Today’s guest post is brought to you by Robert Boyd. He is the Managing Director of SportsEquip.co.uk, leading suppliers of ‘capital’ sports equipment and wet pour safety surfaces. Hmm… wet and safe, those two words almost never go together for me. Alright, on with the post (as usual my tidbits and thoughts are included with no extra charge)

With summer and beachwear starting to taking over across the country, many people have decided that it is time to get in shape [FJ: For those that are still doing this, please stop waiting till summer to get in shape… that’s retarded. Get started in winter so that when summer hits, you’re sexier than ever]. The first thing you need to do is come up with an intelligent fitness plan. This can be done on your own or with a bit of help. Then the question arises: should you try to reach your goals alone or should you find a group to get fit with? While there are some exceptions, most people thrive and tend to be more successful with group support by their side.

If you are thinking about beginning an exercise regime, it is time for you to consider whether you want to go at it alone or pair up with others.  First, honestly evaluate your personality traits and think about what you would expect from an exercise buddy or a group of them. If you have a very strong personality, are self-disciplined, and tend to be independent in other areas of your life, you should apply this to your workouts as well.  However, working out alongside a friend is extremely beneficial for the vast majority of people for multiple reasons.

First, joining up with a group for exercise involves a commitment.  When you make a fitness plan with someone else, it becomes much more difficult to break your commitments because that entails letting down the other person as well as yourself [FJ: This is a very valid point. The last thing I wanan do is let my workout partner down because I’m feeling lazy]. If, on the other hand, no one is paying attention to your attendance at an exercise class or taking note if you finish your morning jog, it is much easier to reduce your activity as no one questions you about your decision.  When this happens frequently, people who are working alone towards fitness goals tend to quit early in the game.

When evaluating potential exercise pals, be sure to be open and honest about your expectations.  Avoid pairing up with individuals who have tendencies to shirk last-minute on commitments.  When you are trying hard to make a gym visit a regular part of your routine, it can be very discouraging to get a call from your friend, letting you know that they will not be joining you.  Therefore, choose with success in mind.

Secondly, social ties are essential for overall good health.  Even if you just exchange a few words during your daily exercise regime, regular contact with other people helps you build relationships.  You can also use it as a great way to stay in touch with friends, especially if part of your routine involves activities where talking is possible.  Chatting about the latest events in your lives makes the time fly by.  Furthermore, it keeps your mind off the physical work and lets you get greater enjoyment out of the time spent exercising. That’s if you can catch your breath for long enough to string a sentence together!

In addition to providing company and helping you make a better commitment to a regular exercise regime, setting goals with a friend can also affect your eating habits.  Consuming food is by nature a very social event.  Making small changes in your diet is much easier if it is done alongside household members or close friends.  You can experiment with new recipes, and make a greater effort to cook at home.  This will reduce your intake of highly-processed, unhealthy foods so that you can both reach your goals to get in shape.

FJ’s Additions: While Robert makes some great points, there are a few more I wanted to add. First thing you need to know is that competition is a beautiful thing, so don’t fucking hamper it! If you’re working out with a partner, make sure you guys challenge each other and push each other every time. If you are in a group, try and be the best… do the extra 5 pushups or run that extra mile. It will only benefit YOU in the long run.

“But FJ, I’m not competitive by nature!”

Then get competitive until it becomes natural! It’s not so damn hard, just try and do more than the other guy or gal. You don’t have to be a jackass about it, but being competitive while being humble will bring a good vibe in the gym. A good example of this is the recent explosion of CultFit, I mean… CrossFit. While I don’t agree with all their methods, I do like how they group together and push each other. You can just see it, the energy in the room is high… and who doesn’t want to be a part of something like that?

Now let’s talk about reliance. While working out in a group or with a buddy is all awesome and shit, don’t you dare become reliant upon them. If they can’t train with you on a particular day for some reason, you should still have the motivation to go and take care of business! While I love working out with my partner, I don’t need him. I’m just as competent and contempt on my own. If you don’t think you can do this by yourself, then train yourself to. Take one week out of every month where you do shit on your own. Developing this type of independence in the gym will go a long, long way.

- FitJerk

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