Why am I Gaining Weight While Doing Shaun T’s Insanity Work Out?
Why am I gaining weight while doing Shaun T’s Insanity?
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Aren’t I supposed to lose weight with Insanity?
I keep getting this question right around the week 2 or week 3 mark for people doing Insanity. So did some digging to see what kind of information I could find. Low and behold I found a great post by Chalene Johnson, creator of TurboJam, TurboFire, ChaLEAN Extreme and many other fitness programs. Chalene is talking about Chalene Extreme but what she talks about will apply when starting any new work out regiment.
Here is her take on the subject.
“Probably the most common question I get when I release a new exercise program is, “Help! I’m gaining weight! Am I doing something wrong?” This is a common phenomenon with any new exercise program, Turbo Kick, Turbo Jam, Hip Hop Hustle, you name it! It’s especially common (and temporary) with intense strength training programs like ChaLEAN Extreme or Tony Horton’s P90X.
The motivation to start a new exercise program is almost always to lose weight loss. However, what most personal trainers know and most at-home exercisers do not, is that a new exercise program often can cause an immediate (and temporary) increase on the scale. (Notice I didn’t say weight gain! I’ll explain.) This common increase in the scale is also the reason why perhaps millions of people start and then quickly quit their resolution to get fit.
The temporary weight gain explained:
When someone starts a new exercise program, they often experience muscle soreness. The more intense and “unfamiliar” the program, the more intense the muscle soreness. This soreness is most prevalent 24 to 48 hours after each workout. In the first few weeks of a new program, soreness is the body trying to
“protect and defend” the effected or targeted tissue. Exercise physiologists refer to this as delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.
This type of soreness is thought to be caused by tissue breakdown or microscopic tears in muscle tissue. When this happens the body protects the tissue. The muscle becomes inflamed and slightly swollen with fluid retention. This temporary retention of fluid can result in a 3- to 4-pound weight gain within a few weeks of a new program. Keep in mind that muscle soreness is not necessarily a reflection of how hard you worked. In fact, some people feel no signs of muscle soreness, yet will experience the muscle protection mechanisms of water retention and slight swelling.
Most people are motivated enough to put up with this temporary muscle soreness. Yet, many, especially those who really need immediate weight loss to keep them motivated in those first couple of weeks become discouraged and quit!
When I worked with a group of 70 test participants during the development stages of ChaLEAN Extreme, this happened. Who was the most upset and discouraged? You guessed it… the women! I’m happy to report with absolutely every single woman (and man) in our group, the weight increase was temporary and never lasted more than 2 weeks before they started to see a major drop in the scale. However, these people had the advantage of working with someone who was able to explain to them why this was happening and assure them the weight would come off if they stuck to the nutrition plan and stayed true to the program.
For those of you who are following the ChaLEAN Extreme phase plan, keep in mind that when you start each phase, your body will be “in shock” again. Don’t be surprised or discouraged if you experience a temporary gain on the scale the first week of each phase.
My own personal example of this is running 10K’s. I don’t do it very often, maybe 1 or 2x a year. Even though I run on a regular basis, when you run a race you push much harder. It’s natural for me to be “insanely” sore the next day. Its also very common for me to see the scale jump 4 pounds the next day from forcing fluids post race and the resulting DOMS. Even though I know the cause of it, it’s still a bummer. We’re all human and hard work should mean “results”. Hard work equals results, but our bodies are amazing machines and they know how to protect us from hurting our selves. Soreness forces you to give those muscles a break Ultimately you will lose the weight and you will change your metabolism in the process.
The key is understanding that this is a normal and temporary and stick with the program!!
When to be concerned:
If you experience a significant weight gain (exceeding 5 pounds) which does not begin to decrease rapidly after the second week, guess what it is??? I’ll give you one hint… you put it in your mouth and chew it. You know it! Your food (or calorie laden beverages). Newsflash friends.. exercise doesn’t make you gain weight. Consuming more food than you burn makes you gain weight!
So if after two weeks you are not losing weight, have gained weight that’s not coming off, it’s time to take a close and honest look at your food intake. It’s time to find out what you’re burning in calories each day. Have your RMR or BMR tested. This can be done for less than $50 and the information is invaluable. It takes out the guess work. Google “hydrostatic body fat testing _______ ” and insert the name of the big city you’re closest too. Companies that do HBFT also do BMR testing. Knowledge is king.
I’m gaining weight, but I’m sure it’s muscle:
Possibly, but if you’re following ChaLEAN Extreme correctly, you should be losing fat and gaining muscle and the fat loss should be much more substantial than the rate at which you can physically put on muscle. This is even true for they guys. Of the 70 plus people in my test group, every single one of them lost body fat and gained muscle and not one of them gained weight. I believe the average weight loss after 4 months was 28 pounds with many people losing 40 plus pounds. Even the men, who as you can see put on a lot of muscle, were seeing huge drops in the scale. We tested their muscle composition at the beginning and at the end and 100% of the participants maintained or gained muscle while achieving substantial weight loss. That’s the key to keeping weight off long term, i.e. muscle. Muscle burns fat. But you’ve heard me say that before.
Moral of the story:
Be patient young grass hopper. You’ll be lean and mean in no time!“
I hope this helps you understand why you might be gaining weight with Shaun T’s Insanity or any work out program for that matter. Stick with it and you results will come. Your body will thank you.
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I’m 5′ 6″ and 129 pounds well was since starting insanity I’ve gained 2 pounds. But Before starting I already had 2 hour work outs and am toned for the most part. Will I see any weight loss or just muscle gain.
