Does having a workout partner really help a person stay committed to an exercise program?

One standard suggestion you’ll hear offered to people just starting a personal exercise and nutrition program is, “Get yourself a workout partner!”

The idea is that having a workout partner will keep you accountable to exercising regularly and eating well. But does having a workout partner really help?

It can … or it may not. It depends entirely on you!

On the downside …

Human behavior is what it is. If you really do not want to exercise or eat well, you won’t, even if your partner is diligent in challenging your unwillingness to stick to it. It’s the same experience we see in having an “accountability partner” for living as a disciple of Jesus – it can be of real benefit only if you’re willing to be accountable to those holding you accountable!

On the upside …

With human behavior being what it is, if you’re willing to be accountable to a workout partner, you don’t really need one! You’ll be a self-motivated person who will stick to your regimens with or without someone encouraging or challenging you.

BUT, if you are willing to be accountable to a workout partner, there are benefits of having one, even if you’re self-motivated. Some of those benefits are …

An extra dose of accountability. Even the most self-motivated among us have moments when we may not feel like driving to a gym, or completing a full workout routine, and the encouragement and challenge of a partner is just the little extra push that gets you over the hump to stay with your program fully.

An extra set of eyes. Gyms have mirrors, not for admiring oneself, but to help you make sure you’re using proper form and technique when working out. Having an extra set of eyes can help catch errors you’re missing and better make needed corrections.

An extra set of ideas. Maintaining a personal exercise regimen means you’ll regularly have to change up what you’re doing to avoid plateauing. A workout partner can offer new ideas for changes or improvements for your workout routine.

Safety. When doing resistance training, having a partner to “spot” you helps make sure you’re handling weights safely.

Fun! If you’re an introvert, you’re happy to hit the gym and knock out a good workout alone, but for everyone else, an hour at the gym might get boring when spent without human interaction, even if you need to stay focused. Having a workout partner adds a social element that can make your commitment to exercise a little more fun, without being a distraction to your routine.

Opportunity for competition. Workout partners don’t always compete regarding achieving personal fitness objectives, but having a regular workout buddy provides an opportunity to add a little competition if desired. Adding a measure of competition to achieving workout goals can not only be fun, but can add an extra “push” and determination in reaching fitness goals.

Keeps you honest. It can be easy to tell yourself you’re doing better than you really are. A workout partner keeps you honest regarding your progress, or lack thereof.

An opportunity to serve. Having a workout partner isn’t a selfish act; what your partner provides to you is an opportunity to serve them in the same way. You’ll be looking after their best interests in helping them achieve their personal fitness goals.

As you can see, there really are some good reasons for having a workout partner. So let’s take a minute to go over what to look for when choosing someone to be your workout partner …

Someone you like and trust. You’re going to be spending time with this person every week, depending on them to hold you accountable, and you’ll be doing the same for them. So this person should be someone you like, enjoy spending time with, and trust enough to entrust them with accountability.

Someone who is committed. A person who misses appointments, is always late, makes excuses, or is generally unreliable does not make for a good workout partner. You’ll want to partner with someone as committed to their personal exercise program as you are to yours.

Same or greater fitness level. So that you and your partner can workout together, you’ll want someone whose fitness level is at least the same as yours; a workout partner with greater experience and knowledge can be helpful but that person is there to workout as well, not to serve as a Personal Trainer.

Compatible styles of motivation. If you need a cheerleader to get motivated and they need a drill-sergeant, then it’s probably not going to work out. Make sure you share the same motivational style.

Good attitude. Look for someone who is positive and friendly, solution-focused, and who keeps working for better results. They also need to respect your time, be dependable, and if they’re spotting you, you need to be able to trust that they’ve got your back.

Compatible schedules. If you like this person, enjoy their company, can trust them, and they’re really committed but your schedules never sync, then it should be obvious such a person isn’t a fit as a workout partner.

Having a compatible, reliable workout partner can help you achieve your fitness goals and make the process more enjoyable. But remember, it’s also an opportunity to serve the other person by being that reliable partner to them.

Scotty