Not only can working out on your own be boring, it can sometimes become dangerous and unhealthy. There are many reasons why we need to be assisted when we pursue the body of our dreams, and it’s not just for the laughs and the company. Spotting buddies are essential partners when you’re lifting. And it’s always good to have someone tell you when your form is off and help you identify your weaknesses. So, what advantages can you reap from having a workout buddy coming along with you that you simply wouldn’t be able to get on your own? (Image Credit: Bruce Mars/Unsplash)
Ups Your Motivation
According to this interesting study run at Stanford University, if someone just calls you every couple of weeks to motivate you and talk about your goals, it can help boost the overall amount of exercise you perform by up to seventy-eight percent. It’s a well-known fact that having someone to ‘answer to’ or someone we’re accountable to in one way or another helps us to more effectively achieve goals. It’s true at work and it’s true at the gym too!
Makes It Easier to Switch Things Up
When you’re alone, you have less time to think about changing your routine. It’s much easier to stick to what you know and keep doing it over and over again. You get comfortable with what you know as you get better at doing it. But having someone else there that might have different goals or interests will allow you to experiment with things you would not have tried on your own. Maybe you’ve never really played any team sports, and only played tennis or squash, while your buddy plays basketball. Well, now, both of you can play both sports together! (Image Credit: Julian Scheimann/Unsplash)
Helps You Eat Better
A good workout buddy is also a good nutrition buddy. If you’re doing the same exercises, you’re likely to need the same kind of nutrition. There are now apps that use artificial intelligence to help you with your gym and meal planning. You and your friend can get online and check out what https://spartan-apps.com/ and similar apps have to offer. Their AI coach is programmed to come up with personalized training plans that work just for you by analyzing your workout data and updating your training plans in real-time.
Allows You to Focus on Your Form
Having a buddy is much better than just having a mirror to judge how well you are performing. A mirror never lies but your brain might trick you into thinking you’re doing better than you actually are. A good friend will be there to tell you what you’re doing wrong, when, and why. Indeed, some real-time feedback! They’ll also be able to show you how to do it right if they know-how.
Makes Your Workouts Safer
When you are on your own, you sometimes have to maneuver and carry more than you should by any health and safety standards. Because there will be someone there spotting you and making sure your form is on point, having a workout buddy around will make for a safer overall gym experience. There’s nothing worse for your fitness goal than an injury from an ill-planned or ill-performed set of exercises. And no amount of individual expertise can replace the second pair of eyes. (Image Credit: Anupam Mahapatra/Unsplash)
You Will Feel Less Stressed
It’s no secret that a lot of us are more comfortable doing most things with a partner in crime. It doesn’t just make things easier to do, it also makes them much more fun. For example, you’ll be much more at ease bringing someone along with you than if you just went alone, no matter how brave you might be. According to another study published in the International Journal of Stress Management, individuals who cycled in pairs for thirty minutes reported they felt calmer after their exercise than those who had cycled on their own. They didn’t even have to talk to each other, just the fact that they weren’t alone allowed them to feel more comfortable.
Whether it is helping you achieve your goals directly through motivation and assistance, solidarity in meal planning, or trying new things, having a friend when you hit the gym or the courts is always better than going on your own. That’s not to say that you can’t and shouldn’t enjoy a solo session from time to time. Just make sure you balance things out. But, overall, there’s no denying that you’ll have a better time with a buddy.
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