30 Day Shred DVD

[Anonymous]

So, because so many people on here recommend the 30 Day Shred DVD I tried it about 3 weeks ago. I did it for 2 nights in a row (total). I then had to stop b/c it tore my knees up so bad that they swelled up like oranges. Both of them! I am really out of shape but not really overweight. Worked out a ton more when I was overweight, actually. But due to a series of struggles, really haven't worked out in about 2+ years.

My knees are just now functioning again but still feeling some little tweaks here and there. (oh and yes, I did the "easier" version of the DVD). Bad knees on both sides of family and I am 40 so I guess this is just life now.

Any recommendations for a gentler dvd that might help me burn some calories and tone up? Feeling super pathetic.

[Anonymous]

I've posted before that I'm a big Cathe Friedrich fan. She has a Low Impact Series (but high intensity) that would be easier on your knees. She is equipment-heavy, though, so you may need to invest in a few pieces. I have all of these except for the cycle DVD and that's because I don't have a spin bike. Good luck.

http://shop.cathe.com/workout_routines_shock_cardio_s/94.htm

[Anonymous]

PP here again. Collage Video (online retailer of home exercise DVDs) is going out of business, so you can find them cheaper on that site.

[Anonymous]

Jillian Michaels is big on lunges, but you can modify those if you like the rest of her DVD. Lunges kill my knees so I don't go all the way down, I practice good alignment, or sub them. I think she does fewer lunges in levels 2 and 3, so maybe just get to that?

You can also try her other DVDS--the yoga burn and inferno, as well as the shed and shred, are much easier on the knees (but longer).

I am only focusing on modifying JM in my response because I have no other good suggestions Everything else I do, Jackie Warner, Tae Bo, and P90X, is pretty rough on the knees, too.

Well, P90X much less so. Maybe try to his new P30X series?

Finally, I would suggest doing a quick tutorial: making sure you are using correct form, and definitely doing more of a low impact cardio warm up to get the muscles more limber before working. And stretch a lot AFTER--not just the measly stretch at the end of the video. You can do those, but double or triple the time for each stretch. This will help a lot.

[Anonymous]

Thank you both.

I had a trainer for years so I feel like my lunge is in good shape, that was puzzling me as well. What do you sub in for lunges/squats? I will say I only did her warm-up and cool-down, even though it really seems to be the barest minimum.

I ordered the yoga burn on Netflix then wimped out and didn't do it. I will try again, and also look at the video site PP suggested.

I thought P90X was a ton of jumping and that seems to hurt my knees as well.

[Anonymous]

p90X is jumping if you do the plyo, and the kenpo, which is kicking, will kill your legs I don'trecommend those discs for bad knees. The rest of the discs in the series, including the leg workout, would be fine, but each is at least an hour.

However, the P30 and Tony Horton's Ten minute are a lot less intense and shorter.

I sub in static lunges whenever JM does lunges. Much easier my knees! I believe it is just as muscle building, but it won't burn as many calories, so tradeoffs.

[Anonymous]

NP here. For me, the jumps were what killed my knees and ankles with 30 day shred, especially high knees and tuck jumps. I switched to jumping jacks or jogging in place instead.

[Anonymous]

I love Shred but it kills my knees too!