Epic 3 Guide
Epic 3 Guide
Epic 3 Guide
TM
P R O G R A M
CAROLINE GIRVAN
PROGRAM CONTENTS
3. Welcome
4. EPIC III Program overview
6. How to get started
7. Equipment
9. How to get the best results
13. Nutrition
25. FAQs
34. My own tips
41. EPIC III schedule
44. Useful Links
P R O G R A M
INTRODUCTION
EPIC III
P R O G R A M
OVERVIEW
The sessions will include all of the variety, challenges, structure and of course the fun that is the
EPIC Programs.
Each workout will be between 30 and 40 minutes duration. This duration will incorporate the
actual workout itself and the 'burnouts' or finishers' that have always been one of my favourite
parts! The introduction to the workout (where I discuss the workout at the beginning and details
on equipment etc) your warm up, and a cool down that you can join me for will be extra to the
duration so it is guaranteed you will be solidly exercising for between the 30 to 40 minutes!
Suggested warm-ups will be provided in the form of a separate video. I would always
recommend a full body workout even if it is upper or lower body focused as we use our whole
body to an extent during particularly compound movements. A cool down will be completed
immediately post workout as with most workouts I do, however please feel free to spend more
time cooling down or a more intense stretch after if preferred.
The EPIC Programs are tailored for intermediate to advanced. The workouts are typically time
based so you complete at a pace that suits your experience, ability, energy level on the day and
relative to the weights you have access to.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
You will notice in the calendar for EPIC III, there is more workouts involving complexes and towards
the end particularly giant sets!
Often the Full Body workouts on a Friday will involve dumbbells and bodyweight. Typically this will
involve the dumbbells more towards the beginning of the workout.
My notorious finishers and 'burn outs' will be typically be bodyweight but could involve partial reps
with dumbbells or even a mixture of the two!
Compound movements are typically completed at the beginning of the workout when energy is
higher and as we progress through the workout we may revisit those compound movements but
with less weight, bodyweight or move to more isolation movements so typically the 'on paper'
more demanding exercises are performed at the beginning!
The workouts will be shared on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays (HIIT as
normal!) however again, this is the uploads only. You are able to consider your weekly schedule
and may prefer a Sunday as a rest day as apposed to a Saturday so simply complete each
workout when suits you on those days that work for you. I would suggest 1 full rest day at least
and 1 active rest day so this may include a wide range of activities such as running, long walk,
yoga or practising a specific skill such as handstands!
Every session will be different and vary in format such as pace, rest periods, bodyweight only, use
of dumbbells, heart rate elevation and overall structure however there will nearly always be
compound exercises performed towards the beginning of the workout, isolation work towards the
end of the workout and finishing with either a finisher set or a complete burnout!
Different training methods will be used including plenty of complexes as I know you love those,
circuits, antagonist training, drop sets, supersets, tri-sets, giant sets, until failure, isometrics,
plyometrics, calisthenics, cardio, challenges, compound movements, isolation movements,
pyramids. and staple movements!
EPIC III is different from EPIC I and EPIC II in that it will contain more repetition. This means less
number of exercises but more sets for the most part. For those who have completed some or all
of the other programs, this is an opportunity to really master those movements completed less
reps per sets due to greater range of movement, more control throughout and slowing down the
lowering! There will also be alot more abs specific within this program.
The fundamentals will always be at the heart of the training with those compound movements
such as squats, lunges, RLDs, chest press, shoulder press, rows and all of the fun variations of
these of course!
P R O G R A M
Read this guide carefully so you are familiar with the structure of the 10 week programs.
You can begin the EPIC III immediately, or if new to training and/or want further practice with
movements, the 5 day EPIC Beginner Series is a great option to start with!
Plan how you are going to incorporate the workouts into your week. For example, are you
planning on smashing these workouts in the morning, or evening? The programme can be
followed as I am doing it or you can save workouts for other days and space it out.
Plan out complimentary cardio! If like me you walk your dog for an hour most days, 20 minute
interval sprint session twice a week, a longer run at the weekend or even a 20 minute brisk walk
every single day, think about moving more!
It is important that being active works for you. A walk most evenings, morning yoga, game of
tennis with friends! We are all different and we all consider exercise differently!
