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

[BigButtons]

New thread!

@Fibrous sometimes you just need to get back at it even if you feel a bit crap. The longer I leave it the harder it gets to start again.
day 14 for me today- the back section had me hurting and yawning/ the shoulder section was much more interesting.
off for a very rare girlie weekend so will miss the next 2 and jump back in on Monday.

There was a nice pyramid one posted for Day 15 of Play, Fibrous. It was actually an interesting workout with, again, zero time for boredom.

This comment made me laugh, though.😃

I should have done Play 15 today but it wasn’t actually raining 🌧️ so I went for a brisk walk instead.

Thanks for your condolences everyone. Week 1 of Epic 2 done. I’m working out straight after work and trying to see it as me time. I’m really hoping I can finish the 10 weeks. How’s everyone finding play overall

Play is my first programme on the app so I don't have anything to compare it too, However dare I say I am already a bit bored of hip thrusts and rear delt flies.
Today I finished work, I normally come home and go straight to a workout but instead after reading what was involved ( I am a bit behind so for me it was the 10x10 lower body day)I decided to not bother and did housework instead!
Also why does Caroline wear those tracksuit style trousers now instead of her usual leggings???😀

I have major doms from day 13 yesterday, haven’t had anything like this for months. I did day 14 this eve and the rows certainly got hard going, I had to lower my weights.

I’m finding play quite challenging.

enjoy your girlie weekend @BigButtons !

I noticed sometimes when Caroline wore leggings she’s blurred out her crotch a bit, probably to hide a bit or camel toe or sweat, so I can see why she’d switch to looser fitting bottoms, which are also more in fashion at the moment. I can’t even imagine watching myself back on video working out, let alone knowing thousands of people will see it so I totally get that!

The thirsty comments she gets when she is in leggings might put her off. One of the inevitable FB group men who posts too much posted today that when he is pressed for time he turns to her Mallorca series, which is CG working out on a beach in a bikini. I wonder why of all the bodyweight routines there are on the Internet, he plumps for those.🤔

I did the first couple of days of Heather Robertson's 4.0 recommended on here and will probably keep going with that for a bit- it's the basics, but she provides variations. I like Heather's somewhat austere, remote persona too. Did do the latter CGX Posterior one (1hr) with my new barbell yesterday. Amazing workout. I skipped some of the rest and again, slept like a baby. Shifting heavier weights is the only way I seem to be able to get any sleep these days.

Hi, last summer i tried CG and it was so hard. Someone on here recommended “growing ananas” and this was perfect for me. A massive thank you!
i have now joined a gym and would like to start CG again. Which of her program is the easiest but also suitable for lifting? (I have been lifting a bit at the gym, mainly assisted with machine, but it is getting a bit boring now)
or if you have any recommendations of videos for lifting at the gym, id love them. Many thanks!!

The first Iron series on youtube was my starting point @Placestogo
If you have or want to get the app, there's an actual Beginner series although it's apparently still challenging.

@Placestogoanother vote for Iron, it’s the programme I started with when I was new to CG (and lifting).

Thanks a lot. Cant wait to go to the gym! 😂

Same here..i started with iron and then did all the other programmes on YouTube.
I do ab add ons twice a week and actually picked one of the holiday series she did,I thought it looked like she had blurred out a bit of side boob and wondered why she thought a bikini top was a good idea(I always think it when I see other fitness instructors working out in actual bikinis! Rebecca Louise does it)
Anyway yes that makes sense re the leggings,I just think working out in those sort of trousers would be uncomfortable (too hot) but then she does wear shorts for leg day!

Hippy yoga instructors are the worst for it. Loose straps tops and no bras with lots of side boob blurred out!

I can’t comment on which programs to do at the gym as I quit the gym to do Caroline workouts (as I was injuring myself at the gym with too heavy weights for my bum hole). I’ve only been doing her workouts a few months and just follow along with whatever is current.

