Getting fitter and stronger with Caroline Girvan- all welcome!

@pharmachameleon - i wouldn't get too hung up about gaining 2 lb since muscles weigh more than fat. I'm about6 or 8 lb heavier than I was at my slimmest, but most of my old clothes fit again since I started working out with Caroline. Maybe use a measuring tape as well as scales?

@bluesuitcase I weigh myself every morning. I know that's probably not healthy but I've done it for years and it works for me. As I know I've put on 2 pounds I'll cut my carbs a bit over the next few days and have no chocolate after dinner!

I can feel my abs this morning - in a good way!

I haven’t weighed or measured - I was considering just going by my clothes and how I look and feel. I’m not one for photos either. I’m wondering if I should though. I haven’t weighed for years.

I’m eating healthily alongside it. I’d got into a rut last year of eating breakfast when I hadn’t for years, and this change along with lack of exercise led to weight gain. So I’ve gone back to not having breakfast, and eating a light lunch as late as possible, then eating a healthy dinner. So 16:8 or thereabouts.

Ugh I've only been doing CG for 1 week and I've put on 2 pounds!! I must be eating more. I'm never over 9st and I was 9st 2 this morning. I think it's making me feel hungrier and my usual eating has gone out the window. I'll need to pull it back.

That is brutal! My getting up early time is your normal time.

Although that hasn't worked for me today and won't tomorrow. A couple of late nights - just finished work now- mean my morning slot doesn't work. I'm effectively taking my weekend rest days in the middle of the week and will pick it again when these deadlines have passed.

Iron D3 …interrupted so had to stop at about 83% :(

I’ve toyed with the idea of getting up earlier but that would mean a 5:15 / 5:30 start which is especially brutal in winter. I already get up at 6:00 / 6:15 to get 3DC out in time as school starts at 8am where I am. I may try and talk myself into it!

Thanks

If I want to add it something like Lucy’s thighs and glutes, should I do it on a leg day or non leg day (or am I supposed to rest my legs?).

I don't think it matters. I've done both, depending on how I feel, though in practice I'm probably more likely to work something else if ive alreadydone a legs workout, e.g. Rebecca's Best Abs or Bingo Wings.

Beginners day 2 completed here too. It confirmed my upper body is my weakness! Good job I like the Cobra!

I felt my legs a little this morning too, which never usually happens. I’m going to do my own cool down/ stretches afterwards from now on, as I think the ones I’m used to doing make a difference.

If I want to add it something like Lucy’s thighs and glutes, should I do it on a leg day or non leg day (or am I supposed to rest my legs?). I fancy doing something else later.

Beginners Day 2 in the bag - ow, my wrists! And the ache from Day 1 is setting into my legs and bum. Which I see as a good thing!

@chloechloe the only time I can do this is before everyone else gets up, which is brutal but better than continuing to get less fit - could you?

You’ve got me intrigued about the macro check @ladybranstonpickle , I’ll have to go and have a look.

I’m early 40s and haven’t looked into whether fasting raises cortisol etc. But I think some forms of it make sense from an evolutionary perspective. Back when we didn’t have electricity, people went to bed when it got dark and didn’t sit on the couch at 10pm eating chocolate and drinking wine. IMO doing something like a 16:8 fast every or most days should be a good thing. Doing a 5:2 fast on the other hand where you have 2 very low calories days doesn’t seem to me to be a good idea and I can imagine that would raise cortisol.

I did 16:8 for a while but can’t say it helped me lose weight, as I was still eating 3 meals in a shorter window. It really does make a difference to sleep though. I have an Oura ring which can tell from my sleep stats if I have eaten late at night.

As for CG, I was planning on getting back on track today as school has just gone back where I am. As luck would have it DD1 is off sick so my plans are out the window!

Thank you. Wow, it won’t take anywhere near 13.5kg to challenge me!

Thank you. I’ll definitely be using lighter weights. I have strong legs but my upper strength isn’t so great.

I found EPIC 3 easier, but YMMV. None of them are 'easy'.

Just remember, it's you versus you. You are allowed to use (much) lighter weights, go slower, take longer breaks, modify, substitute.

As long as you keep challenging yourself. That's the key. Always try to progress over time, even if you cut yourself some slack every and again.
.

I’ve read somewhere that epic 3 is easier than epic 1, is that the case?

Thanks, I’ll have a look at Iron but it sounds a bit scary!

Oh, and welcome to@WishIWasACavewoman as well!!

If someone of my advanced age can get super fit, you can too!! 😁

Great to have you here,@bluesuitcase !
I'm sure you won't regret it. You may swear at times, but the feeling of empowerment and achievement is so worth it.

@ladybranstonpickle - I've spent too much time worrying about macros and found that keeping it simple works for me. You know, "eat food, not too much, mostly plants" - plus a moderate amount of lean protein.

I managed to gain 5lb over the festive season, but I'm back to intermittent fasting and aim for around 1400 calories a day. I have already lost 2lb, even though I don't weigh food - but I've got a rough idea what 1400 calories feels like. Not drinking calories and filling up with soup helps.

Hi everyone, I’d like to join you all if that’s ok. I was redirected here from my recent thread on YouTube workouts (I did Jillian workouts regularly for years and am now ready to get back into exercise after a long break)

I’ve just done Epic beginners day 1 and enjoyed it. I’m loving the no talking, the counters for each exercise (the beeps really help), and the progress bar. The exercises were ok too 😄 I was familiar with most of the moves, though there were a couple of new ones I hadn’t done before. I’m looking forward to day 2! I’m planning to go onto Epic 3 after the beginner workouts.

I read through this thread over the weekend; FlowerArranger and BigButtons you are such an inspiration! You all are. I’m hoping to keep this up alongside a healthy diet and fingers crossed it won’t be too long before I see results, and feel fitter and stronger.

Morning Girvanators! I am into the last week of IRON. I've definitely got much stronger, but don't feel like I've leaned out much. I think I need to dial into my diet a bit more, didn't go mad over Xmas but definitely eased up a bit on tracking and had a few more 'treats' than I do usually.

Thinking about getting a macro check in the infamous Macro Facebook group. Although I really don't want to start weighing my food! I'm not sure if i am eating enough/too much/wrong timing. It's just bewildering out there - now the latest thing I am hearing is that intermittent fasting is bad for women in thei 40s as it can raise cortisol....but then others say it's good because it offers a chance for autophagy (cell repair).

Well done to the newbies, the first few are always the hardest!

Woo hoo! Just done EPIC beginners day 1!

I have a looong way to go before I reach FlowerArranger's level and I couldn't do the single leg squat thing at all, but I'm so glad to be underway. Thanks for all the guidance on here!