How Much Time Do You Need to Start Seeing the Effects of Exercise?

How Much Time Do You Need to Start Seeing the Effects of Exercise?

Forget the magazines that promise you’ll lose all your excess weight within a few days of effort or pretend you’ll have an athlete’s body if you do 10 push-ups a day. To see the benefits of sports, you need patience, motivation and consistency.

Here, we'll describe the stages you'll definitely pass through.


THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AFTER 2-3 WEEKS OF PRACTICE

It’s difficult -- maybe even impossible -- to concretely measure the effects of sports practice after only 2-3 weeks. Less-motivated people give up after this short period of time. Big mistake: 3 weeks is the minimum amount of time you need to change your habits and take  new ones. It’s a turning point. Be patient, and don’t give up!

Even if your body doesn’t immediately show the results of your training, you can feel positive effects in different ways: Have you noticed that you’re less irritable than before? That your breathing after climbing stairs has gotten better? Or that you’re gaining confidence in yourself, bit by bit? Those are the positive, less visible effects of exercise.


THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE AFTER 6-8 WEEKS

After about 2 months of effort, your body will start to transform, and you’ll be able to note the first physical changes. Now, we advise you avoid that demonic scale, which can give you the wrong impression and negatively affect your body image; your principal health indicators are your clothes and well-being, nothing else!

Know that fat takes up more space than muscle, but the latter weights more; because of this, don’t place importance in losing weight. You may not even lose any! But remember: your body has started its transformation.

To multiply the effects of sports practice on your body, follow a serious training plan: A minimum of 3 sessions a week is recommended. Nutrition is equally important to your transformation. Eating the right things at the right times of your journey will help you capitalize on the efforts you make in the gym or outside. Change also happens on your plate!


THE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON THE BODY AFTER 3-6 MONTHS

All the efforts made during the first months of exercise are visible around three months. If you’ve followed your training well and eaten “good” foods, your work will pay off, we assure you!

Of course, the results are different for each person. We don’t have the same genetic code, basic fitness level, food issues, or even morphology…

As you now know, it's impossible to establish a precise calendar regarding the effects of exercise on an organism. Be patient and persevere, and the results will (almost) definitely show!

We want you to tell us about your experiences. Share your transformation or ask us questions in the comments!

 

Written by: Guillaume

Guillaume Decathlonian

Tennis, running, weight-lifting, cycling, paddle tennis, yoga and more: Ever since childhood, I’ve been a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to sports. I’m not stopping any time soon!

 






 

Post translated from decathlon.fr

 

Explore Our Playbook