@Hannah This is a hard question to answer since there are so many unknowns here. Are you following the Insanity nutrition plan? Whether you lose or gain will determine mostly on your nutrition. If you are looking to lose you might need to cut some calories or eat smaller portions. I wouldn’t cut too much at first though since this is an extreme work out and you do not want to bonk during your work outs.
Thanks for this article!! I was getting pretty discouraged with my initial weight gain. I had already lost alot of weight last year just by eating better and healthier and had been at a plateau for about 6 months. Then starting this I gained 3.5lbs. I start my 3rd week of Insanity tomorrow! Very excited to see how month 2 challenges me!
@Shannon Stick with it Shannon and be sure to follow the nutrition plan. Your results will come.
This is a great article! Very encouraging đ I know it’s been up for a while, but I found it through a google search. I have been following Zuzana Light’s workouts on and off now for a while. I seem to have been stuck at 135lbs (I’m 5’4″) for a long time now, but have noticed positive changes in my body composition (much more definition). It is in my genes to build muscle rather quickly, so I am wondering if that is the cause of my weight plateau.
About 3 weeks ago I had stopped working out because life got in the way and quickly dropped 3lbs. A week later I started again–intense body weight circuit training and high intensity intervals, have been pretty sore on and off for the past couple of weeks, and my weight jumped back up to 135.5! It’s a little discouraging đ I’m not trying to lose a ton of weight, but hoping for more definition. My diet hasn’t really changed and I eat a healthy, balanced diet and am fairly aware of my calorie intake.
Do you think the anomaly explained above is the reason for all of this?
-Lauren
@Lauren Yes, that could be the reason but also try mixing things up a bit. Sometimes that helps you break through. Move you larger meals to different times. Work out a little longer. Eat very low cal for a day. Just try mixing it up a bit and this might help. Also, have you ever considered Shakeology. It is premium nutrition and fills in your nutritional gaps nicely. https://www.decidetostayfit.com/shakeology/doctors-and-shakeology
same problem here… but i am at the end of my 3rd week of insanity and keep gaining weight. i am eating at 1800 calories, i followed exactly the instructions in the guide. no hormonal reasons either. no reason i would have gained 4 lb in the last 2 weeks. i do not understand this. how long do i need to wait before i see any results from this? i am thinking of giving up.
I’m 5’5 weight 230lb and I am doing the insanity work out n I love the work out but I don’t know if insanity will help tone up my stomach for me I have my kids back to back I have 3 of theme n I lose the weight but the baby fat are still there đ pls help everything is going good but the baby fat is killing me I need help pls…… Thank u.
@Lauline For future reference I can do my best to answer your questions if you only post them once and not in 3 different places. The best thing to do is commit to your work out. Remember, the last place you will lose weight is in your stomach. It is the hardest to lose and the last to leave. Once you start losing over all body fat then you will start to lose some belly fat as well. It takes time and dedication. Stick with and don’t let anything get in your way and you will get results.
@Lily Did you do your calculations from the Insanity nutrition guide? If you are looking to lose weight did you do step 3 and subtract 500 calories per day? 3 weeks is not a lot of time. Getting in shape takes time and doesn’t happen in 3 weeks. Stick with it…. You got this!!!!! đ
I been doing insanity for 2 weeks now, just started week 3 on monday.I been a little down. I did better in my fit test than my weight. I actually gained weight but I think thats my fault for drinking so much wine over the past weeks. I always have it with my dinner than on weekends I go out with hubby and we have drinks so I drink more than I should. Im cutting back and getting back on track! One thing have been good with is my diet. I stay as closed to the elite diet as I can. I still eat healthy and I dont do any sugars, fried foods, etc…thats one thing that makes me happier. I know that it might be to early to tell but I still look the same.
@Yinella You need to take your measurements to track your progress. Just looking will not cut it. You need before pics, weight and measurements. Then you can fully track your progress. 2 week is not a lot of time. Remember, that extra weight didn’t get there in only 2 weeks and it will take more for it to come off.
i have the same problem, am eating at 1200 calories with the supervision of a dietitian today is my 4th week since i start my diet and 4th day of insanity. Before insanity i lose a good pounds then with insanity i cant drop any pounds i feel down shall i stop my workout till i lose all the weight that i want then tone up after that.
my current weight is 150.48
target weight is 118.8 so i need to lose up to 31 pounds
please help
@Emma How is you energy level Emma? With a work out like Insanity it looks like you calories are pretty low. Maybe too low. Remember, this takes time. It took more than 30 days to put on than extra weight and it most cases it takes more than 30 days to take it off. Does your dietitian know you are doing Insanity? She/he needs to take that into account. I would take in the nutrition guide next time you go in. Stick with the program and keep doing your best. You are building a habit that will keep you healthy for a lifetime.
I have been on INSANITY for almost 30 days and I’m up at least whole size. I know my body is screwed up, I was taking Dexadrine (for ADD) for almost 3 years and it drastically increased my metabolism, now I’m off it after starting INSTANITY because I wanted to try to fix myself naturally through diet and exercise, and have gone from a size 2-4 to a 4-6. Everything about me is bigger. I also went from eating 800-1200 calories per day (Dexadrine is an apetite suppressant) to the suggested 5-6 meals a day at 300-400 calories per meal. I’m trying to do this healthy…but shouldn’t I start to see positive changes by now and not just digging out my “fat girl pants”?
