Losing it with Insanity

By: Tracey Smith

Tracey Smith — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 01:51:31 +0000

Hi Coach Nancy, any tips? Thanks.

By: Tracey Smith

Tracey Smith — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:04:56 +0000

Hello Coach Nancy, I am Tracey who wrote you sometime in July about my Insanity workout. I just finished the 61st day and did my fitness test. I did so much better than when I first started. Unfortunately, I didn’t lose much weight. I lost only 3lbs and considering I need to lose about 20lbs, let’s say I was very disappointed. I should caution however, that I did lose inches on my waist, hips, thighs, etc. I didn’t take any measurements before I started but by going from the way my clothes fit, I did lean out. Now, I have decided that I shall either do p90x or a hybrid of jogging/running and p90x. The truth of the matter is that I have now come to the conclusion that I think it’s all the carbs I eat. I started logging my calories and I seem to eat a LOT of carbs. Sometimes over 60% of my daily intake. I’ve been trying to jigger it but most I can get to is about 48% but then my fat intake is about 27% when I do that (I started using MFP). My questions:
1. If I do p90x with jogging (say weights 3 days a week, p90x 3 days a week), would that lean me out more and will I lose weight? I just don’t think I want to put my body through a 90 day workout regimen and lose only 5lbs. I’d be devastated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I finished Insanity but when I see folks who lost 10lbs or more, I get envious even though I know it’s about fat loss than scale loss but still, my brain is wired that way. Please don’t laugh. I poured my heart and soul into this and the non-budging of the scale was devastating. I should learn to celebrate NSV but it’s hard
2. Should I start eating with the p90x nutrition guide? It’s hard to do the one with Insanity. I honestly can’t cook 5-6 different meals a day.
3. What kind of yoghurt is good to eat? I can give up my toast for yoghurt but I need one with low carbs and I don’t have that Kroger brand everyone seems to love near me.
4. Is it good to start using protein powder to boost up my protein intake? I always thought that it’s better to eat non processed foods than processed foods.
5. Any sites etc you can send me to that can help with nutrition so I can start getting recipes for the 40/40/20 split? I know weight loss is more nutrition than exercise. I have the exercise part down, I need help with nutrition now. And I honestly don’t think I can afford the $2.99 for the beachbody website food guide. (unemployed etc).

Thanks for any tips and help. I’ve been reading your blog and articles. You are very inspiring!

By: Nancy Andrews

Nancy Andrews — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:10:36 +0000

Hi Lori,

Well the increased calories leading to weight loss do point to your body being in starvation mode. Starvation mode is a high stress environment in the body so we’ll see how you do with a bit less exercise this week.

Insanity is hard – no doubt about it. And honestly it’s not my recommendation for people out of shape starting their journey to get in the best shape of their lives because it’s high stress on the body. The human body needs to be conditioned for harder and higher levels of exertion. Also it’s lacking enough resistance training to be a big figure changer. If you choose to make me your coach, I will share with you more fully why resistance training should be part of every person’s workout routine.

I would be honored to be your coach, just follow the instructions that apply to you at http://www.pressplayfitness.com/07/nancy-how-do-i-make-you-my-coach/.

Nancy

By: Insanity not loosing weigh

Insanity not loosing weigh — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 13:17:19 +0000

That would be great if youd would be my coach. My name is Lori by the way. I will try your suggestions about 3 workouts. How would I know if I am suffering from adrenal stress? I did loose 2 lbs this week with the increase in calories. Should I have my doctor test me for peri menopause?

I have talked to few other people doing the insanity and have the same difficulty doing the workouts without stopping. I push through the workouts, but need to stop some throughout for breaks. Cardio is not where I am strongest. I really have to push through it. I am able to do more of the workout without stopping the more I do them. But I would love to be able to get through without stopping like the people in the dvd. Am I just a slacker or will it come the more I do it? I will be starting my seventh wk this week. Thanks for your support.

By: Coach Nancy

Coach Nancy — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:45:11 +0000

I’m wondering if you are suffering from adrenal stress. You may be producing excessive cortisol which would explain the lack of weight loss and the difficulty getting through the workouts. Try taking a week where you work out only 3 times and see how that goes.

If that’s not the problem, I’d look to whether peri menopause is at fault. Not sure if you wanted me to be your coach or not – if so, let me know.

Nancy

By: Insanity not loosing weigh

Insanity not loosing weigh — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 01:04:01 +0000

Thanks for the tips. I am currently getting at least 7 hrs of sleep each night sometimes 8 hrs.
I forgot to tell you that I am 41 years old and wgt 138 and want to drop to 124 if poss. But inches would be great regardless of the scale. I have noticed that I have lost some inches. I also drink only water and at least 64 oz a day or more, most of the time more. I do feel bloated a lot. But I have notice a little difference in my midsection. But not a lot. Also, I can not complete any of the insanity dvd’s without stopping! Is this normal this far into the program? I have noticed on the information regarding insanity most people have do it more than once to get the great results. Any thought???? Thank you for the support. Really appreciate it.

