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

The app is payable, there was a free 2 week trial before but I don't know if it's still there. You can download the app but if you try to access any programmes I'm not sure it will be possible without paying.
@Vtm good for you, it's important to listen to your body!
@BigButtons I started lifting in Jan 2023 and although was pretty fit as a runner I had very little strength. I was using 7,5kg/10kg for lunges as I wobbled too much otherwise so there has been some improvement over the year but I'll use Iron 2 to push things further now! Upper arm strength hasn't gone up a lot -- 5kg to 6kg or 7,5kg - depending on the number of sets! The hypertrophy is more pronounced than strength in my case.

Hi all, I've been doing Caroline's you tube workouts on you tube for a while now so thought I'd check out the app. I'm confused as to whether it's paid for or not though, I've downloaded it but didn't mention anything about payment or signing up for a subscription? Can anyone advise?

No exercise for me today. May be not for another couple of days. I am feeling a pinching sensation near my belly button area and tendor abdomon. I really dont want that hernia to come back :(
I was so much in love with my strength routine with CG. I was looking forward to doing it everyday this year. I will reasses my condition after term break. Wont get much time next week anyway.

So I started Iron-on-the-App today, Day1 and Day2. Really tried to push myself on the weights and it was hard but for 2 sets not impossible. After it felt like a great strength workout. Managed 15kg for the static lunges, even 20kg for the staggered RDLs.
Really enjoyed the workouts, makes a change to do heavier longer lifting 1 minute with 30 secs rest as opposed to Beastmode, 40 seconds work 20 seconds rest

Yes CGs weights are scary. I am using 6-7 kgs only.

My cold is getting better now. Today I did
epic 1 day 21 leg complexes. I liked lunges for a change.

@BigButtons it's good to know that Iron 2 is more interesting than Iron on You Tube. The weights CG uses are scary - 20kg for lunges? I'm only at 12,5kg for lunges and squats with good form!
Have you tried Beastmode on the App? I found it a very effective programme. I know 4 sets of each exercise isn't to everyone's taste but I think the repeat sets are the best for hypertrophy. I agree that the stand alone exercises on the App are brilliant, I did a 60 minute leg one (quads and hamstrings[last night which was great!

Thanks for your encouraging words for interview and job search. It is much harder to find a new job at this age.

My cold has gone worse too. I had so much headache that I couldn't exercise today.

@samthebordercollie , that exercise is my favourite too.

@BigButtons Can you give a bit more info on the Iron 2 series please? Wondering whether I should get the app (but already pay a lot in gym memberships etc!)

@Melassa yes Diamond and skullcrusher push-ups are impossible! Normal, wide, uneven all fine but I have to modify diamonds and skullcrusher. Fortunately they don't come up too often!

@samthebordercollie I can’t get anywhere near low on the tricep push ups, if I lower myself down with control like CG does I probably manage a couple of cm. I now do them like I do my chaturangas in yoga - i go right down to the mat with a modicum of control and instead of an upward dog I push myself back up and straighten back/legs last. I saw someone who started off like this in a fitness programme on Netflix and after a month or so was doing regular push ups. I don’t know if it will work for me, but after 3 years of totally ineffectual tricep push ups I’ll give anything a try. They are my nemesis. The only thing worse is diamond push ups.

@Vtm sorry about the interview, it sounds like it wouldn’t have been a good fit and there’s something better round the corner. That’s how I try to look at things anyway.

@Vtm Sorry about the job interview but it sounds as if it wouldn't have been for you anyway, but good practice for the next job!
@BigButtons I hope your cold doesn't last too long.
I finished Beastmode 2 on the App yesterday - did the last 2 sessions back to back which were quite tricep heavy and my arms are definitely feeling it today! Lots of dips and tricep push ups which I can't get the hang of, no problems with regular push ups at all but tricep ones I can't get very low. I use the excuse that push ups are much harder for taller people - I'm 5'8 - due to leverage or some other law of physics, but I would like to do them more effectively!
Am going to start Iron 2 on the App this week, hoping it will be more enjoyable than Iron on YouTube as I found that quite dull in comparison to the Epics.
I'll probably start the week off with my favourite full body workout, Epic II Day 45 as I know it off by heart so it's good for a Monday morning!

An interview is as much about seeing if you want to work there as much as if they want you, and like PP said, sounds like you've dodged a bullet.
I've had interviews where the company was great on paper, but when I went along I didn't gel with the interviewer, and then not getting the job felt like a relief that I didn't have to make a decision to go there or not!

Today i did epic 1 day 12 shoulder workout. I am also feeling that I have caught cold again. It is a bit frustating when your mind wants to workout but body isnt ready. I am now giving my mind some exercise too and learning new skills for my job search 🙂

@BigButtons , hope your are feeling better.

Only just seen the new thread.
I finished epic 1 last week and now onto iron. Bought myself from new dumbells from net world sports. 4kg and 7kg. So I enjoyed having more weight options today for iron day 2.

That's a shame unleash is not working out for everyone.

So my interview didn't go well. Back to search and applications. Nevermind, the hiring manager was rude and I feel it was a narrow escape for me that I didn't get the job.

I had an umbilical hernia repair with mesh 10 years ago and lately I am feeling a bit tender around my belly button. So now on all core exercises and push-ups are off limits and I will stick to lower side of weights for dumbbells. It's so hard to find any exercises that doesn't involve core. The whole world wants to workout core!

Today I did epic 1 day 11 squats but no abs.
Tempo week day 1 upper body but no pushups.

@ellebelli form is more important than weight. Go lighter or even no weights for squats and lunges until you get the correct form. I know when I wobble around the weights I'm using are too heavy! I don't want really chunky quads (they are super defined now which is enough for me) so I'm not bothered about going really heavy on lower body workouts.
I love leg days!

I have only been following caroline for about 3.5mths,before that I followed a trainer who mainly did full body and cardio workouts with more focus on upper.
I have never done so many lunges and squats 😩 and don't think I've ever really done BLs 😕

It is intense and I'm starting to feel my back when doing certain lower body exercises..I can't go as heavy as I would like because it hurts my back.
Do you think it's form or just a case of progressing up in weight
When I first started I tried to go heavier.
I have made gains in weight with upper but struggling with lower and I don't know why

Thank you so much everyone. I shall look at epic tomo then. I think she is lunge mad. Your right I could change them up.

Good luck with the interview!!

My gym is a bit annoying though. Reception can be awful so ends up stopping! 😑😂

@Estelle74uk could you just swap out the lunges for step ups, goblet squat or bulgarians?
I avoid lunges too

@Estelle74uk Epic 2 is quite squat heavy in the same way Epic 1 is more lunges so there are a few days there, Day 34 for example - squat, squat and press workout. Can you manage step ups? They are a good alternative to lunges.

Good luck with your job interview @Vtm!

Today full body Day 45 Epic 2 and the random 20 minute full body workout and 5km run.