Whether it’s starting an exercise program or starting treatment for an injury a common question that often pops up is “how long before I get results?”
This is often a difficult question to answer. This article outlines some of the influences that will not only help you to be realistic with how long results will take, but can also guide you towards other positive changes you can make to support your journey.
How long until I see results?
Typically upon starting an exercise program, muscle strength changes can occur as quickly as 2 weeks but can take up to 8-10 weeks for some people. When commencing treatment for injuries, most people can expect to feel significant improvements within the first 4-6weeks and often do so a lot sooner.
What factors can affect my results?
While we have stereotypical answers to the “how long” question, it is important to explore the other factors that cause substantial variation in the responses we see between people.
Lifestyle
One of the biggest factors that can affect a persons response is how long the condition or lifestyle habits have been present for. If someone has never exercised before, it can be more challenging and take longer to notice substantial improvements. Additionally if pain has been around for over 6 months, there are many compensation patterns that have developed and need to be broken before recovery can be expected.
Influence of diet
When making positive changes to exercise habits or getting treatment, good nutrition can substantially affect results. Eating a good balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and controlling acid alkaline balance helps to promote healthy tissue changes. Staying hydrated is important too as water constitutes up 80% of our body.
Stress
A final important consideration is the level of stress we are exposed to. While exercise and nutrition positively affect the outcomes of stress, consistently high levels of stress will continue to inhibit our body’s potential.
Continuing your journey
So the next time you make a lifestyle change and are curious as to how long it will be before seeing results, make sure that you consider the big picture. Looking into these other factors can not only help you to be realistic with how long results will take, but can also guide you towards other positive changes you can make to support your journey.