not losing weight but doing Insanity???

24

Replies

  • erica82177
    erica82177 Posts: 6
    i myself know what your going through with the PCOS, have you had any success with the insanity and weight loss? it is extremely hard to lose weight.
  • sugarcrane2
    sugarcrane2 Posts: 7
    Okay so I've been doing insanity for about 2 months I work out 4-5 times a week but I haven't started the Max as I was told it was crazy hard and I want to be a little more in shape for it (i.e. make it through the first set without dying). I started doing it while on WW didn't lose weight now I've been tracking calories and am about 1300 calories a day, My fitness pals says I should be doing 1200. About twice a week go up to 1700. So I am going to try to up my calories based on what I've read and calculated I should be eating 1700 every day. My question is on the days I don't do Insanity should I eat lower calories? I also take lots of supplements trying to up my metabolism and am not hungry at all. I've only lost about 3 inches.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    Okay so I've been doing insanity for about 2 months I work out 4-5 times a week but I haven't started the Max as I was told it was crazy hard and I want to be a little more in shape for it (i.e. make it through the first set without dying). I started doing it while on WW didn't lose weight now I've been tracking calories and am about 1300 calories a day, My fitness pals says I should be doing 1200. About twice a week go up to 1700. So I am going to try to up my calories based on what I've read and calculated I should be eating 1700 every day. My question is on the days I don't do Insanity should I eat lower calories? I also take lots of supplements trying to up my metabolism and am not hungry at all. I've only lost about 3 inches.

    You should consistently be at 1700 calories to get the most out of insanity. A larger deficit doesn't necessarily lead to more weight loss. In fact, many times it will be the reason for a plateau. Also, by eating more, your body will push harder during the workout.
  • njhotsauce79
    njhotsauce79 Posts: 13
    I am 142 lbs. 5'0", female, 33yrs old. I have been doing insanity for almost five weeks now (will be starting month two on Monday). I got the insanity DVDs from someone else so I don't have all the paperwork that came with it. I am not losing much weight. I've lost 3 lbs so far in almost 5 weeks!! I don't seem to be losing inches either, even though I do see my stomach flatter and feel so much better. I am not counting my calories every day, but I eat approximately 1600 on a daily basis and I do my best to keep it clean. Like 1 cup of oatmeal in the morning with 1 cup of milk (2%), and sometimes I add two eggs to my breakfast. Then for a snack I will have a banana and some peanut butter. For lunch a bowl of soup and a turkey sandwich or a can of tuna with a tomato (chopped) and two serrano peppers and some lime juice to it (sometimes I have a few crackers too). then for snack is almonds and some fruit, (orange, pear, grapefruit... etc). I feel great and not lack of energy at all. for dinner, it's chicken or fish, grilled or baked, or a baked potato with tons of broccoli, very little cheese and very very little sour cream... or a bowl of vegetable soup (loaded with green beans, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, tomatoes) and some chicken... anyway, you get my drift. I normally don't eat after dinner, so it's a total of three meals plus two snacks = 5.
    Am I not eating enough calories?

    I do insanity 6 times a week, I run 2.5 - 3 miles three times a week (either run or elliptical), and I do a 30 minute workout three times a week in the afternoon right before my run (or after depending on space), to work my legs, my arms, etc (I alternate days for upper body and lower body and those three days I work my core).

    can anyone guide me?
  • sherronh
    sherronh Posts: 119 Member
    I ate 1500 calories on p90x. That was last year at this time. I fell off the fitness track and after gaining back almost 10lbs, I am back in it. I also have a condition called PCOS which affects my blood sugars. Although I am not a diabetic, the treatment is a diabetic med. I was told that after I lost some weight I wouldn't have to take it anymore, but this doesn't seem to be the case. This condition makes it hard to lose weight as well. Anyway, it was much easier last time, so I will increase my calories and hope for the best. I was just being stupid and thinking that less calories would equal a fast weight loss. There is never an "easy/quick fix", just time, proper nutrition, and exercise! Lesson learned:)

    hey I have pcos as well. Im not too sure about the comment the gentleman below you made. I have been losing weight consistently for 3.5 months. You definately do not need a diet high in fat and low in carbs my weekly averages for carbs is 50%, I do have a diet high in protein and low in fats because of all the veggies I consume.

    Everybody is different some people can do just fine eating 1200 calories a day and exercise and gain muscle. It depends on your height, weight, how much you have to lose and what kind of nutrients your getting.

