Feeling weak & sick INSANITY

alintransit
alintransit Posts: 5 Member
edited February 22 in Fitness and Exercise
I just started Insanity about 6 weeks ago, I'm on phase 2 now and feel like I'm dying. I was eating anywhere from 1,200-1,800 calories during the first phase and am wondering if I should up them since this phase seems to be so much harder for me. I am 5,8 158lbs now. I was 171lbs when I first started this program, and I worry that if I up my calories I will just maintain instead of lose. However, my workouts went from fairly hard, to impossible the past few days.. I'm guessing my body lacks the calories/energy I need to keep up??? I would love some professional advice!

Replies

  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Your calorie intake sounds like it's not high enough for the program. That being said, many people, due to fact that the program was designed for people who are already fit, need to take more frequent rest days than what they 6 day a week schedule permits for.
  • alintransit
    alintransit Posts: 5 Member
    Also, I've been wearing a heart rate monitor, it says that I burn anywhere from 450-600 calories every workout. I did have one day during phase 2 that I burned nearly 800 calories though. I know its kinda a dumb question to ask if I need to up my calories, but I don't really know how far I should up them to still lose weight at the rate I was.
  • alintransit
    alintransit Posts: 5 Member
    Contingencypl, thank you for the advice. I did skip a day or 2 during the first phase, and I did have much better results in my next workout.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    Contingencypl, thank you for the advice. I did skip a day or 2 during the first phase, and I did have much better results in my next workout.

    From what it sounds like you would better benefit from switching to a program that is not so demanding on already having a high fitness level. You could modify the schedule and individual workouts, yes, but you would get better results if you were to just do a program that is designed from the ground up for your current fitness level. I recommend doing one that prioritizes strength training over cardio (such as P90X), because they are much more easily adaptable to any fitness level by simply using a weight that works for your current strength level.
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    1200 is not nearly enough on insanity. Granted, I'm a 200 lbs male, but when I was doing round 1, I was eating close to 3000 a day and losing. If you're feeling tired and weak, you're probably not eating enough. Like contingenyplan said, don't be afraid to take a rest day if you need it. Six days a week is intense.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    1200 - 1800 is quite the range

    did you do the calculation in the nutrition guide? personally i would just set my MFP calorie goal to what the guide recommends to eat.

    the guide also suggest that you might want to eat a little extra in the second month. if you eat what the calc says, you'll probably be a few hundred over 1800

    it sounds like you have had really good results so far, many don't see that much in the first month of insanity. which probably means your under eating.

    also suggest eating something immediately after with some carbs and protein. but even just a banana would be better then nothing. it honestly does help a little bit in helping your body recover before the next work out.

    you're doing great, no need to stop or switch 2 weeks before the end.
  • alintransit
    alintransit Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks guys, I figured I probably just needed to up my calories. I'm just anxious for fast results, but I'm sure low calorie intake is going to hurt me in the long run. Thanks again.
  • shrcpr
    shrcpr Posts: 885 Member
    I've done Insanity a couple times (and love it) but you do need to eat more in phase 2. Plus, despite what the infomercials say, it seems to me like it's more of a strength-building routine than a weight loss routine so needs to be supported by enough fuel for that. The good news is that once you've gone through the program, you'll be a ton stronger and every other workout you do will seem like a piece of cake.
  • KylaDenay
    KylaDenay Posts: 1,585 Member
    YES! Eat more! If you are feeling weak and sick then you are not fueling your body with enough calories. When I was doing Insanity month 1, I was eating between 1800 to 2100 calories a day. I was hungry all the time. I'm 5'3 32 and 163.5 lbs. I actually stopped doing insanity cause I was always hungry and eating. I gained weight. I lost some inches and I look better, but I still gained weight. It is very intense. You definitely should calculate your tdee with the intense workout 6 days a week and eat that amount of calories. Maybe 100-200 less if you need to.
  • alintransit
    alintransit Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks everybody for the help. I finished the program, and upped my calories. I actually started to gain a little bit of weight, but my overall body size shrunk and I'm a lot more cut than what I was before. Thanks again.
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