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Original poster

Anyone else doing Caroline Girvan's EPIC programme?

894 replies

BigButtons · 22/07/2021 15:50

I thought I was pretty fit and toned. I have exercised consistently most of my life: weights, cardio, hit, running etc ( now 53). I have just finished day 8 of EPIC and feel like a complete wuss. It was the lunges one. I wanted to be sick even though I was standing infront of a large fan the entire time.
How do people actually manage to get through these? I have just looked ahead to the burpee day and feel like I am simply not up to this. Sad

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ManxRhyme · 03/09/2021 22:25

I'm finishing epic definitely. Even if I have to stretch it out over the next few weekends. We've come so far!

Original poster
BigButtons · 03/09/2021 21:12

I feel bad a bit because I want to finish Epic but the time is just too long. Think I will keep going with heat, but it feels wrong 🥴

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ManxRhyme · 03/09/2021 19:55

Thanks @Moonflower12345. I think I'll do epic heat next. Autumn term is always a bit of an assault course for me anyway and I don't want to start dropping the exercise because I can't fit it in.

Moonflower12345 · 03/09/2021 19:06

I have done epic 1 and 2 and now heat and really really love the shorter workouts. I'm so much fitter now that it isn't that they seem easier, they are still hard, but they fly by. I struggled a bit towards the end of epic 2 as some of the workouts felt really long, so interested to see how long epic 3 workouts are. I think I'll decide then what to do about switching from heat.

Original poster
BigButtons · 03/09/2021 17:14

ouchie ouchie that shoulder routine was painful! I started with 5s quickly dropped to 4s and went back up to 5s for the last couple. My shoulders were literally hot! Not sweating, just pain!

I chuckled at her intro "If you find this really hard then .....good"

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ManxRhyme · 03/09/2021 16:43

I've still got 2 more weeks of epic to go so will wait for the feedback re epic 3.epic heat sounds so appealing time wise.

Original poster
BigButtons · 03/09/2021 16:24

@ManxRhyme ooh- I'll bear that in mind re day 40. Am about to do day 2 epic heat and try and destress myself with dumbbells.
I thought my legs would really feel it after day one, but they've been fine.
If I remember to pull my abs in today then I'll get a bonus abs workout at the same time- win win!
I suppose it depends on the length of Epic 3 workouts? wee are all time poor now so maybe she will make them all shorter?

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ManxRhyme · 03/09/2021 16:14

Oh decisions decisions. Should I do epic 2 next, skip to epic 3 or do epic heat instead as I'm so time pressed now that kids are back at school and the hamster wheel of extracurricular stuff have restarted?

Did day 40 HIIT with dumbells yesterday and because i was short of time today, I did it again today 😂 my fav of her HIIT sessions I think. Intense but not crazy esp if you go low on the DB weights.

FlowerArranger · 03/09/2021 15:47

Hey @BigButtons - give yourself a break! You deserve it Smile

Just do half a CG and, if you want, supplement with a short Rebecca, Lucy, whatever. The other CG half will still be there the next day.

Incidentally, if you search Lucy Wyndham Read Pear Shape, you'll find lots more great leg workouts. None more than 10-15 minutes.

Original poster
BigButtons · 03/09/2021 15:15

@Melassa I know! During the hour one the bar doesn't move very quickly and I get so close to giving up before 50%.

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Original poster
BigButtons · 03/09/2021 15:12

Ineteresting re Epic 3. I wonder if it will hour long sessions again? They are unworkable for me atm. I am squashed between my teens' demands, being a taxi, working and visiting my mum who is freshly out of hospital. She fell again last night and cut her head open.

I don't seem to have a spare minute and it's so frustrating. I am determined to fir in epic heat day 2 arms this afternoon and do one other over the weekend.
I need it to de-stress ( I will also be using alcohol later to the same ends)

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Moonflower12345 · 03/09/2021 14:31

Ooh Epic 3 from Monday! Yay!! I did hope she would do another series but wondered if she'd start it when kids go back (she has kids herself too).

I'm 2 weeks into epic Heat and enjoying it a lot so will give it a couple of days to decide whether to stick with that or start epic 3. I like doing it the same day as everyone else 'live' but I am not keen on the Thursday rest day so might wait a week or 2.

AnnaDyne · 03/09/2021 12:02

I did day 1 of the Epic Beginners today which was too lungey for me really. I'm hoping this is because it's a lower body one and day 2 isn't a lower body one. ( My knee issue also caused by misaligned hips).

I also did Lucy's thigh workout which was short and good! (I need short or I get very distracted)

I might try a few more of Lucy's too, as I quite like her.

Melassa · 03/09/2021 10:10

Just did heat day 2, unlike yesterday I didn’t really break a sweat, although my arms are a bit trembly. I like the short sessions, quite apart from anything seeing the ticker rapidly get to 50% is heartening, on the Epic series full body days it seem to linger in the teens for ages!

