EPIC!! Losing, gaining and groaning with Caroline Girvan

[BigButtons]

New thread!

@Forgotmypasswordsgain ah yes the kickboxing. It wasn’t too bad- very miderate by her standards.
I’m sure I looked like I was having a seizure though, rather than actually kickboxing.( never done kickboxing in my life before)

I didn’t mind the kickboxing one, I found it quite gentle for CG. Jillian Michaels’ BFBM is a lot tougher, which is saying something.

I too am off out for a ramble - to the garden centre but on foot. Spring appears to have arrived so I’ve decided to get planting. My apricot tree has flowered, which is always a cheerful sight!

I did 45 mins on Zwift (indoor cycling) then beginners day 1, I can feel my legs burning already but I'm going to try and keep going with it.
The shorter workouts definitely appeal to me so I can factor a bit of cycling and running in too. I've found a local PT so I'm thinking of signing up for some 1-2-1 sessions (if they don't cost 💰💰💰) this will help to keep me accountable on the nutrition front.

Thank you BigButtons. I hope you find a yoga workout that suits. You too Melassa and hope your wrist feels better soon.

And thank you flowerarranger. I did the plank challenge today (and liked it) but I think I've done that Louise workout and although the exercises were good, I think the woman didn't stop talking the whole way through and I didn't like that. Might try it tomorrow to see.

Hello topsyturvey. Good luck with epic!

I really liked day 25 forgotmypassword. It was definitely one of her easiest HIITs.

I did day 24 today - full body complexes. I slept really badly and the session felt like it lasted forever and my weights like they were 100kg.... shame as I think it would have been a varied and enjoyable session if I was fresh and rested. Onto week 6 tomorrow!

@SophieLion Rebecca is intensely annoying with her endless wittering. Her exercises are really good though. I must confess I don’t do them as she annoys me so much!
Well I went for a hike up the south-downs after today’s hiit and I am now absolutely bloody shattered and can barely walk. I came home and fell fast asleep for an hour😮. I had to get up but could easily be sleeping again now.
AND it’s a leg day tomorrow for me😱😱.

@Melassa - have you tried wearing wrist weights to strengthen your wrists? At one point I was wearing wrist and ankle weights for several hours a day - while working, cleaning, going shopping etc - and it really helped.

@SophieLion - I (and everyone else...) agree with you about Rebecca Louise's incessant chatter. I just turn the sound down and listen to Radio 3 or 4. I do this with all workouts - just enough sound volume to hear the beeps. I can't stand Caroline's music!.

Why did it do it? Why? My shoulder had been feeling so much better so I decided to see if I could actually do some tricep and skull crushers push ups. I could, not many, but I could and all was good . Now my right shoulder is back to where it was a week ago😫.

@FlowerArranger no I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve just gone and got myself a wrist “tutor” to help support and limit involuntary wrong angles. It seems to be helping but I’ve only had it a day. Between that and my sore shoulder my right arm is in a bit of a state and I need it to get better.

@BigButtons You are mad. Mind you, I was going to do some stability ball when I got back from my long walk but i’d forgotten it was carnival today and getting around took so long because of the crowds, so I got back far too late. Shame…not! I was too tired anyway and my wrist would probably have ended up hurting. So I had biscuits instead.

Sorry to hear about the shoulder bigbuttons.

Did Endgame day 26 (chest and triceps) today. Didn't like - far too repetitive as so many push ups and my triceps are so weak that I felt I was doing everything really badly. Did an abs workout before the finisher (100 cobra push ups) as I knew I would never stand a chance at the finisher otherwise. I did actually manage the it somehow.

What did you all think of day 26?

@SophieLion I didn’t even attempt day 26 because of my shoulder issues.

I can't keep up with you all! I am feeling better, thank you for asking @BigButtons. Just a lingering cough but feel fine otherwise. Husband is still getting a faint line on his test so he is annoyed, he is staying home as the right thing to do but is disappointed we couldn't go out over the weekend.