Have all your equipment ready (if applicable) for each day.
Ensure you plan out your meals even just for that day and healthy snacks available!
Don’t forget to take that first photo to use for visible progress over the 10 weeks!! But the most
important changes are those strength gains that are visbile and more so the ones that aren't
visible; mentally stronger and inner confidence!
P R O G R A M
EQUIPMENT
Essential
1 x pair of dumbbells (Ideally 2 pairs of dumbbells; a lighter pair and a heavier pair)
1 x non slip exercise mat
Bottle of water nearby
Glute band
A towel
A sturdy chair primarily for Bulgarian lunges and decline push ups for example.
A wall or stable surface for wall sits
Optional
A sofa/soft chair/bench for hip thrusts. Alternatively, you can place towels on edge of hard
chair to help protect back or perform bridges on the mat.
A yoga block or 2 yoga blocks. Typically I will use a yoga block to simply provide elevation
during squats to target the quadriceps that bit more, front foot elevated during lunges to
deepen range of movement available or for push ups for uneven!
Push up bars! These are a great option to use when performing oush ups for greater depth
and also can feel more comfortable on wrists for many.
Dip bars! If you do have dip bars at home and during a workout I am performing dips on the
chair with feet on floor, you could use this as time to do dips on the bar.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Ankle weights (I would typically recommend 1kg to 2kg per weight. The ankle weights I
use in all of my workouts are 2kg each)
The weights I will be using throughout the program will range from 4kg to 25kg.
US H T T P S : / / A M A Z O N . C O M / S H O P / C A R O L I N E G I R V A N
UK H T T P S : / / A M A Z O N . C O . U K / S H O P / C A R O L I N E G I R V A N
P R O G R A M
Balance is key if you want to embrace a healthier lifestyle, but there is no right or wrong
way as our bodies and minds are different.
Consider your daily steps, or overall activity level through the week aside from workout
specific, for example; walking during your lunch break, cycling to & from work, fitting in a
sprint session for 20 minutes, , swimming, cycling or going for a hike with a friend...these
all add up to improve your cardiovascular health, burn energy and help with mood!
It is important throughout this programme and any training that you rest. Rest days
allow for the body to recover and repair, prevents muscle fatigue, reduces risk of injury
and absolutely helps your performance! Rest days look different for everyone; some
enjoy low impact exercise such as walking, swimming or cycling or stretching, all of
which allow you to stay active whilst letting your body recover.
I will provide option 'add ons' which will be simply shorter duration workouts to
compliment the workout of that day. I would recommend to bear this in mind; it is an
option. It is simply there if you really want to increase the time spent working out that
day, however these suggested add ons will typically be between 10 and 20 minutes. I
personally love abs post a workout but sometimes a glute band longer finisher, a tricep
annihilator post a chest workout or even some cardio!
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Each training session should be taxing. What I mean is, you should be pushing yourself
with every movement. If you perform a HIIT session and you aren't exhausted and 'done'
after, it could be that you didn't give it the most intensity you could have...and that will
happen absolutely. There will be days when your energy is lower, or you are preoccupied
with life in general!
During the workouts, please work at your own pace and don't necessarily follow at my
pace. I may be using a heavier weight and therefore be going at a slightly slower pace
or if bodyweight, I may be going at a slightly faster pace than you. Just move at a pace
that is suitable for the workout and to allow correct form to be maintained!
I hope you have a lot of fun throughout this program, though remember this saying;
'great things never come from comfort zones'. This will be true during parts of this
program....if there is no struggle, there is no progress!
R E S T D A Y S A L L O W F O R T H E
B O D Y T O R E C O V E R A N D
R E P A I R
CAROLINE GIRVAN
N U T R I T I O N
P R O G R A M
GENERAL NUTRITION
THERE IS NOT ONE FOOD THAT PROVIDES ADULTS WITH ALL THE
NUTRIENTS ITS NEEDS, AND THAT’S WHY A VARIED AND BALANCED INTAKE
IS SO IMPORTANT. THE FOLLOWING IS SOME INFORMATION READILY
AVAILABLE SIMPLIFIED TO HELP WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF A BALANCED
INTAKE.
