Ever Wonder How Your Body Reacts When You Stop Exercising?

Bella Breakdown

Remaining active is important for your physical, mental and emotional health. The Mayo Clinic recommends either 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, at minimum. Obviously, life can get pretty chaotic. For most of us, with families and jobs to focus on, exercise doesn’t always end up on the top of our priority list. But, it’s important to be aware of the positive effects of exercise, and the negative effects of ignoring it.

Here’s what happens to your body when you stop exercising….

– 10 days without exercise: your brain can already start to show signs of change. Just a short vacay from your workout regimen can reduce blood flow to the brain.

–14 days without exercise: your endurance will begin to decrease and your vitals can start to spike. Something like climbing a flight of stairs may become much more difficult than before (yes, after just two weeks)!

–30 days without exercise: this is when your strength will show signs of diminishing. We tend to lose our endurance before we start to lose our overall strength.

–60 days without exercise: now you will begin to notice potential fat gain.

Remember, no matter your level of athleticism or fitness, no one is immune to these declines. Even elite athletes who have taken 8 week breaks from their workout routines noticed substantial fat gain and muscle loss. The moral of the story? Moderation is always key.