Getting fitter and stronger with Caroline Girvan- all welcome!

Finished the Epic Beginner last night, with an HIIT horror involving burpees at the end of each set. I HATE burpees and they make me cross. I managed one in the same time that she did five.

Now have to decide which programme to do! Not sure I can commit to a workout a day, as some seem to expect...

Hahaha. Nope! I'm also maxing out at 12.5 for chest press and rows (although I do chest press a 30kg bar with my PT). But I'm hip thrusting and sumo squatting a single 15 quite comfortably, so I'm merely thinking about buying a single 17.5 for those purposes, and only ever investing in a second if I do someday reach that threshold.

@GregBrawlsInDogJail you are chest pressing and rowing 17,5kg? Wow! I can just about manage 12,5kg but not for 3 sets.
Regarding kettlebells, it's a good option as you can just buy one but you need to go heavier than you would on a dumbbell. I currently use a 20kg dumbells for sumo squats but want to go heavier so either a 25kg dumbbell or a 32kg kettlebell

I've thought about that but I think a dumbbell is more long-term versatile against the theoretical day I am rowing or chest-pressing 17.5s. We do have a barbell (and I also work out in an actual heavily subsidised gym onsite at my office) but I must admit I prefer the dumbbells.

Agree with the weights I can't get on with adjustable dumbells my DH has some. I "treat" myself to a size up when needed via eBay - second hand weights are much cheaper and I have also found some new ones on there from factory discount sites. Worth having a hunt round for given the price.

Snap! I'm up to 15kg pairs but could do with something slightly heavier for sumo squats - I'm wondering if a kettlebell would be good for that?

I'm eyeing up a single 17.5kger now for sumo squats and hip thrusts 😁it's a happy, happy day when you're ready to order a new, heavier weight. But yes, expensive...

The heavier weights are indeed expensive. I treat myself to a new pair every so often as I need to go heavier - as previous posters have said, your rate of increase does slow with time. That plus the app membership still works out a lot cheaper than a gym membership and the commuting costs to get there.

When I started I had a set of 2kg, 3kg and 5kg and I managed to find a pair of 6kgs in Argos for 20 quid.

@roundcork are you doing the beginner's program on the app? It looks excellent, Caroline explaining in detail how to do each lift. I agree your weights are too light. You might find some second hand, I've bought some like that, otherwise it's Decathlon.
I've stopped Beastmode temporarily and am doing full body 1 hour workouts from Epic 1 and 2, plus add ons from the the Christmas Advent series on the App. They are short workouts, but very, very intense! Her programmes are so well thought out. It's been nearly a year since I started training with her and from being a skinny but saggy runner I have a firm body all over with lots of muscle definition.

Heavier weights are expensive, there's no way around that. You have to weigh (...sorry) that up against the cost of gym membership.

They're annoying and fiddly but the cheapest option is adjustable dumbbells. I get most of my weights from Decathlon, which is good value.

I get my dumbbells from Argos or Factory Weights.

@roundcork - two things. Which series are you actually doing? EPIC Beginnersquickly is only about 5 workouts, not 15, and it is meant to familiarize you with all the different moves. If you are not familiar with working out with dumbbells it is a good idea to do the Beginners until you feel totally comfortable.

Weights: far too light. 1 and 3kg is what you'd use for HIIT and other cardio type workouts that use weights. I started out with 3 and 5kg and moved up to 8, 10 and 12kg - initially fairly quickly, but much more gradually after a year or two.

Important to work on your core too - planks and abs work - as it makes lifting so much easier.

Yep. If you aren't feeling the burn and desperately counting down the clock to hold out until the end of the set once you're a few sets in, you need to check your technique or up your weights or both.

Yes definitely up your weights if you don't feel like it's hard work. You should feel at or close to muscle failure at the end of each set.

Wait till you get to feel pretty good about your 6-pack wayyyyyyy down the line. I'm nearly 70 and I'm soooooo glad that I've been doing this for 4+ years now. And EPIC Heat is the one I always come back to.

Can I brag, just a tiny little bit?

Epic Heat has been keeeeeeling meeeee, but it is incredible what having stuck with Caroline this long plus a very small amount of weight loss has done for my muscle definition. I genuinely seem to be... getting a six-pack? And as a 40yo who's had two full term babies, I feel pretty good about that.

We've all been there... 😂

MAN ALIVE. Just did the beginner Epic day 2, and can barely move my arms. I didn't even do everything properly - a lot of planks on my knees etc. Still, the only way is up!

Thank you! I in fact found that list just after I’d posted. This is quite exciting!

There ard program guides for each program on her website. For instance, here is EPIC Heat:

https://www.carolinegirvan.com/

Just pick a program and do the workouts in sequence. For instance, EPIC heat starts of like this:

Legs
Shoulders
Legs
Full body
HIIT
Chest & triceps
Legs
Back & biceps
Calisthenics
HIIT
Etc up to workout 50

Just remember to do a good warmup and a few stretches at the end. Plus a rest day once a week or so if you work out daily.

Sorry for dumb beginner question, but is there a guide anywhere about what each programme involves, advice on what to each week, etc? I like the idea of a structured programme to follow that I can just mindlessly do every other day, and not have to think about. If I start scrolling around wondering about HIIT, or abs only, or whatever, I'll just give up.

Here is EPIC beginners, which is a good place to start as it teaches the basic moves:

After that, it's up to you. EPIC 1 and 2 are actually longer or more intense than some of her other programmes. I'd suggest scrolling through a full-body workouts of some of her programmes to find one that you like and go with that.

My personal favourite is EPIC Heat.