I was watching television the other day and a commercial came on for a new show called “Shredding for the Wedding” where couples work out, train and diet before their wedding to try and lose as much weight as possible before their big day. At first I rolled my eyes and sarcastically thought, “Great another TV show about weight loss” . Then I actually thought about it and the benefits to working out with a partner.
Why do shows like this and “Biggest Loser: Couples” work so well? I think it’s because of one main reason: you have a workout partner with you. What better way to motivate yourself than to have someone else there with you, shooting for the same goals and reaching them. This not only is a great way to lead a healthier lifestyle, but also a great way to get closer with your partner.
Here are some great benefits, courtesy of GoldsGym.com, on why you should work out with a partner [substitute “friend” for “fiancé”, “partner”, etc.]:
You'll get out of bed. If you know someone is meeting you at the gym in the morning, you going to slap the snooze button and sleep in? Unlikely. "When you schedule workouts with a friend, you're held accountable, so you're less likely to skip out on a workout," says person trainer Mel Joyner.
You'll make it a habit. People are used to moving from appointment to appointment during the workday, so meeting a workout partner at the gym will just feel like another appointment in a busy day. "I believe strongly that you should make a point of going to the gym with a friend during the first few months of your gym membership," says Dr. Belisa Vranich, a clinical psychologist and member of Gold's Gym's Fitness Institute. Why? "Working out should be a habit, and it takes 21 days to form a habit. If you're going it solo, you're likely to slack off during those three important introductory weeks, but if you're regularly meeting a friend, the habit is more likely to set in."
You'll work harder. "When I work out on my own, I'm not likely to force myself to do extra reps or increase my speed on the treadmill," says Joyner. "But if I'm working out with a friend — ideally a friend who is stronger and faster than me — you can bet I'll try to one-up the other person by doing more chin-ups or running faster in a race or lifting more weight on the machine." Adds Vranich: "A friend can read your facial cues and body language, so he'll know when you're slacking off and, as a result, give you that extra nudge or a few needed words of encouragement."
You'll diversify your workout. "There are a variety of workout moves that you can only do with a partner," says Joyner. His favorite? The wheelbarrow push-up, where one person does a push-up while the other (standing) person holds on to the ankles. "The holder has to squat as the person goes down toward the floor, so the exercise works the muscles of both involved."
You'll stay social — without loading up on calories from food and drink. Let's face it: working out alone can take time away from your social life. But working out with a friend allows the two of you to catch up on work, life, and all the rest without doing so over, say, five frosty — and calorie-laden — beers. You're killing two birds (and, quite possibly, two beer guts) with one stone. Joyner learned this important lesson in college. "After my friends and I bonded over one too many boxes of pizza, we decided to center our social activity around the weight room as opposed to the pizza joint," he says.
And there you have it! I really think this is such a great idea… working out with your man or woman! Not only are you going to look great for your wedding, you’ll learn to live a healthier lifestyle that will [hopefully] stick with you throughout life and you’ll reconnect on a deeper level with each other. It doesn’t matter if you have a strict work out plan and diet that you intensely follow or go with the flow and plan daily outdoor activities like running or biking (no excuses – spring is almost here so the weather will be nice!).. get creative! As long as you go out and do some of your own shredding ;o)
Happy Training,
Kaitlyn