    As for the people talking about starvation mode, there is no way in 2 weeks the original posters body would have gone into starvation mode without losing a single pound. It just doesnt happen like that. I would check to see if you are loggin everything correctly food wise.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    I am 142 lbs. 5'0", female, 33yrs old. I have been doing insanity for almost five weeks now (will be starting month two on Monday). I got the insanity DVDs from someone else so I don't have all the paperwork that came with it. I am not losing much weight. I've lost 3 lbs so far in almost 5 weeks!! I don't seem to be losing inches either, even though I do see my stomach flatter and feel so much better. I am not counting my calories every day, but I eat approximately 1600 on a daily basis and I do my best to keep it clean. Like 1 cup of oatmeal in the morning with 1 cup of milk (2%), and sometimes I add two eggs to my breakfast. Then for a snack I will have a banana and some peanut butter. For lunch a bowl of soup and a turkey sandwich or a can of tuna with a tomato (chopped) and two serrano peppers and some lime juice to it (sometimes I have a few crackers too). then for snack is almonds and some fruit, (orange, pear, grapefruit... etc). I feel great and not lack of energy at all. for dinner, it's chicken or fish, grilled or baked, or a baked potato with tons of broccoli, very little cheese and very very little sour cream... or a bowl of vegetable soup (loaded with green beans, cauliflower, cabbage, celery, tomatoes) and some chicken... anyway, you get my drift. I normally don't eat after dinner, so it's a total of three meals plus two snacks = 5.
    Am I not eating enough calories?

    I do insanity 6 times a week, I run 2.5 - 3 miles three times a week (either run or elliptical), and I do a 30 minute workout three times a week in the afternoon right before my run (or after depending on space), to work my legs, my arms, etc (I alternate days for upper body and lower body and those three days I work my core).

    can anyone guide me?

    based on your stats, with insanity alone you should be eating 1900 calories. If you want to exercise more, then it would need to be increased. My biggest suggest is slow down. More exercise isn't always good as it causes a lot of stress on your body. So if you are doing the true 6 days insanity program, i would suggest cutting the other exercise out.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    I ate 1500 calories on p90x. That was last year at this time. I fell off the fitness track and after gaining back almost 10lbs, I am back in it. I also have a condition called PCOS which affects my blood sugars. Although I am not a diabetic, the treatment is a diabetic med. I was told that after I lost some weight I wouldn't have to take it anymore, but this doesn't seem to be the case. This condition makes it hard to lose weight as well. Anyway, it was much easier last time, so I will increase my calories and hope for the best. I was just being stupid and thinking that less calories would equal a fast weight loss. There is never an "easy/quick fix", just time, proper nutrition, and exercise! Lesson learned:)

    hey I have pcos as well. Im not too sure about the comment the gentleman below you made. I have been losing weight consistently for 3.5 months. You definately do not need a diet high in fat and low in carbs my weekly averages for carbs is 50%, I do have a diet high in protein and low in fats because of all the veggies I consume.

    Everybody is different some people can do just fine eating 1200 calories a day and exercise and gain muscle. It depends on your height, weight, how much you have to lose and what kind of nutrients your getting.

    As for the people talking about starvation mode, there is no way in 2 weeks the original posters body would have gone into starvation mode without losing a single pound. It just doesnt happen like that. I would check to see if you are loggin everything correctly food wise.

    First off, you can NOT gain muscle on 1200 calories. That isn't even enough calories to feed your metabolic rate, let alone for the muscles to have the ability to increase lean muscle mass. I am a 5'11" 200 lb man and I eat 2800-3000 calories and over six months, I have only gained 1 lb of lean muscle math and you might be able to chalk that up to calculation error and that is a 20% deficit from my TDEE. There is the ability to cut body fat (which you do on a calorie deficit) and the ability to increase lean body mass (muscle) which you do on a calorie surplus. They are two different methods with two different diet and exercise plans. Now there is also a difference between gaining strength and muscle.


    Additionally, eating below your BMR, will increase the chances of loss of lean body mass. If your track your body fat and weight together you can see this occur. Now lean body mass is made up of several things such as: muscle, tissue, bone density, etc so it's not a one for one loss of muscle. But it can show your an approximate loss of your metabolic rate.
  • ngarrett75
    ngarrett75 Posts: 87 Member
    I'm only down 5 lbs and am in my Recovery week. Per the Insanity formula, I should be eating 2100 cals a day, which is tough but I'm trying. Now, is that 2100 NET calories? They don't specify in the fitness guide. Or is that INCLUDING my exercise calories? Any thoughts?
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    like others have said, eat back your exercise calories, and it's only week 2. I didn't lose any weight on insanity but I looked better and felt stronger. I still do the workouts periodically.
  • hpage84
    hpage84 Posts: 20 Member
    I'm only down 5 lbs and am in my Recovery week. Per the Insanity formula, I should be eating 2100 cals a day, which is tough but I'm trying. Now, is that 2100 NET calories? They don't specify in the fitness guide. Or is that INCLUDING my exercise calories? Any thoughts?

