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February 26, 2013

My Review of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred

February 26, 2013
Note: I am not in any way affiliated with Jillian Michaels, nor have I been paid to write this post. I am just a good Samaritan who didn’t have anything else to write about today.

I don’t like to exercise because it is hard, and I hate the way my hair looks when I sweat. That said, I recently picked up my very dusty Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD because I really want to get back into doing ballet, but I’m not in good enough shape to start. Yes, this is the exercise equivalent of cleaning your house before the maid comes, but we all do that too, so whatever.

My history with and knowledge of how to properly exercise is limited. Literally, if I could find my Mom’s old VHS of the Jane Fonda work-out and transfer it to DVD, I’d do that for the rest of my life. Actually, forget the transfer. I’d buy a VHS player for that. But, alas, Jane is stuck in the ’90s and Billy Blanks’ Tae Bo system is too expensive. So, “TV’s toughest trainer” is it.

I selected Jillian’s “fool proof 3-2-1 training system” because of its advertised foolproof nature, and because I hoped the 3-2-and-1 had something to do with the amount of minutes we would be exercising. I was 50% correct. You do three minutes of strength, two minutes of cardio, and one minute of abs, but a semi-coordinated, college educated 29.5-year-old can mess up every single move. 

Here is what I hate about Jillian Michael’s 30-Day Shred:

  •  Jillian Michaels – if she tells me that “I don’t get to do a 20 minute work out and a take a break” one more time, I’m going to take several more breaks. Also, I find it very annoying that she says, “you’re well on your way to being shredded” at the end of every video. I mean, that is my goal, but who wrote that line?!
  • Natalie, her “best girl” – Natalie is a bitch. I can tell because she smiles the whole time she’s doing her exercises, and that’s extra annoying because Jillian makes her do the advanced versions. It also bothers me that Natalie exercises with her hair down. Who does that? Ridiculous.
  • The fact that we have to do arms and legs together – Jillian says that this is the key to the entire system, but I’m not sure I buy it. I feel like I could concentrate better on doing good arm moves if I wasn’t trying to squat, lunge or jump at the same time. Part of the problem might be that I’m using 5lb weight instead of 3lb weights like Jillian and her best girls, but I thought that would lead to faster results. Instead it just leads to me putting down the 5 pounders and using two Poland Spring bottles instead. Those are 3lbs each, right?
  • The amount of jumping jacks included – Jumping jacks are awful. They’re loud, and they hurt very strange parts of your body, and if your boyfriend walks in on you doing them half-assed, he will make fun of you. 

But, here is what I love about Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred:

  •  It’s only 20 minutes a day, and even I can suffer through that. On average I now complete approximately 17 of the 20 minutes, which is a huge improvement. 
  • It’s only for 30 days. I’m only at day 12, so I can’t tell if I’m going to be “shredded” on day 30 like Jillian promises, but I don’t know why she would lie to me, so it will probably happen. 
  • It includes three different levels. You’re supposed to do each level for 10 days, progressing in level as you go. I like this because I enjoy completing projects, so I think of each level like a project I must complete. Also, the higher the level the more Jillian compliments you when you finish, so that’s nice.
  • It doesn’t include enough abs (in my opinion), so I do extra abs (take THAT Natalie) because I firmly believe that lean abs distract from the rest of the body (not true at all). And whenever I do anything beyond the trained fitness professionals fool-proof DVD, I feel extremely fit. 

Despite the fact that I spend my 15 minutes of alarm snooze time try to come up with an excuse to not do my Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred DVD’s every single day, I really do love them. They allow me to believe I’m shredding my body one shorter-than-a-sitcom increment at a time from the comfort of my own living room. Plus every day that I complete the work-out, I allow myself a Girl Scout cookie. Don’t worry, I bought enough to make it through the 30 days. After that, I’m switching to Julianne Hough’s dancing work outs because why the hell would I lift weights and do jumping jacks when I can just Flashdance my way to fitness?

48 comments

  1. I totally agree with you about the crazy things she says. Her “best girls”??? wth is that? I especially hate when she says things like “We’re right here doing it with you.” No, Jillian your best girls are doing it with us while you walk around critiquing their form…

  2. Uh isn’t it about getting in shape? Why does what she say or hair matter…kind of stupid just do the workout. Plain and simple.

  3. I really enjoyed reading your review. 🙂 The things you hate about the DVD have me totally laughing, because they are true and I hate them too. The thing about Natalie, that got me laughing: Natalie is a bitch! Nice review 🙂

    1. I noticed Natalie cheating in the background on level one. Doing the bicep curls without the lunges. Definitely a bitch.

    3. What bothers me most about Natalie is how fit she is. The hair thing was just something else. I would be hyperventilating on some of those moves.

    4. they are actually all incredibly fit. Doing a workout video is like filming anything else. It takes a lot longer than you think it does. They probably had to do hours and hours of this to get it right.

    5. Your review of this work out is the most accurate I have ever read. I’m on day 17 now, feeling discouraged by level two and Natalie always smiling at me but determined to finish. Thanks for the giggle.

    6. Hahaha this review is really funny.i will be giggling when i do the workout tomorrow thinking of the comments about Natalie!

    7. Your review was too funny! I’m on day 2 and very sore but I will continue until I reach my goal. Thanks for the laughter. 🙂

  4. I say the same things when I’m telling people about 30 Day Shred. Every time Jillian tells me I can’t take a break, I obsess about taking a break! Her pep talks don’t work on me. By the way, can anyone else figure out if she’s calling her best girls “bod” or “bud”? That really irks me. The quick fix has been to mute the audio and put on my own music.