Melassa · 03/09/2021 08:14

I did the Heat day 1 yesterday, blessedly short! Although after nearly 3 days of being immobile and hunched over my laptop I did notice my fitness had slipped already. How quickly you lose it after a certain age! I wasn’t overly impressed with the Heat warm up, but maybe only because I had got used to the Epic warm up which was shorter.

I will try day 2 shortly then I need to go to the office

Original poster
BigButtons · 02/09/2021 18:16

@FlowerArranger I’ll do the plank one this evening and the legs one too. I’m
More likely to fit the plank one in daily since it’s only 3 mins. Nothing else CG wise for me today. Straight from teaching into my teens at home. I will get no peace until I go to bed.

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FlowerArranger · 02/09/2021 17:34

Ah, thanks @BigButtons Smile

The killer thigh workout from Lucy is linked in my post above. It really is good!

Forgot to mention the importance of planks:

I do this one most days and boy, has it helped to strengthen my core Grin

And on days when I just want a good all round workout, there's the lovely Jake DuPree:

After all, this should be fun!!!

Original poster
BigButtons · 02/09/2021 16:19

True about the hips and ankles. I’m pretty sure much of my knee issues were due to weak hips.
LWR does a killer thigh workout, all lying on the floor!

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Original poster
BigButtons · 02/09/2021 16:18

@AnnaDyne
@FlowerArranger gives great advice.
CG is very hard- even for those who think they are fit and strong!

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FlowerArranger · 02/09/2021 16:03

@AnnaDyne - I'd start off with 3 and 5 kg.
I usually work put early in the mornings. It's done and I actually feel more energised than tired.

Cori from Redefining Strength has several videos on dodgy knees:

Its important to improve the strength not only of the muscles that surround the knees, but also hips and ankles.

I credit Lucy's thighs workout, which I do almost every day, with my great skiers legs:

Rebecca for abs and arms (turn the sound right down...):

Do these 3, plus some Growingannanas HIIT, to prepare for Caroline Girvan. She has a Beginners EPIC programme, but even that is quite tough. I'd also suggest to do these and similar in between CG days. Just go at your own pace! Smile

AnnaDyne · 02/09/2021 13:22

thanks both. Is there a list of equipment/weights you need to start off with?

Original poster
BigButtons · 02/09/2021 12:30

@Melassa that’s good idea which epic/ epic heat.
It was a blessed friend to have it all over in 39 mins and I felt a bit guilty( madly) and that I should be doin more.
Now I am back at work and my mum is finally gone from hospital and will require some care , my time will be pinched .
I am finding my 7kgs getting slightly not heavy enough, or they are certainly feeling less effort for leg work. Trouble is if I need them up them I won’t be able to use them at all for arms and will have to stick with the 5s.

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Original poster
BigButtons · 02/09/2021 12:25

@AnnaDyne I agree with @Melassa.
My knees used to be white but since doing epic they have actually really improved. I am guessing that the ligaments/ muscles have strengthened and are holding them in place better.
I have to be careful on positioning and never do lunge jumps for that reason.
CG does a lot of leg work though so bear that in mind.

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Melassa · 02/09/2021 11:10

Hi all, I’ve been a bit under the weather and short of time so skipped yesterday too (after crowing that I’d got to week 7!). As I’m a bit short of time and following @BigButtons suggestion I will try a Heat session today in my lunch break instead as I simply don’t have an hour free. I’ll do the Epic sessions at the weekend instead.

@AnnaDyne my knees are fucked too but I’ve managed the lunges and squats in Epic, you just need to be doubly careful to ensure your knee is not over your toe and take it slowly. For the squats for instance I really stick my bum out behind me so I don’t put pressure on my knees. Just avoid doing those jumping lunges as I nearly came a cropper after those once. I can do burpees though, maybe just don’t tuck your knees in so much?

As for finding the time I’m currently wfh so I’ve been doing them in my lunch hour, but I have no idea how I’ll fit them in on the days I go back to the office. I am not an early riser at all and barely function in the mornings, I’d probably do myself harm if I try to lift weights at 7am!

For equipment you need some weights, start light then build up as you get stronger.

AnnaDyne · 02/09/2021 09:51

hi all. I want to start some weight exercises (as I'm of an age etc etc) but have some questions if that's ok (sorry for interrupting).

  • what equipment do I need (if I wanted to do Epic beginners/Epic). Where can I get it from?
  • when do you fit it into your lives? I work full time, have school age children and already do yoga most days. My aerobic exercise is peloton and cycling
  • knees! Mine are completely fucked and I've had to stop running. Is Epic ok for knees? I cannot do burpees at all.