Insanity- too little calories?

Fragilebird24
Fragilebird24 Posts: 202 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Okay, so I'm currently on Day 5 of Insanity. I completed six weeks of it last year but gave up because I had only lost five pounds (I tend to obsess over the number on the scale.) I'm going to Disney World December 3 so I decided to try it again to help me tone up about. I read a couple of different message boards about Insanity and a lot of people were saying that they weren't losing weight because they weren't eating enough. I eat around 1300 calories a day and try not to eat back any exercise calories. I don't have an HRM so I never know exactly how many calories I've burned. I have decided not to weigh myself until the end up month one to avoid history repeating itself. Should I increase my calorie intake?

Replies

  • Dena216
    Dena216 Posts: 20 Member
    You need to eat based on the calculation in the Insanity guide. I was eating 1800-1900 calories while doing Insanity and I started it about 3 weeks into doing Insanity. You have to eat clean as much as possible. I did not notice changes in measurements much at all but the photos spoke for themselves in how my shape changed and the way clothes fit me was a huge change also. Stick with it and you will think nothing is changing, but it is. Month 2 is when all the change really happens. My thighs and arms changed the most in Month 2. Dont give up and eat more. I didnt eat my excercise calories back but I did do my best to eat 1900 calories a day and I know it helped a lot. Also, work on your macros. That helps too. I always struggle with macros but they say to aim for something around 40 protein, 40 carbs and 20 fat ratios.

    Hope that helps.
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    Yes, you should. At my current weight (146-147 pounds), I burn about 350 calories per workout for month 1 and 450-500 per workout for month 2. Eating only 1300 calories isn't enough to fuel your body. Bump to 1500 at the least, preferably 1700.
  • dockholiday8234
    dockholiday8234 Posts: 43 Member
    I use to think the more I restricted calories the better I would look and the more fat I would lose. All that happens is you end up stalling out your metabolism and quitting. The toughest thing for me was realizing I needed to eat about 2300 cal/day to lose weight with my workouts. I felt like I was going to get fat eating that much. So a lot of the hurdle was mental. It works though. Cannot starve yourself to a good body. Plus you end up binge eating. Not good. Eat your way to a good body.
  • Fragilebird24
    Fragilebird24 Posts: 202 Member
    Yes, you should. At my current weight (146-147 pounds), I burn about 350 calories per workout for month 1 and 450-500 per workout for month 2. Eating only 1300 calories isn't enough to fuel your body. Bump to 1500 at the least, preferably 1700.

    Okay, I increased my calories to 1500 for now. Maybe I'll try 1500 for Month One and then 1700 for Month 2. Thanks for your advice!
  • Fragilebird24
    Fragilebird24 Posts: 202 Member
    I use to think the more I restricted calories the better I would look and the more fat I would lose. All that happens is you end up stalling out your metabolism and quitting. The toughest thing for me was realizing I needed to eat about 2300 cal/day to lose weight with my workouts. I felt like I was going to get fat eating that much. So a lot of the hurdle was mental. It works though. Cannot starve yourself to a good body. Plus you end up binge eating. Not good. Eat your way to a good body.


    I definitely have the mindset that less calories= more weight loss. I'll have to teach myself that I need to fuel my body!
  • KateK8LoseW8
    KateK8LoseW8 Posts: 824 Member
    Yes, you should. At my current weight (146-147 pounds), I burn about 350 calories per workout for month 1 and 450-500 per workout for month 2. Eating only 1300 calories isn't enough to fuel your body. Bump to 1500 at the least, preferably 1700.

    Okay, I increased my calories to 1500 for now. Maybe I'll try 1500 for Month One and then 1700 for Month 2. Thanks for your advice!

    That sounds reasonable. Good luck and enjoy the workouts! They're rough, but so worth it in the end.
  • streedk89
    streedk89 Posts: 1 Member
    Dont stress over the scale I actually gained weight doing insanity but its because I toned up.i lost 2 pants sizes before I even finished the first month. I've always had problems toning my thighs/butt and I was the tonest I've ever been. I also think everyone needs to calculate their own calories burned...some people can push their limits further than others.

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