Protein is the most filling of the macronutrients, good for your bones and helps repair
and build muscle! If exercising regularly, your body will need more protein compared to
those who don’t. Good sources include eggs, lean meats, Quorn, legumes and dairy
products.
Increase unsaturated fat found in salmon, albacore tuna, unsalted nuts & seeds and
avocado.Try to avoid trans -fats and saturated fat intake such as in biscuits, fattier
meats and pies.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
P R O G R A M
Consider reducing your salt intake. Even if you don’t add salt to your food, most of the salt is
already in processed foods such as soups, bread, cereals and ready to eat snacks.
If you can, try to eat fish twice per week, one at least being oily fish such as salmon. Tinned fish is
a great option to have stocked in cupboard.
You may only be eating ‘clean’ foods and minimal processed foods but if you are eating too
much of anything, this could be detrimental to your goals. Calorie counting apps (many are
free) are a great way to gain some guidance on portion size etc.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
P R O G R A M
SNACKS
Who doesn’t love to snack? I certainly do! However, this is one of the areas that many people
tend to struggle with the most.
Having snacks between your main meals help keep sustained energy levels through the day,
improves concentration, reduces cravings for unhealthier choices, actually help you make
healthier main meal options and boosts your mood!
Many snacks ready-made can be high in refined carbohydrates and sugar. Having some snacks
containing protein is also a great option as it helps you feel fuller with slowing digestion and
contributes to increasing your overall protein intake essential for muscle
repair and growth.
Having access to quick, simple and nutritious snacks helps maintain your energy levels through
the day.
CG COMMUNITY
DIETICIAN
Gillian has over 24 years of successful experience spanning working in the NHS, private practice
and research.
Gillan is a mother of 3 children, runs clinics, is continuously doing research yet makes time to
remain active and enjoys these workouts too in her spare time as well as running. She regularly
helps top-level athletes in training with excellent results and is a member of the BDA Sports
Dieticians UK.
Gillan is registered with The British Dietetic Association (BDA) and the HCPC professional bodies
and practices evidence-based medicine.
Gillian is the media spokesperson for Northern Ireland and features regularly in the media locally
and nationally.
Her main areas of interest and those she is trained on include weight management, especially for
those with resistant weight loss, Gastro-intestinal dysfunction, Eating Disorders, auto-immune
conditions, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Nutrition and mental health, sports nutrition and
Nutrition-genomics.
https://facebook.com/groups/carolinegirvan
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Snack: Oatcakes x 2-3 and mackerel pate or cream cheese with 6 grapes or 4 olives or 1 apple
Lunch: Fresh fish 120g, or houmous 150g, Delicious eggs x 2-3 (see recipe below), 2 handfuls
mixed salad leaves, 2-3 baby tomatoes, grated carrot, cucumber slices x 3, a few pickles and
any other salads you like add flavours or a touch of apple cider vinegar. If needing fuel for a
workout have a good portion of carbs with this.
Mid afternoon: 3 walnuts and a date if need a snack on the go or seeds, yoghurt and berries.
Evening meal: Protein -Tofu, tempeh, or meat alternative, or a fish poultry, meat protein you enjoy:
120-150g cook – roast, pan, saute, in olive oil or butter
3-4 or more colourful vegetables - vary as often as possible - add herbs or spices.
Carbohydrates: brown rice, wholemeal pasta, quinoa, potatoes…
Ingredients
3 eggs
6-8 baby plum tomatoes chopped
4-5 asparagus sticks left over from previous meal
Heat some butter or olive oil in a pan cook the tomatoes, remove, heat the asparagus, remove to
same plate as tomatoes then a little more butter and cook the 3 eggs – scramble to make it
quick then place on plate with tomatoes, asparagus, relax and enjoy.
Ingredients
How to make it
How to make it
Ingredients
Instructions
This is a quick an easy recipe in the food processor the only time you need to factor in is the
freezer. I however skip this step, and they come out fine for me making this really quick for a
hungry family!
Prepare the flax egg by mixing the flaxseed meal and water in a small bowl and setting it aside to
thicken. If not vegan you can use 1 egg.
