Biggest Loser Tip #4: Finding a Workout Partner
So you’ve decided to start a journey towards better health in 2022? Congratulations! That is a big step and quite possibly an overwhelming one. With so many options and ways to lose weight or simply improve your health it can be hard to know where to even start. Thankfully you have us at Buckner Wellness to forge a clearer path for you to accomplish all your health goals this year.
If you haven’t already be sure to check out our guide on The 90 Day Body Fat Challenge. We will also be providing you with weekly tips on simple things you can do to get started (and keep going) on your weight loss, health and fitness journey. This week’s tip explains how partnering up can be beneficial to your health and fitness journey.
WHY WORKOUT PARTNERS WORK
Starting a new health regimen is fun when you are starting out, however, once the novelty wears off it can be easy to fall off the wagon a bit. This is where having a workout buddy can be beneficial to your success.
For starts, everything is more fun when you have someone around to talk to and joke around with. It makes something like working out or sticking to a healthier eating pattern a little more enjoyable when you know someone else is going through it with you.
There is also substantial proof that people with a sense of community live longer, happier lives. This is because by nature we are social creatures and need that interaction daily to feel fulfilled. Having a workout partner is a great way to satisfy that need while also working toward other healthier lifestyle goals.
Finally, having a workout partner helps to keep you accountable—you just have to make sure you pick a person as motivated as you to push through the tough times. When someone else is there with you and knowing what the goal is, it becomes much harder to slack off or take a day off.
HOW TO PICK AN IDEAL PARTNER
Your best friend may not be your best option. Yes, you want to pick someone you will have fun with and will make the workouts enjoyable. However, you are also going to want someone that helps you raise the bar and that’s going to keep you on track. That could be your best friend, but it also may not be. Ultimately, you have to decide whether your friendship can handle the stress (and awkwardness) that can sometimes come from having to be the “bad guy”.
Find someone that wants similar results. It is hard to accomplish much if you aren’t on the same page as your workout buddy. Maybe you want to get more toned, but they want to lose 20 lbs. Or perhaps you are looking to run a marathon, but for your partner it’s simply about establishing a better habit of going to the gym. Having drastically different goals can make working out hard when you both need something different in order to be successful. When you choose a partner make sure you keep in mind what you are trying to accomplish and someone that matches that desire.
Make sure your schedules sync. Don’t pick a partner you can never meet up with to get your workout in with. That’s not to say you have to do every single thing together, but the whole point of having a partner is having you meet with at least 2-3 times a week. If you guys are on totally different schedules that doesn’t allow that, you need to consider someone else.