How a partner can improve your fitnes
BY: Jody Trierweiler
FITNESS
We all know that exercise is important for should be exercising on a regular and consistent basis. But so many of us fall short. According to the CDC, only 24% of American adults are meeting the current activity guidelines of at least 150 minutes of aerobic training and 2 days of muscle strengthening per week. That leaves 76% of us falling short of the recommended activity level. About 1 in 4 adults get no physical activity outside of their normal routine. Being too busy is the top reason that people give for not exercising. There is data on one way you can increase your amount of physical activity and also improve your mental health: Find a workout buddy!
Whether you workout with your spouse, partner, family member, friend, work acquaintance, or someone you meet at the gym, the research is solid. The National Institute of Health found that people who exercise with a friend were 32% more likely to get enough physical activity, and 45% more likely to report good mental health. Numerous studies have all concluded that when people have a partner to exercise with, they are much less likely to skip a session. You have someone else that is counting on you to show up! Various age groups have been studied, from adolescents through older adulthood and the results are the same, supporting greater exercise compliance and improved mental health status in individuals that found a workout buddy.
When my husband and I started to take a Saturday fitness class together, it improved our marriage, our fitness levels, and certainly our overall health. We looked forward to spending time together and encouraging one another to push our limits and get stronger. If I wasn’t feeling up to it, he’d encourage me to come and cheer me up. We almost never missed a workout in years! If you don’t like the gym, you can go for walks, bike rides, play basketball, or hike. Find something that feels social as well as physical to gain the most benefits.
Some key traits to look for are shared goals, complementary skills, and communication— reliability is important. You’ll want to find someone who will encourage you to not cancel and viceversa… also someone who will set a realistic agreedupon schedule you will be able to maintain.
This isn’t just a suggestion, your life literally depends on it. If you are lacking motivation to start a workout program, find someone who needs a buddy even more than you do! When you start together, it improves your chances of success. Start thinking about 5 people that you can ask to be your new workout buddy, and set a goal to ask at least one of them by the end of the week.
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Jody Trierweiler, C.N.C is a Career Mastered Magazine Contributor and health and fitness expert in Metro Detroit. Follow her and shop supplements @ jodysfitlife on Instagram and Facebook or see her on Live In The D on WDIV-4 NBC Detroit. Take one of her fitness classes at Life Time Fitness in Bloomfield Hills or Club Studio in Troy, Michigan.
