You know the drill: The alarm clock's stinging buzz, a frenetic freeway commute, a fast and furious lunch hour, and finally the feverish lemming crawl as you inch your way home along the highway-turned-car park. It's a wonder anyone has time to fit fitness into their daily routine. And when you do fit it in, how do you keep motivated to continue? If the old adage wo heads are better than one holds true then so, too, are two bodies - get yourself a workout buddy!
Whether you are working out for general health and fitness or training for a marathon, a workout partner might be just what you need to jump start your program and put you on track. The right person can kick-start your exercise habit into high gear, motivate you, and continually challenge your workout intensities, thus pushing you to strive for a higher level of fitness.
Ok, so I've convinced you to join fitness forces with someone, but who is best suited for the job? The obvious choice might be a personal trainer. If you're paying to have your butt whipped into shape, you're inclined to show up. If cost precludes you from such luxury, consider your spouse, friend, co-worker, or even your dog. Consider him a warm and fuzzy exercise machine!
People are creatures of habit, and it is just as easy to fall into healthy habits as it is unhealthy ones. A missed session here and there turns into a week, turns into a month, turns into never. Sound familiar? Break the cycle and climb out of the rut. Create and maintain the exercise habit by having a partner kick you out of those ruts; over time, your mind and body will come to expect regular physical activity.
If you can't seem to stick to a regular routine, you must first be honest with yourself and establish when and where you are willing and able to work out. Get together with your partner and iron out the logistics. Agree on and set definite times, dates, and locations. Build them into your daily schedule and view each session as a priority. An appointment with your exercise partner provides you with the incentive to simply show up, from there it's downhill - so don't disappoint your appointment!
We all need a little motivation from time to time. A training partner can coax you out of that pre- or post-workday slump and through the entirety of the workout, even when you feel like throwing in the towel-get back there and finish those abdominal crunches!
Poor form may lead to injury, consequently forcing a layoff from your training regimen. An extra set of vigilant eyes can monitor your exercise technique and constructively critique it for safety and effectiveness.
You need to exercise, but too much or too little can be detrimental to your health. If you're doing long, steady aerobic activity (i.e., jogging), your inability to carry on a conversation with your buddy-the talk test-may indicate your intensity is too high. On the other hand, a little friendly competition can help bump up the intensity a notch!
Achieving and maintaining a healthy body is a result of dedication, hard work, and consistency. And taking the first step, literally, is where getting back on track begins. So whatever your fitness goals are, a workout partner is just another tool that can help ensure your success.
William R. Sukala, MSc., CSCS is a health, fitness, and nutrition industry veteran with extensive experience in both clinical and preventive health care settings. He holds a master's degree in Exercise Physiology and a bachelor's degree in Nutrition. He has authored articles in major publications both domestically and internationally. He is frequently cited as an expert in his field by magazines, newspapers, and television news media, most notably Dateline NBC. He currently resides in New Zealand where he works as a clinical exercise physiologist and is conducting a research investigation towards his Ph.D. For more information, please visit his website at: http://www.williamsukala.com
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