Caroline Girvan Q&A | Training Tips and Mindset

Hello everyone!

I hope you are doing great!

This is just a wee sit down as time passes very quickly, and I realise it’s been a while since I sat down and talked to you as opposed to a quick talk during intro pre-workout!

I cover some questions that regularly appear within the Facebook Group https://facebook.com/groups/carolinegirvan and those I have received over the years during my time as a one-on-one personal trainer.

00:00 – Introduction
00:26 – I want to ‘tone’ but not get bulky?
01:35 – Higher reps or lower reps?
02:51 – Cardio compared to lifting?
05:39 – Is it normal to feel aggravation in the lower back during some movements?
06:08 – Is it ok to perform a movement slightly different from someone else?
08:24 – Fed or fasted cardio?
09:19 – Training during perimenopause and menopause?
10:47 – Am I progressively overloading my muscles during these workouts?
13:21 – I can’t seem to perform a movement ‘perfectly’?
15:36 – Should I do HIIT even if I don’t like it?
16:44 – Is tracking necessary?
20:43 – Should I take a pre-workout before training?
20:58 – When is the best time to eat?
22:01 – Can sleep affect hunger?
22:40 – How much protein should I eat per day?
23:03 – Why hasn’t my weight on the scale gone down, but my clothes feel looser in places?
24:15 – Are scales a useful tool to measure progress?
27:17 – What is the best diet? Optimal diet? Best exercise?
29:53 – Won’t eating after 6 pm lead to weight gain?
30:10 – How do you keep motivated?
31:36 – What is the best tip you could give?

The more I have learnt over the years, the more I realise we have yet so much more to learn.

There are many layers to what is considered ‘optimal’ wellness as it is a balance of different dimensions, not just physical but also emotionally, socially, our environment and learning. The word balance is often cited yet this refers to a balance that is best for you as an individual. We all have different passions, goals, beliefs, priorities, personalities and I believe it is important to not become overly influenced by what is right for others as it might not be what you truly want, need or will find rewarding.

Having fun with your training and movement whether you have a goal of growing your shoulders, building a more v taper, more muscle in your glutes, sub 4 hour marathon target or PB on your barbell squat is so rewarding but remembering that progression is not linear day on day or week on week will allow you to celebrate those small wins that all add up!

A place to begin is the fundamentals! And it can be challenging when there are much conflicting information and bold statements everywhere.

Some of the discussion is quite general whilst other topics may not be as relevant to you or of less interest as other parts of the discussion.

But I hope this Q and A simply opens thinking relating to some topics and something you could elaborate on upon reflection.

Studies are always ongoing, and the incredible researchers not only ask the questions with research proposals but plan, conduct, collect, monitor, organise, record, analyse and interpret the findings to generate new knowledge to enhance society. And I love learning something new from them every day!

I hope you enjoy this Q & A and perhaps find some information useful to you.

Cx

References

Alan Albert Aragon & Brad Jon Schoenfeld (2013) Nutrient timing revisited:
is there a post-exercise anabolic window?

High load vs low load for hypertrophy
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25853914/

Effect of physical activity on menopause and mental wellbeing
https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Fulltext/2020/04000/The_role_of_physical_activity_in_the_link_between.6.aspx

Mayoclinic Menopause advice
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/fitness-tips-for-menopause/art-20044602

Body composition changes assoc. fasted versus non-fasted aerobic exercise
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4242477/

Walking for Health NHS
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/running-and-aerobic-exercises/walking-for-health/

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Disclaimer

If you are new to exercise or are planning on beginning a new fitness programme, you should consult your physician. This video may offer health, fitness or nutritional information and is meant for educational purposes only. This information is not an alternative to seeking professional medical or nutritional advice or suggested treatment. Performing any exercise or programme is solely at your own risk.