Anyone else doing Caroline Girvan's EPIC programme?

[BigButtons]

I thought I was pretty fit and toned. I have exercised consistently most of my life: weights, cardio, hit, running etc ( now 53). I have just finished day 8 of EPIC and feel like a complete wuss. It was the lunges one. I wanted to be sick even though I was standing infront of a large fan the entire time.
How do people actually manage to get through these? I have just looked ahead to the burpee day and feel like I am simply not up to this.

[stilllockeddownnowheretogo]

I did day #48 today. Just day 50 EMOM to go! I will have 2 days rest before that though.
#48 was push-ups. All push-ups. Who knew there were so many variations?? It did go fast though.

I am definitely stronger and have more muscle after Epic Heat. Prior to it I hadn't used weights at all, and they've made such a difference.
I'm going to continue; I'm just not sure with which program yet (repeat Epic Heat, try Epic III or something else).

I've been looking at Epic III and the videos for that are also getting longer (48+ minutes). I'd have to get up earlier in the mornings....

[BigButtons]

I don't suppose it matters- this one will stop accepting posts. I will start posting on the new one- leg day awaits. I am still sore from Monday.

[ManxRhyme]

Thank you! Do we wait till we've reached 1000 before moving then?

My glutes are SO SORE today! Will do day 18 in the evening. I have trouble just getting out of bed.

[BigButtons]

New thread!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/4379562-EPIC-Losing-gaining-and-groaning-with-Caroline-Girvan?watched=1

[ManxRhyme]

@BigButtons yes please do! I don't talk about exercise much IRL and it has been so motivating to be able to discuss and work alongside others on this thread.

I have also gotten so much good advice and links to videos I wouldn't have tried otherwise. I would love to join in the new thread.

[BigButtons]

Just seen that we are nearly at 1000 posts! I have loved sharing this journey with you all and would love to keep going . Should i start a new thread?

[BigButtons]

Day 32 done- not too bad, but it all depends on the weights you are using really. I found my hand hand cramping after a while and had to put my lifting gloves on..
Much to my joy I see that tomorrow's leg day offers some rests at least. I still can't move properly properly after yesterday's!

God More 3 min bulgarian lunges on day 49?

[stilllockeddownnowheretogo]

I did day 49 today (missed 48, will do it tomorrow / thursday).
It was complexes, and included 3 minutes of Bulgarian Lunges
@BigButtons, I feel your pain! I think the Bulgarian Lunges are my least favourite exercise; and I think complexes are my least favourite timing...3 minutes seems so long. I prefer one exercise for 50 seconds, a different exercise for 50 seconds etc.
(Cancel that, EMOM is definitely worse! )

On the getting bulky, I am wearing skinny jeans today and definitely feel the thighs are tighter. But I wore a dress recently and the waist of that was looser. Swings and roundabouts! I would prefer to be lean, not bulky, but I'm definitely struggling with food. Too much chocolate and crisps!

[OrangeSunset]

Good luck @ManxRhyme. That one was tough, and I had a little trouble sitting down yesterday. Just been for a little run to ease it off a bit.

Did day 22 - upper body supersets yesterday. Pretty tough although not feeling the same muscle soreness as with the flutes earlier in the week (yet).

I’m keen on the leaner side of things too. I’m quite broad shouldered anyway and don’t want to bulk up that much.

Things have definitely plateaued since early Sept. I think when I started I stopped all the august excesses too which have maybe crept back in a bit. Pondering another more focussed period of nutrition/less alcohol in November in prep for December…

[ManxRhyme]

@OrangeSunset I'm about the same speed as you. Day 17 heat today. About to tackle it.

My bum is definitely bigger but I quite like it. I want the lean look but don't enjoy cardio 😅 Any suggestions?

[BigButtons]

@itsureis yes they are completely free on YouTube- pretty amazing. Do join us🙂

[itsureis]

Ooh I'm reading the comments on here with interest.
Is she on YouTube and do you need to subscribe/ pay ?

