Lifting with Caroline Girvan- keeping it real and having a laugh along the way!

[BigButtons]

New thread!

Fuel is the only YouTube programme I didn’t finish because I tried it at a time when I was running a lot and wanted to concentrate more on lifting for strength, Fuel is more endurance based than the Epics.

Fuel is pure fun, but I have never done all six weeks at once. It is so much harder than Rev, which was positioned as a Fuel 2.0, but just didn't have that intensity. I love plyo and endurance stuff, though. The dumbbell cardio from Fuel are doable and almost enjoyable.

@BigButtons chest presses are definitely an iffy move to push your limit on, aren't they? I'm the same with dumbbell shoulder press and won't even try to increase from 2 x 10kg there anymore right now as it makes me woozy and tense quite quickly

You make me slightly regret skipping Play Day 8 , but attempting hip thrusts as part of a superset is awkward and inefficient with dumbbells. The set would be ending just as I got everything into place. So I did this Nicole barre and pilates/yoga class for legs and abs which definitely takes you back to childhood ballet classes! No weights. Deceptively difficult. The stretch at the end was really nice and there was a fair bit of good calf and inner thigh work.

.

OK, had to sneak in Day 9 of Play as I wouldn't be able to do it for a couple of days- GREAT one for the chest, back and arms! The opening chest press / pullover superset wrecked my chest, which was full on shaking by the flyes. Even after the first round of supersets, I was down in table top, squinting at my phone, and my arms were already trembling just bearing my weight- before the rows, even. There's a snatch of music at the end where a woman was "shaking like an apple tree" and that genuinely was me. One of the best workouts she's released in ages!

And the best bit: going straight to the next side on the back rows, with no endless Iron Pro style break. No time for boredom today! It really felt like a 20min workout rather than a 40min one.

More like this please, Caroline!

@Gobacktotheworld2 I will get day 9 done tomorrow. I didn’t bother with the barbell for day 8 . I did heavy banded hip thrusts.

Just an observation but caroline must have got some new jewellery for christmas,or she really is going all out the blue theme.
(Love her necklace)
On the fb group a few people waxing lyrical about silly boys article and that led to speculation about where they are, and how missed they are,how not to let the nasty bullies win!
THEY WILL BE BACK!

@Gobacktotheworld2 I did Day 9 too today and it's definitely one I'll repeat. If anyone knows of any other CG upper body ones which are similar feel free to share! Loved covering back, chest and arms in one session.

@TessTickle0 I saw that too. I am not so sure. She was always a delicate flower and said she used to have terrible self confidence issues. I don’t think it will have taken much to knock her back and the beating she got on Reddit was quite spectacular.
it is so much nicer on fb without them. I feel there is alot less hysteria about PLAY . I think a lot of people are not liking the style. I love it!

@BigButtons ah I see. They did ask for a lot of the stick they got but still not nice to read it all.
As for play-i like it so far, and find it challenging enough.
I was bored on the laps for legs day I did but perhaps I wasnt really in the mood to begin with as its the first workout by caroline that I have been fed up with

Yeah - I swapped that for a heat leg day as I loathe circuits. I prefer to concentrate on one or 2 exercises like with super sets and then be done with them!

Bah, I’m ill. I think that must be why I’ve been finding everything such hard work these last few days. Pretty annoying as I’m at a conference for the next two days that I was looking forward to and now I’m going to be coughing and sniffing my way through it all behind a mask.

I can't recall any other session just like that, but if there is, it'll be on youtube. The other sessions that recently made my chest shake like that were day 1 of Tempo Week (shoulders/chest/triceps) and Heat Day 18 (chest and core), but I can't think of another push/pull one just like Play Day 9. Fantastic workout! She did have a really good antagonist upper body day in Fuel- Day 12- but I think it was a little less intense, as it had a fairly cruisy staple and didn't have that chest press / pullover superset which was such an evil bastard.

Oh no, Fibrous, get well soon! Probably not the time to punish yourself with dietary viciousness. Whatever you can eat to make you strong and well again.

I have a glute day coming up but will probably do an Iron Pro one as the slower pace makes it easier set up properly for hip thrusts. I think there was one half way through with side to side banded walks, I remember seeing on Facebook? Let's see if the app's search function can locate it for me...

Re: Kearneys- they will be waiting for people to beg them to return, then they'll be worse than ever. Seriously. I studied Russian history at university and Ivan the Terrible did the EXACT same thing.🤣

Also, CGX new series about transformations with the before and after pictures of photogenic people looking even more photogenic after some training? It is like those awful American infomercials for fitness programs promising if you do THIS then you'll look like THIS. Disappointing, snake oil rubbish.

@Gobacktotheworld2 that photo feature is bloody awful! what on earth is she thinking?

