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.

@BigButtons this is a good one

or

For yoga by length of session try Sarah Beth yoga. Also minimal talking.

Glad you’re feeling better @BigButtons. Today I have day 33 legs and biceps but I’m toying with taking the day off as my arms are a bit tired by the shoulder session yesterday. I probably will do it later though as I’ll feel guilty if not.

Is anyone finding the sessions less of a challenge on the whole as you move forward? Yes, some exercises are still awful and always will be, but I’m finding it less tough getting through them - with the notable exception of push up hell on the EMOM. Or indeed any push ups that are not the normal ones. My core is also stronger, which is good as I have terrible posture when I work, and, apart from my knees which are still creaky, I no longer have twinges or joint pain. This alone is a huge result for me.

Thank you so much @ladybranstonpickle and @FlowerArranger for the links I will check those out😃
@Melassa yes I think I am finding them a little less challenging, still challenging to be sure but I am not as soaked in sweat and such huge amounts of discomfort as I was when this thread started.
I am definitely stronger, core is tighter and my legs are transformed. Think I am on day 32 today- was the glutes one yesterday.
I am often reminded of a quote on the frankly whacky over 50’s Facebook group which goes something like “ don’t think about what size you are, think about how strong you are” I really like that. As someone who can be prone to body obsession and being small this has really helped turn my thinking around and aim for something healthy.

There is currently a woman on there who is frankly bonkers. She is on holiday but cannot stop exercising not posting photos of her exercising in her hotel room. She has even made her own ankle weights out of plastic bags filled with I don’t know what. I never want to get like that. She supposed to be having a break.

That is one unhealthy obsession!

Did you see the one the other day who took her dumbbells to Portugal and had them taken off her at the airport when she landed! Completely extreme, enjoy your holiday and maybe do a bit of yoga if you must.

@Moonflower12345 I didn’t see that one 😂. I feel sorry for the spouses.
Talking about being slightly mad. After I have done the shoulders and abs obliques I am going to do a CG calf one I found. I really want to strengthen my calves. At the moment doing this exercise is the only thing keeping me sane and the time when every else we most likely just leave me in peace!

I brought my dumbells on holiday 😳 but we only went to an air bnb by the coast. I have really noticed an improvement in core strength over the last couple of weeks. Flabby belly still there but oh man I did a 3 minute plank today 💪!

Day 36 biceps today and as everyone else has commented, it felt easier. Probably means I need to graduate from my 5kg weights but I felt STRONG!

I also brought my dumbbells on holiday but only because we drove. There’s no way I’d have used up my luggage allowance on a plane when I could get more clothes in instead!

@Melassa I would have done the same.
I did a half hour whole body workout today as pushed for time. I really enjoyed it. It sis seem out for it to be over quickly and not be completely on the floor.

I can’t type🧐

Did the day 37 Bulgarian lunges. Was dreading it but actually it was pretty enjoyable and not too ridiculously taxing. The 50 mins went by quite quickly. But might be to do with the fact it is Saturday and I didn't feel too pushed for time.

I’ll be starting this in a few days. What weights would the more experienced in this program recommend for someone who is not totally new to strength work but not a complete novice? I was thinking a pair of 7 kg, 5kg and 3 kg

I have 3 and 5kg, will be getting a 7kg imminently. I find heavier weights are a strain on the wrists for me and keen to avoid injury so I'll probably not go higher than that myself.

Agree about the strain on the wrists, I took a day off yesterday as my wrists were sore after the legs and biceps session, where I resolutely tried to do all the biceps exercises with 6kg weights.

Got my 1 hr full body today (day 34), but we are driving home so if there is too much traffic it might take us too long and we’ll get back too late. I did the legs and biceps late afternoon/early evening and my heart wasn’t really in it as I was hungry (it was during my normal aperitivo time) and a bit tired from along day working.

I am really excited that I’ve made it to week 7, I’ve never kept anything up for so long before!

