeks. I was down to 132 lbs when I returned to work and I felt great. Of course getting back to work, and dealing with two small kids, meant my exercise took a back seat for the next year and I put that 20lbs back ob.

Now on days when I can't get to the gym, the Shred helps me feel less lazy.

Tomorrow morning I will be trying out Jillian DVD called "Shred it with weights" which is a kettle bell based program. I am super excited!! When I started at my gym I attended a weekly kettle bell class. I LOVED it. The instructor was a very fit drill sergeant. She never let us slack. Unfortunately I was only able to attend the class for a year and a half before my RMT informed me of her damage my neck was suffering and I decided to replace that class with more stable, static, exercises.

I think this video will be great and I am so pumped about tomorrow morning!! :)