Add the mushrooms to a food processor and pulse until broken down into small pieces or
alternatively chop. Add in the remaining ingredients except for the breadcrumbs and pulse for
about 45-60 seconds, or until almost smooth. Make sure that the mixture is still chunky and not
smooth.
Place the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the breadcrumbs. Mix until uniform and then set
into the freezer for about 15-20 minutes to set. Preheat the oven to 180c and line a baking sheet
with parchment paper.
Once the mixture has set, take some burger mixture and form it into a 2cm thick patty. Repeat to
form 6 patties total. Place them on the lined baking sheet and into the oven. Bake for 30 minutes,
turning half way.
Allow the burgers to cool and then serve with salad, a bap and or some sweet potato fries.
These are a snapshot of meal and snack ideas for you and your family to enjoy. Adapt to suit
your likes, workout goals, energy needs and any allergies/intolerances.
Gillian
P R O G R A M
Chicken breast
Whole chicken
Ready to eat chicken breast
Chicken sausages
Gammon joint
Lean steak (Sirloin / fillet)
Lean steak mince
Good quality meat burgers
Low fat meatballs
Low fat turkey mince
Turkey sausages
Turkey rashers
Pork chops
Liver
Salmon and oily fish
Tuna
Seabass/plaice/haddock/cod/whiting/hake
Seafood
Fridge essentials
Semi-skimmed milk
Unsweetened Almond / oat milk
Hard and cream cheeses
III
Butter
Free range Egg
Carton egg whites
Cottage cheese
Greek yoghurt
Natural yoghurt
Quark cheese
Vegan cheese
Coconut or oat yoghurt
Tofu
Quorn mince / chicken pieces/chicken breast plain
Tempeh
Freezer
Frozen vegetables
Frozen fruit
Pre-portioned frozen yoghurt/ice cream
Frozen edamame
Cupboard essentials
Almond nuts
Walnuts
Cashews
Brazil Nuts
Roasted edamame
Peanut butter
Almond butter
Honey/Stevia
Sultanas/raisins
Extra virgin Olive oil
Cold pressed rapeseed oil
Coconut oil
Coconut cream
Brown rice
Whole wheat/lentil/pea pasta
Buckwheat noodles
Porridge
Weetabix / Shredded wheat
III
Buckwheat flakes/puffs
Tinned Beans low sugar/low salt
Tinned tomatoes
Passata
Lentils/black beans/chickpeas
Quinoa
Risotto
Tins of tuna in Spring Water
Tins of red/pink salmon
Sprinkling seeds ie. Chia, sunflower, hemp, sesame,
flaxseed
Pumpkin seeds
Oat cakes
Rice cakes
Wholegrain good quality bread
Cauliflower/broccoli rice
Fruit
III
Vegetables aiming for at least 5 portions per day
Sweet potato
Spinach
Courgettes
Carrots
Broccoli
Garlic
Bok choy
Kale
Asparagus
Mushrooms
Leeks
Cauliflower
Squash
Peppers
Onion/Spring onion
Sprouts
Peas
Mangetout
Green beans
Rocket
Lettuce
Cucumber
Beansprouts
Pak choy
Parsnips
Beetroot
Sweetcorn
Cabbage
Potatoes
Tomato
Fresh Herbs
Fresh ginger
Fresh mint
Chilli
Capers
Olives
Sundried tomatoes
III
Lighter sweet
P R O G R A M
FAQ'S
The EPIC Beginner Series workouts are all 30 minutes each, excluding short brief, warm up and
cool down.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Below are some examples of how you can replace the jumping portion if preferred.
During burpees etc, step back into plank position as apposed to hopping back into plank.
Explosive push ups can be performed as alternating hand off floor per rep.
Apart from HIIT workouts, the movements involving heavier dumbbells are performed at a slow
pace, always with control. Please never feel pressured to rush. Stop, take a moment to reset then
carry on anytime you feel you need to.
Throughout every single workout, work at a pace to suit you. The timer is simply a guide so stop
when you feel you really need too, particularly if form is being affected.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
T R Y A N D F A I L , B U T N E V E R F A I L T O T R Y !
