insanity for big people

Start with Jillian Michael's 30 day shred- this will get you prepped for Insanity and once you start you will love it!

I tried this 3 times. I had to modify about half of the exercises. After the 3rd time I decided maybe it was too much for me. I am doing excellent with Hip Hop Abs and have made some remarkable strides with inches and weight loss in 3 months. I would highly recommend it to you. I do have 2 friends, bigger ladies, who have done well with Insanity but they are shaped different than me (I am pear). Good luck to you, as long as you are moving and getting a good workout that is what counts. :bigsmile:

I did it off and on since Feb. and I started it at 216 lbs. I got through the first week of the second month went out of town and never got back on track. I really like the program and I do what I can I don't try to keep up with the people on the video as I'm sure they've been training for years.


eta: I also did the 30 day shred prior to starting insanity

It puts a lot of strain on the knees and ankles. I've known people to make modifications to help with this (squats rather than jump squats, for instance), but you might be better served with a less agressive program. I personally love it, but it can definitely be tough to maintain form by the end of the workouts.

I did for 2 months it works for me.

I got into pretty good shape from Jan 2011 through Aug 2012. I lost 75 pounds and got down to 180. I was doing all sorts of crazy exercises at that time. Then some life issues got in the way and I wasn't mentally tough enough to stay on track so I gained about 60 pounds back. 4 weeks ago, I began my restart. I lost 8 pounds as of last Friday's weigh-in. On a whim, I saw Insanity advertised on Craigs List, bought it on Saturday and decided to start it on Sunday. (its a 9 week program and there were exactly 9 weeks left in the summer...not exactly sure that's sound rationale, but it worked for me). I was 234 pounds last Friday and out of shape. I just completed day 5 today and while its kicking my *kitten*, I am going to get through it. As Shaun T says, you do what you can. DO NOT try to go as fast as the people on the video. Those people are in super shape and, if you care to watch closely, even they struggle with the pace at times. I take a lot of breaks and I don't make every jumping exercise a jumping exercise (i.e., sometimes I don't do the jump part). But, I push myself and work hard.

Now, I still have to motivate myself to get out of bed in the morning and put in the Insanity DVD...but I read several Insanity success stories each day to help keep me motivated. I have read a lot of success stories of people who started off out of shape...who do what they can do...and get results. I know I'm going to get results. I'm going to finish this program because I'm too dang stubborn not to.

Admittedly, I may have been better off doing something lower intensity for a few more months before jumping into this program.....but keep in mind that I was used to doing some intense workouts in 2011 and 2012 and I have not had an issue pushing myself. If I had not done intense workouts in 2011 and 2012 (before getting fat again), I doubt I would be doing Insanity a few weeks into my restart.

I don't know you, your current health, or any limitations that you might have. I am not telling you to do Insanity. You might want to check with your doctor. I am simply answering your question as I am currently fat and out of shape and doing Insanity to the best of my ability.

I did 30 ds before I started Insanity, and I really don't think I could have started Insanity without having completed 30ds!!!

I will tell you this: I am 5'3 and around 220 lbs. I am on week 7 of Insanity. It is tough. Plain and Simple. That being said, I modify some of it so that I can do it (my mid section interfers with things like "in and outs", so I do them wide rather than the way they do them.) I am careful with the jumping as I have read the horror stories of Insanity on your knees and lower legs. It can be done, and I have done well with it, but it takes commitment and drive to finish. I haven't lost much weight with it, but the inches are dropping pretty well. If I was to clean my diet up I am sure I would have lost more, but for me it was just getting into the habit of working out as this was what I started with for my workouts since it is what I had on hand at home.

You can do it, but may not be what you are looking for right now.

Insanity is perfectly workable for bigger peps. Just do your best. Realize that you'll be doing pushups on your knees and subbing squats for jumps.

If you're horribly unconditioned you have two choices.

1. Take longer rests which is effectively skipping part of the workout.
2. Budget extra time to complete the workout and pause the workout for extra rest.

It took me 12 weeks to complete the program the first time. I repeated the first month

You may also want to checkout Rushfit.

I have insanity, but haven't really tried it yet. Currently I am at 265 lbs., so I will get a move on and start it then tell you my results. I remember quickly skimming through the videos and Shane T the fitness instructor always mentions to go at your own pace and do what you can.