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.

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😭😭

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 🤔

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 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?

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.

@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.

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😂)

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

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

@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?

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…

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!

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?

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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....