I'm back on it today, planning to restart HEAT tonight as I really like the shorter workouts. I saw big changes the first time around although my month off over Xmas reduced the impressive body shape changes. I am also considering giving up alcohol for the time being (not a massive drinker but have a glass on Friday and Saturday nights) to see if that helps burn some of the belly fat. My arms and legs are shaping up nicely, it's just the wobbly middle bit and c-section pouch I want to reduce.

Need to try a bit harder with lunches, so easy to just snarf a cheese sandwich down - I do always have carrots and cucumber and tomato but I am so bored of crudites! Might try and make a roasted pepper soup this week with the sad peppers languishing in the crisper drawer.

[quote BigButtons]@Lelivre that's really great that you are seeing progress. Well done![/quote]
I really appreciate the encouragement and still going! I think I'm 4th time on the beginner and each time I'm 20% more able than the last. I'm probably now 95% with her now for almost all. The HIIT is a weak area due to being very hypermobile but I'm showing willing.

Husband surprised me with 2x15kg northdeer compact adjustable dumbbells (so pretty!) and although I'm not quite ready to use them yet it's really helped me envisage doing more and more.

I've got some newbie questions if anyone is there please?

In the interview she's saying 15,000 steps a day. Time wise I can manage 12,000 at the moment so both rest days I would need to do 15,000? That's a fair few miles.

Although I'm improving there are one or two exercise that make me feel as if my body is nailed down and it's physically impossible. For example sitting on a chair and hoisting myself up using one leg. Also I think it's the one leg hamstring deadstop (looks like the butt is off the floor suspended by one leg?! I just can't do this at all!!!)

Will these get easier if I can't even do one!!!!? How can they? Obviously my hyper mobility is against me here and I have some muscles that haven't been recruited properly in a while or something. I'm going to see my physio as soon as I can but any advice is welcome.

Hi @Lelivre really well done on keeping going! So, you are seeing progress yes? The same thing will happen with the moves that you find tricky. Bit, by bit, as you get stronger and more coordinated, you will be able to attempt those moves. One day you will surprise yourself by doing one! Then you will be able to do more. This is a SLOW and STEADY way to exercise. Trust in the process. Listen to your own body and go at a pace that suits just you. Simply turning up and trying will make your stronger.

The steps? I don't do that in one day- I haven't got the time and don't worry about it. I move around and have an active job. I exercises hard enough!

OMG- day 41 quads and calves. It's weird when ever I start any CG workout it's like there is heat building inside me and I feel really awful until i actually start to sweat. Does anyone else get this? It's like I'm burning up.
Anyway this one was super tough, super tough. I used 10 kg, but I think I liked it??

@Lelivre - I, like many, find that following CG's programmes day after day after day is more than I can handle. Never mind 15k steps! At the end of the day, exercising should be rewarding and enjoyable. I decided, way back, to challenge myself but do something else if I'm no longer enjoying it.

I have a number of go-to workouts that I use in conjunction with CG. These include:

• Growingannanas - tons of HIIT workouts of every description; low impact, super-sweaty, no jumping, cardio, tabata....... whatever you need today, Anna will have something that is geared to your needs. I like her style: not fussy, no selling, no shouting - just focused on a good workout.

• Lucy's Thighs & Glutes........ do it every day for a month and see the difference. Her other stuff is not challenging enough, but this one - with a few variations to keep boredom at bay - really does the business!

• Rebecca Louise......... yes, yes, I know she is very annoying! Though I do like her personality, and several of her workouts: especially her Best Abs - it really works. I'd also recommend her stretch workout and several if her arms with weights, w.g. Ageless Arms, Bingo Wings and Best Arms.(Hint: turn the volume right down and listen to Radio 3, 4, etc.......)