@Kelsey This is something you might want to speak with your doctor about. If you have been taking a drug for 3 years I wouldn’t expect any miracles in 30 days. You are on the right track of healthy eating and exercise and I would stick with the program but you will need to speak with your doctor to see if what you were taking had any long lasting effects. Be sure to follow the nutrition guide and stick with it. The results will come.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in Nov. 2011 and have tried every diet and have been exercising with no success. My doctor suggested I go on the Adkin’s Diet and that didn’t even work for me. I started the Insanity progam six days ago and am following the Elite Nutrition meal plan, and Shakeology. I also noticed an increase in my weight and can tell I have water retention. I am currently eating 1500 cal.following the plan. Do you feel this is enough calories for me in regards to my thyroid problem? I am 5’5 and just weighed in at 150.8 (normally around 148).
@Michele I do not feel there is a correct answer to your question as the answer would be different for everyone. I would start with following the nutrition plan which it sounds like you are and then go from there. You are only 6 days in so you are most likely retaining some water right now. You might have to add or subtract calories based on your goals but I would wait until week 4 for before making any changes and then go from there. Remember, everyone is different and with your hypothyroidism you might have do mix it up a little more to find out what works for you and is sustainable.
Just started my third week of Insanity + lifting. I’m up 7 lbs, but want to tone down the gut. I guess it’s time to cut a few things from the diet.
Hey I am just starting insanity and it is insane. I can say that i love it so far and I am going to stick to it. ONly thing that boggs my mind is the eating 5-6 200 calorie meals a day. I cannot do that! My body is so used to eating probably once a day (which i know now is the main reason for weight gain) eating 6 times makes me feel stuffed. Then add drinking sufficient water for dehydration , i feel like i am going to throw up. What would you suggest that I do?
@Pink Eating once a day is not the way to do it. I suggest you learn to stick to the meal plan and change some habits. You are going to need these calories to keep you going.
Hi Jeff:
I had a quick question.
I am considering going on the Insanity Workout and had some questions.
About a year ago I was 130 pounds and solid muscle. I started
some medication which caused me to gain fat and lose muscle.
I am now a year into a normal workout and am hoping to get this fixed.
I am gaining fat in thights, glutes and legs where I never ever
had cellulite before. I have been toned and think most of my life.
It is very discouraging because I am 42 and have thought of anything
I could do to get back on track. I am now 120 with no muscle and mostly cellulite.
Any suggestions on vitamins, supplements, meal plans or work outs
I could try? I am really needing to feel better.
Need help in getting back in shape.
One year ago, I was 130 with solid muscle, now I am 120 with no
muscle. My body composition totally changed when I started taking
some hormone medication. Do you have any suggestions. It is so
discouraging. I have also been been very healthy, fit and toned.
Now it the complete opposite?
What workout co you recomment? Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements,
Meal Plans etc
@Julie First thing I would do would be to check with your doctor about about your dose of your medication to see if it needs to be changed. 2nd, I would suggest P90X over Insanity if you are looking to build over all muscle. https://www.decidetostayfit.com/p90x I would also suggest Shakeology which is our premium nutritional shake. https://www.decidetostayfit.com/shakeology You can get both at a discount in a Challenge Pack if you like. Just click the “Take the Challenge” tab above.
Hey Jeff!
well ive been thinking about doing the Insanity Workout but i have a question! if i do the Insanity Workout will i loose my butt and thighs?? is there anything i can do so i can be able to do the Insanity Workout and not loose my thighs and butt?? please help!! thank you!!
@Yuri Insanity is an extreme cardio work out and you do a lot of jumps and squats. You will be burning fat so depending on where you are starting from it is possible that you might not lose and weight but you could lose some inches. (thighs and butt) You would just be building muscle and toning in these areas.
Me and my wife just started Insanity a week ago. I am 34, weigh 170 and am about 5’8″ Insanity says I should be taking in about 2500 calories per day. (yes this is after subtracting 500 calories, and using 1.7 as the factor for Activeness). I feel like it is way too much food. I have to sometimes force that food down and I feel more bloated. The first day or two I dropped 3 pounds but I know that was not typial…after that I jumped up over 170-173. My motivational/beachbody coach says NOT to have a scale. She says because of all the factors, and fat turning to muscle etc etc that a scale just discourages you because typically you don’t lose weight that fast. So I am just curious..is 2500 TOO much calories? I know Insanity says you will burn so many calories doing the workouts but most people say they don’t burn near that mean (using heart monitor) which means they are overeating. I know it is still early but I am just worried we are doing it wrong. Then again even my coach, who is a woman, and smaller than I, takes in 2800 calories. So maybe I just need to stick with it and give it time.
@newyears1978 You just started so there will be some fluctuations. 2500 calories sounds about right. Remember, you need energy to complete these work outs. You might not feel it now since you just started but you will bonk if you do not take in enough calories. After 3-4 weeks you can tweak it a little bit based on your goals and energy level. I agree, taking your measurements is the best way to track your progress. The scale can make you crazy, especially when just starting out.
I personally take in 2600-3000 calories a day as well so eating is your best friend if you do it right. Follow the nutrition plan and give it some time to work.
@Jeff, thanks, that is encouraging!
@NewYears1978 – You might look into having your resting metobolic rate tested. It completely changed the way I did everything, from eating to working out. Because everyone is different, finding out how much you ACTUALLY burn rather than what MOST PEOPLE burn is one of those need to know things. I went online and found Swedish Hospital (I live in Seattle) will test you for $60 flat and you’ll come out with a specific number of how many calories you burn. As luck had it, for me I have a sluggish metabolism, so I was gaining weight on Insanity rather than losing. I changed some things and now I’m watching the pounds shed.
@Kelsey, good to know I will keep that in mind.
I am not actually gaining weight that I know of. I just feel like I am eating too much. Plus I am drinking no soda (used to drink TONS of soda, no water) and TONS of water..well not tons..but several bottles full a day. So I FEEL like I am full, fat, etc.
