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.

@wetpants I applied to he in the general group a while back. Need to see if I’ve been let in- perhaps it’s better if I haven’t😂

Thanks for the advice on the dumbells! I'm pretty strong, did a lot of weightlifting and my yoga practice involves a lot of chaturangas etc.

For now, I haven't got any so I'm working my way through her bodyweight only full body playlist - did a TEMPO one this morning. Wow was super hard! I managed about 80% I think but some of the explosive movements were really tough.

My mum has offered to sponsor the exercise bike, but I had the same idea as you @Moonflower12345 to get a cheapy one first and see if I like it. There seem to be a lot on gumtree etc for about £100. When we move I will investigate further!

Did the EMOM today - day 30. I should have done it yesterday but started work again and didn’t manage to wedge it between calls. Not too bad but too many sessions! I started doing fewer reps of some of the abs as otherwise I didn’t get any rest, during the later sessions I slowed down a lot. The legs weren’t too bad but oh my the push up session! I could barely manage 5 tricep ones on my knees! I don’t think I’ll ever manage a tricep push-up, despite the fact I used to do a lot of chaturanga in yoga. Mind you if I did a full one to the ground I’d do an up dog or cobra to get off the ground, not back to plank and down again!

I think day 30 EMOM pushups will forever be etched in my memory... I'm really not feeling it today. Exhausted from poor sleep and dragged myself through the 1 HR workout except I modified about 50% of it as I didn't feel safe doing the Bulgarian lunges to 1 leg decline pushups. My chair is too high for me so the decline is really steep! I really need to rest day tomorrow so going to take it easy.

@Melassa- I have that to look forward to tomorrow. Some of the isometric moves were tough today. I will struggle with the emom abs and I will definitely be doing triceps dips on my knees. If it is all too silly I will find another hiit to do. Surely the whole point is getting the heart rate up? Hard to do face palmed or lying flat in my back like a dying fly😁😂

@BigButtons I found the holds challenging on some of the moves in the isometric session.

I did kind of get my heart rate up in the EMOM, but the push up session was pure pain. I did most without going all the way, so regular and triceps push ups at 90° arms instead of right down to the floor. In fact even CG took it slow and paused between push ups. The next HIIT session is Tabata, which doesn’t entice.

Tomorrow is glutes and abs, after the last glutes session my hamstrings were sore for days.

I keep ploughing on in the hope that I will emerge a finely sculpted butterfly. Some hope, but I’m eternally optimistic!

I wimped out yesterday with the excuse of no time, but I was tired. I had an unexpected period that wiped me out, I’d forgotten how draining they were. Having done EMOM today I was right to postpone a day as I had more energy today.

@ladybranstonpickle I really loved tempo week! Definitely one of my favourites.

@Melassa I found the EMOM so hard. I really had to psyche myself up for them.

I didn't fancy this weeks videos (1000 rep legs and 500 rep shoulder this week so far!) so started Epic Heat yesterday. I was going to wait til kids go back to school but it's only 2 weeks and nothing else really appealed. Day 1 was complexes, 3 minutes which I found really, really long. Day 2 today, shoulders and much better!

@Melassa my hamstrings are still really sore after those endless RDLs!

You guys sound like you need a session with the lovely Jake DuPree:

@FlowerArranger I might try that today. The endless RDLs followed by the weighted glute bridges in the isometrics yesterday have caused a pull in my right hamstring. It hurts.
I am not going to to do the EMOM🧐

Morning team!

@Moonflower12345
good to know! I'm just working through the 74-strong Full Bodyweight Workouts playlist - did the 'Chilled Cardio' this morning. Certainly didn't feel very chilled, but it was fun. I am really bad at burpees though.

Well, we had a storm last night and my yoga mat which I left outside on my balcony has blown away and is nowhere to be found! So I’m desperately searching for a semi soft rug at least to do today’s session (I imagine with abs there is mat work?). What a pain! I’m not sure I have time to pop out and get a new one today.

I tried to do a LISS half hour today but gave up after 10 minutes. I feel tired and weak. Think I might have a low level bug as I have a headache and sore throat ( not covid).
If I can summon the energy I will do a LWR legs and RL abs as they all involve just lying on the floor.
@Melassa oh no about the mat, what a pain. A rug will do. I don't use a yoga mat, but we have carpets anyway.

It seems we are feeling a bit fragile right now...