Has anyone managed to wade through this week's HQ? I skim read most of it but stopped to read the bit where she'd had a "well-intended" email asking about a program for menopausal women. I have read the paragraph about 5 times now and it makes no sense to me whatsoever!

I skimmed the article, but found it dull and terribly written, especially that particular paragraph. Just realised that she has hair extensions in Play, not keen on that look and totally understand why she’s shifted to looser fitting shorts and track suit bottoms. The unfortunate camel toe was especially noticeable in some earlier CGX videos.

Play day 15 for me today. I’m still really sore from day 13 - the 10x10 - the other day. Although I don’t realise it was 10x10, think I did more amrap. I have a feeling I’d be sore either way but this is long lived. I did a slow run with the dogs yesterday to try and loosen up a bit but it didn’t work. It’s nice to be punished once in a while, I suppose, but it always makes me feel like I’m not as fit as I think I am!

her email this week is pure waffle.

I haven’t done many Play sessions because I look at them and the prefer the PE or intent workout. But day 16 quads looks fun, I’ll definitely be doing that on Thursday (my quad day!). CG seems to favour glute workouts over quads as there is only one quad specific workout every 10 days with Play.
I hadn’t realised Caroline had invented lunge to squat, it’s one of my favourites moves!

Caroline invented lunge to squat, whaaaaat?😄

And told Fitness Blender about it ten years ago?

And Jillians Michaels fifteen years ago? Her various Shreds or Ripped in 30 that I did when DD was a baby definitely had squats to lunges. I can clearly visualise Jillian's evil little face smirking through those.

@Gobacktotheworld2according to Matthew A on his CGX App comment yesterday 😂

Omg!! 😆🤪 Sorry, I deserve to go to hell for doubting.

Edit: checked his comment. My goodness. She invented step ups, too?

Why does she have these gormless twits posting all over her workouts?!

@ fibrous- I don't think I got passed the first few lines. I am so tired of hearing the ' a lady messaged me the other day' gumpf. About to do day 17. missed 15 and 16 with my weekend away. it was ok- but one of my friends was behaving weirdly and i am glad to be back home. I also have another cold. Half of the kids at my school also seem to have it. Cheers kids😤
I have a mixture of dumbbells and adjustables but have just bought a new 12.5 kg pair to replace the award adjustable set up I have used for years- the handles are narrow and the plates dig into my wrists for things like chest press( i struggle to lift heavier than that because of one grumbling shoulder). I will only need adjustables now for 20kg and up- which is fine. it means I now have more flexibility with the weight plates and the barbell instead of swapping and changing.
I have been nagging my oh for ever and ever about staring to lift weights. he has been basically ignoring me. Now he has heard some expert on the radio say that people in their middle years should lift and he is sniffing around my dumbbells. (very hard won at that over years and years). We do not live together so i said he had to buy is own or use mine when he is here😉

Sorry you picked up a cold @BigButtons! And about your friend’s weird behaviour!
I did Day 17 no repeat chest shoulders and triceps today, it was ok but I didn’t find it as tough as the comments on the app make out due to the 45 second rest periods. Saying that I only used 12,5kg for the chest press and had to drop down to 7,5kg half way through each shoulder press exercise. It was ok but not as intense as the Intent workout I usually do on Mondays

@samthebordercollie I hav done day 17 now. I found it tough - mainly because of this cold and 4 nights of very poor sleep . Had to take the weights down to 12.5,7.5 and 4. Push ups were a no go for me today and my right shoulder is extra bad tempered( but like me). Every prog she brings out has the same write ups about it being the roughest ever, how people have been killed and maimed 🥱
on the whole I enjoying the variety much more than those progs with a ridged formula each day.
I will try the quad day tomorrow as my right glute has come out in sympathy with my right shoulder so no hip thrusts for me!

Day 17 looks as though it would have been tough with short rests. I did Tracy Steen's 50min Anterior Workout again instead - 15 sec rests, good workout.

Aww BB you and your other half will be able to post amusing joint workout selfies to Caroline's group! He can't have your weights but perhaps you can get him some shiny shorts, antlers and so on.