I actually weighed 168 this morning, my starting weight was 170, and I’ve fluctuated between 167-173 throughout. So really I’ve not gained any weight..too early to be jumping to conclusions I think. I need to stick it out a few weeks and see how things go.
BUT, knowing how many calories I burn would sure help..I wish there was a way to know that on my own without going to the doctor đ
@Kelsey, I also have a slow metabolism and have been doing Insanity for four weeks now and I am not seeing many results. I think it has to do with my nutrition and the fact that I have a slow metabolism. Do you think you could give me some tips on what to change in my nutrition to maximize my results? Thank you!!!!
@Jazmin, I totally understand where you’re at. I have to say that the most important information for me was finding out how many calories I ACTUALLY burn. Most people are up in the 1800s, I am only at 1200. Take a look online and see if anyone offers resting metobolic tests (they actually hook you up to a machine and get an accurate number). When I started Insanity I was eating the 1600-1800 calories the program told me to and gained a TON. Finding out how much you can actually eat is the only way to lose. I also got a (http://www.rei.com/product/792847/polar-ft4-heart-rate-monitor-womens) heart rate monitor. The information you learn about your body is critical. Other than that, when it comes to nutrition I tend to work better when I simply give myself rules to abide by. One of my rules, for instance, is eating a serving of vegetables before I eat anything else for every meal. Before I eat I ask myself 1. Do I NEED it to fuel my body, or do I WANT it?; and 2. Is it a healthy choice?. When you have a sluggish metabolism, you have to eat less than most, which means you have to be really picky. When I eat my meals I always try and only eat 1.5 fist-worth of food, six to seven times a day (this will help with making sure you don’t over-eat). I can give you more helpful tips/tricks that my nutritionist shared with me if you’d like, but these are the really important ones that have helped me the most.
Interesting information. It’s fascinating that none of the programs like P90X or Insanity say anything about this in them. They put everyone on the nutrition plan based on the “norm” but yet it still tends to work for so many. So strange to me..I hope I am not overeating..I have not gained any weight in the first 1 1/2 weeks so I guess I am fine…need a few more weeks to see if the results are there.
I started at 170, yesterday I was 165, today 168, another day I was 171. So I know my weight fluctuates quite a bit..but I can tell I am not actually gaining any weight.
Taking measurements so can see if changes are happening.
Hi,
I’m at the end of my first week of Insanity and was wondering if I am getting in enough calories. My goal is to lose about 20 lbs during the next couple of months and get toned. I have to take in account feeding my 14 month old. I have My Fitness Pal net calorie goal set at 1200, which allows me to eat up to about 1,900 burning off 300(breastfeeding approx.) and 400 (exercise).
I’m Female, 150 lbs, age 27, 5’4 and with the Insanity workout now 6 days a week, I would say “very active.”
According the Insanity guide, my caloric intake should be about 2,500 to maintain weight and 2,000 for weight loss. Does that sound alright? When I started Insanity, my weight was about 147 and has now come up to about 150-151. I understand the increase in weight which happens at the beginning, but taking into consideration my stats, does my overall caloric intake sound alright? Would appreciate any input on this from the experts, thanks!
Hi, I’ve been doing insanity for almost a week now and I’m concerned that while doing insanity, I’ll lose my butt when really I’m trying to get a big butt and lose some belly fat. Is it possible to gain a big butt while doing insanity and losing weight at the same thing or am I better off doing insanity and creating a “bigger butt workout plan”? thanks!
@Emma
One thing about butts (or body shape in general) is that you can’t change the body shape you have. Now, if you have a ton of fat in your butt, it’s quite possible you will lose a lot of it, but it should be replaced by nicer muscle đ If you lose the weight and it seems to small for you..there are other programs designed to lift the butt such as Brazilian Butt Lift..etc.
I’m not expert just a user here and giving my thoughts.
@Sarah Your calculations are spot on but remember this is not exact science but it is a very good place to start. If you are trying to lose and you energy level is still high then you could also try dropping about 200 calories out for the day but if you energy level gets low then you need to add them back in.
Hi all/Jeff.
Kinda having the same issue here. Weight and muscle gain. In the first week, I certainly did see some results breaking through (a bit of weight loss and inches “looked” like they were coming off) Then in the second week, I started to see some more developments where I was gaining a bit more muscle and like the others did hop on the scale and saw about 2-3lbs more weight. My chest/shoulders are indeed getting bigger, along with my arms, and all this without lifting weights! To myself, I’m thinking pretty impressive, but at the same time, I’m not seeing the results I’m looking for. I know its still early, but I’m doing all this “insane” work to get more toned, not gain weight or muscle. According to the article and comments, I see that it will probably take a bit of time which I’m fine with. I workout regularly anyways, so I’m not too worried about it, but still would like to see more toning in my body. I haven’t done anything else these past three weeks except for insanity work outs. Maybe once or twice in the past few weeks, I went for a little run here and there along with a good stretch just to keep the muscles working, but other than that as stated before, no weights. I’m interested to see how the rest of the weeks go. Wondering if I’ll have to do another two months of it to see the “insane” results I’m looking for. I do have a before photo, so hopefully at the end, I’ll see the results. Seems like month two will be where I really see the results kick in…so we’ll see.
Quick question, if I do decide to do this again, is it suggested/recommended that I do it all over again from day one or could I just skip all of month one and go straight to month two?(keep in mind, I haven’t even seen month two’s workouts yet, I’m sure it’ll be crazy, but just wondering) Any and all input will be helpful. Thanks!
