5 mind-boggling things that can happen to your body if you quit exercising

Are you planning to give a break to your daily exercise regime? Think twice as it can lead both physical and mental changes.
stop exercising
Shocking news! Do you know that breaking-up with your active routine can lead to stress, anxiety, and more? GIF courtesy: GIPHY
Team Health Shots Updated: 31 Mar 2022, 13:24 pm IST
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Who doesn’t want to stay fit? We all do right. But who is ready to dedicatedly follow a regime? Well, that’s a bigger question because getting in shape is not a child’s play. It requires your unwavering attention.

But with plummeting temperatures, it is common for people to call it a quits to their well-planned exercise routine so that they can spend a few more minutes in their cozy beds.

But hear this one out ladies — giving up on exercise could be a bad decision as it may lead to several physical and mental changes in your body. Surprised?

Let’s just read what science has to say about this 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for healthy living. A 2017 study published in the journal PMC highlighted that regular exercise contributes to balanced health in adults.

Now give this one a shot as experts back the importance of staying active too

Another study, by the University of Adelaide, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, states that stopping exercise can increase symptoms of depression. Julie Morgan, the lead author of the study, said:

Adequate physical activity and exercise are important for both physical and mental health.

Another expert, Dr Sumalatha Vasudeva, clinical psychologist at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital in Noida, said that “Exercise is a mood booster, and helps in decreasing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and also improves sleep.”

By the way, it’s not just depression that can entangle you but here are the other things that happen inside your body when you stop working out

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Blood pressure starts shooting up
According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, exercise keeps blood pressure under check. In order to keep blood pressure low, you need to keep exercising on a regular basis. A 30-minute walk will also do.

Symptoms of psychosomatic disorder start occurring
According to Dr Vasudeva, our body just stops benefitting us as soon as we quit exercising. She adds that one may start experiencing the symptoms of psychosomatic disorder like mood swings, lack of interest, fatigue, decreased concentration, short-tempered, heaviness in the head, hopelessness, and anxiousness. In short, you are inviting stress and anxiety by not exercising.

stress burnout
Yes, it’s true that an inactive routine can stress you too. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

The muscle mass you gained, you’ll lose that too
Doctors say that after stopping exercise the muscle mass in the body decreases and the space in between is taken over by fat. That’s scary.

“Muscles tend to become weak and you start feeling tired and lazy. This becomes a cycle and leads to more weakness and weight gain.” says Dr Santosh Hakkalamani, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospital.

Weak bones is another repercussion of not exercising
Now, this also means high chances of fracturing your bones — that too in winter, so painful.

Dr Santosh Hakkalamani said that “when one stops exercising, the bone density in the body decreases and the chances of the fracture goes up. He added that even a minor fall from a standing height can lead to fractures of the hip and spine.

Brain stops producing endorphins or feel-good hormones
Exercise helps the brain release endorphins. Thus, when you stop working out, it affects your mood as well. In fact, a 2011 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that exercise helps in increasing the size of the hippocampus and improves memory too.

So, now what do you have to say — are you still planning to call it a quits or is there a change in your plan?

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