How Dangerous Is It to Skip Regular Workouts?

It's often hard to keep up with a demanding life and still find time to work out. You may be wondering what will happen if you stop doing regular workouts. This is a common question.

Unfortunately, there are negative consequences to not exercising anymore. So the answer, more accurately, becomes a matter of what you'll be giving up if you stop exercising.

Before you quit the gym or stop working out at home, think about these effects:

1. Loss of lean muscle mass. If you miss one workout, you probably won't notice the difference in your muscles. However if you miss several weeks or months of workouts, then the muscles will be affected.

* You can lose lean muscle mass by skipping regular workouts on a long-term basis. If you don't use your muscles, you can lose them.

* Once your body reaches a certain level of lean muscle mass, it can't maintain it without more exercise.

2. Possible weight gain. You know that exercise can help manage your weight, so stopping it can cause unpleasant surprises on the scale.

* The weight gain may appear if you don't adjust your calories and meals. If you continue to eat the same amount as before, your body will store the extra calories since you're not burning them.

* To prevent this, pay attention to how much food you eat and make adjustments if you can't work out.

3. Decreased endurance. Your body's endurance in both strength and aerobics will go down. You may have a harder time cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, gardening with flowers, or doing other tasks.

* Eventually, even walking or going up the stairs can become hard.

4. Brain function is affected in a negative way. Exercise helps increase the flow of oxygen and blood to the brain. Without it, you may have a harder time thinking clearly. You may not remember things as well or concentrate as easily.

* If your brain gets used to a certain amount of oxygen and blood, you may notice the difference.

5. Trouble sleeping. Without regular exercise, you may have more trouble sleeping because of a variety of reasons:

* Many people use exercise to relieve stress and anxiety. However, if you stop doing regular workouts, you may end up staying up late at night and worrying.

* Another thing to consider is that exercise can help promote sleep. If you're tired after a long day at the gym, then you're more likely to fall asleep faster at home.

* Research shows that exercise can help fight restless leg syndrome, which keeps many people up at night and affects sleep.

* Studies also show exercise can also lessen sleep apnea for some patients, because this condition is associated with greater weight.

Exercise is essential, but it's not easy to do it every day. Try to find ways you can incorporate fitness into your daily routines.

Otherwise, you'll notice a variety of issues ranging from the loss of muscles to weight gain. If you can't exercise every day, try to do it as often as possible throughout the week.

How Much Exercise Do You Really Need to Live Longer?

Do you exercise because you want to add more years to your life? A new study tells you how long you need to train.

After following participants for over 30 years, the researchers found that those who performed 300 to 600 minutes of moderate physical activity a week experienced the biggest reduction in mortality. The study was conducted by Harvard University and published by The American Heart Association.

It’s an ambitious goal considering this is 2 to 4 times the current guidelines of 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity.

You’ll probably be happy to know that the current guidelines will still help you live longer. In fact, even modest amounts of exercise can make a big difference in your mental and physical wellbeing.

You have a lot to gain whether you aim for 600 minutes a week or stick to more modest fitness goals. Try these suggestions for developing a sustainable and effective workout program.

Finding More Time to Exercise

Lack of time is a major obstacle for many busy adults.

Try these suggestions for squeezing more movement into your week:

1. Limit screen time. A Nielsen study found that the average American adult spends 11 hours a day looking at screens. Turn off the TV and cut down on browsing outside of work.

2. Track your days. To identify other time drains, keep a journal. Maybe you could be more productive in the early morning or when you arrive home from work.

3. Combine goals. Do other things while you work out. Invite your partner to join you for a brisk walk. Listen to podcasts while you ride a stationary bike.

4. Cut the commute. Do you have a long drive to the nearest gym? Find activities you can do at home. Invest in your own equipment or take fitness classes online.

5. Break it up. It’s okay to exercise in multiple shorter sessions. That might mean using your lunch hour plus a couple of 10-minute breaks.

6. Boost your motivation. You’re more likely to succeed if you’re committed. Remember your purpose and find activities that you enjoy.

Intensifying Your Workouts

These recommendations are based on moderate to vigorous physical activity. That means burning 3 to 6 times more energy than sitting still for the lower end of the scale and over 6 times at the high end.

Try these strategies:

1. Start small. You’ll make more progress if you pace yourself. A common rule of thumb is to increase the intensity by up to 10% each week. Check with your doctor if you have any questions about what activities are safe for you.

2. Try to talk. The conversation test is an easy way to measure intensity without any equipment. During moderate activity, you can talk but not sing. During vigorous exercise, you’ll struggle to say more than a few words at a time without stopping to catch your breath.

3. Use technology. If you want more precise data, there are many fitness tracking devices and apps to choose from. You can download some basic tools like Instant Heart Rate for free or browse for more expensive options with extra features.

4. Target large muscles. You burn more calories when you work your whole body or large areas like your legs. Smart choices include squats and rowing.

5. Schedule rest days. Even professional athletes need time off. Take a rest day once or twice a week.

Increased longevity is just one of the many benefits of staying physically active. Regular exercise can help protect you from many serious health conditions and give you more energy to enjoy the things you love.


Learn more about your health online when you read the rest of our information here about: lifetime fitness plans guide and also download the free health report available there!

Warren Tattersall has been a full time nutritional consultant for over 35 years and works with people all over the world to help them improve their health, increase their personal energy levels and to use supplements to assist with diet related health issues.

Just send him a note on the form here - Contact Us - to request a personal no obligation one-on-one consultation with Warren

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