Insanity at maintenance

zozzabubba

I've heard a lot about insanity, mostly about how people have lost huge amounts of weight with it. I'm only a few lbs from goal, but would still be looking to tone up. Would starting insanity at goal weight be a good way to tone up and increase fitness levels? Or is there a better program out there for people specifically just looking to tone up not actually drop lbs?

Mummyadams

I don't know anything about Insanity but why not hit the weights? I too am at maintenance and am doing crossfit & weigfhts - toning up very nicely.

booyainyoface

ill second that... insanity is good for cardio and plyometric strength, but weights are going to get you tight and toned... i do insanity when i don't have the time to go to the gym for cardio AND strength. weights are the one thing that had transformed my body into a better shape. i weight more than most of my friends, but i can borrow their clothes, and sure as hell look better in a swimsuit

RobynMWilson

Do you want to build lean muscle?

Yosemite4vr

I'm doing insanity right now, almost half way through the program and I can tell you that having done weights before, weights work much better. They help to build muscle and muscle burns fat.

What I would do (and have done before) is combine weight lifting with interval training on the treadmill or something.

All that said, I think I'm still slowly but surely getting results from insanity. It's harder for me since I am so close to my goal, but I can tell it's working.

zozzabubba

ooookk so what I'm getting from this is I shouldn't do insanity. I've heard that lifting is good but I would have NO IDEA what to do in terms of machines and all that...I wouldn't wanna hurt myself but I literally have no idea how to go about strength training. At the moment the only "strength" I do is body pump 4x a week, which probably isn't enough to actually build a lot of lean muscle mass?

Mummyadams

I would recommend getting a personal trainer to set you up with a programme. You will learn to use the machines and then as you feel more confident, start using free weights. You will notice the difference! Oh yeah, learn to chuck the scales away as you won't be measuring by weight, only by how you look and how your clothes fit.

booyainyoface

when you get over to the states most gyms offer a free "orientation." tell them you want to do strength training and they will walk you through a lot of it. stay away from machines and stick to free weights- they will give you way better results faster.

check out this site, it has a ton of different workout programs for different physiques- tons of them tailored to girls. there are also videos of how to do the moves if you are comfortable. as long as you have good form with your back/knees you will be fine (don't roll your back, don't put your knees past your toes)

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/fitness-360.html

or do p90x instead of insanity, but its expensive for all the weights

adjoa84

You could do both, 2/3 days cardio (insanity which includes some body weight strength via psuh ups and lunges) and 2/3 days weight training. I'm about 7lbs away from my goal and in the 'normal' weight range and I'm finding (i'm at the end of recovery week month 1 day 32) that the scales haven't moved much - only 2.5lbs BUT I've lost 2% body fat and 1 inch from my bust, natural waist and hips and each leg so i'm happy with the results so far and I've heard month2 - which im starting today is more intense so if I double my results from month 1, or even just repeat them 4% body fat and 2 inches all over for 2 month work isn't bad at all! I'll keep everyone posted!

Determinednoob

Where to start with weights http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/686963-large-collection-of-info-for-beginners