How do I get back into exercise after 3 months? (2023)

How long does it take to get back in shape after 3 months off?

Sports scientist Greg Nuckols noted that a 3-month detraining period might require a month or less to regain all of your lost muscle. This timeframe works well if you've been off for a period of months, but if you've detrained for many years, there's no formula to tell you how quickly you'll get it all back.

They will become smaller and weaker. If you've been doing high intensity exercise or weight training, you'll find a reduction in your muscular endurance. A detraining period of 12 weeks results in decreased muscle mass and muscular strength, although the muscles can return to pretraining levels.

And if you exercise regularly, over time you will gain even more fitness benefits. “At 6 to 8 weeks, you can definitely notice some changes,” said Logie, “and in 3 to 4 months you can do a pretty good overhaul to your health and fitness.” Strength-specific results take about the same amount of time.

Gradually Increase Your Resistance

To build strength, you'll want to start with 1 to 2 sets of 12 to 15 reps of exercises such as squats, push ups, or lunges. Eventually, you can add resistance that is enough that you feel fatigued after 12 to 15 reps, like you might not be able to do any more.

Like athletes, you can take about three weeks off without seeing a noticeable drop in your muscle strength, according to a 2012 study. You shouldn't take off longer than that if you can avoid it, though. Nonathletes are more likely than athletes to lose their progress during periods of inactivity. The good news?

Your muscles weaken and lose bulk including the muscles you need for breathing and the large muscles in your legs and arms. You will become more breathless as you do less activity. If you continue to be inactive you will feel worse, need more help and eventually even simple daily tasks will be difficult.

In terms of frequency, start with a moderate cardio workout three times a week with at least 1 day between each session, and resistance training twice a week, allowing 2 days for muscles to recover. "Rest is part of any workout plan—beginner, intermediate, or advanced," says Olson.

Although it's hard to offer a concrete timeframe, you may be able to regain the strength lost from three months of detraining in just a couple of months. One study found elderly men who paused their training for 12 weeks were able to rebuild the strength they'd lost (roughly 35%) in just eight weeks.

How do I start exercising when everything hurts?

Start slowly and gradually increase your efforts as you gain strength, flexibility, and confidence. Move at your own pace. Never try to keep up with a class or a group if doing so is painful. Exercise every day, if possible.

As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight, maintain weight loss or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Reducing sitting time is important, too. The more hours you sit each day, the higher your risk of metabolic problems.

Contrary to what you might see on social media or hear from your buddy at the gym, most people won't be able to get significantly ripped in three months. You can lose a few pounds of fat and/or gain a few pounds of muscle in that time, but three months is too short of a time frame to see drastic results.

The American Council on Exercise says a 1 percent body fat loss per month is safe and achievable. Given that math, it could take a woman with average body fat about 20 to 26 months to achieve the appropriate amount of fat loss for six-pack abs. The average man would need about 15 to 21 months.

But with this said, make sure to build up gradually, to allow your body to adjust to your training before amping up the intensity. For most people re-entering the gym doors in the last couple of months, they can expect a period of anywhere between 2-12 weeks to regain their fitness back.

You may want to take up strength training and lifting weights, or try some flexibility workouts like yoga. You might like to try out a sports activity like boxing, tennis, or dance. Challenge yourself to that fitness class or Gloveworx training session you've always wanted to try.

But after a long hiatus from regular exercise, it's more important than ever to pace yourself when getting back into shape. It can take just four months of a sedentary lifestyle to put someone back at the beginner level of their workout routine.

The body likes to hold on to strength for as long as it can. Inactivity for most people (non-athletes) will result in decreased muscles strength at a rate of one to three percent per day with noticeable strength loss occurring after about two and a half to three weeks.

Generally, you can notice weight changes within two to three weeks of regular exercise. Building muscle and burning fat can take closer to eight weeks. Seeing results is a common metric we all use when it comes to our new fitness goals, however there is another change that can occur in a very short time frame.

How long does it take to get back in shape after taking a month off?

It may take up to three weeks to get back to where you were, depending on how much you did before and how much time has passed. Use the first two weeks to get a feel for your body and your workouts. Start simple. If you had a routine you followed before, try a lighter version, using lighter weights and less intensity.

If you're overweight, focus on activities that put minimal stress on your joints, like walking, swimming, or water exercises. If the idea of 150 minutes of exercise every week sounds daunting, break your workout routine into smaller chunks. Your goal should be to get 30 minutes of exercise a day, five days a week.

No matter what your age, you can improve your fitness.

If it's been a long time since you've exercised and you're feeling less than fit, you might think that it's too late to make a change. But you're wrong. You can improve your fitness at any age.

If you quit your gym membership and stop exercising regularly, there can be significant changes to your body and health. You could be at greater risk of high blood pressure, high levels of fat in the blood, certain cardiovascular diseases, obesity, depression, and low self-esteem.