Why 7 Reasons You Should Find an Exercise Partner Sucks

Why 7 Reasons You Should Find an Exercise Partner Sucks: If there's one way to ensure that you don't stick to an exercise routine, it's trying to do it by yourself. That goes for any activity without a partner - you're more likely to slack off and give up if you don't have anyone else who knows what you've been doing or has cheered you on. Which is why finding an exercise partner is so important.

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1. You’ll Be Even More Committed to Your Goals

It's a proven fact that more than 50 percent of people who start exercising as a New Year's resolution end up quitting by summer. But are you really going to skip out on your yoga class if a friend is saving a mat for you at the studio? Dr. Tanaka says that exercise partners provide great motivation to adhere to workout goals, and can also offer safety assurances when exercising alone. He recommends choosing someone with similar fitness goals so it doesn't seem like an obligation or chore, or someone who motivates you in other aspects of your life and vice versa.

2. You’ll Be Less Likely to Get Bored and Quit

In a study published in April 2015 in the British Journal of Health Psychology, researchers found that the emotional support of someone you trust can serve as powerful reinforcement for fitness goals.

Put a friend into the mix and see what happens! This article will go over some tips on how to organize your workout routine.

The Benefits of Exercise

Losing weight and building strength will help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes — and it'll make you feel great! And if everyone in the family gets involved, you'll be setting a good example for years to come.

You might be motivated by a specific event like beach season or wanting to look great in a swimsuit. Whatever motivates you, there are lots of ways to get moving.

3. It’ll Help You Feel Less Stressed

The researchers recruited 10 women aged 23 to 40 who said they had social anxiety disorder (SAD). Each woman was paired with one to three other women who said they didn’t have SAD. The goal was to make sure the participants weren’t deliberately competing with each other (which is not recommended for anyone with SAD), but rather to help by cheering each other on in the group exercise class, which took place at a gym in a university setting.

Hyperventilating during a stressor caused by a perceived threat has been linked with anxiety, depression, chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. Research also shows that people who exercise more regularly have lower levels of anxiety and negative moods.

We often rely on family and friends to help us get through stressful periods in life. But a partner may also help alleviate stress in exercise environments. In a small study published November 2017 in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, group exercise participants reported a 26.2 percent reduction in perceived stress levels, which was more than study participants who exercised on their own. That’s in addition to the fact that exercise (with or without a friend) provides stress relief, pumps your body with feel-good endorphins, and improves your mood, according to the Mayo Clinic.

4. You’ll Push Yourself to Work Harder

In a study published in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, researchers reviewed data from high school track relays and found that inferior athletes made greater gains compared with the top ones when everyone had to perform as part of a team. The researchers were looking to test the Köhler effect, a psychological theory that says motivation increases among individuals working in groups in comparison with individuals working alone, according to the American Psychological Association.

Other research shows this effect has also been seen in adults doing strength exercises; study participants worked harder (holding a plank position for longer) when working out with a partner than they did when doing planks on their own.

5. It Might Help You Stick to Your Weight Loss Goals

According to previous research that focused on a group made up mostly of female African American participants, a successful group effort may help you lose more weight than when you go solo. Study participants who tried to lose weight with the help of family or friends who were also trying to lose weight (everyone participated in a program that involved counseling sessions, dietary changes, and a physical activity program) tended to be more successful than those doing the program on their own.

This may be more evidence that surrounding yourself with motivated people who are working toward achieving their goals can help you stick to yours.

6. It’s Usually Safer

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, using a spotter when working with heavy weights maximizes safety and decreases the risk of injury. There’s also safety in numbers when you're out on a run: According to the Road Runners Club of America, running with others increases your safety. ".

Also, working with a trainer or signing up for a program like Pilates may help you improve your form and include progressions as you get stronger, which can make those moves safer. So if you've been thinking about trying Pilates, take the plunge! But if you have bad hips or knees, avoid moves that allow your body to twist too much.

“When people are young and healthy, they don't need to worry so much about the safety of an exercise or how heavy they should lift weights," says Tanaka. "Just keep it simple by choosing exercises that work all the major muscle groups in your body - shoulders, chest, back, biceps and legs.

7. You May Even Live a Few Years Longer

"Participation in group fitness activities is one of the most important determinants of longevity, but these are inherently social events," says study author Andrew Steptoe, Ph.D., of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. "So, these findings are really interesting."

Individuals who participated in sports, such as tennis and soccer, lived an average of 3.7 years longer than those who participated in solo activities, like cycling or jogging. The benefits did not extend to more solitary sports, like golf or bowling.

If your fitness routine is a social endeavor, it may contribute to your longevity.

According to a large study that followed nearly 9,000 people over the course of 25 years. The findings, published in September 2018 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that individuals who participated in group sports with more social interactions, like tennis and soccer, lived a few years longer on average than those who participated in solo fitness endeavors such as cycling or jogging.