Don’t Ditch Your Workout Buddy! Here’s 4 Reasons
Peer support may be one of the most influential determiners of whether you reach and maintain your health-related goals. You can go it alone, sure, but let’s face it: The pressure to fall off the wagon is everywhere, and it’s intense. Having a support system like a workout buddy (or a squad of buddies!) can significantly influence your ability not just to lose weight, but keep it off, and stick to your exercise plan. Here are four reasons why:
1. You remember you’re not alone. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one committed to a healthy lifestyle when you turn down the pie at an office potluck, bring a platter of veggies to a family gathering or rise early for a sunrise run while you’re on vacation, but you don’t have to feel that way! You can strategize with your workout buddy about what you’ll say when a relative elbows you at Thanksgiving about your “rabbit food,” or when your friends try to talk you out of your after-work run in favor of happy hour. Your friends might mean well, but these interactions can leave you feeling stressed and isolated. If your support squad is close by, then by all means plan your own get-togethers.
2. You can be honest. So many of us work overtime trying to present the image of a perfect life. If you’ve had a rough day, your work out buddy can be your lifeline. Showing that you’re a real person with flaws is a great way to strengthen your relationship. Your workout buddy can bring you back up when you’re down, and you can do the same for them. It’s OK to stumble; we all do. But we’re far less likely to throw in the towel if we’re surrounded by friends who can help us focus beyond today. Joined together by the Thrive Experience, Thrivers are a supportive community of people committed to helping other live happy, healthy lives. Good health is a lifelong commitment, so one bad day or bad week doesn’t equal failure by any means. It is the journey that counts.
3. You feel accountable. If you’re starting a fitness regimen with a support squad, you should team up with a workout buddy who will ask where you were if you skipped a workout yesterday. If you haven’t tried group exercise, working out with others can be incredibly motivating. In a group setting, you’re more likely to push just a bit further and increase your calorie burn. Whether it’s a spin class, running, aerobic or strength-training session, or boot camp-style class, exercising in a group offers you the opportunity to surround yourself with healthy peers. Many such groups socialize before and after class and can provide a great source of support.
4. You feel empowered. As you lean on your workout buddy and celebrate each other’s accomplishments, you begin to feel like you’re in control of your journey. You have hope, optimism and perspective. Now that’s healthy.
