Anyone else doing Caroline Girvan's EPIC programme?

CG seems to be more focussed on muscle endurance which may not be what you want or need to work on. Don't stick with something if it isn't actually helping you work towards your own goals.

Hi all, finally did EH day16 after putting it off, then travelling, then recovering from travelling. I will say I dislike most triceps exercises, and I still find a lot of them hard, despite progressing everywhere else. I’ve increased weights for biceps, for instance, and even the flies and frontal raises (laterals are still my nemesis), but I can’t seem to upgrade on the triceps, nor is anything getting any easier.

Wow @whatisthisinhere using 10kg for upper body. I can’t seem to get beyond 6kg. I did try 8kg but I felt as if my wrists would snap.

Happy belated birthday @BigButtons! My trip went well but it tired me out, despite there being no jet-lag (I was in the same country!) I was really tired the day after I got back. I used to find travelling exhausting before too but it seems to have got worse. Or maybe I’m just out of practice. Still, great food and nice wine was had, and I bought a huge block of the local cheese 😋

I only have three weights - 5, 8 and 20 kg. The latter I inherited from my son and they are too heavy for most things. If one of the others is too light, I simply do more reps. If on the heavy side I do fewer. Admittedly I'm not as organised or committed as you clearly are, @Anjelika

@whatisthisinhere thanks. I get what you're saying. Maybe I'm just a bit of a wuss! I can lift heavier weights for shoulder presses than for lateral flies or front raises for example so I don't have just one weight per muscle group and I tend to go lighter if in doubt as I'd rather finish the set than have to stop halfway through.

I'll carry on working through the Heat programme though and see if I can sort my weights out a bit better!

@Anjelika
If you know that you need to use a particular weight for lunges, then you'll know the weight you need to use for that in the workout. You can get a selection of weights ready and pick which ones you need to use as you go.
I know that I usually use 15 kg for lunges, elevated squats, shoulder work and rows. I usually use 10 kg for biceps, tricePs and anything involving shoulder work. If the workout has a longer rear period I will up weights, so 20 kg for legs and 15 kg for shoulders etc. You could always change your weight part way if you find it is too light or heavy.

@wetpants the problem I have is I pick up what I think is the right weight but then find it's maybe too light or too heavy but there's no opportunity to change it. However if I were to do the routine again a few days later I'd have a much better idea of what the right weight is for each exercise. But with the programmes you just do another new routine each time rather than getting better at one particular routine. I get what you say about boredom though which is why I was looking for some new routines!

@Anjelika Welcome! I just choose the weights depending on exercise. I go for heaviness that provided enough resistance but one that I can still perform with good form. Not sure what you mean? I personally like the no repeat format, it prevents me getting bored.

Happy belated birthday Bigbuttons !!

I’ve had an unusual week which means my routine is out and less exercise. We’ll also be visiting family over night tomorrow, my next work out won’t be until monday

I had my Dexa scan today. Good news is my visceral fat is very low and my bone density is excellent. However, my muscle mass is low . I wasn’t expecting that.

Can I ask a question? I've been doing weights for over a year now but only discovered CG recently. My usual pattern was to do a lower body workout one day and an upper body on another day then maybe a whole body or just arms. I also run twice a week. I found what I thought were the best lower body routine (HASFit) and the best upper body one (Sydney Cummings) and did these same 2 for a couple of months. I could see I was getting fitter because I was upping my weights every few weeks. In each workout I used a variety of weights - not just one set per workout.

I've been trying to follow Heat but struggle with knowing exactly which weights to use and then, once that routine is done, you're onto the next. I just don't know if this is going to work for me as I need to do a routine once to work out what weights to use next time! Am I the only person who feels like this as everyone else seems happy to do a different routine every day.

@BigButtons...... I've got some decent exercise shorts from M&S. Very cheap and fit well. Been through the wash countless times and still doing the business

[quote BigButtons]@FlowerArranger
I’m deffo getting some good gear- like the gym shark leggings. I tend to work out in shorts though as I get so hot.
@whatisthisinhere how are you finding epic 3? It sounds brutal. How does it compare to heat?[/quote]
The first week, I'll, admit, it was HARD. But this week has felt easier, either she's giving us an easy week or I've progresses. I'm expecting a very tough week coming up.
Compared with Epic Heat, it's harder. The time under tension is linger, and by the 30% mark, I start to really feel it, but then it moves fast and you get to the end and barely notice.

I'm doing Caroline Girvan. I've worked my way through them and now doing Epic 3. I used to think I was fit before I started with Caroline. I can definitely say I'm fit now.

Happy Birthday @BigButtons!!!

I'm on heat day 8. Been under the weather for the past week so moving quite slowly. I agree re nice workout gear. I have a range from sweaty Betty to decathlon and putting them on make me happy.

Know!!!!!!

You absolutely need some decent exercise gear!! You no you deserve it

uk.gymshark.com/products/gymshark-adapt-camo-seamless-leggings-red

Oh, and Belated Happy Birthday, @BigButtons

Hello Everyone - how about an update from you all, including the NotSoRegulars

Today I did a short Tabata courtesy of Anna, plus CG Epic Heat day 9 Calisthenics and Growingannanas Intense Abs (see below).

If you're looking for a change from Rebecca's Best Abs, this is a good one, with the added benefit of lots of planks, so you can skip the Bowflex plank as well - one stone, two birds etc :

@FlowerArranger Dexa scan measures body fat, lean mass and bone density. It’s not designed for determing osteoporoses etc though, it’s defo more about body fat and especially visceral fat.

Last year this time I was 2.7 stone heavier with a very thick waist line. I’ve made big lifestyle changes and now in better health than ever. Just curious to see what my visceral fat is now as well as my bone density.