-Lu
Hi all/Jeff-
Kinda having the same issue here. Weight and muscle gain. In the first week, I certainly did see some results breaking through (a bit of weight loss and inches “looked” like they were coming off) Then in the second week, I started to see some more developments where I was gaining a bit more muscle and like the others did hop on the scale and saw about 2-3lbs more weight. My chest/shoulders are indeed getting bigger, along with my arms, and all this without lifting weights! To myself, I’m thinking pretty impressive, but at the same time, I’m not seeing the results I’m looking for. I know its still early, but I’m doing all this “insane” work to get more toned, not gain weight or muscle. According to the article and comments, I see that it will probably take a bit of time which I’m fine with. I workout regularly anyways, so I’m not too worried about it, but still would like to see more toning in my body. I haven’t done anything else these past three weeks except for insanity work outs. Maybe once or twice in the past few weeks, I went for a little run here and there along with a good stretch just to keep the muscles working, but other than that as stated before, no weights. I’m interested to see how the rest of the weeks go. Wondering if I’ll have to do another two months of it to see the “insane” results I’m looking for. I do have a before photo, so hopefully at the end, I’ll see the results. Seems like month two will be where I really see the results kick in…so we’ll see.
Quick question, if I do decide to do this again, is it suggested/recommended that I do it all over again from day one or could I just skip all of month one and go straight to month two?(keep in mind, I haven’t even seen month two’s workouts yet, I’m sure it’ll be crazy, but just wondering) Any and all input will be helpful. Thanks!
-Lu
@Lu Stick with Lu, your results will come!!! After your initial 60 days you can repeat the whole thing or just continue on with month 2 if you like. Keep in mind Insanity gets even harder in month 2 with the MAX work outs. Be sure to let us all know how it’s coming.
Today was my first day of Insanity. Will I lose belly fat or just build muscle under it? When I tried other workouts, the belly fat wouldn’t go away, muscle would just be under it. which made me look bigger. Is this going to be the same thing or will I lose the belly fat and have a smaller stomach ? I don’t know my current weight, and I don’t care about my weight, I just care about what i see in the mirror . I am a girl and I’m 5’10 so my height kinda hides my weight.
@Kelsey
I would personally LOVE to hear more of your tips from your nutrionist. The ones you posted about eating your veggies first..genius!! I’m starting week 4 of Insanity and have gained a bit, maybe 5lbs and I know I could alter my eating a little.
@Melissa Abs are made in the kitchen. I would stick with the work outs but if you are not seeing the results you want then you might need to change your eating habits. Are you following the Insanity nutrition guide??
Hi,
I need help, Please?!?!? lol. I am currently on insanity, and I know that it is expected to gain weight for me because I have lived a pretty much sedentary life. I have been on a very low calorie and card diet as of lately and have lost about 30 pounds. I was at 280 and now am at 252.6, I replace two meals with a meal replacement shake i get from GNC and eat one actual meal during lunch or maybe diner depending on how busy my day is. The meal is usually in between light and heavy, if I have a lot to do for the day I eat kind of light because I don’t have much time. My questions is do I need change my eating habits, or do I just need to keep doing what I am doing? My main intention of doing insanity is to firm up, I do not want to have a whole lot of lose sagging skin. I do want to lose more weight and eventually go down to 200 high 100s.
Thanks!!
@Daniel First off let me state that I am not a dietician or a nutritionist but in my personal opinion I do think you will need to change what you are doing. The goal with your eating habits is to be eating in a way that you can continue forever. Only eating 1 meal a day and doing 2 replacement shakes is not something you will be able to sustain forever. Why are you not following the Insanity nutrition plan?? Learning how to eat is the single most important thing you can for for your future health and fitness. Once you get this down everything else will be easy.
Jeff,
Well you know it’s kind of like that manual that you throw to the side when you are putting something together for Ikea and such. lol I have never been good at taking direction, but this is something I am serious about and am in it with two feet. I didn’t realize that the meal plan was that important. I do understand eating healthy. Well….. at least I am beginning to understand. This is an ever continuing journey for me. BTW, I did join TeamBeachBody.com so I can get a little more insight and encouragement.
Thanks!!
I understand the not losing weight right away but after two complete rounds of insanity and a 20 pound weight gain… What am I doing wrong?
@Casey I am having a hard time believing this since this is the very first time someone has told me they have done 2 rounds of Insanity and gained 20 lbs. Are you following the nutrition guide? Did you calculate your caloric intake properly? If you have gained that much weight I would have to say that it is in the food your are eating or something medical. You might want to see your doctor to be on the safe side.
Hello,
I have started Insanity. I have had a had time. i did the first three weeks then started over another three now im startibg over again cause im not seeing the results and i’m still not as strong I had my third child and I blew up im 40pds overweight.The last six months I have been trying all sorts of things I got a trainer and did that for like 2 1/2 months still no loss like 1 pd here and there. before I was fit working out often and losing weight was never a problem. My eating habits were never at five or six meals a day and now my apprtite has changed its hard to eat all the meals. I breastfeed as well and can’t seem to lose any weight. I have seen where i’m not looking as swollen but i’m thinkin its just water weight that losing. i’m lost
Thank you for this post! I am not overweight but I gained about 10 lbs while slacking off this summer. I started Insanity with my husband and I am in my second week… I was so discouraged to see that while my body feels great from working out that I’ve gained 3 lbs! I decided to go to ol’ trusty google to see if anyone else had a simliar result. I love this program and now that I know this is not an uncommon occurance I plan on sticking with it!
@Lisa Glad to hear you are sticking with it Lisa. Work hard and your results will come. Keep “Diggin Deep”.
