Hello, fellow Oles!
We all know that staying fit is hard. It’s even harder when you’re doing it on your own. With no one to keep you accountable, how can you possibly resist the temptation to eat chocolate and skip your Skoglund workouts? Luckily, there is a simple way to increase motivation and accountability- finding a fitness buddy who pushes you be healthy and work hard! Here are some ways you can use the buddy system to maximize your workouts and improve your eating habits.
Push yourself and your buddy
When you’re working out with someone, chances are you will work harder and longer. Buddies encourage you to keep going, even when all you want to do is quit. When you’re working out with someone, you are more likely to be distracted or to want to match your buddy’s output. Overall, it’s very likely that a buddy will make you work harder for a longer amount of time!
Establishing a schedule
It’s a lot harder to skimp on a workout when you planned to meet someone for it. Make a standing gym date with your workout buddy, and then keep it. If you both establish that you’ll go down to Skoglund at 4:30 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then it becomes part of your daily routine. Once that’s in your schedule, it’s a lot less likely that you’re going to skip a workout.
New workouts
Who wants to go to a new Zumba or Yoga class alone? Group fitness classes are a lot more fun if you go with a friend. If you go with your workout buddy, then you both get a workout in while also trying out something that you may come to love.
Food accountability
Eating well has always been a huge challenge for me. When I have a fitness buddy, however, I have someone to share healthy foods with, tame my sugar consumption, and work with me to ensure that I’m eating balanced meals. It’s amazing how much easier it is to eat healthy when you’ve got a friend who is encouraging you to do so!
More fun!
Finally, workout buddies make a workout a lot more fun! Cardio goes a lot faster if you have someone to goof around with and talk to. When my friends and I work out together, we like to talk about our days and what’s on our minds. When those topics run out, we will play cheesy get-to-know-you games (Kiss, Kill, Marry, anyone?). So, you’re multitasking! You get a great workout in and get to know your friend even better.
Now that we’ve established that fitness buddies are a good thing, let’s talk about how to pick the best fitness buddy for you. I would suggest picking a fitness buddy who is a close friend that values fitness in the same way you do. You’ll be more open to sharing the details of your fitness life, which makes your interactions all the more valuable. Make sure you also pick someone who is on the same schedule as you! It will make planning workout times all the easier.
I hope you all are able to find workout buddies who push you to be the healthiest Oles you can be!
Stay fit, Oles!
Pictures: cover, push yourself, establishing a schedule, new workouts, food accountability, more fun