Can You Do Insanity on Three Meals a Day?

Insanity is a 60 day at home, high intensity weight-loss program. The program contains a 6 day a week workout schedule and a suggested nutritional guide, which recommends eating 5 low glycemic index meals a day. Your instinct may be to eat less in hopes of quicker results but with such a high intensity program, more fuel is actually best.

  1. The Program

    • The Insanity Elite Nutrition Guide recommends eating five small, low-glycemic meals a day. Each meal starts at 300 calories and as your workouts progress, your suggested calorie intake per meal will increase to meet the added demand. The Insanity Elite Nutrition Guide suggest eating between 1500 and 2500 calories a day while on the program.

    High Intensity Interval Training

    • A high intensity interval training workouts, like Insanity, increase your metabolism, leading to and increase in calories burned while on this program. The Mayo Clinic suggest that you remember when starting a new fitness program, the intensity and duration of your workout will help to determine the amount of food you need to eat. With an intense , calorie burning exercise program like Insanity, eating three meals a day would not be considered adequate fuel for your body.

    Optimal Nutition

    • In order to improve exercise performance while doing the Insanity program, the Elite Nutrition Guide suggest that you eat a small meal every few hours to assist in muscle recovery and ensure properly fueling of the body. For example your daily meals might include: breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner. Failure to provide your body with adequate nutrients during intensive training can lead to loss of muscle mass, fatigue, injuries, illness and a prolonged recovery from workouts.

    Nutritional Recommendations

    • When starting a new intense fitness program, it is not the time to begin a calorie cutting diet. You need to provide your body with a good mix of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats to replenish glycogen stores and supply fuel for your muscles. The Insanity Elite Nutrition Guide recommends each meal include a mixture of 40 percent protein, 40 percent carbohydrates and 20 percent fats.