Planks - I used to hate them with a passion, but the Bowflex 3-minute plank has become a mainstay of my daily workouts. CG has a very useful 15-minute plank workout...... though I often cut it in half...

Other trainers I like include Jake Dupree and Ranier Pollard - just for a bit of variety when I'm getting bored with the above

@Lelivre there are definitely a few moves that I still find challenging (pistol squats for sure) but luckily they don’t crop up often. At the start skull crusher push ups felt impossible, just didn’t know how I could engage the muscles to achieve it but now I can do quite a few. Today’s small win in day 23 endgame was the dips complex, I could do 3/4 when I first started, recently been achieving ~12 so thought there was little chance of doing 20 in the complex in one go but I managed the first set 🥳

I probably don’t achieve 15,000 steps most days although sometimes I’m quite active at work. We are planning to get a dog after Easter as we lost ours last summer so I will definitely be increasing soon.

@Forgotmypasswordsgain I won’t do dips any more as they really bugger my shoulders. I used to do them though.

so I couldn't resist checking out Endgame last night - decided to do Day 1 Leg complexes. REally enjoyed it but it is definitely slower than Heat. I'll try it for a while, see how it goes with the slightly longer workouts.

@Lelivre adding my voice to the support. You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll improve. I went from barely able to do a push up to doing nearly 10 in a row now, in about 2 months.

@ladybranstonpickle yes it is a lot slower but with a lot more time under tension.

Wow! You are all very prolific posters on this thread!

Probably better you didn't do day 26 bigbuttons - it was tough and a bit boring. Did day 27 lower body today. It was ok. I found my forearms started aching more than my lower body from holding heavy weights for so long. Was relieved when she had the hamstring lifts as could lie down and get rid of the weights.

Sounds like you're doing really well lelivre. There are always exercises that challenge us. I have done most of the epics (Except epic 2) and still struggle with push ups. Do them at an incline most of the time. I am getting better at these but very slowly. Some things just take time.

Did day 42 today- upper body. Was tough but I kept the weights on the conservative side to protect my shoulders. Had to take a pause between the first and second shoulder round just in case .
Blooming glutes and hamstrings tomorrow- no doubt a thousand boring hip thrusts.
I subbed the last one so had better give this one a go I suppose.

I did Day 42 yesterday too. I'm finding the 1 minute of reps with just 20 secs rest in between quite challenging. Good to have an upper body one with no press ups for a change.

Anyone else get the feeling CG doesn't much like biceps? I often come away from her upper body workouts feeling mine haven't really been challenged.

@Anjelika I know what you mean. I think though that they are worked quite hard during other arm exercises? I certainly felt them work during the rows. Mine are certainly pretty prominent now and that is only ever using 5kg max for arm specific exercises ( heavier for rows). I don’t want them to grow much bigger!
She does a great short bicep blow out video. I might do that one once every couple of weeks.
Will do glute day later on this afternoon.

I'm a few days behind as I've been ill. Did day 36 yesterday which was a shoulder and back one which I really enjoyed. I've reduced weights to 5kg too (mostly because I don't seem to be able to manage with 6kg anymore ) but have noticed a real difference in my shoulders and arms.

I have been mostly grappling with my perimenopausal diet and weight gain and trying to understand what is happening. I've come to the conclusion I need to take all sugar out of my diet, up my protein, but not go keto. What worked for me even a year ago in terms of quickly losing a couple of pounds doesn't work anymore.

Have also been unable to do yoga but it's all been ok - I've realised I don't need to run around frantically exercising (of course this might explain some of the pounds I've gained....).

I'm looking forward to seeing that CG does next, but if there's a gap, I think I'll take a look at Heat next.

@BigButtons I think I'll only see a difference when the weather warms up and my arms and shoulders come out of hibernation!

I know CG has always said triceps and biceps get exercised as part of overall upper body work but she definitely seems to do more tricep specific than bicep specific work! O might try that bicep one you mentioned at some point.