Flying Solo Or Partnering Up?
How we exercise — and who we choose to do it with — is a matter of personal preference. One gym addict might prefer sweating it out alone, shutting out the world and everyone in it while pounding the treadmill full-tilt to AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” Another, more casual gym-goer might need a gym buddy to keep them accountable — one who encourages them to finish those final few reps with positive comments. And of course, there are the metcon and HIIT class gurus of the world, who swear that nothing beats working out in a class setting.
The truth is, there is no one right way to go to the gym. It all comes down to personal preference. Below are some pros and cons of working out with a partner. You may want to continue to fly solo, or you may want to start bringing a buddy to the gym with you.
PARTNER WORKOUT PROS
THERE’S MORE MOTIVATION: Working out with another person can provide you with some needed motivation, especially on days when your energy is lagging and you’re tempted to skip out. When someone else is depending on you, you’re less likely to bail.
YOU’LL WORK HARDER: You'll push each other to work better and harder, because after all, nothing beats a little friendly competition. You can set the same goals or strive to reach a certain level at the same time, so it's more likely you'll stick to your routine.
IT’S LESS INTIMIDATING: A survey that asked men and women the biggest reasons why they skip workouts found that ‘how confident a person feels in the gym was one of the biggest markers of whether they’ll show up or not.’ The survey revealed that having a basic knowledge of gym equipment, as well as a basic knowledge of lifting, were two of the top two factors that boosted people’s confidence in the gym. Therefore, by working out with a friend who knows his or her way around the weight room, as well as how to use all of the equipment properly, you’ll be much more confident at the gym, and also more likely to show up.
YOU’LL ALWAYS HAVE A SPOTTER: No need to approach a random person to help you. And no need to count reps all by yourself, too.
TIME FLIES: The saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is especially true when you work out with a partner. You can walk for an hour while chatting it up with your friend, and it will seem like only a few minutes have passed.
YOU DON’T FEEL ALONE: Working out with a friend allows you to develop camaraderie. It’s almost like being part of a team, since the people you choose to train with probably share a common goal.
YOU”LL LEARN NEW MOVES: By working out with a friend, you might learn some new exercises and how to target different muscles during your workout sessions together. And since variety is the key to sticking with an exercise plan, mixing things up may be just what you need to keep going.
THERE’S ACCOUNTABILITY: You'll be more conscious about how and when you do your workouts because someone is counting on you.
PARTNER WORKOUT CONS
GETTING OFF TRACK: It’s easy for a partner workout to become a social gathering if you focus more on conversation than on exercise. This can sabotage your fitness goals.
NOT SHOWING UP: No one likes to be stood up, and being stranded at the gym can have a negative impact, especially when your buddy flakes out on a regular basis. To avoid the problem, make sure to pick a person who is dependable. Cancelled workout sessions means serious loss.
DIFFERENT FITNESS LEVELS: The wrong workout buddies will be like anchors, not buoys. If you train with people who are better than you, they will motivate you. But if they are weaker than you, they will slow you down. If the passion and determination they have is weaker than yours, more likely you'll end up in a fast food or in a diner every post workout.
MAY LEAD TO BAD WORKOUT HABITS: If your workout buddy isn’t sure what he or she is doing, and you’re not either, it may lead to bad workout habits. And the last thing that you want is to get injured because your workout partner showed you how to do an exercise the wrong way.
Whether you fly solo or prefer to have a fitness partner, it may be worth your while to hire a personal trainer to teach you the correct way to do the exercises. Then, after your personal training session, you (and your training partner) can go back to working out – the right way! Our Success Studio trainers would love to help…all you have to do is click the button below.