Who’s the Perfect Workout Partner for You?

Hey Angels and Alphas,

Whether you’ve just recently been introduced to the concept of male and female fitness or you’re a gym veteran with ten years of experience under the bar, anyone can benefit from training with a workout partner.

And it doesn’t matter whether you’re on the track, in the pool, or trying to deadlift hundreds of pounds off the ground. Working out is often perceived to be a solo grind, and for some people, it can even be a therapeutic way to get some alone time.

But getting that intense sweat session in doesn’t mean you have to discipline yourself to be that one gym loner. There’s always that sense of “yes, it’s tough, but we’re all in this together” between experienced gym veterans and gym newbies alike.

So do yourself a favor, and try calling in a workout buddy once in a while.

But you can’t just call anybody, right?

Let’s talk about the most common options you might have…

FIRST, YOUR TRAINER.

Every once in a while, it’s extremely helpful to talk to a coach and do some workouts with them. That’s why this is the best way to start this list.

Whether you’re trying to learn some proper technique for a new type of training you’re doing or you just need someone to be there to motivate you and help you push yourself to the fullest, the right trainer will do all of that, and allow you to realize that occasionally splurging on a session with a personal trainer is very well worth it.

The only disadvantage you have here is that there will usually be a cost associated with it, but overall, it will help you in countless ways including motivating you and giving you new useful info you can use to adjust your workout.

SECOND… A ROOMMATE.

If you’re trying to become a morning workout person (or you already are one), this option is one that’s definitely worth exploring. If you have somebody who is most likely within shouting distance when you wake up, this is going to make it harder for you to slack off and sleep in. Same goes with sharing a fridge with someone.

If you’re trying to clean up your diet and eat healthy, having a roomie is going to make it harder for you to sneak in that extra bucket of Ben and Jerry’s.

If you’re someone who can actually commit to a routine, you’ll be two people motivating each other to get up in the morning and hit the gym.

THIRD, YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER.

This only pertains to those couples who haven’t moved in together yet. Otherwise, see the section above!

And it also pertains to couples who have been seeing each other for a while. You’re not really going to take someone out on a spin class on your first date. Getting a glimpse into the routine of your partner is fun, and the playful competition that stems from it is very healthy.

Furthermore, working out with your SO can be a great dispute-resolution technique, as well as allow you to effectively settle arguments passive-aggressively. Watching each other grow and improve yourselves is something that truly strengthens relationships.

You can either use this as a change-up for your routine or something that becomes pretty regular.

FOURTH, YOUR GYM NEMESIS.

Nothing will get your juices flowing like training with your old (or current) gym nemesis. Ideally, this would be someone who you have formally or informally competed against in a sport or just throughout regular training.

If you’re a gym-goer, this might be the person whose physique is at a similar level to yours, someone who has just about as much experience as you do.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your gym nemesis and ask them if they want to work out with you. Doing so will spark your competitive instincts and bring out the best in you, and I assure you, it can be done in a completely friendly and healthy way. Who knows? You might even become friends!