Most people agree that smoking cigarettes for example, is a risky activity. What's surprising is that sometimes doing nothing at all— inactivity and being sedentary —can be just as life-threatening. Here are some side effects of not exercising that may motivate you to get off the couch and break a sweat:

NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP
Not getting enough sleep or tossing and turning at night may not seems like something to worry about. But if it happens regularly, it can usher in a host of health problems—from weight gain and diabetes, heart disease to poor immunity to mood disorders and even accidents.

YOU LESSEN YOUR ENDURANCE
If you do less exercise or activity 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 as you age even simple daily tasks will be difficult.

YOUR RISK FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASES
Exercise helps your heart pump more efficiently. If your heart is fit, it has to work less hard to pump blood, and the force through your arteries decreases. If you don't exercise, over time your cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) decreases, making it harder for your heart to pump blood.

YOUR BLOOD SUGAR MAY BE AFFECTED
Physical activity plays such a critical role in how your body processes carbohydrates that even missing a few workouts can impair control of blood sugar levels, according to research in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Its author, John Thyfault, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri, states, "Even in the short term, reducing daily activity and ceasing regular exercises causes acute changes in the body associated with diabetes that can occur before weight gain and the development of obesity."

YOUR JOINTS MAY HURT
Aches, pains, and throbbing joints can be caused by osteoarthritis, injury, repetitive motions at work, and aging, but inactivity is also a common trigger of joint pain. Limiting your movements can weaken muscles, compound joint issues, and affect your posture, setting off a cascade of additional problems.

THERE MAY BE A DROP IN YOUR “GOOD” CHOLESTEROL
Getting regular aerobic exercise is one of the most effective ways to raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is called the "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol it helps remove harmful cholesterol from your bloodstream and is associated with a lower risk of heart disease. So if you’re not exercising regularly and doing it with enough intensity to increase your heart rate, your HDL will likely go down and the LDL (bad) cholesterol will increase.

YOUR BONES MAY BECOME BRITTLE
As you get older, calcium from your bones is reabsorbed into your bloodstream. This results in a reduction in bone mass and can lead to brittle bones, a condition known as osteoporosis. One of the key ways to prevent this bone loss is exercising. If you're not getting much, you increase your risk for age-related bone weakness.

YOU MAY BECOME DEPRESSED
Exercise is a well-established drug-free treatment for anxiety disorders and depression. But can inactivity—without depressive symptoms—put you at greater risk for developing symptoms of depression? It can! Exercising Releases feel-good endorphins, natural cannabis-like brain chemicals (endogenous cannabinoids), and other natural brain chemicals that can enhance your sense of well-being.

YOU’LL LIKELY GAIN WEIGHT
Most experts agree that your eating habits play a greater role in weight gain or loss than the amount of exercise you do. However, considerable research has shown a correlation between obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Makes you want to lace up those running shoes, doesn't it? Well the good news is that Success Studio can help. Specializing in personal training, functional training, and individual programming, we can help you get off the couch and into the gym safely, so you can be a healthier more active you. Just click the button below for a complimentary assessment. .