So you decided it’s a new year and a new you. You’ve been pretty good about going to the gym for a few weeks, but nothing is really happening- or is it?
This is NOT the time to quit.
A lot of people start to get discouraged with their workout routines somewhere between the 4-6 week mark.
There is a saying in the fitness world: “It takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing. It takes 8 weeks for friends and family, and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world.”
We all love those commercials that show dramatic “after” pictures from a few weeks of workouts. You know you really can’t trust those photos, but what you can trust is the process. The body is a wonderfully complex system. One of its best attributes is its ability to adapt. Every time you raise your heart rate and/or tax your muscles, you are kicking your body into a healthy adaptation, whether you can see it or not.
The best way to lose weight and be healthy is to get your body up and humming, and the best way to do that is with regular exercise and healthy eating. Here is a list of what’s going on inside your body every time you put your body in motion.
13 Ways your body improves with regular exercise
- Increased width and density of bones- which reduces the risk of fractures.
- Increased strength of tendons, ligaments and muscles, which increases balance and stabilization
- Improved joint flexibility
- Improved endurance
- Improved blood circulation
- Stronger heart muscle
- Increased blood flow per minute
- Lower resting pulse
- Quicker recovery from strenuous exercise
- Increase in capillaries and blood volume
- Increase lung capacity
- Increased breathing efficiency
- Increased lung air sacs (alveoli) allowing for better gas exchange
The Simple Truth
Fitness and weight loss works from the inside out.
No matter what your age or fitness level, these adaptations begin on Day 1 of your new regime. That’s right, at age 18 or 78 the minute you start exercising consistently you are creating some powerful positive changes in your body. Every workout compounds these effects, so the more you do, the better it gets. As your body gets stronger and more efficient, that’s when you start to see results.
Trust the Process
I won’t kid you, it does take a several weeks to start seeing those changes on the outside. Those first weeks can feel pretty fruitless and tough, especially if you suffer sore muscles, or if your workouts make you feel more fatigued at the end of the day than what you’re used to.
Please don’t give up now. Stick with your plan. As your body adapts the soreness will dissipate, and in time you’ll feel more energized and vital. Know that you ARE making changes under the hood, and TRUST that if you stay with it your body will reward you.
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