For many people, becoming inactive is a slow process. You might go to the gym for a few days and then miss a week, then two weeks and so on. It could be that you were sick for a few days or just couldn’t find the time to exercise. Or maybe your work schedule changed and it just wasn’t possible anymore. Whatever the reason may be, if you stop working out regularly it can have some serious consequences on your health. Here are some of the things that happen when you stop exercising:
PHYSICAL CHANGES
If you’re not working out, your joints are going to start feeling stiff. Joints are designed to move and stay in a certain position for only so long before they need to rest. If you don’t take the time to stretch your body out and move around, your muscles will tighten up and get shorter. This can lead to stiffness because your joints aren’t being used properly anymore—they get stuck in one position for too long without any movement or stretching. The result? You feel pain in your joints when trying to move them again!
Stretching can be a simple way to combat joint stiffness even when you’re feeling less than stellar about moving around. When we were babies our muscles were more pliable than they are now; this allows us as children’s bodies grow faster than their bones do! As we age though things change—our bones calcify while muscle mass decreases due to lack of use leading us towards less motion overall which means stiffer joints…
You can gain weight
If you stop working out, then your muscles will eventually begin to deteriorate. This means that the protein in your body is no longer being used to build muscle and repair tissue. Instead, it gets converted into fat.
You might be thinking “But wait! I don’t want to get fat!” Well, eating more than you burn off in a day will lead to weight gain whether or not you’re exercising regularly. You need food for energy so that your cells can perform basic processes like breathing and digesting food; if you don’t eat enough calories each day then the body will take what it needs from stored glycogen (stored energy) and fat storage depots—if there’s not enough glycogen available then some of this surplus glucose becomes triglycerides which are transported around in the bloodstream until they end up deposited as stored body fat.
So yes: even if you stop working out regularly but continue eating normally (or even decrease caloric intake), then over time there’s still a good chance that without regular exercise those extra calories will find their way into adipose tissue (aka fat).
Your blood pressure may increase
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. It’s measured in two numbers—the systolic pressure, or the top number, and diastolic pressure, or the bottom number. The systolic pressure represents the maximum force of blood against an artery; when you’re young, it averages around 120 mm Hg. But as we age, that number can rise significantly—to about 150 mm Hg for people over 50.
The good news is that exercise can help keep your blood pressure at healthy levels by contributing to stronger heart functioning and decreasing stress hormone production (which can raise your heart rate). However, if you stop working out for more than a week or so and don’t make any other lifestyle changes (like eating healthier), then your body will begin to experience adverse effects from this lack of exercise—and one of them may be increasing blood pressure levels.
EMOTIONAL CHANGES
If you’re not working out, it’s easy to get into a rut. You might find yourself feeling unmotivated, or bored with the same old routine—and that can lead to a lack of energy and interest in exercise altogether. And once you stop exercising regularly, it can be hard to start again. Your body has gotten used to being sedentary; it doesn’t have the drive or focus needed for intense workouts anymore. The same goes for getting back into running after a long break; your muscles will be stiff and sore at first as they slowly rebuild themselves into their old shape.
You may also find that your self-discipline falters when you stop staying active: The temptation is often too much, especially if you’re trying new foods while eating out at restaurants more often than usual (or indulging more than usual). It’s all too easy to give up on dieting when those cravings hit full force!
Your sex life may be hampered
One of the most common side effects of not working out is a decrease in libido. If you do decide to stop working out, you may find yourself with less interest in sex, which can make it difficult for your partner and even yourself to achieve an erection. If you do have trouble getting it up, it’s recommended that you visit your doctor right away to get checked out.
It becomes more difficult to maintain a proper body image
When you stop working out, it becomes much more difficult to maintain a proper body image. You cannot see your progress and may not feel like you are getting results from your efforts. As a result, you may feel less strong and fitter than before and your clothes may no longer fit properly because of the loss in muscle tone and leanness.
Being inactive can cause your whole body to suffer. Get back on track by starting slow, making small goals and getting support with your exercise program.
If you’re looking to get back in shape, it’s important to start slow and make small goals for yourself. Small steps will help you succeed and keep your motivation high, which is the most important part of any exercise routine. Consider getting support from a friend or family member who can encourage you along the way!
For example: If you want to run a marathon, don’t expect yourself to do so immediately after giving up on exercise. Start by walking around the block every day for ten minutes, then increase by five minutes each week until you’ve reached an hour-long walk each day. From there, focus on increasing how far around your neighborhood (or city) that walk takes place—and once again build up gradually!
Once this becomes routine for two weeks straight without missing any days of activity altogether (and hopefully with some sore muscles), set another goal like running one mile instead of walking it—then repeat this process until all those miles add up into something bigger than just one weekend race!
If you’re finding yourself feeling discouraged or overwhelmed by the thought of getting back into exercise, it can be helpful to know that you aren’t alone. Many people find themselves in this position and have successfully recovered from it with a little bit of patience and persistence. You may need to start slow, make small goals for yourself as you go along and find a friend who is willing to join you on your journey!
