This is part of the series:
United we stand; how to talk to your partner about getting fit (Related) United we stand; family health plans (Related) United we stand; the diet partner (Related) United we stand; the workout partner (Related) United We Stand: How to motivate your friends and loved ones to improve their health (Related)This week, we’ve been talking about involving other people as you change your life towards more healthy goals. Today’s topic is going to be the workout partner.
You see them at the gym or on the road every day. Two people lifting weights together, running together or biking together. If you go there at the same time each day, you’ll probably see the same two people working out together. These are workout partners, people who exercise together. If you’re just starting out, you may be wondering if a workout partner is a good thing to have. Well, like a diet partner, there are good and bad things.
Advantages
Responsibility - Having a workout partner makes it more difficult to miss a workout. You feel responsible to show up every day and on time because someone else is counting on you. This means you’re less likely to delay or cancel a workout.Motivation - Working out with someone else might also motivate you to work harder, especially if they are at or above your level. Seeing a friend run faster might motivate you to do the same, just to keep up. Safety - Working out with someone else is safer. If you’re lifting weights you’ll have someone there to spot you. If you’re biking, you’ll have someone else there to watch for cars and help out with that flat tire. Regardless of the activity, a partner makes a workout safer. Proper Form - A workout partner can help you with your form. While most gym’s have mirrors, it’s still hard to see if you’re making a mistake as you’re exercising. A workout partner can help you with that by spotting bad form or improperly executed exercises. Research - A workout partner can help you find information on new exercises, location or equipment.
Disadvantages
Inflexible - Since your workout schedule now belongs to more than just you, it becomes less flexible. You can’t move workouts around if you need to work and you can reschedule easily if family is visiting. Discouraging - In some ways, a workout partner can reduce your motivation. If their fitness level is much higher than yours, you might feel discouraged and despair of ever improving. Embarrassment at not keeping up might prevent you from working out. Alternatively, if your workout partner is at a level much lower than yours, you might be tempted to slack instead of trying hard to improve your own fitness.Recommendation
I think a workout partner is a good thing to have. However, you need to be careful about finding the right one. If possible, look for someone at about the same fitness level as you, especially if you’re going to be doing outdoor activities like jogging or biking. If you’re going to work out at a gym then fitness level is not as important since weights are easily adjusted. In this case, make sure both you and your partner understand each other’s fitness levels. If you’re more fit, be careful to remain encouraging. You’ll find that it’s very satisfying to help someone improve and become more fit.
Also make sure your scheduling needs are the same. Once you set a workout schedule, you need to stick to it. So be sure both partners are ok with the schedule on a long term basis. This is a problem I ran into recently. My workout partner and I came up with a schedule, but it turned out to be unworkable long term.
As always, communication is key. Make sure you and your partner understand each other’s goals. These goals may be different but still compatible, but it’s important that you both understand what you’re trying to get out of your workout.
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