Why Am I Gaining Weight with Insanity?

One of the most common questions that I get from my friends who are doing Insanity is, "Why am I gaining weight??"

It's a common question, and before you go to thinking that the program isn't working for you, read on!

Weight gain is extremely common in the first month of Insanity, regardless of your current fitness level.  New workout programs almost always cause an immediate (yet temporary) increase on the scale. But WHY is this? I mean we just finally decided to take on this beast, and it's not going to work? Ain't nobody got time for that!

But hold up, wait a minute, let me put an answer in it: When you workout your muscles breakdown and repair themselves. This is how they build up strength and you get stronger.  This is commonly felt by a bit of soreness after a workout, but some people do not experience the soreness at all. As your muscles are reparing themselves they become swollen and retain fluid as the body strives to protect the tissues. This retention of fluid and swelling can cause about a 4 pound weight gain in an average person. This is part of your body going into shock because of the change in activitiy - IT'S OK!

This phase ends up working itself out as your body gets used to its current new routine, and then little by little the weight will begin to diminish. If you are expecting your excess weight to just drop off like it's no one's business then you are about to get your reality check in 3...2...1...

                                                           *WARNING*SMACKDOWN*WARNING*SMACKDOWN*

Listen to me: whether you are 100 pounds overweight, or 5 pounds overweight, you did that. You. McDonalds didn't make you gain the weight, you made you gain the weight. You made the decisions that have led you to your current situation.  Remember when you were a kid and you were bad and some consequence usually followed that you didn't like? Well this might be that consequence. You need to work hard. You need to take an honest look at your diet and ask yourself, "Am I eating healthy?" Insanity doesn't make you bulk up. You can tell yourself that excuse as much as you want, but you are "bulking" because of your diet. Point.Blank.Period. And if your diet really does suck, you don't have to shout it out on Facebook, you don't have to admit it to anyone, just make it right.


LOOK at the nutrition guide that came with your purchase, it was included for a reason! FOLLOW the caloric recommendations (and please don't look and say those are too many calories, because they aren't), TRY the recipes because they really are awesome and do not taste like health food.

Besides, what does the scale matter anyway? More than the scale you need to take a good hard look at what you have accomplished so far with Insanity. Do you remember your first fit test? How do you compare now, to then? What about the first time you tried doing Level 1 or Level 2 drills? Look at how far you have come! Please take a moment step away from that stupid scale, look in the mirror, and realize the GOOD that you have done for your body just by sticking with it: weight loss or no weight loss.

 The decision that you made to start the program may have possibly been one out of your comfort zone; great job!! There is more to this workout then the shedding of pounds. It changes you both mentally, and physically...on the outside and on the inside. You are doing a wonderful thing here, so before you decide to toss your shoes back in the closet and kick back on the couch with a bag of Lay's, stop and congratulate yourself for a second on what you have accomplished and go push play again. If you quit now, you will never know what you could have accomplished had you of stuck with it. Think about that.

 And I'm not gonna lie...when someone hears of you doing Insanity and sticking with it, they are amazed, and hearing, "Whoa you are doing Insanity!"makes you feel pretty.damn.awesome. Think of the people who already know you are doing it. How is it going to feel when they ask, "So how's Insanity" and you say, "Oh, I quit."  Lame.  Keep up the good work so when they ask you can say, "Kickin' ass and takin' names every day!"
Need help with Insanity and getting your diet in check? I can do that for you! Contact me or sign up to have me as your free coach here! I'd love to hear from you!