What happens to your body when you stop exercising. This is the time of year when it’s probably the most tempting time to skip a few (or all of your workouts). Sure, we tell ourselves that we’ll make it up in the new year, but then work ramps up and life starts to happen and then before you know it another month has passed and you can’t even find that gym membership.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU STOP EXERCISING
Immediately following. If you are very active, it can be good to take a break every once in a while. Depending on the intensity of your workouts, your body does need to rest as it gives your muscles a chance to repair themselves. The biggest negative is the rise in your blood pressure since working out is one of the natural ways of keeping it in check.
10-15 days later. Your endurance starts to decrease and you’ll probably find yourself getting winded at a faster rate than before. In addition, during this time you’ll also see the first signs of diminished muscle strength. You’ll probably also find that your brain becomes more sluggish (aka you become downright grumpy) during this period.
15-30 days later. During this time your muscle cells are beginning to atrophy while your fat cells are beginning to multiply which means you will notice yourself getting softer and rounder. Not only that, but your muscles will exhibit less power and your speed and agility will diminish even further. In addition to this, if you had problems with high blood pressure before starting an exercise regime, it’s very likely that your blood pressure is back up again.
Several months in. We know that regular workouts keep your body younger so right now it’s starting to age. Your metabolism is starting to slow down, which means that you are likely gaining weight and that in turn means that you are putting more stress on your organs. If that weren’t bad enough, we just can’t ignore the psychological effects of living a sedentary lifestyle. Low self-esteem and depression can set in which puts you into a vicious downward spiral.
While I know it’s tempting to let those workouts slide, especially during the holiday season, it’s best not to let them go completely. They can be less frequent or even a bit shorter, but don’t go cold turkey! The problem with stopping is that it will take you even longer to get back to your form. If you are really busy and can’t make it to the gym, here is Your 5 Day Workout Plan that you can do right in the comfort of your very own home!
Do you let your workouts slide this time of year?
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