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.

@Anjelika I am doing the cardio rather than the hiit. Since my heart rate is raised doing weights anyway I don’t suppose it matters much.

@Anjelika, this is very promising! Maybe I can try EPIC III next. 52 minutes (for the original EPIC) is just too much for me . I'd have to get up too early!

@wetpants, the full body sessions are my favourite too I think. There were a couple that I really enjoyed, I think in the second half of Heat, so you're coming up to them soon.

My dumbbell has hexagonal ends, so doesn't really roll around... I do steady it with my hand a bit too.

I also do hip thrusts on the sofa and I hold the weight steady, although I’ve found since using a beach towel I can bunch it up around the weight and it tends to stay put. Occasionally I do bridge thrusts on the floor instead, but struggled with holding the weight still, so gave up and went back to the regular hip thrusts (which I will hate forever).

I think it’s interesting how we all struggle with different things, or find them easy when others found them hard. I don’t know if it also depends on the day (some days I’m more disinclined than others). I’m about to do day 22 but I’m not really in the mood, so may get less out of it.

For lifting heavier weights in general, as the issue is that my hands and wrists hurt more from the heavier weights, I’m being advised to get special gloves with a wrist support. Have any of you ever used this? Does it work? Just wondering before shelling out.

Day 17 quads and calves. Shakey legs by the end but was do-able . Claves didn’t HRT at all but when I used to run I was a forefoot runner in flat shoes so am used to working my calves.
We haven’t done a good shoulder one for ages. I like a shoulder one.

Day 22 done! Not too bad, managed most including the push ups. Has anyone noticed that the session length in Heat are starting to creep up? 42 minutes today.

@Melassa they are getting a tad longer- still do- able though I think😃

Heat day 43 done yesterday - legs are sore today!
Day 44 to complete later...

No idea about sports gloves, sorry. I'm only using 3 or 5 kg weights at the moment.

Day 28 today, triceps and lats. I overdid it yesterday so my heart and muscles had a refusal at the half way mark .
I did her weighted abs one which I really enjoy and am now able to do some exercises that I found impossible a few weeks ago.

Back onto Heat though I did day 13 as I accidentally skipped it last week. DH surprised me with a fitness band and I'm planning to try it out tomorrow. Darker mornings make it harder for me to get out of bed on time to exercise. Then I miss a day and I feel grumpy all day.

@FlowerArranger saw this and thought of you!

@stilllockeddownnowheretogo my legs are perma sore!!

Thanks @ManxRhyme

jakedupree.com/photos

Day 29 whole body. Quite enjoyed it. The first half was slower and the second more hiit- like so I got pretty out of breath. Had to modify some- no way was I doing push ups after 50 seconds of squat to press.
I notice that the exercise periods are getting longer and the rests shorter. Today was 50 secs on 10 secs rest.

Didn’t do yesterday as got back too late and too hungry. I meant to do day 23 today but didn’t even manage a lunch break, then needed to go out to meet friends (posh jumper checked on over sports bra). I now feel guilty so will do day 23 shortly, as soon as the Bloody Mary has worn off 😳

Then on to full body tomorrow, hopefully!

Day 23 done last night and 24 this morning. The complexes were tiring and the maker marathon at the end taxing, but I survived and feel great! Also less guilty.😬

Tomorrow should be EMOM but we’re going out for a hike so I might miss it. I will see if I have the energy.

Yes, the exercises are getting longer and the breaks shorter, yesterday was 50 + 50 then 20 secs rest, today 3 minutes! At this rate we will have a solid block of 30 mins with no rest by the end!

@Melassa that sounds hard core 😬. Bet you feel fabulous though!

I am meant to be on day 17 of Heat but opted to do the CG weighted abs and plank variations again today alongside a short HIIT by Heather Robertson. I like the occasional pick and mix day and I've decided this time round I'll do some core focused work at least once a week even if it means slowing down on the HEAT progression. All those planks after yesterday's shoulder and tricep Heat session was a bit taxing on the shoulders though, I need to talk DH into a shoulder massage tonight 😂

@ManxRhyme can you link to the CG weighted abs and plank please? I found a plank only session but the weighted abs one didn’t come up in my search, weirdly

@Melassa here you go. Two separate ones but I think they complement each other well.

Day 46 completed here. Not too many left! Today was arms, and not too bad at all. I enjoyed it.

@BigButtons, @Melassa, yep, I've definitely noticed the longer exercise periods and shorter rests! Lots of 10 second rests which barely gives me time to put the weights down
I've also noticed the actual videos getting longer, but I think that's mostly a longer explanation at the beginning - what exercises are coming up and good form tips. I think there was less of that in the first videos.

Thanks @ManxRhyme, I’ll do both today before going out. No EMOM for me today, I’ve decided! I’m a bit achey from the full body yesterday.

Well done @stilllockeddownnowheretogo for getting to day 46. Yes, 10 secs rest doesn’t even give me time to shift position or take a sip of water. How does one get to do anything in 10 secs??? I will admit to having paused a few rests so I can get extra seconds in, to actually breathe.

@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🙂

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.

@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?😃

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!

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 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.