EPIC!! Losing, gaining and groaning with Caroline Girvan

Day 44 done today, apart from the maker medley not too bad. Mindful of what @BigButtons wrote I stuck to 6kg throughout. It was a sweat fest and I got my heart rate up so all good. I’m toying with doing a glute add on what I get back from my walk as I’m aware that with my aversion to hip thrusts I’ve been avoiding all the glute days. I found one tagged onto day 43 that is all old school donkey kicks etc.

My shoulder is still sore so I’m not pushing on the weights, I’ll keep it low for the next couple of weeks, then build up again when feeling better.

Day 27 endgame completed and glad my arms got a rest today. I used my 5kg throughout but had to drop to 3kg just for the foot elevated deadstop lunges which I found really hard even body weight only. Netball was hard work in the rain and wind yesterday but we won by 44 goals so not too pressured and I was rewarded with a trip to the local curry house for dinner.

I drop the weights whenever I have to - there is no shame! If my knees are playing up I do lunges unweighted. I don't want to actually hurt myself, and nor should you buttons x

I think you're wise to drop the weights, @BigButtons. I pushed through against my better judgment 10 days ago and, despite two physio sessions, I'm still hurting. I've come to accept that it really is "me against me". Challenging myself is fine, but I'd rather do less than I can than risk further injury.

Just completed endgame day 26 which was so many push-ups!! I had very wobbly arms towards the end and pushed through the 100 cobras. Multi-tasking today listening to a work broadcast during the workout and meant I had time for the abs add-on. I’m going to try to do abs work more often and found today’s much better than the twisted one. My week is all out of kilter so an active rest day for me tomorrow with netball again.

Try putting a large book (aka a coffe-table book...) on the sofa for those Bulgarian lunges.

did Endgame Day 3 Glutes last night (took a rest day on Weds rather than Thursday due to toddler logistics!). I am really enjoying the workouts, the slower pace seems to be hitting the spot for me at the moment. Although the 100 rep finishers are SO HARD! I actually think its more of a mental thing than physical, although the hip thrusts were really difficult last night. I am looking forward to the Full Body tonight, although I loathe Bulgarian lunges. I can never get comfortable, I've tried a dining chair (too tall), a stepstool (too low), the sofa seat (too soft), and just can't get it to work. I do as many as I can but often give up and swap to a regular floor lunge.

I've saved day 49 for myself! Thanks. Didn't really enjoy today's arms and abs much (had to swap out the press-ups) and I'm rubbish at biceps - hey ho.

Happy to hear you like Tim bigbuttons.

Had an active rest day today (did a run) and day 29 tomorrow. It's full body but all the comments I read seem to suggest it's quite cardio-y.

Thanks for reminding me of EPIC 1 Day 49. It's a good one, but I'm finding it more difficult than expected. Two days skiing in heavy snow may have something to do with my stiffness, but I think I definitely need to start focusing on flexibility over strength. I'm planning to do the last 20 minutes of this workout every day until further notice!

@BigButtons, I remember enjoying day 49 epic 1 although I found some of the stretch part challenging which was a surprise. I’ve never done yoga, Pilates etc so not very flexible.
Day 25 endgame for me after 2 rest days (slightly unintentional but last minute world book day costume creation had to come first). Like others I found this easier than some of her HIIT although the short rest breaks does always get me in the end. I did the 10 min twisted abs add on which I really struggled with. I think my abs have gone backwards since epic 1 as there is less in endgame if you don’t do the add-ons which I rarely have time for (can’t remember how I found time for 50min WOs in epic 1).

@fishonabicycle I have arthritis in some of my fingers and the base of my thumb so struggle with press ups too.

Rest day for me and feel ready for it. Will do yesterday's glutes one tomorrow as went for a run yesterday.

Back to End game after a break (been doing random workouts instead). So day 17 legs - 100 Bulgarian finisher! Good to be back on track ... Tough but doable - used 9kg handweights throughout. Unfortunately I can't really do many press-ups any more - I definitely have arthritis in my right wrist, and it just hurts pretty quickly (even holding heavy weights is a challenge - really frustrating). But it seems a few of us are working round injuries.

@BigButtons I think I'll only see a difference when the weather warms up and my arms and shoulders come out of hibernation!

I know CG has always said triceps and biceps get exercised as part of overall upper body work but she definitely seems to do more tricep specific than bicep specific work! O might try that bicep one you mentioned at some point.

I'm a few days behind as I've been ill. Did day 36 yesterday which was a shoulder and back one which I really enjoyed. I've reduced weights to 5kg too (mostly because I don't seem to be able to manage with 6kg anymore ) but have noticed a real difference in my shoulders and arms.

I have been mostly grappling with my perimenopausal diet and weight gain and trying to understand what is happening. I've come to the conclusion I need to take all sugar out of my diet, up my protein, but not go keto. What worked for me even a year ago in terms of quickly losing a couple of pounds doesn't work anymore.

Have also been unable to do yoga but it's all been ok - I've realised I don't need to run around frantically exercising (of course this might explain some of the pounds I've gained....).

I'm looking forward to seeing that CG does next, but if there's a gap, I think I'll take a look at Heat next.

I did Day 42 yesterday too. I'm finding the 1 minute of reps with just 20 secs rest in between quite challenging. Good to have an upper body one with no press ups for a change.

Anyone else get the feeling CG doesn't much like biceps? I often come away from her upper body workouts feeling mine haven't really been challenged.