Getting fitter and stronger with Caroline Girvan- all welcome!

[BigButtons]

New thread!🤩

Epic 1 Day 24 for me yesterday, full body dumbbells. I'm actually nearly at the end now aren't I? I'll have to think about what I do next!

Slow progress on strength but I do find that I'm trading down to my 5kg dumbbells more and more rarely.

I have also discovered that I always, always hate lunges. No idea why. I like squats fine.

@AquaticSewingMachine I have really started hating them since starting CG workouts. I haven't struggled with them in the past but I feel there are so many in some of her workouts that I get fed up of them and my knees are sore the next day. Was going to consider looking for an alternative for the lunge heavy workouts so I can swap some out and keep the rest. Squats fine with me too but I know the single leg exercises are important and I do need to keep up with them

Any tips on getting better for renegade rows? I struggle with holding the plank for it all. Admittedly, I need to get better at following the Bowflex challenge more too

I did Iron D13 today, have been doing some other HIIT in between so doing 3-4 Iron workouts per week rather than full 5

Hi all,

I really want to start with CG. Which videos would you suggest I start with? I've had a quick look but I'd really appreciate your insider knowledge.

I have been doing some weights (at home, with not much of a clue what I'm actually doing) for about 4 weeks now.

I have an 8kg kettlebell and a basic set of dumbbells (I think they are 1kg, 2.5 and 4.5kg) Is this enough? I find the 2.5s a bit light but the 4.5s are too much after a few lifts. Do I go with 2.5 or keep attempting 4.5?

Thanks for your help :)

Hi @vivicrocodile

Welcome to your new addiction ;)

CG actually has a 5 session Kick-Ass Kettlebell series you might like to try. That would give you a taster and then you could consider whether you want to continue one of the longer programmes. That's what I did and then I started on Epic 1.

@vivicrocodile I started with the beginners series then moved onto EPIC1 (almost twice!) but epic1 is hour long sessions so depends what your time commitment is like. I liked the mix of cardio and strength (although I skipped every single hiit workout in the program- too much for me!)

A lot of people seem to rate HEAT as it's 30min sessions but I haven't tried that one yet (doing iron series)

Agree with @AquaticSewingMachine - it's addictive! Im currently eying up a new set of adjustable dumbbells and some more plates for the barbell!! Must resist

@AquaticSewingMachine lunges are really good for your legs and knees. Keep doing them and you will get stronger and stronger I promise. They are now my easier exercise . As your muscles build it will get easier but it took me at least epic 1 and then heat to really feel the difference.

@vivicrocodile I would really recommend epic beginners.it’s not beginners at all. It should be renamed because it is basically an intro to the kinds of moves she likes doing.🙂

I agree with keeping up the lunges to help sore knees. I used to have fairly dodgy knees from running and bad posture/heels but since doing CG’s lunges I have no more weird twinges and aches or clicky bits. I now also have muscles next to my knees instead of a baggy bit of skin. I actually quite like doing them now, more so than squats.

For starting out I second (third?) Epic Beginners, start with relatively light weights and move up gradually.

Oh, I do the stupid things! I just glare at Caroline while I do them. She seems unmoved, curse her. 😉

Fuel day 12 upper body. I have been kind of stuck at the same weights for ages. But then again fuel is pretty full on so I am too tired to go any heavier 😟
@Melassa I have muscle shape round my knees too🤩

@Melassa I have muscle shape round my knees too

it’s amazing, isn’t it? I never thought I needed a muscle there, or even that one existed, but it has come in quite handy. It also fills out the wrinkly bits so win win!

I just did the beginners day 1. Awful! All those bloody lunges! And that sitting down and standing up with one leg up! Crazy!

I did what I could though. I'm sweating and my legs feel weak so I must be doing something right.

I just had a sneaky look at day 2. I think I'm going to skip it - I can't do push ups so 30 minutes of push ups isn't for me. I want to enjoy it, at least to start with! Abs sounds more my cup of tea so I'll give day 3 a go next time. I'll come back to push ups one day!

Thanks for the help :)

@vivicrocodile - looks like you need the pre-beginners' prep, namely:

Lucy Wyndham Read Thighs & Glutes
Rebecca Louise Best Abs
Rebecca Louise Ageless Arms (using decent, i.e. challenging weights)
Bowflex 3-minute plank

Do the above every second day.
Do a 30-40 minute Growingannanas HIT with weights on alternate days.
Plus the Bowflex 3-minute plank.

Do the above for at least a 2-4 weeks.
Then try Caroline's EPIC Beginners again.

But make sure you do the Bowflex 3-minute plank every day.
Very important this.

@Melassa fuel day 13- bum and glutes and NO hip thrusts at all!🤩😂😍

An actual glute day with no hip thrusts? Sounds like bliss! Do you think she got the message? Mind you, there are a lot of things we all hate, if she listened to everyone’s grumbles there’d be nothing left.

I’ll start Fuel next week, work schedule permitting. looking forward to it, strangely enough.

I’ve been lurking as an incentive to get going again. I had a really good run of committed workouts until I got really ill in October last year and then got Covid (2nd time) in March and I just completely lost my motivation.
anyway thanks to this thread I’m back on it. Epic beginners day 1 yesterday and now I can’t walk properly. In a good way 🤣🤣🤣

@Lovetok good luck with starting again. Shout out here if you need support!

I will have a look at the prep stuff, thank you.

My legs hurt so much today from doing the first day of epic beginners on Tuesday. I was fine yesterday and felt a bit smug about it but it has got me today! I was planning on going for a run tonight but I just can't face it!

Should I exercise through it or wait until it eases a bit?

Ooh @vivicrocodile we’re on the same schedule! I was toying with the idea of doing Day 2 this evening but just couldn’t face it. Still walking like a penguin after Day 1! 😳
Thanks @BigButtons!

@vivicrocodile stretch and keep going. With CG there is always something that hurts!

Right. Back on it. Day 2 Beginners today. Looking forward to not being able to use my arms tomorrow 😬😬😬

Got through it. Send help. Arms now made of jelly 😫🤣

@Lovetok well done!! Unfortunately the only help is to keep doing it- it will get better, I promise
If it's any consolation I just did iron day 20 and I'm meant to be going paddle boarding in an hour- I may drown due to lack of viable arm movements 😱

@milkfromthesleepycow oh god good luck!