PHYSIOLOGICA: WHY A “BRO” OR “BRO-ETTE” SESSION MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY TO SMASH YOUR WORKOUTS.

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January has come and gone, and once again peoples minds turn to making some often big changes to their lives. Exercise or the lack of it is often right up there with proposed new priorities and changes in a new year, but unfortunately it’s often doomed to failure by March. 

Many gym chains actually rely on this failure as part of their business plan. In fact, If all their members turned up for a workout, they would be in real trouble. One way to significantly improve your chances of sticking to a new exercise regime is to train with someone. 

So, if you’re training alone and have failed to maintain your training past the first few months, ask your friends, or family and see if they feel the same. If you find a like-minded person, meet up and start training I together, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much of a difference it can make.

Let’s discuss why this is the case;

1️⃣ GOAL SETTING: This may seem obvious, but is worth highlighting. If you don’t have a clear objective or end goal, it’s highly probable that you’ll run out of steam. Pick something Specific, not just an undefined “lets lose weight”.

Some ideas:

  • Choose a challenge, or event eg: a hike, run, obstacle course race like “Tough Mudder” or “Spartan” etc, and train for it.

  • If weight loss is your goal, chose a realistic fat loss target and a date to do it by (get your gym to take your body-fat % for you)

  • Chose a simple fitness challenge, for example a number of press ups in a minute, a 1k time’s run and compete with your training partner.

  • Make a friendly bet. The winner taking money from the loser for a given charity.

2️⃣ MUTUAL SUPPORT: We’ve all woken up and thought “No! Not this morning - I can’t face it!”. If we were training alone, it would be easy to hit snooze and skip a workout. However, if someone is relying on you, expecting you, and needs you to train with, then you’re much more likely to drag yourself out of bed. 

3️⃣ MORAL SUPPORT: Sometimes workouts don’t go well, and you feel like you’re going backwards not forwards. A workout partner will give you a kick where needed, but also a hug (real or metaphorical) when needed. 

4️⃣ ACCOUNTABILITY: A training partner will hold you accountable if you don’t hit your goals, if you miss your workouts or don’t put the effort in during the session. On your own, it’s easy to cruise through a workout if your hearts not in it, then go home frustrated with yourself.

5️⃣ INTENSITY: Training with a partners often ups the intensity considerably. On your own, It’s easy to get distracted between sets or rounds and take your foot off the intensity pedal. You’re also less likely to get chatting to other gym users and more likely to keep each other on track, especially if you have sorted out and agreed your goals beforehand. 

So give your workout Bro or Sis a nudge and go for it, it might just be the change you need to reinvigorate your training. 

Lee Carnaby