Fitness First Australia has launched a social experiment which will investigate the effects of fitness on a human being beyond physical improvements.

The study will examine how “fit” feels over a 12-week period, as three fitness fanatics remove exercise from their lives, while three inactive people add exercise to theirs.

The journey will be documented in a four-part video series from the one intimate environment where everyone goes to after a workout – the shower.

As the intention is to go beyond the traditional 'before and after' photo, however, the focus will be on how the participants emotionally evolve, so bodies will never be shown.

Fitness First Australia’s national fitness manager, Mick Cunico, said: “We know that sweating it out in the gym and looking your best is only part of the exercise story. But many people are dismissing the feeling that exercise brings.

"We want to start a conversation about just how good fit feels."

Cunico will also be one of the fitness fanatics giving up exercise for 12 long weeks.

"I’m curious to discover what impact restricting my movement has on me emotionally," he said.

“I can anticipate that those of us giving up exercise may start to feel lethargic and less focused, but I’m also eager to see how the lives of those embarking on an exercise routine begin to change as they encounter benefits such as more energy, mental clarity, confidence or a better outlook on life.”

To follow the experiment and participants’ results, see: howfitfeels.fitnessfirst.com.au