At times like these I revert to my old favourites. Even if I only do Lucy's legs and Rebecca's abs, plus maybe a bit of light tabata courtesy of Anna or Mr Pollard, I feel I've done something worthwhile. Especially if I don't pig out on food I definitely shouldn't eat

Oh no @BigButtons, I hope you feel better soon. The Italians have this thing about how a change of season can make you feel under the weather. I guess it’s nearer to autumn in the U.K. so maybe it’s affecting you? I never used to believe in this theory (a bit like the lethal draughts), but then I noticed that I did tend to feel grotty or come down with something mild around the same time each year which did coincide with the change of season, so maybe there is something in it?

I did day 31 on a rug, not too dire but I really really hate the hip thrusts. They almost make me feel sick, I don’t know why. Still, got through it, I don’t know what state my glutes will be tomorrow, hopefully not as bad as my hamstrings after the RDL day.

@FlowerArranger I used to do a fair amount of Jake Dupree, always found his sessions fairly tortuous but maybe now with my new found fitness I’ll find them easier. I might opt for one of his workouts instead of the Tabata on day 35.

I did think of flitting between CG workouts but as I’ve convinced myself there’s method in her madness and a reason for why she focusses on different areas in different days, I want to progress with one series to see the benefits and how they pan out. Or maybe it’s not that scientific?

@Melassa thanks. I think this has been a long time coming. Family stresses and tiredness. I’m sitting in the sofa debobbling my jumpers with a new gadget and eating crisps.😃.
I think I will go straight to day 31 once my hamstring pull is better or I might swap 31 and 32 over to give it more time to heal.
Any joy with the rug/ mat?

@BigButtons i hope you feel better soon. Maybe some time off from the hardcore exercise and doing some more gentle stuff would help? I absolutely love Yoga with Adrienne and she has yoga videos for every scenario - "for when you are in a bad mood" "for when you are sad", "for when you are tired" etc. I love her kindness and warmth, can feel it even through the TV.

I did Calisthenetics Day 4 today (as it was the next one on the Full Body Bodyweight playlist.) Some of it was very tough! But some felt very easy - Plank to Hover is no problem I think because we do that a lot in yoga, so I'm practiced in it. But plank side dips are my nemesis!

Get well soon @BigButtons. How are you feeling today?

I did the day 35 HIIT today. Modified a lot of the jumping but I did enjoy it. Tabata style meant no matter how hard it only lasts 20 seconds.

Thanks for your kind thoughts. I am feeling better today - away on the sofa eating rubbish did me good😀 and did day 31 glutes and abs today.
I worked out that the exercises wouldn’t stress the pulled part of my hamstring. I quite enjoyed it.
@ManxRhyme I’m not looking forward to that. I chickened out of the EMOM so I should do this next one
I love having this thread- it’s helped keep me going. I look forward to hearing your news. It’s great we can support one another.
@FlowerArranger did the RL abs today too- that was tough- but in a non hurry back way. I could feel my stomach working. With CG ones it just hurts my back🧐

@BigButtons - glad to hear you're feeling better!

I vaguely remember when Rebecca's abs workout used to feel tough, especially the planks. Do persevere because it so works. Having a strong core makes everything else so much easier.

I can't believe how easy I now find it. I keep looking for tougher ones*, but I always come back to hers.

• • • I've started doing these:

Being strong just feels sooooooo good!!

@FlowerArranger wish that is way too hard for me😮. I’ll stick to RL. I liked the one you have linked to but on top of CG it would be too long. I know myself well enough. I would resent doing it.
I could cope with 10 mins though and would do that.
Can you recommend one of that length?😍

@ladybranstonpickle I do kind of like yoga and I know it would do me good. I always do either kassandra or Adrienne yin deep stretch ones. But I have become impatient with the slow pace and rarely finish them.
Can you recommend any good stretching ones that move more quickly and are max 20 mins in length, preferably less?🥰

Chris has lots of abs based workouts, including some short ones:

Or just split some of the longer ones and do them over 2-3 days. I like his workouts because they tend involve a fair bit of cardio as well, which is something I often let fall by the wayside......

hi @BigButtons! i usually just pick based on length - she has playlists sorted by that. If you want faster, any practice with 'flow' or 'vinyasa' is a good choice as those tend to be joining movements together with variations on a sun salutation etc. Or anything with 'strength', as those tend to be more challenging and get your heart rate up.