If you are unable to do push ups with knees off the floor, try doing push ups with hands
on a chair. Overtime aim to place hands on a lower surface such as a box/yoga blocks,
then finally the floor. However, with push ups, quality is better than quantity in order to
progress so even when you do reach the level of push ups on the floor if you are doing
one or two during the time period, perfect! Simply stop, take a second and see if you
can do another one or two; this is better than say 20 on the knees!
Strengthening the entire hip area, including the glutes will allow extra support in a squat
and lunge position.
In order for range of motion of squat, mobility of the ankle joint is important. The use of
bands and bodyweight to increase flexibility of the calf muscles and leg, also post injury
or surgery stiffness.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
For a standard squat, feet slightly wider than hips, toes slightly pointed outwards (approx. 15
degrees). Keep gaze straight ahead. Feet firmly on the floor, and toes should be able to wiggle!
Brace your core, inhale and push hips back as it to sit down, whilst keeping chest open and up
entire time. As you are lowering, focus on knees staying in-line with feet; not allowing knees to
cave in but also not pushing them wider than feet.
Exhale to rise, maintaining alignment of knees with feet and squeeze glutes at top.
During lunges, keep chest open, chin up, brace core, and front knee in-line with front foot. The
back knee should also be inline and point to the floor in bottom position, and both knees
approximately 90 degrees. You may need to adjust your stance of the distance between your
feet.
Practise bodyweight only and use a mirror to check for your alignment.
If you experience tightness of the quads or hip flexors it may be down to lack of flexibility, ensure
more time spent warming up and stretching prior to beginning and reduce range of motion of
the lunge.
My lower back is aggravated during Romanian Deadlifts / Bent Over Rows; shall I not
perform them?
Both of these exercises will help strengthen your back but if not performed correctly, can cause
injury. Correct form is crucial.
Practice bodyweight or holding something very light such as small bottles of water.
During Romanian deadlifts, only lower to where is comfortable and you are able to maintain flat
back whilst feeling stretch in hamstrings.
During a bent over row, prevent any momentum; lift and lower at same pace.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
If you train intensely and focused, consume sufficient protein through the day, alongside
adequate calories (if in deficit, the deficit should be minimal), perform the repetitions
(particularly the compound lifts), lift heavy (of course this is different for everyone and most of
us are not in a typical gym setting but you can still make those weights feel heavier with this
program and perform each movement the best you can and full range of motion), give it your all
on the burn outs at the end, incorporate cardio / non-exercise activity, get plenty of sleep and
taking those active/rest days will all contribute to building strength, seeing changes in your body
composition and help you feel simply amazing!
It is important to also have realistic expectations with this and any program you embark on.
Firstly, what you put in is what you get out of it!
If you are aiming to become stronger, but don’t focus on the lowering portion of the movement or
are wanting to lose body fat but not move through the day aside from the workout alone, these
are examples of how you could be hindering your progress.
Try to consider a realistic timetable and schedule for your training, and any extra such as that
daily walk, prepping food or weekly cycle session outdoors.
Also, be realistic with the expectations of yourself…there will be days when you are fired up and
much energy that that 10kg feel so much lighter, but then there’ll be days where you simply could
think of nothing worse than lifting a dumbbell or holding a plank! I would suggest for those days
when you are feeling lethargic, go for a walk, do a stretch session, even low impact cardio and
resume the next day! Though we are all different and many of us come around as soon as we
begin and get into it!
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
I am new to weight training / this intensity of training and the scales are saying I weigh
heavier?
Initially, a new training program will put stress on the muscle fibres, causing micro trauma and
some inflammation. This initial response can lead to temporary water retention, but this is
temporary.
Ensure to listen to your body during the workouts and give your muscles rest days.
Stepping on the scales will not take into consideration muscle mass and growth, hormones, fluid
retention, and females’ menstrual cycles.
I am still the same weight on the scales but have definitely lost body fat?
1 kg of fat of course weighs the same as 1 kg of muscle, but muscle takes up a lot less space than
fat. It is possible to weight the exact same as someone else or even heavier yet be ‘leaner’ than
that person at same height!
During steady state cardio workouts, it doesn’t feel like low / medium intensity?
I would suggest you slow it down. Go at your own pace. I ensure to go at a pace that I could still
talk but certainly breathing that bit harder. I would be aiming for my heart rate approx. 120-140
beats per minute throughout.