  5. U guys are suppose to be hoping to get in a better shape and jilians workout helped alot of people including me so quit being petty and whiny like a little jealous baby and try to work hard to be like the people in the video they werent born that way they worked hard to become like this and guess what if i have natalie’s physique i will freaking smile and let my hair down and do whatever i want cause i can . So if u dobt like the video cause it is so hard for u just dont do it and go do a dance workout or whatever without being insulting to other people’s work there should be more decency

    1. This sounded like a twelve year old comment xD Please review basic grammar and spelling and try again.

      Also, I thought I was the only one who thought Natalie resembled the popular girls in that Mean Girls movie with her “smiles”. I found them super fake hahaha! On the whole I like the workout, but I do agree with your points.

    3. Ok Solieman, we get it…you’re sooo serious!! Don’t laugh or smile, you just may have some fun in life! Wouldn’t want that, now would we??

  6. I found this by accident and am so glad I did! Loved the review!

    I started it today so im only on day 1, but hopefully I can get to day 30! Well, thats if the kids stop trying to copy and making me laugh half way through the stomach crunches!

  7. This blog is awesome. If anyone thinks it is petty…they can keep it moving. There are plenty of real things to be riled up about. Good luck with ballet!

  9. Thank you for making me snort with laughter. I just started the programme and now, having read your review, I don’t think I’ll ever see it quite the same way again. Laughing whilst circuit training just burns extra calories, right? Thanks!

  10. Your review was really accurate. But agree with one of the above comments, IF I had Natalie’s body I would smile while doing these work outs too. But I don’t so I sweat instead.

  11. Geez, can some of the people on this comment board just lighten the hell up??! I mean, who cares if the author wants to make fun of some of the things she hates about the DVD?? It’s her opinion people!! And I, for one, happen to agree w/ everything she said! LOL 🙂 She’s not saying she’s NOT going to do the workout, and I doubt very much that she’s “whining” because she can’t do it either! Hellooooo! She did tell us that she used to be into ballet, and ballet is no picnic either! It requires quite a lot of strength!! By the way, I CAN’T stand it when Jillian starts talking about how “you can’t phone it in” and “no breaks” blah, blah…while meanwhile she just walks around the room, and then finally joins in again when they’re pretty much finished with the rep, lol 🙂 However, I’ve found a nice solution to this problem! I just turn the volume on the TV down so low that I can barely hear it, and then crank up my own music instead! I don’t necessarily need to hear what she’s saying, as long as I can see what she’s doing!

  12. Lol. I agree with all of you. Of course I’m pissed when she tells me not to take a break. It hurts! But then I think…. thats why shes in shape and thats also why I bought her dvd. But there’s no need for you guys to get so upset. Its perfectly ok for everyone to have their own opinions. Thats what makes reading all these comments so fun.

  13. I was looking for a real review on 30DS…but the “cons” of this review is ridiculous…really??? this is a review???

  14. I use to work at a gym where there was a 20 minute circuit. The point of a circuit is to maintain a constant high heart rate. Having an increased heart rate for 20+ minutes burns more fat and builds lean muscle. This also requires not taking breaks in order for these workout routines to give you best results. Yes, it may be annoying that you don’t get to take a break, but you will thank yourself when you are 5-10 pounds lighter 🙂

    Trust Jillian, she knows what is good.

  15. I want my diet to be better, certainly, but some days that just isn’t achievable. The supplements helps pick up the slack. And moreover mine exactly taste like a milk shake.

  19. I bought the DVD and loved it. I have already lost 10 pound within a month. I would loose more if I would not eat Shiver from TCBY 🙁 But this is my treat. I have herniated disc problem. But I do not feel any pain even after doing these intense exercises. I love the level 2 most. So I do it most of the time instead of level 3. Just to let you know, I have started seeing my baby muscle!!!!

  20. One thing Natalie is smiling to make the people doing the exercises feel better and so is the ginger one and your just hating on her because your jealous and Lillian tells you that ‘your well on your way go get shredded’ to motivate you and also everyone one knows that you have to lose weight on your arms and legs to lose it on your stomach jumping jacks work on a lot of your muscles attacking a lot of flab and finally crunches are ab workouts and even if there weren’t any ab workouts its called the 30 day shred which makes you lose weight not tone your body overall your complaints are a load of crap have a nice day 🙂

  22. I think that your personal opinion made me smile now and then. Of course, working out and feeling pain while watching Natalie smile, could be annoying. But, her smile is meant to encourage as viewers to do the workout. Similarly, Jillian breaks during the workout to approach each girl are meant for a close-up and comments, which is totally normal and helpful. In addition, she is constantly talking to us to motivate us and push us. This is hard to manage while also moving, and without her words, I doubt any of us would find this video reflective of Jillian the though personal trainer.
    All in all, we all chose to do the workout because it is Jillian’s personality and reputation that give this DVD credibility, so let us all have a good laugh now and then without disrespecting a person’s work.

  23. I bought these supplements because of all of the benefits they offer. The fact of the matter is it’s just way too much energy. I found myself jumping all day.

  25. I disagree. I lost 15 lbs in 4 mths doing JM. Yes, I did the Paleo diet too but I think she really pushed me to lose the weight. I don’t look at them when I work out b/c, true, they are kinda dumb. It’s better if you focus on your form or look at a mirror while working out instead of looking at them anyway. I think she’s offering a free trial at http://www.motivatedtostart.com/jillianmichaels I hope this helps!

  30. Worst workout DVD – you lose no weight, and instead gain. She does not mention anything about doing the diet with it unlit you have practically killed yourself in level 3.
    Would not recommend.

  32. LOL I’m so glad other people get just as irked by Jillians cheesy comments as me! I usually find myself sweating and dying thinking “oh just STFU Jillian!” I know Natalie and Anita aren’t cheating… maybe I am just a little!

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