Whether you’re just starting out or you are a seasoned pro, everyone can do with a gym buddy by their side while they’re working out. We sometimes think of going to the gym as a personal, individual experience, but this isn’t the only way to go. In fact, you might be doing yourself more harm than you realize just by going solo. Below, we outline five reasons why it might be time to call up one of your old friends and see if they want to become your gym partner.
How many times have you gone to bed believing you’ll go the gym the next day, only to wake up, see that it’s raining or cold, and decide to stay in bed? We’ve all done it before, and we’ll all do it again. But it’ll be harder to do if we have someone out there waiting for us. Sometimes, knowing that a person is expecting us to be somewhere is all it takes to get ourselves out of bed. Everyone is excited about the gym, to begin with, but motivation begins to wane, you’ll have your partner on hand to gee you up.
Making it Fun
Having someone else there with is about more than just motivation. You’ll soon find that going to the gym is fun! Think about when you go to the gym by yourself. There’s plenty of downtime. In between sets, getting changed, drinking water, and so on. Instead of being by yourself, it’s cool to have a friend there to chat and joke around with. You’ll be hanging out with your friend and getting fit and healthy at the same time: score!
Pushing Yourself At the Gym
Another thing we’re all guilty of is…not pushing ourselves as hard as we probably could or should. When things get tough, we have a tendency to stop as early as possible, especially when it comes to things like weight lifting. But when you have a friend by your side, you’ll have an instant motivator there to say, ‘come on, just ten more.’ It’s a bit like having your own personal trainer. And of course, you’ll be on hand to give them an extra dose of motivation when they feel like quitting, too.
Not Overdoing It
It’s all too easy to become a little arrogant when the signs of the gym begin to show. Whether it’s bulking up or slimming down, when we’re starting to look good, it can go to our head. While a little bit of ego is OK, if you have a friend there to make sure you don’t get above your station, it’ll never be able to get out of hand.
Two Brains Have you discovered a new exercise technique? Good, share it with your friend. When they learn the same, they’ll tell you. You’ll be two brains figuring out the most effective workout routines, and that can count for a lot. You’ll also be able to see how other people work out and maybe improve your own routine at the same time.
