+ Couples that try to get healthy together are 3 times more likely to succeed than those who do it alone. This includes weight loss, doing more exercise and losing weight. Once one of you changes your lifestyle, it’s much easier for both of you to follow your new plan due to the ‘community effect’.
- It takes away from your ‘you’ time and you may lose focus on your own goals. As good as it is to vary your workouts, you don’t want to get stuck doing workouts that won’t be beneficial to you and your goals.
+ 70% of people start exercising more regularly when they work out with their partner. If your significant other is jumping out of bed on a Saturday morning, they’re not going to let you stay cosy under the duvet for a few more hours’ kip! If they’re going, then that means you are too.
- Competing could lead to you overdoing it and leaving you injured. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition but you don’t want to push yourself so far that you end up hurting yourself. No injury is worth the bragging rights over your partner!
+ It can be a learning experience. Aiming for goals together can show you more about yourself and your partner and how you can grow together as a team. It makes you focus on communicating, being more supportive and being both strong and weak. There’s a mutual vulnerability that will inevitably only make your bond stronger.
- You may be deterred if they reach their goal before you do. The chances are you will start off at different fitness levels and everyone responds differently to exercise. You don’t want to be lowering your workout levels and therefore diminishing the benefits, to make your partner feel better – patience will soon run out.
There seems to be a pretty equal split with the reasons of why you should and why you shouldn’t take on you gym goals with your partner, so why not try to find the balance. Agree to go for a run together once a week or head to the gym at the same time after work but don’t plan to stick to the same routines.
It’ll work for some and not for others – so give it a try and let us know how you get on!
