It’s a fact: If you have a workout partner, your chances of sticking with an exercise routine – and meeting your fitness goals – will increase.

So, this Valentine’s Day, grab your partner or spouse and get your heart pumping – in the gym.

If you are like most people, you probably started an exercise routine this year. Maybe you are trying to drop some pandemic pounds or maybe you are trying to meet a goal or milestone. Logging your workout hours alone can be, well, lonely. But if you have a partner to workout with and keep you on task, it can be more enjoyable.

After all, while you may bail on yourself, you likely won’t bail on a friend or romantic partner.

Why? Let’s take a look.

Physical activity has many benefits, but rates of adherence to exercise programs are typically low. But if you look at who sticks to their exercise program, you’ll often find people who have some level of social interaction have a better shot. So, what does this look like? Social variables like encouragement from others, following along on someone else’s fitness journey and being included in exercise routines and using a social networking site to build an accountability team have all been shown to increase exercise adherence.

Socializing outside the gym or workout time (after all, many of us workout at home now!) with people you meet there is the best predictor of exercise frequency. Exercising with a friend or partner is the best predictor of exercise satisfaction.

There’s evidence that show that friendships that involve exercising together and the social contacts that result from exercising in public places such as gyms may motivate exercise behavior.

Basically, there are social – as well as physical – benefits to exercising with a partner. And those social benefits (conversation, motivation, bonding) keep people going back for more.

Right now, you can still exercise with people even during the pandemic. There are ZOOM classes, online accountability and challenge groups and working out outdoors are all options.

Beacon Physical Therapy

At Beacon Physical Therapy, we hope you can connect with a friend or loved one to get back into an exercise regime you love. If you are having an issue, make an appointment today. We’d love to meet you and get you back to doing what you love.