Incorporating some form of steady state and high intensity interval training into your weekly
schedule is a great way to keep challenging yourself and improve your overall fitness.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
The programs gradually reduce in the variety of the movements and increase in repetition so
allowing more emphasis on that muscle group. There are no 'no repeats' workouts technically in
EPIC III in that there will be no movement appearing only once but there may be variations of the
same exercise within the workout appearing only once. For example, squats; in a workout, it may
contain only one set of a variation of a squat but there may be another 4 variations of squats to
follow!
You will notice that one workout I may lift a lighter weight than a previous workout for the same
exercise but this is all down to the intensity on the muscle, rest, exercises pre the exercise leading
to pre exhaust and also if that exercise is in itself before a similar exercise, the tempo, range of
motion, if it is towards the end of a workout, utilised as a burnout etc!
If you are relatively new to training, you may notice you can increase your weights at a faster
pace than maybe someone who has been lifting for a longer period of time. 'Newbie gains' is a
real process and don't be discouraged at all if you have been lifting for awhile and are not
increasing weight at the same rate you did previously! If that was the case, I'd be squatting 2 x
50kg dumbbells and benching that too!
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Remaining healthy and strong for the amazing journey ahead should be a positive and enjoyable
experience. Remaining active whilst pregnant will help strengthen the muscles, improve
circulation around the body, help with lower back ache and of course exercise helps you feel
great!
If you have been exercising prior to pregnancy, you may need to make amendments and
perform alternatives to some exercises. Depending on your prior exercise format, you may need
to reduce the intensity particularly if high impact and go for the low impact option.
Your body will go through so many changes during this period and it is important to always listen
to your body.
In relation to general exercise, below are some but not all, exercises that should be avoided and
some points to be aware of:
Exercising in overly hot temperatures. Ensure to stop if feeling you are overheating, dizzy or light-
headed.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Train with a level of intensity that you are able to maintain talking and stop if feeling exhausted.
Lying on your back should be avoided, particularly after 16 weeks as this can lead to you feeling
faint due to weight in belly pressing on the main blood vessel that brings blood back to your
heart.
Avoid bouncing or jarring movements during stretching. Stretch gently and smoothly.
Avoid core movements such as leg lowers, toe reaches, crunches and sit ups.
Bodyweight squats are great for strengthening the lower body including the pelvic floor muscles,
maintaining hip mobility, they will gently elevate the heart rate and help you maintain centre of
gravity however squats should be performed slowly, with control and to a depth suitable. Similar
applies to lunges.
In regards lifting weights, there is no specific weight range however it is crucial not to over-exert
and focus on control at all times. Aiming to maintain muscle mass rather than gain can be a
great way to approach strength training!
P R O G R A M
NUTRITION TIPS
I have always kept my nutrition simple and varied: lean protein, wholegrains, lots of fruit, even
more vegetables and water are the foundations of my nutrition.
What I might consume on a daily basis might be too high or too low for what your body
requires so it important that you eat foods to suit you and your requirements!
I aim to have ½ of my plate full of vegetables, ¼ wholegrain & fibre rich carbohydrates and ¼
protein rich foods. This just a simple way that works for me with my main meals.
I tend to eat quite simple in that I don’t cut any specific food out, a protein source with every
meal, loads of vegetables and nutritious snacks through the day to help me eat to feel great!
I eat a majority of natural and unprocessed foods, however I do love ice cream and
chocolate but most importantly it is about balance!
If I am going out for dinner that evening or having a take-away, I will tend to have a ‘lighter’
lunch high in protein such as one of my favourites, chicken and turkey bacon Caesar salad!
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
I tend to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables to last over 3-4 days and often have the same
fruit and veg over afew days to reduce wastage. Next time I am food shopping, I would
change up my fruit and vegetables.
I always have a large portion of at least 2 types of vegetables or a large side salad with my
main meals!
Try to stock up on food that you can snack on if needed such as fruit, nuts, rice cakes, oat
cakes, eggs, tuna, Greek yoghurts etc!
It is a good idea to spend some time learning about the nutritional information on products to
make better choices when shopping.
