Training with a workout buddy can be lots of fun. It can help improve your program adherence and the quality of your workouts. However, to get the most out of partner training, it's important that you choose the right workout buddy.
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It goes without saying that it helps if you get on with each other. He or she doesn't have to be your best mate though - that can even work against you. Training with your best friend can be counter-productive since there's a good chance you'll spend too much time talking and not enough training!
Where do I find a workout buddy?
If you'd like to do some partner training but no one springs to mind, try posting on Facebook. You could even try putting an ad up at your local gym. Or post on your gym's social media pages. You might be surprised at the number of responses you get.
You could even ask some of the staff or instructors who work at your gym if they know someone that would be interested. The chances are they will.
A workout buddy with the right fit
Whoever you train with, it's important that you have roughly similar levels of fitness. If your partner is too weak to pass you the bar during bench pressing, or can't jog alongside you during a treadmill session, you won't get much benefit.
It also helps if your workout buddy is similarly enthusiastic about training. You don't want to expend all your mental energy trying to motivate them to turn up for a workout. Aim to find someone who lives reasonably nearby so you can both use a mutually convenient gym.
Ideally, he or she should also share a similar degree of commitment and time availability as you. Arranging to spend time in the gym shouldn't be a problem. If you're trying to train with someone whose schedule is equally busy, but clashes with your own, that's a problem. Having said that, remember that you don't need to train together all the time. You can combine your solo workouts with just one partner session per week and still get great results.
Finally, if you wander into the gym with your workout buddy and say "What do you fancy doing today then?" the chances are that one or both of you will come away disappointed. You need to sit down with your gym partner first and plan out what and how you're going to train. Ensure that this workout plan meets both of your requirements and goals.
If you struggle with this last point, perhaps consult with an experienced PT. They should be able to offer you some guidance as to what and how to plan your workouts. In one or two sessions, you can have a whole program written up that works for both of you.
