#BePartOfOurFitnessFamily
FITNESS FRIENDSHIPS
If there were a way
to double your chances for fitness success, would you be interested? How about
you make exercise more fun by adding some accountability? A mentor, a friend, a
partner, or a group that helps you stay true to creating space and time in your
busy schedule for workouts? Group fitness has been proven to assist many get
fit, and if it’s not working going it on your own, find a friend, or two, or
three.
It may all sound too good
to be true, but countless fitness seekers have found that the right workout
buddy can make your fitness dreams come true and more.
“In my experience and in
evaluating what creates long-term health-and-fitness success, the single most
important factor is having a support system,” says Susan Rappaport of NuYu Revolution. Exercise
partners provide a powerful combination of support, accountability, motivation
and, in some cases, healthy competition. They can play the role of teammate,
co-coach and cheerleader — all while working out. A buddy can motivate you to
do one more set, continue when you feel like you have just had enough and
want to give up, or when you are feeling hopeless.
The need for
interpersonal support is primal, as we are social animals. We seek the company
and positive reinforcement of others, especially when we are doing work. A 2011
study published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise found
that the exercise habits of people you know have a positive influence on your
exercise habits.
A study, from the
Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University, surveyed married couples who
joined health clubs together and found that couples who worked out separately
had a 43 percent dropout rate over the course of a year. Those who went to the
gym together, regardless of whether they focused on the same type of exercise,
had only a 6.3 percent dropout rate.
Ready to partner up?
Great! But before you recruit the first warm body you see, keep in mind that
not all workout buddies are created equal. If you choose someone who does not
share a similar commitment to fitness, that can be a distraction or even a
deterrent. If your partner is at a radically different level of health, fitness
or ability, you could be held back, pushed too hard or even injured.
Another key factor:
Emotional connection. Your workout pal doesn’t have to be your best friend, but
he or she has to be someone you like and whom you wouldn’t want to disappoint.
Psychologically, if you feel like you have a responsibility and commitment toward
another person, you are more likely to follow through on that commitment.
The most successful
fitness partnerships fall into one of three categories: the pal-based buddy
system, the small group and the coupled pair. Take a look at them all, then
consider which collaborative arrangement (or arrangements) might work best for
you.
The Buddy System
A friend or
colleague who works out with you, getting together regularly for fitness
activities.
Best for: Those who shy away from
gyms and fitness classes when solo, or who tend to be more introverted. Great
for those focused on specific, shared or complementary goals.
Why it works: Having a reliable workout
buddy increases your chances of sticking with your program. It can be hard to
push yourself during solo workouts. A workout buddy can provide some healthy
competition while keeping you committed. Workout partners not only get us
through a challenging workout, but can help us through life challenges as well.
What to Look Out For: If your workout partner
is down all the time, complaining, you will eventually lose motivation. If he
or she is too competitive, gives up too easily or is jealous of your success,
it will bring you down. You don’t have to be perfectly matched fitness-wise (in
fact, it can be helpful to exercise with someone who is a little fitter than
you), but if you have dramatically different personality traits and divergent
fitness goals, it can derail you. Finally, beware of getting distracted with
too much joking around or gossip. Your workout partner should make exercise
fun, but not cause you to lose focus.
The Small Group Environment
The Group Effort: A small group of people
whose membership may vary by the day, but who generally
Work out at the same time
and place — as a group, with a teacher is a great way to maintain consistency
and accountability
regarding your attendance.
Best for: People who like to
combine social time with exercise; coworkers, students or parents whose
schedules align; cyclists, walkers and runners, or any group of fitness-minded
friends. Also great for people who like the interaction of a group but may not
want to participate solo in a bigger group fitness class.
Why it works: Whether you’re jogging
shoulder-to-shoulder with buddies or simply glancing across the fitness floor
at familiar faces, there’s a strong motivation in the feeling that “we’re all
in this together. Small group environments normalize the ongoing act of
maintaining an effective health-and-fitness lifestyle while creating a feeling
of community.”
Potential pitfalls: It can be more difficult
to schedule workouts with multiple people. Pick regular workout times and stick
to them, even if one group member doesn’t show. It can be a challenge to find
or design workouts that meet everyone’s needs; good communication and periodic
goal evaluations are key.
The answer: Finding a place where
accountability is a part of the program is a good choice and worth just as much
as the classes if it teaches you how to maintain the habit of fitness.
Team Couple
A
romantic twosome who pursue their fitness activities together, who may or may
not do the same workout, but they block off time and space for being active as a
couple.
Best for: Partners who support each
other’s goals.
Why it works: You’re most successful at
reaching your goals when the people closest to you are on board — or, better
yet, an integral part of the team. All those endorphins and pheromones work to
increase your attraction, too. You learn you can tackle anything as a team, and
that makes for a stronger relationship.
What to Look Out For: If your workout partner
is down all the time, complaining, you will eventually lose motivation. If he
or she is too competitive, gives up too easily or is jealous of your success,
it will bring you down. You don’t have to be perfectly matched fitness-wise (in
fact, it can be helpful to exercise with someone who is a little fitter than
you), but if you have dramatically different personality traits and divergent
fitness goals, it can derail you. Finally, beware of getting distracted with
too much joking around or gossip.
In The End
Keep in mind, whether you’re currently working
out with your spouse, a buddy or a whole passel of fitness pals, there’s no
need to limit yourself to just one fitness partnership. You can hit the gym
with your sweetie a couple of evenings a week, walk with a colleague over the
lunch hour and ride trails with your cycle club on the weekends. The more
people you have actively engaged in supporting your fitness efforts, the more
likely you all are to enjoy the process, and the results.
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