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.

Oh it's own weight I guess...

Well, after @BigButtons description of EH day 15 HIIT I chickened out and did a growingannanas low impact session instead. But for penance I will do day 16 plus a quick leg workout tomorrow. Then 2 days of long train journeys, restaurants and wine, which I’ll definitely need to work off when I get back.

On another note, I bought a jacket from Vinted . I hope it fits, a lot of jackets don’t have much boobage but thankfully this is a style that can be worn open

You are most likely right but I love the changes I am seeing.

This is what keeps me going. At the risk of sounding like a CG crazy FB lady I worry that if I take too many short cuts or skive too much, the “magic” won’t happen. I still feel bad about having missed 2 days last week!

@Melassa I can see how easy it is to become obsessed as the results are so amazing. I want to always push on and do more( guilty of that today with 2 arm sessions) but I have to remind myself that periodic rest is always crucial. It gives the muscles a chance to repair and build and get stronger.
Your job sounds interesting- what do you do bye?

@Melassa I am doing the LWR thighs most days. They are starting to become less painful- never thought that would happen. One day I might even do them with ankle weights….@FlowerArranger is right: they really do help to tone and sculpt- plus I get to lie on the floor😂

@BigButtons I tried the LWR, not too painful (maybe I’m doing it wrong?) but the muscles do feel pleasantly worked afterwards. And oh so short! That and the RL abs. I quite like short nuggets.

I work in consultancy, mainly marketing and comms, and I used to travel a lot between offices, which was thankfully knocked on the head during lockdown (one of the better collateral effects). It’ll be my first trip since end of February 2020, when Milan first locked down. A different world ago now.

@Melassa I forget that you are in Italy. Were you born there? You have access to all that lovely food😋.
Yes Italy locked down very early didn’t it? I enjoyed the first lockdown and was gutted when I was called back into work proper in June 2020. I was in a school so was on a rosta system throughout anyway. I wish I had known about CG them but what I did do were belly dance lessons on YouTube and lots of walking.

I wasn’t but my DM was, so I have some family connections. Yes to lovely food! And wine! Oddly enough despite all the pasta and risotto when I moved out here from the U.K. I lost weight, I find I eat a lot more stodge when I visit England and end up with indigestion. Everything has too much bread or pastry (and I’m partial to a nice cheese and onion pasty). I hadn’t really noticed before I moved away.

During the first lockdown it was grim, we weren’t allowed out at all unless for food shopping or pharmacy. We had a piece of paper where you needed to state your reasons and it was checked by police. Only 1 person per family too. I went out to the supermarket once with my DD and risked a fine. There were queues round the block as only a few people at a time were let in. I had backache then so was doing a lot of yoga, I did try a few weights with Heather Robinson but nothing taxing. I was pretty inactive and lost weight as I reckon a lost a lot of muscle. Then it got replaced with fat!

Hi. It's probably in this (long) thread somewhere but could someone please link to the LWR thighs video everyone is recommending?

I'm fairly new to CG although not new to exercise! I'm kind of working through her Heat programme but running rather than any cardio/HIIT sessions.

[quote FlowerArranger]**@AnnaDyne* - On burpees, is there a modification for dodgy knees?*

I wouldn't know, but I'd recommend an ongoing session of daily Thighs & Gutes courtesy of Lucy:

Seriously: do this every day for a month and report back [/quote]
@Anjelika This is what you need!

Neat little abs workout from Caroline, if you want a change from Rebecca's. Mainly situps of various kinds:

And here is Lucy's Thighs & Glutes:

@FlowerArranger that abs one looks just the ticket, thanks
I have been doing a variation of the boflex everyday doing different holds in 30 second sections. My aim is to eventually increase up to 4 mins. It's so easy to fit 3-4 mins into the day

@BigButtons - I agree about daily 3-4 minute planks. But there's also this...

Daily report: Heat day 17
A sweaty one and pretty tough in parts. I had a hate for the Bulgarian lunges today. I'm ok with squats and lateral lunges. Nice to see some calf work included-wish there was more of that.

Will now try the abs one you linked to @FlowerArranger

Heat Day 8 (back/biceps) and 11 (glutes) completed in last couple of days. Back one was ok, i managed most of it but the glutes one I found v tedious. Also does anyone know if it’s ok to vary hip thrusts to bridges? Did all the same moves but from the mat as opposed to a chair.

Despite these workouts feeling a bit more repetitive than some others, I am still impressed with the improvements around my middle - just feel more toned.

Going to try and challenge myself on the weights for the next few. Though mine go up in 2.5kg increments which feels a bit gap, esp for things like shoulder press.

@OrangeSunset. I did bridges instead of hip thrusts for one glutes session, when I was without a suitable chair. I think it was one of her alternative options too.

Still need to do day 16. Not had a moment to myself and now need to cook dinner. Might do it before bed. Not terribly enticed by triceps but needs must. I would put off but I don’t want to miss too many days.

@BigButtons I enjoyed the calf session this morning!

I have to skip the work out tomorrow morning and do it on Thursday instead. I can’t do another on Friday either and not on the weekend too as visiting the family after a long break. Sligthly annoying but I just need to embrace the break.

On Friday I’m going to a Dexa scan, excited!! Will be interesting to see what my fat/muscle ratio is.

@wetpants..... I thought Dexa scans measure bone density?

@Melassa.... I always do bridges instead of hip thrusts! My excuse is that I do not have a suitable chair to hand. But if I'm honest it's because I hate hip thrusts...

@FlowerArranger Dexa scan measures body fat, lean mass and bone density. It’s not designed for determing osteoporoses etc though, it’s defo more about body fat and especially visceral fat.

Last year this time I was 2.7 stone heavier with a very thick waist line. I’ve made big lifestyle changes and now in better health than ever. Just curious to see what my visceral fat is now as well as my bone density.

Hello everyone- hope you are all good.
It was my birthday on weds with some
Excesses 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷😮. So yesterday was right off.
Today I did Heat day 19 full body. I quite enjoyed it- sort off- it was tough though. I am finding most of them tough.
I wonder whether they are getting incrementally tougher or I am getting weaker🤨. I did enjoy day 18 arm day though.
Not a huge fan of Bulgarian lunges and there were quite a few of those today.

Hello Everyone - how about an update from you all, including the NotSoRegulars

Today I did a short Tabata courtesy of Anna, plus CG Epic Heat day 9 Calisthenics and Growingannanas Intense Abs (see below).

If you're looking for a change from Rebecca's Best Abs, this is a good one, with the added benefit of lots of planks, so you can skip the Bowflex plank as well - one stone, two birds etc :

Oh, and Belated Happy Birthday, @BigButtons

@FlowerArranger thanks for the💐💐. I had a lovely birthday.
I am doing the CH weighted abs you recommended a few post back- the mainly crunches one. I really like it. I can’t lower my legs to far as my back arches. I do what I can but still really feel it working.
I have started to become envious of her workout gear . I have never been interested in work out gear before. I just have a pair of crappy shorts and a bra top😳.
Would be lovely to hear how you all getting along.
@Melassa how did your trip go?

You absolutely need some decent exercise gear!! You no you deserve it

uk.gymshark.com/products/gymshark-adapt-camo-seamless-leggings-red