Buddy system

Welcome to afitnewyou!  Today I would like to talk to you about how having a friend or a partner to exercise with can help you stay motivated to reach your fitness goals.  We are taught when we are young to use the “buddy system” to help keep us from getting lost when traveling in crowded or unfamiliar areas.  But the buddy system can also help keep you from becoming “lost” or straying from your fitness goals.  Having a fitness buddy will be helpful for two main reasons; first, a buddy will help keep you going when you are feeling otherwise unmotivated, and second, a buddy will make exercise more enjoyable.

Before I was in the fitness industry I was living at home while working a full-time job and going to school at night.  I had a hard time finding a time to workout regularly.  My older brother had a full-time job as well.  The only time that fit for both of us to workout was at 5 a.m. before work.  With all that I had going on with my schedule, I had a hard time waking up so early to get to the gym.  When the alarm would go off, I would listen to hear if my brother was up…if he was, I knew we were going to the gym.  If he wasn’t, I would often go back to bed.  Having him as my workout partner inspired and motivated me go to the gym.

Gloria and her daughter Gail train with me at the gym.  They each do a half hour session with me back-to-back because of their different goals and abilities.  But, while one of them is training with me, the other will do 30 minutes of cardio.  When they come in separately, they often do less cardio or will even skip the cardio for that day.  By coming to the gym together, they are in a sense forced to do longer sessions.

But having a partner to train with doesn’t work just because you are forced to; having a partner often makes exercise more fun.  Janet and Lois are two friends who come to the gym to do cardio together.  While in the gym they try to get elliptical machines that are next to each other, so that they can talk to each other and keep one another motivated.  They say the time goes by much quicker when they are there together.  On top of that, they push each other to work harder and longer.  Similarly, with the current fitness tracker trend, I know a group of coworkers who are competing to see who logs the most steps in a day.  Their friendly competition has them finding creative ways to keep their feet moving throughout the day.

Using the buddy system isn’t just for children to keep them from getting lost while on an excursion; the buddy system can be used by you and a friend to keep you on course to reach your fitness goals.  Exercising with a buddy has many benefits.  A buddy can help you be accountable when you might otherwise skip a session.  A buddy can also help you work harder while you are exercising.  And most importantly, training with a buddy can make the work much more fun.  And the best exercise that anyone can do is the one that you will do enjoyably.  Using the buddy system in your exercise routine has many ways for you to find a fit new you.