By: Coach Nancy

Coach Nancy — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 02:11:29 +0000

Doing Insanity on only 1200 calories or so is too low. Upping your caloric count may help. But remember, losing inches is the real objective – or should be. Who cares what you weigh if you get smaller? See how the higher calories go for at least 2 weeks. Also be sure you get at least 7 hours sleep (8 hours would be better).

Nancy

By: Insanity not loosing weigh

Insanity not loosing weigh — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 01:37:59 +0000

I am doing Insanity for the 6th week, I have only lost one pound I am doing it just as the calendar stated. I tried doing 1200 to 1300 cal with no luck, now I am trying 1500 incase I was in starvation mode. Do you have any advise? I am loosing some inches which has been good. I do modifiy some of the moves. I am still in a dead sweat! So I think I am working hard. Please help!

By: Coach Nancy

Coach Nancy — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:57:17 +0000

Hi Tracey,

Thank you for your kind words! As far as your situation, I don’t know what exercise you were doing before your 8 month lapse but my thoughts are that if you are doing Insanity, weight lifting and speed walking, it’s more exercise than you should be doing at this time. I believe that you have great exercise capacity potential given your past but until your body starts to respond, you are better served by keeping total workout hours to no more than 7 per week with one day rest (you can do brisk walking or do something light but no Insanity or weightlifting). If you do too much intense exercise you are just raising your cortisol levels which will keep your body from releasing fat (in fact at chronic levels will have your body adding fat). I don’t know exactly what you mean by speed walking. But if your heart rate doesn’t get above 115, you don’t have to count that as intense exercise. The focus should be with the walking to keep a lower intensity steady state heart rate for increased fat utilization as an energy source even though total fat burned will be minimal.

I understand that many people really love Insanity – it’s kind of addicting. But it’s not the best choice for body remodeling and fat loss. For that, I recommend P90X. In fact, my favorite is P90X with Insanity replacing P90X plyo and Kenpo.

As for diet, if you keep your total intense workout hours to 7 or less, I’m guessing you could eat around 1500 daily and take a cheat day. But I have to say that the level of starches/grains you have in your diet right now is not conducive to fat loss. You probably already know that these are dense carb sources and as you consume them your body will stop burning fat. Since you really love these carbs, perhaps a carb cycling diet would be best where you rotate your daily consumption of carbs down to 100 grams on low carb days and then up to 200 or even 250 on higher carb days. The cycle needs to be 2 low carb days (consecutive) for every 1 higher carb day. Your caloric intake will also spike up on these days so you don’t get a specific cheat day on this cycle.

Finally, I highly recommend you start keeping a food journal where you record everything you eat so you can go back and see how close you stay to the parameters above (or whatever diet you choose to follow). While doing this, measure everything you eat. The point is that over time, the right level of food consumption (and it’s mix of protein, carb and fat) will become second nature and then you won’t need to journal unless you get off course.

I have no doubt you will soon see the changes you seek. I wish you the best!

Nancy

By: Tracey Smith

Tracey Smith — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 04:12:54 +0000

Hi Nancy, thanks for the great job and you look great! I’ve loved reading your comments on questions and here is mine. I am female, 33, 5’5″. I used to weigh 140 but I considered myself too skinny because I’ve always been an avid exerciser. At 140, most folks didn’t believe I weighed as much as I did because I had a lot of lean muscle so I was a size 2. Anyhow, for about 8 months, I fell off the wagon (job loss, depression, lack of motivation etc) and now I’m at 163. I pulled myself by my bootstraps and started going to the gym and lost 2 pounds. I also got a copy of P90x and Insanity. However, this is my third week on Insanity and have only lost about 1lb. I know that my clothes are fitting a little bit better than they did last month. At least it zips up. Anyhow, my question is this, how do I get the scale to move? I honestly don’t know how much calories I burn so I don’t know how much to eat. I use My Fitness Pal and it says base should be 1270. I am very active. I do Insanity and add in weight training and speed walking. It’s not that big a deal as I said, I used to exercise just needed to get into the groove. Insanity was hard at first but now at the 3rd week I’m getting better. I just wish the scale would move and give me motivation. I should mention that I honestly know already that I cannot eat one serving of grains a day. I eat oatmeal at least once a day and some toast and I know I can’t cut out my brown rice or my sweet potatoes. Is there any other way to get around your calorie restrictions per grains? I am at my wits end. I was planning on doing p90x after Insanity but now, I am just going on with Insanity so I can say I finished it but only one pound in two and a half weeks with weight training and taking speed walks is making me want to give up!
*I won’t give up though, I’m way too stubborn!