Different people come to the Insanity for different reasons. Some are former college athletes looking to regain their strength and energy ten years down the road. Others are preparing for a marathon, or looking to drop weight gained from a life of unhealthy habits. But one of the groups I run into the most frequently and receive the most questions from are women who gave birth to kids a few years ago and have woken up one morning to have put on 60 lbs or so. These women are amongst the most motivated and determined group I have run into, and their tenacity and desire to reverse the weight gain is often the strongest. But how hard is it for them to lose that weight? Do they face extra obstacles, or is it in fact easier for them?
These women seem to all have been in great shape before they had kids. Young, slender, athletic, they were doing great until they had a couple or even three kids back to back. The disruption to their routine, the sudden loss of time, the stress and lack of sleep all contribute to ruin their discipline and work out routines and send them into a tail spin. They often complain about having lost tone and definition around their stomachs, and of having put on weight in general. Run down, worn out, overloaded and depressed with their physical condition, these women often come to Insanity looking for a breakthrough method to help set them on the right track once more.
First off, let me introduce you to somebody. Alysia M. was one of the original Insanity Workout test group participants. Now in her 40’s, and with a pair of twins who are 4 1/2, she had gained weight, lost energy, and was drifting. She threw herself into Insanity, and watch her testimonial below to get a sense of how much she accomplished.
I think that answers the question pretty clearly. Can women who’ve gained weight after pregnancies succeed with Insanity? YES! The only modifications they might have to make is to find a way to balance the demanding lifestyle of a mother of little kids with the commitment to eat right, to exercise every day, and remain dedicated through the first few weeks when their energy levels might be at their lowest.
Most importantly, I think a woman who is starting on Insanity after having adopted an unhealthy lifestyle due to stress and loss of time is setting an important precedent and example for her kids. Eating healthy is a habit best instilled when your kids are young; if you want them to grow up healthy, you should hold yourself up as a role model and feed them the kind of healthy food they need to be eating. Exercising, working out, having good energy, eating well, playing with them with more enthusiasm and being positive can only improve the atmosphere at home. Note: it’s not Insanity that is responsible for this, but the individual mother’s attitude and determination to take control of her life. Insanity is just the catalyst for this kind of positive change!
Are you a mother of young children and are looking to get your life back on track? Share your thoughts here on the unique challenges you face, and the determination you are bringing to this incredible workout!
Heck yeah it’s hard! Lol but it’s not just the routine part…it’s also dealing with our bodies being stretched out in a gazillion directions and trying to get it back together, for example the horrid pooch. Some women are lucky to not get this. Others are cursed with it. And when you get out of the habit of exercising, your muscles get flabby and it makes it harder to retrain em to get it together. This is what I’m struggling with right now. It is frustrating but I know I must keep working hard to reach my goals.
Hang in there, Jenna! I know how hard you’re working, and if you keep it up, you’re going to look back at this time when you felt out of shape and think of it as a surreal dream!
Hi! I will be 45 in September. My ‘girls’ are in their 20’s. this past year I went into early menopause. Gained 12 pounds this winter. Absolutely NO energy to work out …supremely fatigued! I am small boned and 5’5″ . The weight was all in stomach, thighs, hips…YUK! I was disgusted to look in the mirror let alone think about swim season….NO WAY! Then i saw the insanity commercial and had to purchase it. No treadmills (my dread) no weights…..a faucet drips off my chin and I’m so excited! 3 weeks into this and my body is responding amazingly! Just wanted to say thank you! Yeah my nostrils are wider than Paul Revere’s horse after that midnight run in the middle of the workout panting for breath, but what a way to burn those calories! The inches are disappearing! YES YES YES YES TO INSANITY!! Thank you!!
Jayne:
One word: AWESOME. You absolutely have to come back and let us know how things progress. How is your focus on nutrition? Are you following the nutrition plan? Keep it up!
Walking up steps ……whoa the burn i’m feeling from these workouts! ..yes, i’m sticking with nutrition. Only glitch is i’m a vegetarian. A couple years back I decided the hormones and antibiotics in the meat market weren’t going to contribute to any health issues on this end. Some alternatives are stuck in there. But I have to adhere to nutrition because of my metabolism. Before this it had came to a screeching halt. Weather i didn’t eat at all or ate a little (and i realize its quality that counts)…the lbs wouldn’t budge. I’m loving the disappearing of cellulite from the backs of my thighs too. I will keep you posted down the line.
Hi Jayne!
It sounds like you’re right on track, and I love your adherence to the importance of sound nutrition. Best of luck, and please keep us posted!
OK…me and my husband will begin our first day of the Insanity workout on Memorial Day(5/31/10). I am nervous and excited. I have been fighting and losing the battle(badly) to get my body back after my second child. I still have people asking if I am pregnant and my baby girl is three:(
So, here I am at 36 hoping to get rid of this flabby and awful belly. I have considered a tummy tuck but, I want to do it through natrual hard work. I’ll be keeping you updated!
Joy, I will be 36 this September and I just had my 2nd child in March. I started insanity with my hubby two days ago. This is my third day…I am sore as heck and I find it hard to get into it as I have done nothing but walk for the past year…but I am eager to do it everyday so I can see the results I want…let me know how it is going for you…
I am 27 and just had m second child. I am in great shape, lost all of my weight doing Curves and Weight Watchers after the baby was born, but now have been putting on pounds. I am 10 days away from finishing INSANITY and still I am 6 lbs heavier. I love to eat, and I eat right for the most part. I eat several small meals a day, LOTS of fruit and veggies and mostly chicken. I have 1 Reece’s peanut butter cup a day, and one small piece of Dove dark chocolate, and then I have a Weight Watcher fudge bar at night (b/c I am addicted to chocolate). I know that I have gained muscle, but I was already pretty muscular to begin with. Any suggestions? I also should mention that with my first child, I did not lose all my weight untl I stopped breast-feeding and I am still currently breast-feeding my second child. My problem area is of course my stomach. You can see a 4 pack up top, but a pooch down low. HELP!
Hi! Im Chelsea! I just started the Insanity this past Monday and i am SO sore but i feel good! I did it Monday, tuesday, and i decided that i wasnt going to do it yesterday becuz i was so sore i could hardly walk. That and i take care of 3 kids all day im just so tired by the end of the day! But i am trying to convince myself…NO EXCUSES!!! I got back on it today!! so i only skipped one day. I feel horrible about myself and i have only had one child. I have always struggled with my weight but i was in dance for 3 years and i was toned and looking good for my weight. I am now 180 pounds. I was 224pounds the day i had my daughter. I have lost that much weight since last October so in 7 and a half months. But i still dont feel good. I got a lot of toning that i need to do! I just want to be happy, have more energy (i feel so drained all the time) and i wanna feel good about myself!! I wanna know that I CAN do it!! I need the encouragement!! Good luck to everyone!!!