3 benefits of exercising with a buddy

One of the best ways to make sure that I work out everyday is to do it with an exercise buddy.

I often take classes with friends; it makes it more fun, and we can grab dinner after.  My friend Karen and I walk with our daughters in their strollers at least once a week, for an hour.  We both so look forward to our walks; they give us a chance to catch up, exercise and have our children in the fresh air.  Part of what draws me to teaching and taking Stroller Strides classes is that I am with other moms.  We get to chat between squats and push ups.  I love working out with friends.

Not everyone thrives on having an exercise buddy.  I know many people who are prefer to work out solo, and that is great too.  For me, however, I find that exercising with others has a number of benefits, including the following:

1.  It makes me show up.  When I take an exercise class with a friend, it is scheduled into my calendar like anything else.  My walking buddy Karen and I plan our walking date the week before.  This makes it just as much of a priority as anything else.

2. It motivates me.  I love sharing my fitness highs with friends.  In my Stroller Strides class, the other moms and I encourage and support each other even when we are exhausted.  I find it motivating to work out with friends.

3. It gives me some social time.  As a stay at home mom to a toddler, I have some days without any real adult conversation.  Working out with a friend lets me fit my workout into my schedule, as well as socializing.

If you are having a hard time sticking to a workout schedule, consider inviting friends to join you.  Other ideas include connecting with a buddy at your gym, signing up for a specific workout class with a group of friends or asking a neighbor to walk with you. You could also set up a regular tennis game or join a sports league.  There are so many ways to make exercise fun and social.

Of course, I have a very special fitness buddy who I work out with almost everyday: my daughter Emma.  Although she doesn’t give me the adult interaction that my friends do, she does motivate me. I run with her, walk with her, and bring her to Stroller Strides classes.  When I put out a yoga mat for core work and stretching, she always gets down on the mat with me and does her own toddler workout.  It is so important to me to show her how awesome fitness is, and I am so fortunate that I am able to do so.   Emma is absolutely the best workout buddy I could ask for: her presence motivates me to run further, to train harder and to make sure that I exercise every single day.