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.