I hate those before and after body transformations and I’m surprised Caroline is doing this as it seems to go against everything she has ever said previously. It’s what desperate influencers do on Instagram. I did Play day 6 today, the circuits, really enjoyed but found it easier than the circuits on Intent for example.
@Fibrous,hope you get better soon. That would account for your lack of energy the other day!
Is it me or has Caroline put on a little weight? Not a criticism, just an observation.

@samthebordercollie I don't know about putting on weight-i came from YouTube straight to this year's advent and now play so she looks different anyway.
And oh god I need to say it, but feel bad...the hair?? My partner came through and he's made known how good he thinks she looks before,but he said it looks like a wig!

She does kinda lowkey do the "my body is my business card" thing, selling the dream that if you do her workouts, you'll look like her. Her assistant Freda was sharing on Facebook what Caroline's particular brand of orange slap-on tan was last week, which made me roll my eyes very hard indeed. But really, it's not her fault she's gorgeous, and more fool the would-be Caro-clones if they think her workouts will give them her body.

But before and after transformations? That's shit's for Beachbody and that lady who used to flog the Ab Circle Pro, and yes, every uncertified TikTok and Instagram huckster selling AI-generated programs.

It is not what reputable trainers do. :/

Please please don't do a Ratner on us, CG.

I was surprised about the transformation "article" too. There's enough of that shite on the FB group without formalising it on the app. Not sure why CG has decided it's a good idea.

@TessTickle0 I did think her hair looked like it could do with a good trim recently. It just looks a bit too long and straggly. As for the fake tan, I have never bought into her achieving that shade just by using that Bondi Sands product. She must surely have a spray tan once a week and just top it up with the BS one to maintain that depth of colour unless her natural skin tone is dark olive to start with.

I'm sure she said in one of her articles that she was really interested in skincare. I'd actually love her to write an article on what products she uses! Same for make-up. I know I could never look as amazing as she does (I'm almost 20 years older for starters) but would still like to known which products she rates.

I’m not really into her aesthetic at all but I’m a grey haired, pale skinned former goth so that’s unsurprising. My Irish cousins love the bloody spray tan on their blue skin. My sister and I stand out like Wednesday Adams at their weddings 🤣

I did day 3 of fuel today and enjoyed it, it was bloody hard though.
I dont follow her schedule to the letter as I run a couple of times a week so fit that in when I can. I skip any cardio or HIIT only workouts.

Feel better soon @Fibrous .🙂
day 9 for me today. Was ok- I wasn’t really in the mood as got to it late having picked up my car after its failed mot yesterday and ££££££ poorer today as a result. So I got to it cross and stayed cross.
so many bloody skull crushers/ I nearly always sub those with Tate presses now as I would prefer to build my side tricep more.
I think she is maybe ‘larger’ no bad thing- she got really thin at one point.
I am noticing so many people losing weight atm IRL and it really doesn’t suit many of them. Some look positively frail and gaunt- many of them hardly had anything to lose in the first place. I don’t get why women do that to themselves- I mean absolutely strive for a heathy weight but none of these women ( in 40s and 50s) exercise at all .

I'm sure she said in one of her articles that she was really interested in skincare. I'd actually love her to write an article on what products she uses! Same for make-up. I know I could never look as amazing as she does (I'm almost 20 years older for starters) but would still like to known which products she rates.

She fairly obviously maintains with botox - no critisism, it's unsurprising with her overall aesthetic.

Do you reckon they are on the jab???? I know a few that are and the weight as literally dropped off.
One lady though wasn't overweight and obtained it online,she in particular is heading that way(gaunt)

Yes it’s easy to obtain the GLP1 jabs online with no prescription. The problem is that if people don’t strength train as well muscle is the first thing to go as it’s such a metabolically expensive organ for the body to maintain. I agree I think it was the Iron on the App programme where I thought Caroline looked a bit too gaunt. I’ve lost half a stone in the last few months, not intentionally, just being busy and then ill for a couple of days and BMI went from 20 to 19 - I’m sure I look gaunt at 60 whereas if I was 30 it would be fine! It’s always best to have some reserve at age 50+ in case of illness.

@TessTickle0 it could be. I do know one person at work( in a school so very active) who fasted everyday until 4pm. She eats something at lunch now but like literally a couple of crackers.The jabs frighten me.
yes- women in midlife look better with some fat. I was always tiny . I used to starve myself . When I started weight training seriously I put on muscle and the change in size terrified me.
I am still twitchy about it at times must be said - but j am also actually eating now because I do not want crumbly bones when I am older- k want to be functionally strong . I have a bit of spare round my middle now - which I dislike but am still a size small in most clothes. I have no idea what I weigh and am not interested.
my face is fuller and I look healthier and younger. So it is a pay off. Weight training makes me hungry. I have been terrible about my protein for the past month though.

Yep, I just moved home to a place where those Wegovy jabs are apparently available in every second "wellness" shop at the shopping centre, and it's truly alarming to see all these gaunt, bony faces and physiques about. We're right beside a very large beautiful park full of runners, and they look positively chubby and blooming next to the skeleton army.