Hey – on week 7 of the INSANITY program. In May, I was 122 lbs. I started working out a bit more and using weights & went up to 124/125. Since starting INSANITY, I’m up to 128/129. I wanted to get back down to 122!!!! I eat well. I don’t follow the nutrition guide to the letter as I don’t do well w/ too many carbs, but I eat 5x a day and it’s mostly clean. Had a few cheat days here and there when family was in town but not enough to make me gain weight.
I’m wondering if maybe I’m not eating enoughâŚI net around 1200 cals a day. (Am 5’3″) The nutrition guide says to lose I should be around 1775 a day – I am assuming that the Harris Benedict Equation is gross cals not net.
Everyone keeps saying to hang in there that I’ll see the results this month. I’m halfway through my second week of the second month and I feel bigger not smaller. My measurements haven’t changed at allâŚit’s all very frustrating. Thanks for any advice.
@KMich21 It is very possible that you are not eating enough and your body is storing and not using all of your fuel. I would up your calories maybe 250 a day and then re-evaluate from there. Remember, everyone is different and this is not an exact science so play with your calories a bit and see if that makes a difference.
Several questions:
1) Do protein shakes (whey protein isolate mixed w/ creatine) make you gain healthy weight? And how long does it take to see results from using these supplements?
2) I am just finishing up the third week of insanity; what do you recommend following this program to continue burning fat and toning up (esp. around the stomach area)?
3) Are two “cheat meals” per week hurtful?
Thanks.
@SugarBooger No, protein shakes do not make you gain weight they provide you with more protein. Eating more calories than you burn will help you gain weight if that is your goal.
It depends what you like to do but I would suggest either Asylum or P90X after Insanity or you could just do another round of Insanity.
Shaun T says not to deprive yourself but obviously the better you eat the better your results will be. We you say cheat meals i do not know what you are eating so it is hard to say if they are hurtful. They most likely are but again are you looking for perfection or looking to tone up. I still drink some beers, eat some pizza or Mexican food but I just don’t eat it every day. If your goals are perfect 6 pack then you will probably have to cut out the cheat meals. Remember, stomach fat is the hardest to lose and usually the last to leave.
I am starting the insanity program today. Started the nutritional meal plan this morning and when I get home from work my hubby and I are doing our fit test. I’ll be 48 next month and I have always, always been thin and athletic until I hit forty. I have gained more weight than I care to share but menopause has taken a toll on me and I am so angry with myself for getting in this shape! I am excited and nervous at the same time so wish me luck and I will let you know how I am progressing.
@Melanie Awesome!!!!! You have made a great choice and I applaud you for taking charge of your health and fitness. Insanity is tough but just do what you can and take breaks when needed. Be sure to let us know how it is going!! Here is a message from Shaun T for your 1st week to help get you ready. http://youtu.be/kvJDpYHmJVM
Help! I’m in my fourth week of insanity, and I have weighed more than I have all year! I’m 5’2, and I currently weight 115.6 lbs. Now before you go judging me and saying “that’s not all that bad”, I think it is! I am NOT stick thin, and earlier this year, I was at my ideal 105 lbs. But now, I noticeably have more fat in my butt and thigh area. I thought this program would help me shed weight in that area, but it seems like all the food I’m eating now (x5/day, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, protein) is making me gain! I’m not going to quit because I paid too much money for Insanity, but this is sooooo frustrating.
@Robyn Did you take your before measurements?? Where do you stand in inches lost or inches gained? Sometimes (most) the scale does not give the whole picture.
i benn diagnostic whith cronic prostatitis i want to know if i can do the program all the jumps it might not be good for my prostate thanks for help and do you loose more weight doing this progran then running 30 minutes every day thanks for help
@Pedro Insanity is an extreme program so you should check with your doctor to see what you limitations are. Insanity and running are 2 totally different programs. You will most likely burn more calories with Insanity depending on your intensity.
I have to say that everyones bodies do not require the same amount of calories. this workout is only a half an hour. physically we are and should be active 60 minutes or more a day. by increasing your calorie intake to the amounts that he requires may not work for you. Try playing with the calories per meal. I went through the same process 2 years ago when trying to shed and build muscle assuming that I needed to eat more. Way more than my body required. By knocking off some calories, not going below 1100 I was ablt to start shedding. I agree with eating small mini meals throughout the day, but maby not such large ones .
@Deb Just to clarify the only Insanity work out that is less than 30 minutes in Cardio Abs which is about 25 minutes. Cardio Recovery is about 35 minutes. Plyometric Cardio Circuit, Pure Cardio, Cardio Power and Resistance and Core Cardio and Balance are all about 40 minutes long. When you get into month 2 Shaun T really kicks it up a notch. Max Interval Circuit about 60 mins, Max Cardio Conditioning about 50 mins, Max Interval Plyometrics about 55 mins and Max Recovery is about 50 mins.
Hi I’m 17 and 5’3 140lbs athletic build! I started insanity asylum almost 2 weeks ago. I’ve noticed feeling slightly heavier and on the scale ot says I’ve gained about 3-4 pounds. I think I’m experiencing what you’ve talked about in the article! I eat relatively healthy! Salad every day at lunch water apples pb and j at times. Will I see my results at the end of this 30 day challenge?
@Dnedsa Hopefully you took your measurements and before pictures so you can really track your success. Yes, you will get results in 30 days. What are your plans for when you are done with Asylum??
Hi,
I am 30 years old, 5’3″ and 134lbs. I, like many of the other people who have written in have gained 3-4 lbs during the first few weeks of insanity. I changed my diet completely and have been extremely healthy. I must say that it was a little discouraging at first. But I am not a beginner when it comes to healh and fitness. Muscle weighs more than fat! I know I just need to keep at it and stay stong đ
Hi, I’m doing Insanity and currently on day 2 of week 2. I am a male, 5’8 and 160 lbs. I’ve been noticing that my butt seems to look bigger and this is really annoying me. I understand that Insanity involves a lot of glute muscles and squats but is this natural for men? I’ll still stick to it and be patient but I just wanted to hear opinions from others. Thank you.
