Lifting with Caroline Girvan 2024: What's not to love?!

It's very quiet here, how's everyone doing? @BigButtons are you still following PE? I am, and still really enjoying it. Although some of the superset combinations just about killed me and I've had to drop down in weight for some of them.

@DreadPirateRobots I weigh 58kg, the same as I did when I started lifting 20 months ago, but I've definitely had a body recomp, lost fat - I was a skinny fat runner before - and gained muscle. I need to eat more but I'm stupidly scared so I've reached a plateau strengthwise.

I'm trying to push my chest press right now. I do not know how Caroline routinely chest presses 17.5s. I did 12.5s today and that was definitely tough.

Has anybody else found their weight has gone surprisingly high since they started getting into weights? I've hit 60kg, which at my height gives me a BMI at the top end of healthy. I've been this weight before after pregnancy but I was definitely significantly flabbier then and all my clothes still fit. I really need some body comp scales to judge, I guess.

Iron was my first caroline series and I agree it's a good place to start.
Exercises I was used to and the slow pace meant I could make sure I had the correct form.
It was a lot slower than I was used to but for a beginner it would work well.
If I went back to it now I could go heavier.

@StiffyByngsDogBartholomew I wouldn't start with Epic Beginners. It's supposed to be really hard. There's a really good beginners program on the CGX app. You have to pay an annual subscription for the app but I think there's probably still a free 2 week trial. If you want to stick with the free content on YouTube then I'd recommend starting with the Iron program. It's not for complete beginners but it is quite slow paced and the workouts aren't too long.

You can do CG at either the gym or at home - I do both (gym when I'm in the office, home when I WFH). Advantages of gym is that you have a larger range of weights and kit available, advantages of home is privacy, and nobody competing with you for the kit except DH who keeps taking my dumbbells upstairs to do bicep curls with.

CG has tons of great free content so you could just start with the 5 days of Epic Beginners and then we can easily recommend one of the serieses for you, depending on what your goals are, how long you like to work out, etc etc.

I've just started at the gym. I used to do loads of weight training when I was younger and I want to quickly start using free weights again. Is CG something I can do in the gym or is more suited to home workouts ? A PT friend of mine said her workouts are brilliant and I really need to get a proper routine rather than just doing what I used to do which was "go in gym and see what I fancy doing"

and if so where would a very overweight and unfit 48 year old start lol

Thank you so much @samthebordercollie. This is all really helpful.

@Cherryblossom81 https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a44705024/strength-training-consistency-study/?utm_campaign=trueanthemFBRW&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3ciKrnEXL0JcQpEl0mgcr9LoO4BU7Tt7-Sv0iLS_amD04At0fS_78X6pQ_aem_q7x_RfjOnRDtudnBCkyCfQ
Dr Stu Phillips is my favourite muscle/protein expert!

@Cherryblossom81 if you want a break between long programs why not try Beastmode which is excellent and only 2 weeks? Then onto either Epic Heat - workouts 30 mins or Epic 2 which has longer workouts, full body of one hour and isn't as mad as Epic 1. After Epic 3 and Endgame Epic 2 is my favourite. And don't berate yourself for being a beginner, consistency is the most important thing, you're doing brilliantly! I believe with weight lifting everyone is a beginner until you've been lifting 2 years, then you move up to intermediate. It's a long, slow process!

I try to combine weight training with yoga or Pilates to stretch and strengthen muscles.

So alternate workouts or one in the morning and one in the evening.

Good morning all.

Thank you for the adjustable dumbbell recommendations. I need to convince myself that I can justify the cost!

You have all really helped me when I've asked for series recommendations before, so here I am again...!

I can't believe I'm coming to the end of my 3rd CG series. I've done Iron, Epic 3 and will finish Epic Endgame later this week. Any recommendations on what to do next? I still feel like a complete beginner, but really proud of myself that I've been doing CG workout's consistently for over 5 months.

I want to start iron and I have attempted it before and gave up.

At the moment i am feeling very weak with a sore back, achey hips and tight muscles in my calves and quads. So this puts me off as I wonder if it will just make the muscles even more tight.

But I also wonder if strengthening my glutes would help with all the issues I mentioned above as I know they are weak which causes back issues etc.

Anyone else started feeling like this and did it improve things or make it worse?

Hi all,
Just found this thread after starting Iron 2 weeks ago. I turned 40 last week and thought about doing strength work, I can only work out at home. So far I'm really enjoying it! I'm about 3 stone overweight and trying to stick to 1900 cals (I'm tall) in the hope I can shift a few pounds and gain some muscle in the process!

I tried the unflavoured powder in a shake with some vanilla today and it was a bit underwhelming. Definitely Greek yoghurt next time, or else I'm going to have to crack out the blender.

I love PE! It's tough. I'm in the UK for a few days visiting my dad so am having a break but can't wait to get back to it on Saturday!
I have unflavoured protein powder in Greek yogurt with raspberries (at the moment I have lots in the garden!), pumpkin and sunflower seeds for my breakfast every day.

I am enjoying PE. I think it's the pace of it (quite slow!) I like my weights sessions to be cardio free and it fits the bill on that front. I hated Fuel with a passion and gave up in the end. I can only fit in 3-4 sessions a week so am doing it at my own pace rather than in real time.

Anyone care to recommend any uses for unflavoured protein powder? I have an infeasible amount of the stuff by accident. I'm thinking I can mix it in with Greek yoghurt and maybe also make some shakes with it and flavour them with vanilla, or frozen blueberries?

Hi all. Since I started CG workouts a few months ago, I've been using weights ranging from 2kg to 5kg. (I'm aware these are pathetically light!)

However, I think(?) I might finally be ready to need some slightly heavier weights, but I'm not sure what would be best to buy.

I don't have unlimited space or money so want to buy wisely. Any thoughts on what would be best to buy? I'm actually not keen on my legs becoming too big/bulky, but I also want to make sure I'm benefiting from each workout and not wasting my time by using weights that are too light.

Anyone have have thoughts or tips?

She also has a great beginner workout on the app. I started with that.

Ive given up on PE. It’s just too long and boring for me. I’ve started fuel on you tube instead. Much faster and it’s supposed to be 30 mins. First day leg day and it was a killer!