    That's total calories. The Insanity guide doesn't have you eat exercise cals, they're already included. And 5 lbs is good progress for the first month!
  • ngarrett75
    ngarrett75 Posts: 87 Member
    Thanks!
  • ngarrett75
    ngarrett75 Posts: 87 Member
    bump
  • queenbeaumont
    queenbeaumont Posts: 19
    Ok I just started the Insanity program two days ago. I am a 4'11 female and 140 pounds at this moment. I would like to lose another 20 pounds. MFP had my calories set 1200 but about a month ago I upped my calories to 1400 because I had hit a plateau and after I raised them I lost another 5 pounds. So my question is, should I raise my calories more since I am starting Insanity and what should I raise it to?
  • ngarrett75
    ngarrett75 Posts: 87 Member
    bump
  • BOLO4Hagtha
    BOLO4Hagtha Posts: 396 Member
    It doesn't make sense to eat more to lose

    I don't mean to sound mean, but if you keep thinking like that, you will have a very hard time losing the weight. You need to eat! Get in a good mixture of complex carbs and lots of protein. Avoid sugar filled foods and try to eat clean.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    Ok I just started the Insanity program two days ago. I am a 4'11 female and 140 pounds at this moment. I would like to lose another 20 pounds. MFP had my calories set 1200 but about a month ago I upped my calories to 1400 because I had hit a plateau and after I raised them I lost another 5 pounds. So my question is, should I raise my calories more since I am starting Insanity and what should I raise it to?
    Yes you should be eating at least 1700+.
  • queenbeaumont
    queenbeaumont Posts: 19
    Ok I just started the Insanity program two days ago. I am a 4'11 female and 140 pounds at this moment. I would like to lose another 20 pounds. MFP had my calories set 1200 but about a month ago I upped my calories to 1400 because I had hit a plateau and after I raised them I lost another 5 pounds. So my question is, should I raise my calories more since I am starting Insanity and what should I raise it to?
    Yes you should be eating at least 1700+.

    Thanks!
  • njhotsauce79
    njhotsauce79 Posts: 13
    log on your calories burned doing insanity and MFP will add those calories back on your meal plan...
  • tobeloved22781
    tobeloved22781 Posts: 3 Member
    I have been doing insanity for almost two weeks now and havent lost any weight. MFP has my calorie intake at 1570 - I weigh 207 . Is that right or do i need to increase them? I am a receptionist so I sit most of the day.
  • Living4Liz2012
    Living4Liz2012 Posts: 312
    Honestly I've been doing instanty for like 15 days now...instanty is MORE ABOUT TONING then anything in that area I've noticed alot but weight loss not so much...i JUST ADDED in my own cardio
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    a
  • OceanAvenue85
    OceanAvenue85 Posts: 10
    You're definitely not eating enough. I'm not a pro by any means but when I set everything up here on MFP it told me that with me working out only once a week at 60min that I'm to consume approx. 1600 calories per day... I was shocked at first but it makes sense as you have to keep yourself from going into starvation mode. I'm still recovering from surgery right now so I have to take it easy but I've managed to lose almost 4lbs. in the past two weeks by changing what I'm eating and measuring everything!
  • bjohs
    bjohs Posts: 1,225 Member
    With all due respect to those who are telling you to eat more, I would like to add this... you can't out-exercise a poor diet. Take an honest look at your food intake and cut out as many processed foods as possible. Don't go over on your micros and macros either. If you add Sugar and Sodium to the nutrients you track, my guess is you will see your answer as plain as day. Two weeks is not enough time for big changes, so take it one day at a time. Good luck to you and stick with it!
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,426 MFP Moderator
    I have been doing insanity for almost two weeks now and havent lost any weight. MFP has my calorie intake at 1570 - I weigh 207 . Is that right or do i need to increase them? I am a receptionist so I sit most of the day.
    Add another 300 calories, that might help. 1500 calories isn't enough for insanity. There is even a good chance you should be 2000+.
  • cbart2818
    cbart2818 Posts: 188 Member
    BUMP
  • mommyhof3
    mommyhof3 Posts: 551 Member
    You are not eating enough. I am doing P90x and I eat 1500 plus my exercise calories per day. I wear a HRM with a chest strap. I have not lost a huge amount of weight but in 30 days I have lost inches.

    Also look at this thread http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/580019-the-scale-is-a-lying-torture-device-i-m-proof . You can see that you don't need to lose weight to look great
  • corrinnebrown
    corrinnebrown Posts: 345 Member
    I did p90x and only lost 12 total. I lost almost 50 inches though
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    You cannot lose weight doing a crazy workout like Insanity and eating that little. I'm doing Insanity and I eat about 2000 calories a day after workout calories.
  • SARgirl
    SARgirl Posts: 572 Member
    I'm just finishing up Insanity (4 days left) and I've lost around 5 pounds for the entire 60 days but have definitely toned. I did before pictures and will be taking after pictures (I want that T-Shirt!), but don't know if I'm brave enough to post them here...we will see!
  • A_New_Horizon
    A_New_Horizon Posts: 1,555 Member
    2 things: First of all, you aren't eating enough. I know Insanity gives you a high calories burn, and you need to net atleast 1200 calories. I would highly recommend upping your calories otherwise your body will go into starvation mode (which isn't a good thing).

    Also, if you aren't losing lbs, you are probably losing inches which are more important. If you haven't already, check your measurements and body fat % - both very important.
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