@Jackie Insanity definitely works the glutes so this is normal. 1st time I did Insanity I noticed the same thing.
Please help me… I am in recovery for anorexia… and have been doing very well for about a year… I had gained the weight my doctor wanted me to gain, and have been maintaining that weight for months, with some struggle, but thought that was were my body was finding balance.(I am 5’7 lowest weight 105, maintaining at 135) and am a yoga devotee. I began doing Insanity, and haven’t stepped on the scale in 2 weeks. I stepped on this morning and was up 10 pounds. In two weeks, with no noticible change in my diet. Needless to say, it threw me. I had noticed that my pants were not fitting in the thigh area and that my muscles in my legs and butt were getting bigger, but 10 pounds? My diet has been around 1200, but when I began insanity I bumped it up to about 1800. Could that increase alone be the difference? The maintanance on my package says I should Or is the exercise? I am SO upset. I wanted to increases muscle tone, but NOT gain weight, or even add muscle. I am so frustrated. PLEASE help me. PLEASE explain what is happening.
@Lindsay Did you read the article above??? You are most likely experiencing D.O.M.S Stick with it. Depending on your energy level you might be able to shave off some calories but on the flip side you need these extra calories so you have the energy for your workouts. You could try going to 1700 for a week and then depending how you feel maybe 1600. I am not a nutritionist or CPT but I do know that the nutrition plan is a great guide but each individual sometimes has to tweak it for their own individual results.
hi there. i am a little nervous about the calorie intake of insanity. I understand the need to fuel for the body etc but i am nervous about the amount of protien intake i am suppose to have.
I do kickboxing at night average about 1-2 hours a day. i want to start doing insanity in the morning to drop more weight and get my cardio up for any kickboxing events.
i am 5”2′ and right now weight 140. if i can get down to 130 or less will be awesome!! i dont want to fight tall women lol
but the thing im worried about is being able to get all my calories in. I am suppose to have 196g of protien and 196g carbs and about 80g of fat i beleive. is that amount of protien in a day gonna make me gain “weight” later on? like muscle weight?
im just overwhelmed with the nutrition plan a little. im afraid if i try to do 1900 cal that it may not work…
I started Insanity on March 9th. I, too, have gained about 4 pounds since that time. I have been on Weight Watchers since last March and lost 40 pounds and am also a vegetarian.But I wanted to tone up and lose another 14 pounds to reach my goal weight of 148. I am 50 years old, 5’5″ and weigh 162 pounds. Was moderately active before Insanity-walking, elliptical, workout tapes, but wanted to ramp up my workout with Insanity because I had “hit a wall”. According to the Elite Nutrion program, I should be eating 1700 calories a day to lose weight. I am not overeating as I use Weight Watchers guidelines. Maybe I am not eating enough? I took measurements before I started the program, so hoping to see some changes soon. Anybody have ideas as to good protein sources for vegetarians who cannot eat nuts or use milk products? I realize I did not put the weight on in 3 weeks and although I worked out 5-6 days a week, the workouts were not as intense as Insanity. Could that be part of the issu and how long before weight changes should start reflecting on the scale?
I am a pretty active person. Gym 5 times a week and sports 2 times a week at least. I felt I was hitting a plateau with my cardio and needed a serious change so I thought I would try Insanity. Now I don’t own a scale, when my clothes start to get tight that’s when I know something needs to change. Within doing one week of Insanity my thighs barely fit in my pants, obviously pretty frustrating since you want the opposite result to lean out. I have read the article, I have a healthy diet with obvious cheat days everyone needs to live a little lol. Wondering what it going on. I am certainly going to stick out the workout, it’s pretty kick ass and I enjoy it!! Thoughts?
Hi I have been on a losing weight journey . I have losing 1 to 2 pounds a week being that I set myself on a calorie count to lose close to 2 ponds. I have started insanity for a week now. I check my weight 1 time a week. After a week insanity I weighed 2 pounds more. Got discourage until I read this.
Hello, I am in my second week of my second round of Insanity (back to back). I have lost 60 lbs in the last 2 years. Slowly and healthy with walking, running, Zumba and now Insanity while doing Weight Watchers so I am very aware of what I eat. On the second round I started the Insanity meal plan, works similar to weight watchers. I am telling you this because I have not lost any weight at all on Insanity. I started at 147 gained weight in the first couple of weeks than started to lose but ended up at 147 at day 60 so I kept going. I still weigh exactly 147 but do feel stronger and can do a lot more of the workout so I do see some muscle gain. I eat the amount of calories according to Shaun T. and still no weight loss. I just ordered Results and Recovery Formula and Shakeology, I am hoping that using these on top of the Insanity program will finally get me to lose about 10lbs to get me to my BMI. Although I would like to lose 17-20 lbs total. Do you think that R&R formula and Shakeology will help? Thank you!
@Migdalia Stick with it, your results will come. Yes, I think Shakeology will help. I have been drinking it every day for over 3 years and I simply love the stuff. Personally, I don’t drink R and R every day (I drink it about 3 times a week) but I do know others that do. R and R will help with your recovery from the work out.
