Getting fitter and stronger with Caroline Girvan- all welcome!

[BigButtons]

New thread!🤩

@FlowerArranger yes he is good isn’t he? I have picked up some good form tips from him too- an area I find CG a bit lacking in.
🙂

Joining to see if anyone has any gossip on new programme ?!!

Hi, I've just done beginners Epic day 1, i class myself as fairly fit and run regularly but I found that quite hard! Which is great because I need a challenge!! Can't wait for day 2 tomorrow, do people do one every day?

Hello @alloutofcareunits - it's such a long time since I did Epic 1, I only have a vague recollection, but I have this perception that it was longer or more difficult than the others. It's tough, but after a while it becomes a way of life.

I usually do 4-5 of Caroline's workouts in a week and supplement with Growingannanas HIIT and some old favorites like Rebecca's Best Abs and Lucy's Thighs & Glutes.

And a daily Bowflex 3-minute plank really helps!

@FlowerArranger thanks, I went for a run after as I like to get cardio in by walking or running, hopefully it'll be arms and/or abs tomorrow as they're what I really need to work on!

This is a fabulous workout for abs which I come back to at least once or twice a week - do it every day for a month and you'll notice a huge difference:

(Do turn down the volume after the first time. Rebecca does make some useful points, but her chatter is annoying...)

Secondly, planks! I've been doing this 3-minute plank most days for the past 3+ years, and it definitely works:

Having a strong core makes everything else so much easier!!

@FlowerArranger I'll have a look at those tomorrow, I'm not at work until 2pm so plenty of time to get planking!

I'm on holiday so not doing any direct Carolining, but working out every day and reminded that I really love boxing. I think I'm going to have to start working out at the boxing gym down the road from me.

We love to do a 1 hour callisthenics video when we’re on holiday. No equipment needed, just Caroline! And no time pressures make it much more relaxed.

i am on calisthenics week. Leg day yesterday was by far the hardest leg day I have ever done with her. So hard I had to split it into 2 sections.
I do wonder when anything new will drop. I hope it’s better than fuel- which I found rubbish.
if nothing drops then I will do beastmode and then back to heat.

I look like a praying mantis when I throw a punch😂

Hello exercisers!

I'm back home and back on the Caroline after working out every day on holiday. Rather terrifyingly, according to my scales I'm 2kg heavier despite having visibly lost a bit of fat. I'm slightly freaked out. It's also possible that my scales are buggered...

Epic 1 Day 39 today (1hr full body), day 40 tomorrow. I think I'm going to start doing the HIITs. I'm having troubles with the elbow that's given me trouble ever since my first pregnancy, though, and it really puts a crimp in pushups which have been prevalent in Epic 1 of late.

I have also spent way too much on new workout gear lately, which I justify by telling myself it makes me enjoy workouts more.

It’s all those new muscles adding to the scales. Well done on the holiday workout!

It's also possible that my scales are buggered...
😂

I 'somehow' managed to gain around 15 lb over the pandemic, even though I exercised most days. Well, no 'somehow' about it........ I developed an unfortunate wine & cheese habit... 😱

I've lost 10 lb over the past 2-3 months, but it's a slow process as I'm more focused on building muscle, but I look a lot leaner and I reckon I've lost a couple of dress sizes already.

Onwards & upwards!! Caroline & Anna await 😎

I'd like to believe that, but I'm struggling to, a bit. And that takes me right to the top of healthy BMI range (I'm short). But my clothes still fit. Maybe I need to start taking measurements of my body rather than ever measuring weight. Or get a proper pair of body comp scales - allegedly my scales are but only if you can get your Fitbit to sync with them, and it's old and mine won't.

I do generally lose weight on holiday, because I exercise a lot and eat a lot of vegetables from the buffet :) I know, I know, what kind of psycho am I.

Keep working it @FlowerArranger !

@AquaticSewingMachine I don't own any scales. I go by my clothes!

I am getting to the point now- finally- where I can see definition in individual leg muscles. For a year they have been just gard, now they have shape.
I am on beast mode atm. I like it.
I might redo heat next week- fancy lowering the weights for a bit!

I think that's the way to go @BigButtons . I only step on mine occasionally out of curiosity, but an increase of 2kg in 2 weeks freaked me right out.

The muscle volume on my arms has definitely increased, although I'm nowhere near Kidman territory. I like my shoulders though.

Hi everyone, thanks again for this post, it's been so helpful. I am finally on the last day of Epic Heat, although it has taken me more like 14 weeks than 10! I'm trying to figure out what to do next... I like the 30 minute limit as I can fit it in quite easily, are there any others that have a similar format?
Also another question, does anyone have any weights they'd recommend? I bought a set of 8kg dumbbells but have barely used them as I find the grips too big - annoying as they're not cheap! Thank you!

All my dumbbells and also my barbell and weights are Decathlon - they're good value and I like the textured metal grips. Where are your current ones from?

Ah Decathlon is a great idea, I will check there. Mine were Core Balance ones from Amazon, I liked the look of them because they were neoprene (which my smaller ones are) but just found them a bit big to hold onto. Thank you!

Epic 1 Day 44 ticked off. Brutal. Two 20-minute solid dumbbell complexes. But my arms have really acquired visible muscle lately. Extra protein has been the game changer.

Sadly, it has come to my attention that I make really embarrassing faces when I lift. I have never cared about being red-faced and sweaty, but the weird faces are not good. 😊

@AquaticSewingMachine well done! Yes extra protein does make a difference.
I am on my second round of epic heat. I had forgotten how cardio based it was. Well last time, last summer, I didn't have anything heavier than 5kg. This time I'm at double that weight so I guess it would be harder!

I need to get back to the Caroline habit! I thought a new program might drop so have been procrastinating and eating toast. I think I just need to get on with it !!!

Thanks @BigButtons !

Yeah, come on, @CalmConfident ! Back in the saddle, it'll feel great 😀

I just knocked out an Epic 1 HIIT before breakfast and starting a new job and it confirmed for me... that I don't really like Caroline's HIITs. Give me a dumbbell any time.

Epic 1 Day 46. Twenty solid minutes of push-up variations. Why, god, why?!?

A skull-crusher pushup feels like such an unnatural movement to me.

I have to decide which set to do next after I finish Epic 1 soon - I think either Iron or Epic 2. I definitely want to focus more on weight training than HIIT.