[BigButtons]

Btw a big bum sounds rather nice- I just have big thighs where I didn’t used to have big thighs. After today I’ll have thighs like Serena Williams( but without the money and success😂)

[BigButtons]

@Melassa loads of today was without weights and they were by far the worst. I even had to drop the weights for some, it hurt plenty without them. I couldn’t do the three minute Bulgarians. I got to half way and had to take a break . The worst thing was knowing you had 30 seconds before you had to do the other side.
Kneel to squats were do- able but straight into curtesy lunges with no stop for three mins each leg. Even she had to keep stopping.

[BigButtons]

No not a single hip thrust on day 26. Loads of renegade rows and RDLs. I don’t mind either of those. It was ok iirc?
Unlike today’s, that even got my inner thighs.

[BigButtons]

@Melassa actually I don’t think it is hip thrusts- at least not on the sofa with a band. That was part of today’s. More squats maybe?

[Melassa]

Just had a peek, day 26 is also hamstrings and glutes, I’m not sure I’ve recovered from the last one. I might swap to calves and quads and do the glutes the next day. If I remember correctly from your comments @BigButtons it’s a hip thrust bonanza. Not sure I’m feeling the hip thrusts right now. We will see

[Melassa]

Oh my goodness. A 3 minute Bulgarian lunge? On what planet?

Plus I reckon my backside has “bulked up” sufficiently, yes it’s a lot more pert but I spotted myself in a shop window yesterday and noticed how much it appeared to be sticking out. Goodness knows what would happen to my protruding bottom after a 3 min Bulgarian. I’d probably end up very firmly in Kim Kardashian territory.

So for glute exercises I was thinking about going back down a weight, with the reasoning it would tone and not bulk up. I do like a bit of bulk in general, but it all seems to have zeroed in on my backside. If it is even actually bulked up and not just displaced fat 🤔

[BigButtons]

Day 31 glutes and hammies. The pain. 3 min Bulgarian lunges complexes on one leg. No way Jose. I managed 1.5 mins and needed a break. That was tough as hell. Looks like she’s upped the steaks again this week after a relatively painless week last week😭😭

[BigButtons]

@OrangeSunset I am more bulky all over. I am wearing a pair of skinny jeans that used to be tight but now they are too tight. Thing is that doing all this exercise is making me really hungry , so I am eating more. I am about to do day 31- looks like it's a heavy leg week this week which isn't my favourite- I prefer arms.

[OrangeSunset]

Day 21 - upper body - done.
Definitely jelly arms after that one, and feeling pretty sore in the legs from yesterday.

Might try the Bowflex plank later as a test.

[OrangeSunset]

Still making my way slowly through Heat - day 17 legs today. Pretty brutal, got quite a sweat on in my garage! There was a lot of repetition but it went quickly enough.

I was starting to worry a bit so it getting too bulky, esp arms. And I’ve been struggling to get back to running after injury, so I’ve decided to slow down the running to hopefully make it more steady state/fat burning and help with the bulk.

But, I do need to sort out what I eat as that will help too. And all those CG moves will be easy if shifting fewer of my own kilos!

[BigButtons]

@Melassa it’s a great feeling when things get too easy!
I hold a static plank for three mins now. I find that more challenging. I put a pillow under my elbows which keeps things more comfortable.
I am supposed to do a hiit today but quite frankly I can’t be arsed.
I might do a weighted abs later and finish the tricep day that i abandoned last week.
The full body day was quite lively and I got out of breath so that counts?😃

[Melassa]

Thanks @BigButtons, I did the plank one in the end, meant to add the weighted abs on to the end but wimped out. The 3 min plank is getting too easy now, I might try to sub with one of the 10 min weighted labs on the mornings I have no time.

[BigButtons]

@Melassa I take extra rests too!
The weighted abs looks good. I do a weighted abs one of hers a few times a week. I really enjoy it. I’ll link to it later🙂