Learn about portion size and just be mindful of serving size particularly nuts and labels. For
example, a tin of soup may indicate salt/calories etc per serving however there may be 2
servings in the tin so if consuming the whole tin, it is double the salt and calories. This is where
many people can add calories they don’t expect unknowingly!
Consider your sauces and dressings as it is extremely easy to add a lot more saturated fat,
sodium and added sugar than you realise!
I always eat foods that I like! I look forward to every single meal and the food i prepare fits in
with my lifestyle in that its usually small in ingredients, quick to prepare and cook and I can
bulk purchase alot of it!
Always remember that so much of what you see on social media is filtered, lighting, angles,
altered and you tend to only see the ‘good side’. The concept of the perfect body is ever
changing and no doubt in the near future new, perceived body ideals will be portrayed and
bombarding us!
So much of what is on social media is not true or altered and can have such a detrimental effect
on realistic expectations, focusing on the immediate and promising an easy route to progress,
miracle exercises to grow the size of your glutes in one month, false promises of certain calorie
burning claims in twenty minutes and a huge amount of focus on how others eat that it can
leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed.
I N N E R C O N F I D E N C E A N D
F E E L I N G S T R O N G I S
B E A U T I F U L .
CAROLINE GIRVAN
P R O G R A M
TRAINING TIPS
It is ok to have those days where you feel everything is an effort. We all have those days,
sometimes just getting started can be the hardest part! If you really do feel like you can’t train
that day, try to even schedule a walk in…you will return feeling refreshed, energised and ready
to smash that session the next day!
Remember these sessions are time based so not for reps. The sets may feel more difficult
due to limited rest and heart rate elevated more. It is okay to pause for a moment. I will
regularly pause even though I could squeeze out afew more reps but my form and control
might be affected. Afew seconds to pause, reset and go!
HIIT is high intensity! It should be very difficult! Sprinting all out for 20 seconds is HIIT! We will
aim to replicate this as best we can in the HIIT sessions so it is important that you really push
yourself as best you can! Don’t be demotivated if you struggle…I struggle during every HIIT
session but it wouldn't be HIIT if I didn’t have those moments! I typically only do a HIIT specific
session once per week as it is so demanding and I always want to be mentally prepared to
give it my all!
Most exercises, particularly bodyweight can be made less intense. I really would stress to aim
to make each rep as challenging as possible as you will get the most out of your time and
effort. Below are some examples of what you can think about during each exercise in order to
make the movements that bit more challenging; these typically relate to range of motion and
control!
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Renegade rows – imagine a cup of water on your back. Would it topple if you lift one of the
dumbbells into a row? Think about opening feet wider, quads and glutes tight, hold core solid
and smoothly lift dumbbell by rowing to side. Don’t forget about the way down also, think
about ‘setting’ the dumbbell down!
Curtsey lunge – when bringing back foot behind to get into position, think about hips still
facing forward. Also, aim to bring that rear knee as low as is comfortable, whilst keeping hips
facing forward!
Using yoga block – the yoga block is typically used to increase range of motion in a
movement such as greater depth in lunge or more space between your chest and the mat
during push ups. Try to make use of this extra space and EASE into the extra depth!
Romanian Deadlifts – Aim to keep the dumbbells close to body at all times. Slide the
dumbbells down the legs, push hips back even more, exaggerate the chest and keep those
shoulder blades together! DO NOT round the upper back aiming to reach the floor.
Hip thrusts – We are not in the gym or most of us are not using barbells so the importance of
aiming to isolate the glutes and really aim for full range and control of the lowering portion is
important to get the most out of this exercise.
Using glute bands – glute bands are awesome to help strengthen the hip area and isolate
the glutes using various positions, tempos and angles however it is really up to you to focus
on making full use of the band. Sometimes we will apply tension then fully release however
other times we will aim to maintain tension for a period of time and it is important that you
aim on abducting (pushing knees apart) as best you can. You may need a higher resistance
band if you are not feeling it a challenge to abduct.
