Is Insanity good for obese people?
I’m getting this question a lot so to save people time so they don’t have to read the full Insanity review the short answer is no, sorry.
Insanity isn’t really meant to be a beginners weight loss program. It’s an advanced cardio workout where you spend a lot of time in the 85% and over heart rate range. While it might be possible to modify all the moves you would probably get much better results with one of the other Beachbody programs designed to be a beginner program for less fit people like I did.
I chose Power 90 (reviewed here) with Tony Horton (of P90X fame) to start with but there are other good choices as well depending on the type of workout you enjoy. There is Slim in 6 with Debbie Siebers which combines cardio with light resistance moves to burn fat and reshape your body. If you like a kickboxing type of body sculpting workout to burn more calories than a lot of other exercises look into Turbo Jam with Chalene Johnson. Shaun T (the trainer who created Insanity) has Rockin’ Body which will have you partying off the pounds as you dance and sweat to some hot music. And of course there is Yoga Booty Ballet with Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough which combines yoga, dance and body sculpting. There are many other great Beachbody programs but these are some of the more popular beginner ones.
You should also be using this time to change your diet (not “go on a diet”) and get in the habit of eating to fuel you body, not just for the sake of eating.
Use the free Team Beachbody website or join the Club to connect with other people working on the same issues as you, losing weight and getting fit to take on the more advanced programs like Insanity or P90X. Take advantage of the meal plans and advice of the fitness advisers and coaches (like myself) on the forums. Contact your coach (me if you sign up with the links on this page) after you sign up through the Team Beachbody message center or email and let them know what your goals are. Let them walk you through using the web site and taking advantage of all the help available to you (don’t forget the Million Dollar Body contest with a daily giveaway of up to $1000 just for working out).
Contact me anytime with the “contact” page above with your questions and I’ll do my best to get you the answers you need to get started on the path to a fitter lifestyle.
September 9th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I have to agree Walt. I think I’m in decent shape and have not been able to complete a workout with good form or not yet.
June 21st, 2010 at 2:31 am
This is just a comment based on what I read. I agree that this is not a beginners workout but i don’t think “obese” people will be unable to complete the workouts. So far i’ve been able to keep up with the workouts… maybe a few minor adjustments/adaptations but i finish them with good form and i’m over 300 lbs. I think it depends on the person and their physcial ability and capability…and most of all their level of determination.
June 21st, 2010 at 7:36 am
Hey Steph, glad to hear it’s working out for you, keep up the great work! Remember to keep the landings soft and take care of your knees. My comments are based on the training material Beachbody published for the Coaches but in the end any workout program you are physically able to do and you enjoy enough to keep motivated will serve you well.
September 19th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
I agree with Steph. Obese people can do this workout. Yes they have to be careful and they will have to modify some of the moves. You just need to stick with the meal plan and workout to the best of your ability with good form and you will lose weight and gain more lean muscle mass. I was 320 and after 3 weeks I am down to 308.6 Obese people just need to be careful and you will have to run through the program 2-3 times before you will see massive results. Remember you don’t have to go as fast as the people on the DVD you go at your own pace and then push a just bit more.
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:24 am
Brian, I noticed that you mentioned obese people having to do the program 2-3 times before even seeing results. Does that mean it will take more than 60 days to transform our bodies?
February 15th, 2011 at 8:10 am
Orlando,
Brian said it was 2-3 times before seeing “MASSIVE” results, not any results at all. He did say he lost 11.4lbs in 3 weeks (Great job!). While Insanity is a 60 day program I don’t think most people will finish a workout program and return to their previous lifestyle and expect everything to magically change. You might want to think of a program like this as a guide to starting to live a healthier lifestyle and not a quick fix. Most people I know who have started on a Beachbody program will repeat it several times then might even try another one to mix things up. It’s a lifestyle change. After all, we can’t go on doing the same things we did in the past that led us to being overweight, with poor posture, high cholesterol, and all the other problems if we really want to change.
April 11th, 2011 at 8:20 am
[...] If you are obese and looking to start a fitness program you might want to read my previous post here. Some people have commented that they started with Insanity and modified the routines. Just be [...]
June 24th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
I am and 18yr old male at 5’11″ that weighs 280 lbs. I never finished insanity due to school scheduals, but in the three weeks that I did do Insanity, I brought my weight down to 247lbs. I didnt do the diet change(couldnt afford most of the things they had in the food booklet)but I still lost weight and had moderate stuggles keeping up with the workouts. As long as i stayed hydrated, I did okay. Unfortunately, I wasnt able to finish the program all the way through, but I’m starting it this coming monday. Any tips for getting though it?
