Will I gain weight if I stop working out for a month

You run more. You eat less. Yet, you’re still not dropping kilos. Here’s what’s going on.

Will I gain weight if I stop working out for a month

It happens to the best of us: You set a goal to get fit, so you start racking up the kilometres. You hit the gym, bang out some intervals, and watch what you’re eating—all with the anticipation that you’ll drop a few kilos.

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Except the opposite happens. You step on the scale only to see a higher number than when you started. You take off your clothes (and your watch…and maybe your rings) and try again to no avail. The needle doesn’t budge, and now you’re wondering, why am I gaining weight?

But before you launch the scale (and your resolve) out the window, know that it’s totally normal. In fact, it’s not always a bad thing (and it’s often resolvable when it is). Sometimes, putting on a few kilos is part of the process of improving your overall body composition. Sometimes, it’s a sign that you haven’t quite dialled in the right mix of hard and easy training days. And sometimes, it’s your body trying to tell you that you need to actually eat more… or at least differently.

Weight loss is a reasonable goal as long as you approach it in a healthy manner. But exercise and nutrition aren’t just a numbers game, explains certified trainer Josh Elsesser, who owns Invictus Fitness Solutions in Southern California and heads up fitness for COACHD, an online health and fitness coaching company.

“Your workout routine and how you fuel yourself impacts your metabolism, fuel storage, and key hormones like cortisol, insulin, thyroid, and sex hormones, which are all critical for success when you’re trying to hit your optimum weight,” he says.

So if you’ve been wondering why you might be gaining weight, here are seven reasons why the scale may be stuck—or moving in the opposite of your desired direction—and what to do about it.

If COVID-19 has played havoc with your workout schedule then you're not alone. In fact, you're with the thousands of others trying to figure out what the new normal of their fitness routine looks like in these unprecedented times.

If the lack of distinction between work, home and gym (a.k.a your living room) has made it difficult for you to establish a fitness regimen, then no stress, it's all okay: We've got the low down on exactly what taking a break does to your body and spoiler – it's not all bad news.

How long is too long not to exercise?

Everyone's bodies work in different ways, with many factors - including fitness levels, lifestyles and overall health - affecting your muscle loss.

Taking a break can actually be be a good way to give you some well needed rest and recovery, but experts are quick to warn that taking an extended break can mentally affect your motivation.

However, skipping more than two workouts can lead to loss of mental motivation - meaning the more workouts you miss, the harder it will be to get yourself back on the right track.

As for your body, a Skidmore College study found that your metabolism could slow by 4% if you rest for just over a week. That's could be a two-pound gain in a fortnight.

'Muscle strength is preserved initially, but after two to four weeks, you'll see losses in strength and muscle size,' says Dr Graeme Close, reader in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism at Liverpool St John Moores University.

How skipping the gym affects muscle strength

Research suggest that athletes start to lose their muscle strength after 3 weeks of not training. However, athletes typically lose less overall muscle strength during a break than the average gym-goer.

In general, it's said that you can take up to three or four weeks off without seeing a noticeable drop in your strength performance.

How skipping the gym affects cardio fitness

With running and walking outside being one of the only exercises allowed under social-distancing rules, it can be confronting to find that your regular run is a little more difficult than usual after some time off. Perhaps you're light years behind your regular pace or are struggling to catch your breath – according to a study, this isn't all in your head.

Research shows that cardio endurance is easy to lose and diminishes much faster than muscle strength. In fact, you can expect to notice a decrease in your cardio fitness about a week or two after you stop doing activities like running or biking.

A 2014 study, focusing on people who regularly completed interval training for four months before stopping, found that after just one month, the associated health benefits from the exercise - like improved blood pressure - were reversed.

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How age can impact a loss in fitness

As we age, our bodies and their ability to perform certain processes diminishes. Unfortunately, this can include our fitness capabilities as well. For example, hormone production slows as we age which can make our ability to gain and maintain muscle a lot harder.

According to Harvard Health, females over the age of 30 begin to lose anywhere between three to five per cent of muscle mass per decade. Therefore, regular workouts are important to maintain your hard-earned muscle mass.

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How to regain fitness after skipping the gym

Luckily, it's pretty easy to get back on track. If you're easing yourself back into this a new fitness normal, focus on working large muscle groups with squats and lunges – as it'll boost your metabolism and give you the most bang for your buck straight out the gate.

Remember it's normal to feel weaker so ease back into your training routine after taking time off.

Interval training is something to bear in mind too as an effective and efficient workout – it helps your heart re-train faster than if you were keeping a steady pace.

How to avoid skipping the gym but give your mind and body a break?

Every little helps. Instead of skipping session after session, leading to a few weeks or even months off the gym, Cris Dobrosielski consultant and spokesperson for American Council on Exercise and founder of Monumental Results Inc, recommends reducing the number of sessions you do, but turning up your intensity on the day you do train instead - keep it short and sharp.


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Will I gain weight if I don't workout for a month?

Detraining has been found to have negative effects on body composition, with an associated weight gain and a decrease in metabolic rate. A few factors may contribute to an increase in your body fat when you stop working out: First, your calorie requirement will decrease.

What if I leave gym for 1 month?

Basically, if you don't use it you'll lose it. If you are injured and on bed rest, you can expect the losses to be quite rapid. If you are still active in your daily life, muscle loss will be slower, but not by much. Once you've stopped going to the gym for a month, losses in size and strength will be noticeable.

How long does it take to gain weight after stopping workout?

The 2010 study found that highly-trained athletes who ceased their workouts entirely had increases in body fat after five weeks. Another study published in 2014 in the journal PLOS One found that soccer players who de-trained for six weeks had increases in body fat and body weight.