Getting fitter and stronger with Caroline Girvan- all welcome!

[BigButtons]

New thread!🤩

Hi
it all depends on how experienced you already are. How used to weights you are etc.
lots of people like to start with iron using lighter weights. When I started I already had dumbbells going from 2-5kg and that was certainly enough for a while. Her workouts are tough. Make sure you understand how to lift with good form first!

@tostaky
I thought her workouts looked really scary at first too! I'd never lifted weights before, but was sporty like you. I started aged 57 with Iron, as @BigButtons says it's a good one to steady with if you're a beginner because it's slower and you have time to learn the lifts. But with much lighter weights than Caroline uses. Good luck, have fun and the great thing about lifting is that you see results quite quickly if you are consistent!

Hi, just joining the thread as I have got into CG workouts through hearing about her on MN - thanks. I'm about four weeks in (did a couple of runs through beginner epic and now doing epic heat).

New challenge is working out with kids present. DD(6) quite enjoyed joining in with HIIT day but at the end of it she did say "mummy don't do any more, you'll die!" 😮

Hoping to keep it up during the holidays- for some reason I feel ridiculously embarrassed if anyone sees me exercising so I am trying to normalise it for the kids so they don't grow up with the same hang ups.

@MotherOfCrocodiles enjoy! Heat is a great series- tough, but great. Mind you, it's all tough!😂

Hi all

I’m 15 days into Iron and loving it and can already feel the difference in my strength and endurance (although pretty sure I will never feel the love for Bulgarian lunges).

im after some advice from those more experienced as to what to do when I finish Iron - at the moment Im thinking I’ll probably repeat it. How do the other series compare?

Also considering paying for Carolines content via the app - if anyone does this how do you find the daily workouts and do you feel it’s value for money?

Thank you

@KittyMcKitty my right knee certainly does not love Bulgarian lunges! I tend to modify quite a bit or do them bodyweight due to this.

I'm in the fb group and many people do repeats of Iron with increased weights. I've moved onto Endgame. I'd say that as well as being longer it's a bit faster-paced and there's more compound movements so I often need to drop my weights compared to what I'd do for Iron. The format for each week is either two upper body, one lower body, a full body and a HIIT or same but one upper body and two lower. I find the lower body and full body pretty cardio intensive as well.

I've not used the app yet as I'm still getting plenty of mileage from youtube but people seem to be loving it, I'll definitely sign up when the promised Iron 2 lands.

I should be doing Day 3 today.

But my bum and thighs are screaming in pain from Day 1. What to do?

Looks like I will have to swap days around and do another arm and chest day.

@FrostyFifi thank you - I think I’m going to repeat Iron with slightly heavier weights next and maybe have a look at Endgame for afterwards.

Need to find something with no equipment to do on holiday - maybe the Epic (I think) beginners.

@KittyMcKitty Endgame is a great program to do after Iron, it's slightly slower paced than Epic III ( my favourite) and Heat. For no equipment workouts check out the calisthenic playlist Caroline compiled, you'll find are all the no equipment sessions from all programs listed there.

Hello all 👋🏻 I've not been on for a while I've now completed Iron twice and dabbled with CG abs and glutes 10/20 min workouts. I'm gearing myself to try Epic when my DS is back at school 💪🏻. My Dad has recently been diagnosed with Osteoporosis which has spurred me on to keep weight training I'm looking at CG's app with the new Iron 2 program. Hope everyone is progressing well.

Just wanted to say hello, am going to start doing some Caroline in between gym sessions, so won't be quickly moving through programmes, but looking forward to starting! Think I'll start with Beginners on YouTube then consider the app.

@OkyDoke Hi and welcome! The beginner week on YouTube isn't really for beginners, it's more of an introduction to the Epic programmes. Not sure if you are a beginner but there is an excellent beginner series on the App where Caroline explains in detail all the moves during the session - she doesn't speak on other programmes during the workout. I'm really happy with the App, it's worth the money in my opinion.

Thanks for that @samthebordercollie perhaps I will join for a month or two and see how I get on with the app! I am definitely a beginner!

Everyone ready for a really dumb question?

I cannot find a comfortable two-handed dumbbell grip for things like pullovers. I try to overlap my hands but that just feels too weird, so I end up squashing them together and it hurts my wrist. How do you grip the blasted thing double handed properly?

I just overlap my hands and change which hand is on the bottom when ness.

i do find it a bit awkward actually and was thinking next time I will just use two dumbells, I also wear gloves as this helps my hands, some of my metal dumbells are quite uncomfortable to use(especially during renegade rows,hence the gloves)

Has anyone bought the app? I like it but am having casting issues big time. My tv is not smart. Last resort is a Roku stick.

I couldn't cast directly from my iPhone to my old TV but the app works perfectly with Chromecast

I've just bought the app to do Iron 2. Luckily both phone and tv are Samsung so that's been simple but the sound is sometimes a bit glitchy.

My phone will never load this thread- sorry I hardly post. I have to wait until i have time to fire up the iMac!
I am actually enjoying the new app and like that her focus is not on lifting heavier but on lifting with more intent and making the weights you have work harder for you.
I am fed up of the face book groups with the endless competitive ''I can match CG's weights' and then pretending they are not being competitive .
I have tried to ask for support re casting issues but my posts get turned down and the CG helpline doesn't bother to get back to me.

Is the new series only accessible via paid app?

I'm redoing the original Iron right now. But with heavier weights than last time. It's still a good day if I'm using 2/3 - 3/4 of Caroline's weight though.

@BigButtons have you got Chromecast?

@samthebordercollie I bought one second hand from ebay in anticipation for using the app. Download google home and set it up but it couldn't find my phone, iPhone 12, no reason why it couldn't or may be was too old?
The HDMI lightning adapter worked for 2 days then the app went black every time i tried to use it.
Roku express is my next attempt . My tv is about a year too old to be a smart tv and I'm not prepared to spend ££££££ on a new tv!

@BigButtons did you need a lightning adapter? I have an iPhone 12 and when I used the CGX app I just clicked the Chromecast icon on the top right of the screen and it cast directly to the TV

It didn't /doesn't pick anything up- doesn't give my tv as an option.

my understanding is that chrome cast has to recognise your phone first before you can cast? Maybe I am doing it all wrong? I thought I had to download google home and set it all up that way. if you have a another cunning method please do share!