5 Bizarre Things Exercise Does to Your Body

Have you ever finished a workout and thought, What on earth just happened to my body? We all know that exercise is good for us. It improves cardiovascular health, boosts mood, and builds those metabolism-boosting muscles we all crave. But let’s be honest, some things happen when we exercise that are downright weird. And if you’ve experienced any of these bizarre things exercise does to your body, don’t worry—you’re not alone!

Grab your coffee, and let’s chat about the five most bizarre things exercise does to your body. I bet you’ve experienced a few of these and thought, Is this normal?

1. Side Stitches – What’s That Knife in My Ribs?

You know that sharp pain that feels like someone’s poking a knife right under your ribs mid-run? Yeah, that’s a side stitch. It’s like your body’s way of saying, “Hold up, what are you doing?”

Experts aren’t entirely sure why these happen, but a lot of them believe it has something to do with diaphragm spasms triggered by rapid breathing. Basically, your breathing goes a little haywire, and your diaphragm isn’t too happy about it. And if you’ve just eaten a big meal before your workout? You’re even more likely to get that stitch.

What can you do about it? Well, for starters, slow down! I know we all want to power through, but taking a breather can really help. Try stretching your arms overhead and taking deep breaths while contracting your abs. And next time, maybe wait a bit longer after eating before jumping into that HIIT workout. Oh, and don’t forget to warm up—trust me, it helps!

2. Runny Nose – Why Is My Nose Leaking?

So, you’re on the treadmill, and suddenly your nose starts running like a faucet. It’s embarrassing, right? You’re not sick, so what gives? Turns out, this is called exercise-induced rhinitis, just one of those bizarre things exercise does to your body and it happens a lot when you’re working out in cold or dry air.

Here’s the deal: When you breathe more through your nose during exercise, it dries out the mucous membranes (yep, that’s as gross as it sounds), and your body tries to fix it by producing even more mucus. Thanks, body.

If you’re like me and hate wiping your nose every five minutes while you’re sweating it out, you can ask your doctor for a nasal spray. Use it about 30 minutes before working out, and pack some tissues for good measure.

3. Runner’s Trots – Yep, It’s Exactly What You Think

Okay, here’s one we don’t like to talk about, but it’s real, and it’s called runner’s trots. Yes, that feeling when you really need to find a bathroom mid-run. It’s not just runners though—walkers, gym-goers, we’ve all been there.

So, what causes it? When you exercise, your body redirects blood flow away from your gut and toward your muscles. This can mess with digestion and, well, lead to some urgency in the bathroom department. Dehydration and pre-race jitters? Yeah, they make it worse.

Pro tip: Don’t eat anything heavy for a couple of hours before exercising, and avoid high-fiber foods, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners. Hydrate well (but not too much), and start your workout after a bathroom trip. You’ll thank me later!

4. Red Face – Why Do I Look Like a Tomato?

You’ve probably noticed this after a hard workout—your face turns as red as a stop sign. I know, it’s not the most flattering look, but here’s why it happens: During exercise, your capillaries (those tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface) dilate to help cool you down. People with sensitive skin may flush more and stay red for longer.

For me, the redness sticks around a good 30 minutes after a workout, which is great when I’ve got somewhere to be, right? If this happens to you, spritz some cold water on your skin while exercising or stick to air-conditioned environments. If the redness doesn’t fade or you notice persistent bumps or pimples, you could have rosacea, a skin condition that’s totally treatable with the right meds.

5. Exercise-Induced Hives – Wait, Am I Allergic to Working Out?

I know, I know, this one sounds crazy, but it’s true—you can actually be allergic to exercise. It’s called exercise-induced urticaria (fancy word for hives), and it happens when your body gets too hot and sweaty.

Basically, your body’s histamine response kicks in, and you break out in itchy hives. Not the most glamorous post-workout look. If this happens to you, head to a doctor to make sure it’s not something more serious. They might recommend taking an antihistamine before working out, and sticking to cooler environments can help too.

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So, What’s the Deal?

Isn’t it weird how our bodies react to exercise sometimes? It’s like, we’re trying to do something good for our health, and our bodies are like, “Oh, you want to be healthy? Here’s some side stitches, runny noses, and random bathroom emergencies!” But hey, it’s all part of the process, right?

At the end of the day, these bizarre side things exercise does to your body are just small hiccups in the bigger picture of improving your health. If you keep exercising regularly, many of these weird things will happen less often—or at least, you’ll learn how to deal with them.

Your Turn!

Have you experienced any of these bizarre exercise effects? Or maybe there’s another one I didn’t mention that totally threw you off? Share your stories in the comments—I’d love to hear about your experiences! Let’s chat about how to tackle these weird little things our bodies do, together.