Gwyneth Paltrow has been left with "bulging problems" after being banned from working out.

The 38-year-old actress - who was told she couldn't adhere to her usual exercise regime when she took up the role of alcoholic singer Lisa Canter in new movie 'Country Strong' - admitted she "panicked" when she found out she wouldn't be able to work out.

She explained: "At first I was a bit panicked about it, so I'd start working out a little bit. A lot of people lie the other way and say, 'Yeah, I work out five times a week,' when they actually don't, whereas I was saying, 'No, no. I didn't work out,' when actually I was on the treadmill.

"It was then that I was like, 'Right, I have got to stop.' But it wasn't until we were finishing the movie that my body completely fell apart. My body was doing OK right up until the end. Then it just started falling to pieces, so now I am left with bulging problems."

The blonde beauty explained she is aware there are "no free rides" when it comes to achieving a svelte physique, and she stays in shape by undergoing "horrible, long exercise".

When asked how she stays in shape, the mother-of-two added: "Exercise! Painful, horrible, long exercise. I know from experience that there are no free rides in this world."