C O N T I N U E D O N N E X T P A G E
Lying tricep exercises – The alignment and range of motion can make such a different to
targeting the triceps and making them work a lot harder! During skull crushers, the upper arm
should not move! This can be difficult but even practice bodyweight, bringing hands towards
front of the shoulders and fully bringing back to starting position, all whilst aiming to keep
elbows in! During diamond press, the dumbbells (if using x2) should be squeezed together
and bring the dumbbells right down to lower to chest will help you reach full range!
During any workout, if there are any moments where you feel disheartened such as a
movement you are unable to master, try to look at it as a challenge! Overtime and with
practice you will accomplish so many new movements you wouldn’t have unless you tried!
P R O G R A M
PROGRESS
C A L E N D A R
M T W T F S S
LEG DAY UPPER BODY & ABS, GLUTES & ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY HIIT
PUSH UP HAMSTRINGS REST DAY COMPLEXES
WK 1 PRACTICE CIRCUITS
BACK, BICEPS LOWER BODY SHOULDERS, ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY TABATA TIMER
& CORE COMPLEXES CHEST & REST DAY UNILATERAL HIIT
WK 2 TRICEPS
SUPERSETS
TRAINING
QUADS & UPPER BODY HAMSTRINGS & ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY BURPEE
CALVES COMPLEXES GLUTES REST DAY DUMBBELL CARDIO
WK 3 SUPERSETS SUPERSETS CARDIO
UNILATERAL LOWER BODY ABS & ARMS ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY DUMBBELL HIIT
SHOULDERS DUMBBELL & COMPLEXES REST DAY SUPERSETS
WK 4 BODYWEIGHT
LEG DAY UPPER BODY GLUTES & ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY HIIT
PYRAMID COMPLEXES HAMSTRINGS REST DAY COMPLEXES
WK 5 TRAINING TEMPO
TRAINING
BACK & BICEPS SQUATS! CHEST, ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY CARDIO
TEMPO TRICEPS & ABS REST DAY TRISETS COMPLEXES
WK 6 TRAINING
GLUTES & SHOULDERS & DYNAMIC & ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY TABATA STYLE
HAMSTRINGS ARMS ISOMETRIC LEG REST DAY PYRAMID HIIT
WK 7 GIANT SETS SUPERSETS DAY TRAINING
CHEST & LOWER BODY BACK & BICEPS ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY DUMBBELL HIIT
WK 8 TRICEPS
SUPERSETS
UNILATERAL
TRAINING
UNILATERAL
TRAINING
REST DAY CALISTHENICS
GLUTES & UPPER BODY LEG DAY DROP ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY EMOM!
WK 9 CORE
COMPLEXES
TEMPO
TRAINING
SETS REST DAY GIANT SETS
PUSH UPS & LOWER BODY UPPER BODY ACTIVE / FULL BODY REST DAY EPIC FINALE
ABS GIANT SETS GIANT SETS REST DAY COMPLEXES
WK 10
CAROLINE GIRVAN
Copyright © Caroline Girvan 2021
III
EPIC III
TM
P R O G R A M
Every Sunday evening (UK BST), there will be a community post from Caroline on the YouTube
Community section and within the Private Facebook Group that will provide tips and an overview
of what to expect for that week upcoming! This of course will correlate with the calendar and will
provide more information regarding equipment for that week, highlights and some tips!
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The Private Facebook Group is free but entirely managed and subject to approval by
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P R O G R A M
DISCLAIMER
CAROLINE GIRVAN
Exercise is not without its risks and this or any other exercise program many
result in injury. As with any exercise program, if at any point during
your workout you begin to feel faint, dizzy or have physical discomfort, you
should stop immediately and consult a medical professional.
The program cannot and does not guarantee that you will attain a specific
or particular result, and you accept the risk that results differ for each
individual. The health, fitness, and nutrition success depends on each
individual’s background, dedication, desire, and motivation. As with any
health-related program or service, your results may vary, and will be based
on many variables, including but not limited to, your individual capacity, life
experience, unique health and genetic profile, starting point, expertise, and
level of commitment.
Caroline's Website:
https://carolinegirvan.com
Caroline's Instagram:
https://instagram.com/carolinegirvan
Caroline's Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/user/6pzpdpqv881tq161hs3kj2vzu
P R O G R A M
CAROLINE GIRVAN