Thank you so much for this article. I stumbled upon it today during a google search. I start my 3rd week of Insanity today and took my measurements and my pictures, and I had gained 3.5 pounds. That’s a little discouraging, except that I also lost 4 inches all around. My diet isn’t all that great, but it isn’t outrageous. I track everything using MyFitnessPal, and it’s allowed me to see what improvements and adjustments I need to make. The main thing that is discouraging is that I’m in the Army and we have weight and body fat standards to follow, and I have a physical fitness test this coming Saturday and with the weight gain, it puts me over. It’s not a career ender, I just don’t want to be too far over that I fail it. I’m still going to stick with the program, it’s so much easier because I’m doing it with a group of people and not on my own. Knowing that I’m not the only one that has gained weight in the first few weeks gives me hope. Thank you.
@Stephanie Glad to hear this article helped you. Don’t worry, your results will come. Keep showing up ever day and do you best to follow the Insanity nutrition guide. Another thing to be mindful of are liquid calories. Coffee with cream and sugar, pop/soda, energy drinks etc. All these come with calories that people often forget about. (Just something to think about)
Hi! I’ve lost about 60 pounds in the past year by running and never felt better! I measure 5’7 and weighed 125 when I started Insanity. Now though, I’m into the third week of Insanity and up to 132 lbs. Crazy leg definition, but my belly fat has gone no where but up. I am very frustrated. Staying at about 1400 cals per day, up from 1200 when I first started Insanity because I felt I was always starving, but no toning in my midsection at all. đ
someone please help me! I am a 22 year old female, 5’8 180 pounds. I am trying to lose 37 -40 pounds by september. I started insanity about 2 weeks ago. my BMR is 1650, but since I am slightly active I have to eat 1950 in order to maintain my weight. I eat about 1000 calories and burn about 600 doing insanity + other cardio workouts… tell me why I gained a pound?? its been two friggin weeks! shouldn’t I be losing 4 pounds by now? My net caloric intake for the day is about 400 to sometimes 700! wtheck? I am sooo tired of trying. why aren’t I losing drastic weight?? I feel like I am wasting my time… september is approaching!
(sorry for any typo)
-Meg
I am almost done with week 5 of Insanity. I feel like and am getting bigger and bulkier. I have to admit that I haven’t been using the nutrition guide. I am up 4 pounds and all of my clothes are tighter. I thought that I would be getting leaner. I feel like I don’t eat that bad. What am I not doing? Why is this happening and is the nutrition guide really that important??
Quick question …. since school I have been exactly the same weight, cant put a single pound on. I can lose weight if I want to VERY quickly (lost a stone in one month, was an experiment to see if I had any issues and yeah yeah poor me) the problem I have is a I want to use insanity to put weight ON. I can not for the life of me put any on. I know theres the thing where ‘everyone has a point’ when it comes to wieght gain, for example, eat more meals, bigger calorie intake and such, tried it all and cant put an ounce on. I know there are certain things out there that you can use and I do not under any circumstance want to go down that route. My partner says she loves me exactly as I am and finds my body etc attractive as I have the ‘V’ but if I don’t find myself thinking the same way, then how can she feel that?
I really want to gain some weight. I can tone up very easily, but id like to put a little on so I have some form to me, instead of looking like a muscly twig. Help please?
@Jonny It used to be hard for me to gain weight as well. There are a couple Beachbody programs that have helped me. Body Beast was the one for me that showed me how to gain almost 15 pounds of muscle. The main thing is you will definitely have to increase your calorie intake. Also, trying to gain weight while doing Insanity might be counter productive. With all that cardio it will be even more difficult to gain. I feel finding a happy medium between cardion and resistance training would be your best best.
Hi I read the article and felt reassured as I was feeling bloated all week since starting insanity and my diet has been pretty good (clean foods only). But you also mentioned weight gain, when I step on the scale I seem to have lost weight but I still get the bloated stomach. Is this a common problem and will it still go down after the second week?
Hello my name is Kelby I have been doing insanity for 3 1/2 weeks and my body weight has remained the same. I have done insanity before a year ago and lost up to 12 pounds by this week so I’m confused. I am following the correct amount of calories from the equation listed in Shaun T’s nutrition guide but I have set up my own meals. I use the my fitness pal to track my calories and I use a Fitbit to show me how many calories I am burning for accuracy. On the my fitness pal when you exercise it adds more calories for me to eat. Should I be eating those extra calories or not? In the nutrition guide I am supposed to eat 1,739 calories and in my fitness pal my carbs are at 50% protein 20% and fats 30% Im usually pretty close to these goals. I was hoping by the middle of week 4 I would see a change in the scale but I see nothing. Any advice??????
@Kelby If you haven’t worked out in awhile you could be retaining some water as your muscles recover for the first couple weeks. Also, I would suggest following the Insanity Nutrition guide. On page 9 you can see that it reads meals are listed at about 40% protein, 40% carbs and 20% fat which is not what you are eating according to what you posted as your goals. Switch it up and keep “Digging Deep.”
What if the swole last like 4days even if I worked out only 1 day. I used to do hiit before this new program I started recently called insanity max 30 and I never used to feel bloated only like for a couple of hours maybe and I did different similar hiit workouts for about 2 years and kept the weight off and on because of excessive drinking. Now that quit drinking and I bought this new program max 30 and after the first day I felt bloated. Is it a sign of possible adrenal fatigue or overtraining since I did workout before as well and was in shape, or a plateau, but I don’t think I overtrained or have adrenal fatigue because I feel good and energized and not tired. Or can this simply just be the water retention you mentioned in this article that that creates inflammation for your muscles and it will go away within weeks? And it’s my calorie intake. Could it just be the alcohols salt in my body and I just need to continue drinking water and working out? Lol sorry I have so much questions.
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Along with the right workout and this is very important for the skinny guy is how much rest, what is the right .