Anyone else doing Caroline Girvan's EPIC programme?

Get well soon @BigButtons. How are you feeling today?

I did the day 35 HIIT today. Modified a lot of the jumping but I did enjoy it. Tabata style meant no matter how hard it only lasts 20 seconds.

@BigButtons i hope you feel better soon. Maybe some time off from the hardcore exercise and doing some more gentle stuff would help? I absolutely love Yoga with Adrienne and she has yoga videos for every scenario - "for when you are in a bad mood" "for when you are sad", "for when you are tired" etc. I love her kindness and warmth, can feel it even through the TV.

I did Calisthenetics Day 4 today (as it was the next one on the Full Body Bodyweight playlist.) Some of it was very tough! But some felt very easy - Plank to Hover is no problem I think because we do that a lot in yoga, so I'm practiced in it. But plank side dips are my nemesis!

Oh no @BigButtons, I hope you feel better soon. The Italians have this thing about how a change of season can make you feel under the weather. I guess it’s nearer to autumn in the U.K. so maybe it’s affecting you? I never used to believe in this theory (a bit like the lethal draughts), but then I noticed that I did tend to feel grotty or come down with something mild around the same time each year which did coincide with the change of season, so maybe there is something in it?

I did day 31 on a rug, not too dire but I really really hate the hip thrusts. They almost make me feel sick, I don’t know why. Still, got through it, I don’t know what state my glutes will be tomorrow, hopefully not as bad as my hamstrings after the RDL day.

@FlowerArranger I used to do a fair amount of Jake Dupree, always found his sessions fairly tortuous but maybe now with my new found fitness I’ll find them easier. I might opt for one of his workouts instead of the Tabata on day 35.

I did think of flitting between CG workouts but as I’ve convinced myself there’s method in her madness and a reason for why she focusses on different areas in different days, I want to progress with one series to see the benefits and how they pan out. Or maybe it’s not that scientific?

It seems we are feeling a bit fragile right now...

At times like these I revert to my old favourites. Even if I only do Lucy's legs and Rebecca's abs, plus maybe a bit of light tabata courtesy of Anna or Mr Pollard, I feel I've done something worthwhile. Especially if I don't pig out on food I definitely shouldn't eat

Well, we had a storm last night and my yoga mat which I left outside on my balcony has blown away and is nowhere to be found! So I’m desperately searching for a semi soft rug at least to do today’s session (I imagine with abs there is mat work?). What a pain! I’m not sure I have time to pop out and get a new one today.

Morning team!

@Moonflower12345
good to know! I'm just working through the 74-strong Full Bodyweight Workouts playlist - did the 'Chilled Cardio' this morning. Certainly didn't feel very chilled, but it was fun. I am really bad at burpees though.

You guys sound like you need a session with the lovely Jake DuPree:

@ladybranstonpickle I really loved tempo week! Definitely one of my favourites.

@Melassa I found the EMOM so hard. I really had to psyche myself up for them.

I didn't fancy this weeks videos (1000 rep legs and 500 rep shoulder this week so far!) so started Epic Heat yesterday. I was going to wait til kids go back to school but it's only 2 weeks and nothing else really appealed. Day 1 was complexes, 3 minutes which I found really, really long. Day 2 today, shoulders and much better!

I wimped out yesterday with the excuse of no time, but I was tired. I had an unexpected period that wiped me out, I’d forgotten how draining they were. Having done EMOM today I was right to postpone a day as I had more energy today.

@BigButtons I found the holds challenging on some of the moves in the isometric session.

I did kind of get my heart rate up in the EMOM, but the push up session was pure pain. I did most without going all the way, so regular and triceps push ups at 90° arms instead of right down to the floor. In fact even CG took it slow and paused between push ups. The next HIIT session is Tabata, which doesn’t entice.

Tomorrow is glutes and abs, after the last glutes session my hamstrings were sore for days.

I keep ploughing on in the hope that I will emerge a finely sculpted butterfly. Some hope, but I’m eternally optimistic!

I think day 30 EMOM pushups will forever be etched in my memory... I'm really not feeling it today. Exhausted from poor sleep and dragged myself through the 1 HR workout except I modified about 50% of it as I didn't feel safe doing the Bulgarian lunges to 1 leg decline pushups. My chair is too high for me so the decline is really steep! I really need to rest day tomorrow so going to take it easy.

Did the EMOM today - day 30. I should have done it yesterday but started work again and didn’t manage to wedge it between calls. Not too bad but too many sessions! I started doing fewer reps of some of the abs as otherwise I didn’t get any rest, during the later sessions I slowed down a lot. The legs weren’t too bad but oh my the push up session! I could barely manage 5 tricep ones on my knees! I don’t think I’ll ever manage a tricep push-up, despite the fact I used to do a lot of chaturanga in yoga. Mind you if I did a full one to the ground I’d do an up dog or cobra to get off the ground, not back to plank and down again!

Thanks for the advice on the dumbells! I'm pretty strong, did a lot of weightlifting and my yoga practice involves a lot of chaturangas etc.

For now, I haven't got any so I'm working my way through her bodyweight only full body playlist - did a TEMPO one this morning. Wow was super hard! I managed about 80% I think but some of the explosive movements were really tough.

My mum has offered to sponsor the exercise bike, but I had the same idea as you @Moonflower12345 to get a cheapy one first and see if I like it. There seem to be a lot on gumtree etc for about £100. When we move I will investigate further!

Re: CG fb groups.. I’m in both, the over 50’s and the general group. Some people in those are truly nuts but what creeps me out is the insane adulation of CG. Well she is lovely and beautiful but some people take worship bit far..

Checking in after a small break. Not a break from working out just that life just got too busy for a while to keep updating here.

We’re on a week’s holiday now and I decided to have a full break from lifting for the duration. We’re walking a lot and being other ways active though.

When back home, my plan is to do a week’s mash up with CG stand alone workouts and once DC are back to school, I’ll start on the Epic finally. It’ll take me longer than 12 weeks though as I want to include few yoga days within every week too.

@BigButtons - have you ever discussed your genetic curvature and the types of exercise you can safely do with a physiotherapist? Might be a good idea if you haven't as you could potentially risk injury...

I only use 3 and 5kg weights and have seen great results. I don't think you need to lift heavy, necessarily. Definitely work on your form before you up your weights!

No extra gym equipment here, I do have an ancient totalgym thing which doubles as an excellent clotheshorse!

I do see an awful lot of second hand pelotons/exercise bikes on ebay at the moment, so I suspect they are a nice idea but maybe don't get much use for most people. Good intentions and all that! Maybe you could get a cheap one to see if you like it then invest in a more expensive one once you see how you've got on?

@FlowerArranger that set up looks comfy! I may invest in another spongy mat.

@ladybranstonpickle I started with 3kg weights and it was about a month before I moved up to 5kg. That's still plenty hard work for me now so not moving up for a bit. Definitely seeing change in the shape of my arms and legs so they are working!

Active rest day today and did some low impact HIIT again alongside the 3 minute plank. My weight hasn't changed at all but I managed to get into a dress that I could zip up 2 months ago so I'm pretty happy with that!