30 Apr Should You Get a Workout Buddy?

Have you been thinking about asking a friend or family member to join you in your workout?  While there are many benefits associated with having a workout partner, there are some potential downsides to working out with someone else as well.  Therefore, it is a good idea for you to explore both the pros and cons of working out with a buddy before you invite someone to joint you on your workout.

The Benefits of Having a Workout Buddy

There are certainly many benefits associated with having a workout buddy, with one of the greatest benefits being the fact that he or she can help motivate you to keep working out.  After all, its hard to make excuses when someone is there pushing you along the way – and canceling your routine is far more difficult when you have to face someone else.

In addition to having someone to help keep you on track, having a partner can also help keep you safer.  Let’s face it – it can be easy to accidentally overdue it and injure yourself when working out. With someone else there to serve as your spotter and to help make certain you are maintaining the proper form, you can feel a little safer.

Of course, another benefit to having a workout buddy is that you can challenge each other to take it to the next level.  Everyone has at least a little competitive spirit and having a workout partner can help get your competitiveness really going strong.

Downsides to Having a Workout Buddy

Although there are many benefits to having a workout buddy, there are some downsides as well.  For example, if you workout buddy is not dependable, you may not reap all of the benefits associated with having a partner.  If a workout partner is not dependable, this is often because he or she simply doesn’t have the same fitness goals as you.  Having different fitness goals can be a challenge as the length and type of workout you wish to pursue may be different from your workout out buddy’s plans.

For some people, having a workout buddy can also be a distraction that stops them from achieving their workout goals.  If you spend your time chit-chatting with your buddy, for example, you may not push yourself as you really need to push yourself.  Along the same line, some people prefer to enjoy “alone time” as they workout or they prefer to create their own schedule without concern for someone else’s schedule. Therefore, it is important to know yourself and your needs so you can make the decision that is right for you.