@Melassa me too! I have never in my life kept an exercise streak up for so long before so this is new territory. Just finished the day 38 upper body and it's push up mania again. I am way better at it now but even so had to stop so much. And my glutes are still sore from yesterday's bridges. I had to drop down to 3kg weights for some of it today.

I use a real mix of weights but I would say 3,5 and 7 are good. Better start with lighter weights and get it right. It is hard work so weights you might think of as light feel very heavy indeed after lifting them for an hour.
I have never stuck at anything this long either.
I might have a rest day today- feeling a bit tired and hungover. If I improve by late afternoon I am due to do the biceps one- day 34? My hamstrings are only just recovered from those RDLs early last week 😮

did legs and biceps. The second set of complexes killed me. Mind you I did use my 8kg kettlebell.
Will do a RL abs in a min then heading off mackerel fishing. It's a bit cloudy and windy here today so i shall take a blanket and wooly hat.
Hope everyone's had a good weekend

I did half of the day 34 full body today as I suddenly realised I had a meeting to get to so needed to cut it short. No hardship as I am not a fan of those Bulgarian lunges! I should have done it yesterday but we got back too late after a long drive and I needed wine. I will do the second half tomorrow then attempt the Tabata, depending on how exhausted I feel.

I need to up my weights for the legs I think. I could increase the adjustable dumbbells I have but it’s do much of a pain changing constantly and my arms can just about manage 6kg so I’m not looking to go higher there. I still have dodgy wrists after the biceps session and my hand will probably fall off if I increase further.

I hate Bulgarian lunges too. I'm sure they are good for me but I never feel like I'm in the right position. I'm going to do the 1 HR full body for week 8 in a bit. Meant to be a rest day but I'm pretty busy tomorrow so I am swapping the days round. Then I'm going to eat all those calories back in cake.

@Melassa that’s great re the arm weights. I can only do 5kg for the biceps. I can go heavier for chest presses. But for flies and rear dealt stuff I’m often down to 4/3 kg.
I can go much heavier on the legs.

@ManxRhyme I am really not looking forward to the Bulgarian lunges😮

@BigButtons for the flies and lateral raises I can only do the 3kg. For some of the rear delta ones I can manage heavier, it depends on which exercise. For the chest presses 6kg is just about right for me, but now you mention it I might try to up it slightly.

@ManxRhyme I always feel I’m not positioned correctly for the Bulgarian lunges, so for every session I move my foot a bit in my search for that sweet spot. Not found it yet though!

I wonder why the not so nice exercises are all named after countries from the old communist bloc? It’s not as if there is a French squat or a Spanish press, or a Swiss curl. Or maybe there are but are advanced moves so we haven’t come across them yet?

I came back from my meeting and stress ate my way through a large bag of crisps with wine. Oh dear

@Melassa I do that weird shuffle too of inching my foot on the ground everywhich way to find stability. I just read up on it and ideally the chair is knee high so my dining chair is definitely too high for me.

@BigButtons how did mackerel fishing go? Was is on a boat in the open sea (because that sounds fantastic)?

I enjoyed the 1 HR workout. It was trisets and the time really flew. Am tired though, really need the rest day tomorrow.

@ManxRhyme interesting info on the chair height. Up until now I had done them on a low stool! My dinning table chairs are only slightly lower than knee height so will use those. I have the full body tomorrow- is that BL lunge day?😮

Fishing wasn’t glamorous or very successful I’m afraid. We only caught 2. I guess the conditions weren’t right.
Sitting on a beach on the SE coast. Cold, had jumpers, a neck warmer and blankets. The worst was loads of horrid tiny black flies that covered everything. I had a flask of tea and they kept flying into the cup so I drank quite a few. 🤮🤮

@BigButtons protein is good for you right 😅🤢 Bulgarian lunges were day 37. It had lots of single leg bridges too. Real buns of steel stuff!