June 29th, 2011 at 8:14 am
Hi Chad, I’m glad Insanity was helping you achieve your goals. Try to find a time of day that works well for you and make a habit out of getting your workout in the same time every day. Habits can take quite a while to form, it differs for different people. This page has some interesting into on forming habits. Have fun with it, once you know the routines you don’t have to listen to the audio track so play your favorite music. Invite a friend to work out with you, that seems to make the time fly and sometimes pushes both of you a little harder then if you were on your own. Keep up the great work and have fun with it!
July 4th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Walter, I am a 24 year old female, 5’3″ 245 pounds. My friend who is heavier than I has just started this program (insanity) a few weeks ago and she said she is keeping up but it is extremely hard. I want to start this also, and I feel confident that I can try to keep up and push myself as hard as I can, but are their significant health risks with trying this if you are as overweight as I? The reason I do not want to start more of a “beginner’s” program is because I want to do something extremely challenging so I know I am doing the absolute most I can to reach my goals. Thank you!
July 15th, 2011 at 7:40 am
Hi Erica. The question of health risks with starting a program like this should best be discussed with your doctor. This hold true for anyone starting an extreme exercise program from a deconditioned state. If you get the go ahead from your physician then you might want to do a few workouts with your friend to see it it’s the style of workout program you will enjoy and keep doing. Keep in mind that while you can modify an extreme exercise program to make it easier you can also modify a “beginner” program to make it harder. Try the free One on One workout that Tony Horton did that is geared towards someone who hasn’t worked out in a long time who was also over 400lbs. Listen to what Tony says about exertion level, you want to be at about 6-8 on a scale of 1-10. If you don’t feel your at your target pick up the pace, use heavier weights, etc. For example in the warmup instead of marching in place you could jog in place, you can go lower in the walking lunges (keeping your back leg straight), etc. The same principle holds true with any workout, pace your self to get to your target heart rate range, faster/harder or slower/easier depending on your needs. Any program can be as challenging as you make it. For me even starting with Power 90 when I wanted to get from 180 to 150lbs was a real challenge as I couldn’t even get through the jumping jacks without stopping at first. By the time I was finished with that program and could keep up with everything I was looking forward to a change of routines and the new variety that came with P90X. And of course couldn’t come close to keeping up with that at first. either. In fact the first time I was able to do the P90X Plyo disk all the way through was only after I was doing Insanity for a while. Don’t be afraid to work your way up to the advanced stuff, most people don’t learn to drive in a Formula 1 race car. Remember your changing the lifestyle you’ve had for the past 24 years to a more healthier one that you can carry on for the rest of your life. Let me know what you decide to do and how it works out for you, I’m here to help in any way I can.
July 23rd, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Hi Walter, I just wanted to let you know I have been googling information on whether or not INSANITY is a program for myself since I am considered “obese” at 19yo about to be 20yo F, 5’3, and about 200lbs give or take a few. I am extremly happy to find this post and all the comments and your honest replys to them. I just completed day four (Cardio Recovery) of INSANITY and looking forward to tomorrow (Pure Cardio) to whip my butt, making up for today. I will admitt keeping up is challenging while being over weight but out of frustration from day one and two, day three came easier. I am happy to say in a couple of days I already have better breathing and my heart rate is where it needs to be and not sky high. I have altered a couple of moves but not many. My male friend whom is on month two (with great results so far, though was in better shape then I when he started) keeps telling me “Dig Deep!, the first two weeks are the hardest” So that is my mind set. My body is adjusting to working out again after not working out for a good long while. I know this is not a recommened beginners program, but my mind is set. I began to change my eating habits a few days before i started the program. I’m prepared to take this challenge even if i have to do another round once I complete the first 60 days. I keep telling myself I will continue to get better each day. What Orland said was reassuring also. In my mind I’ve told myself of course I’m not going to see massive results after the 60 days but what I will feel is going to be well worth it. I will have energy, a healther heart, and a new life style. So though your honest and short answer to “is INSANITY good for obses people?” was a simple no, I am up for the challenge in my jump start to a better life.
August 14th, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Hi, I’m obese. I’m 5’10 and my weight is 213. I just finish my first week of Insanity. I feel great. I haven’t weight myself yet, but I know if I complete the program I will lose some of the extra pounds. I keep pushing myself and telling myself out loud that I can do it. Six (6) years ago my weight was 156 and I was a runner but I got pregnant and I was so busy because I become a single mother. I didn’t have time to excersice and I just let go of myself. But a week a gos I said enough is enough. Is true for a beginner obese person is going to be hard but NOT imposible. WE CAN DO IT!