Thinking About Finding a Workout Partner?
Over the many years I’ve been an Austin personal trainer, and a gym owner, I have written about how everything in fitness is individual, countless times. Sweeping statements should be swept under the rug is what I’ve always believed. This holds true to virtually everything in the fitness world, including how to go about finding a workout partner.
A lot of people, myself included, prefer to workout by themselves. I don’t care to chat, I don’t need motivational help, and I view it as more of a distraction than a benefit. Many others would disagree with my sentiments. That’s fine. Whatever works for you. A lot of people partner up in the gym for a myriad of reasons. It could be to be held accountable for showing up in the first place. It could be motivational to have someone there almost competing with you. It could be just plain fun to undertake something with a friend. These are all valid reasons. In fact, there really isn’t any reason that would be invalid, within reason, of course.
Finding the right workout partner, however, is not as easy as it would seem. Perhaps I have failed at this too many times and that is the reason why I pursue my gym goals solo. I have met some big guys at the gym in years past, and worked out with them for a long time. Some had good knowledge, some had minimal. Some were focused, but the vast majority were very focused on their personal problems, which unfortunately for all, seemed plentiful to me, and less interested in working out than asking for advice, or just plain venting. That said, when you go about finding a workout partner, it’s vital that you match yourself up with someone who is on the same page as you. You don’t want to be listening to someone’s problems and getting distracted by their personal lives. You want to find someone who is motivated, interested in getting better workouts as a team, and furthermore, reliable.
While finding a workout partner, it is of very little relevance if that person is stronger than you. The only thing that matters is how much heart they have. I remember working out with my friend Jackie fondly. She would use 20 pound dumbbells for the overhead press, compared to my 95’s, but she put every last bit of effort into her lifts, and it was inspiring to have a comrade with equal determination. It was never a contest, nor even a comparison between us, but rather two friends doing their best. Unfortunately, our schedules ended up being non compatible, so I returned to my solo ways.
Another consideration when finding a workout partner, is compatibility. I would strongly advise an atheist to not seek out a priest as a workout partner, and vice versa. This only stands to reason. Where there is conflict, there is distraction. For the sake of the workout, it matters little who you vote for, or whether you are religious, but when strong and personal subjects like those arise, you’ll realize that it’s best to play with the home team, so to speak, unless neither one of you care about how the other feels.
A further consideration in finding a workout partner has to be the compatibility of your fitness goals. It stands to reason that if you were a guy wanting to put on a bunch of muscle and get other worldly strong, it wouldn’t behoove you to partner up with a lady who needs to drop 100 pounds of body weight. Full respect to both goals, but they are on opposite ends of the spectrum and very little similarities, including exercises, nutrition, and the like, would be shared. In a scenario like that, those 2 people would find themselves on opposite sides of the gym. Finding a workout partner who shares your same goals, is a relationship that has a better chance of succeeding. If you are crazy strong and wanting to get even stronger, and your prospective partner is not very strong at all, it matters little other than the amount of effort being compatible from both sides. I learned that first hand while working out with my friend Jackie that summer several years ago.
Another thing to weigh when finding a workout partner, is their reliability. It is of no benefit to arrange a workout session, and then you subsequently sit around for 30 minutes waiting for that person to arrive, or not. I have seen that countless times over the years as an Austin fitness trainer. It simply is a waste of time, non productive, and builds resentment. If someone isn’t motivated the same way you are, and towards the same fitness goal, then it’s best if you find someone else.
A personal trainer should never be considered a workout partner. If that’s the relationship you have, then you are wasting your money on an impersonal trainer who is just furthering a negative stereotype. If you decide working out by yourself, and furthering your practice, to borrow a phrase from yoga practitioners, is more to your liking, as I do, then that is great. It is equally acceptable to workout in pairs, or even a small group, for that matter. If that’s the route you choose, be careful and thorough when finding a workout partner. Be sure of compatibility across the spectrum, as well as reliability, and you will set yourself up for the greatest chance of success.
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Andy
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