How Long Does It Take to See Results After Working Out?

Exercise is an incredibly important part of leading a balanced lifestyle and helps keep your body strong and healthy as you age. While the level of physical activity you do can ebb and flow at times, prioritising movement multiple times a week has benefits for your body as well as your mind.

If you’ve recently changed up your exercise routine in order to see a physical difference in your strength or the way your body looks, you might be wondering when this change will be noticeable. And, while it’s an incredibly common inquiry, it can be hard to give a definitive answer.

Why? Because each body is different and as such, behaves and reacts in individual ways. One person might experience noticeable changes in a few weeks, while others might not see a difference for a few months. It all depends on how your beautiful body responds and there is nothing wrong with you if it takes a little longer to do so.

Here’s what factors influence when you might see results.

It Depends on the Goal

Everyone’s goal for exercise is different. Some might want to get “in shape”, while others want to build muscle tone or lose weight. For example, someone looking to increase their stamina in running might experience results far quicker than someone looking to lose weight.

While it might be difficult at times, try to keep this in mind when working towards your fitness goal. No one body is the same, so no physical journey will be the same. Consistency is key and will help you achieve the results you’re after.

Some Benefits Are Instantaneous

No matter what goal you’re working towards, you’ll most likely begin to experience some of the benefits within two weeks of beginning the exercise routine, which is pretty incredible news. According to Healthline, you’ll begin to notice that you’re less out of breath when climbing stairs or that you’re less tired after a physically demanding workout. Go you!

And, the mental health benefits of exercise are pretty instant as well. Within the first few days and weeks of a consistent exercise routine, you should notice changes to how you feel about yourself, which is hugely empowering.

“The mental benefits of getting active are even more important than the external changes we are all so concerned about seeing,” Samantha Clayton, senior director of Worldwide Fitness Education at Herbalife, told Healthline.

A General Guide

If a general guideline is what you’re after, here’s what to expect according to Healthline. If you’re new to exercise and haven’t consistently worked out for years, you’re probably looking at two months of exercising before you’re at a moderate fitness level.

“At six to eight weeks, you can definitely notice some changes and in three to four months you can do a pretty good overhaul to your health and fitness,” personal trainer Jamie Logie told Healthline.

For those who are wanting to achieve a “ripped body”, you’re looking at about a year of hard work and consistency with exercise and food. It’s not a short process to achieve certain physical aesthetics, which is good to know before embarking on such a journey.

So there you have it! The best form of exercise you can do is the one you enjoy the most. Go for a walk each day, try Pilates or give a HIIT class a go and you’ll soon be reaping the mental and physical benefits.