There’s a saying in the fitness community: Couples who work out together, stay together. And indeed, going to the gym together is good for your heart — in more ways than one. Here are 10 benefits of exercising with your partner that leads to longer, happier relationships.
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1. You Share A Common Goal
When your significant other is also your workout partner, getting and staying fit is just one more thing you both have in common. Sharing fitness as a common goal will not only leave you looking and feeling better, but the bonding time during your couples workouts will also help you feel closer to your partner as well.
2. You Always Have A Spotter
Some people prefer to work out alone, but you’ll have more exercises in your arsenal with a workout buddy. That’s because certain foundational and extremely effective exercises — like bench pressing, for example — require a spotter for safety. (Spotters are also great motivators for squeezing in that last extra rep.) Additionally, there are many movements you can do with a partner that you can’t do alone, like hook squats and partner push-ups.
3. You Have Unconditional Support
When you work out with your romantic partner, the unconditional love that you already share will carry into the gym environment as well. It’s much easier to get in a great workout — and indeed, to accomplish anything worth doing — when you’ve got someone who cares about you by your side, cheering you on.
4. You’ll Look Amazing Together
Have you ever been to a club or a restaurant and seen “the perfect couple” walk in together? It can stop the room for a minute. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to be that gorgeous couple, with all eyes on you? Just think about all the Instagram-worthy couple photos you’ll be taking together!
5. Your Sex Life Will Benefit
Couples that are physically fit tend to have more self-confidence, and report that their sex lives become far better after they get physically fit. Being more fit increases your endurance as well as your energy level, which certainly doesn’t hurt in the bedroom.
6. Giving And Taking Criticism Is Easier
Nobody knows you as well as your partner. When you have areas you need to improve then, or if you’re not giving your workouts 100 per cent, your partner is going to know how to give these critiques in a way that won’t hurt your feelings. This is a two-way street – when your partner is the one that needs to try harder or change the way he’s eating, for example, you can let him know these things in a kinder and gentler way than maybe would a stranger. The best part? You’re both working towards the same goals, so you both understand how difficult the journey can be. Patience, love and understanding are the pillars of a good relationship.
7. You Can Cook Healthy Meals Together
When you and your partner are also workout buddies, you can also become each partners when it comes to your diets as well. You are both less likely to cheat on your diet if you’re eating together; plus, cooking then becomes a team effort and a bonding experience. Couples who create meals together tend to be happier than those who constantly order in, because they spend more time working together, learning together, and creating together. Now that’s love.
8. You Respect Each Other’s Dedication To Fitness
When your romantic partner is also your workout partner, they completely understand when you say you’re going to be a little late tonight because you want to get a sweat session in. Even if you can’t always exercise at the exact same times –because let’s face it, schedules do get in the way – your partner will understand why going to this gym is a priority for you. Either way, that makes going to the gym totally guilt-free. For couples who don’t work out together, it’s much harder to understand how much effort one partner is putting in at the gym to look and feel great.
9. You Have A Built-In Motivator
Let’s face it: We’re not always excited to get off the couch and go work out. It’s far harder to make excuses with your significant other there, motivating you.
Working out together is just one of the many ways to make your relationship better. Not only will you get to spend more time with your loved one, you will look better, feel better and stay motivated because you’re getting fit as a team. Talk about #RelationshipGoals.
Sources:
- Feifer, Jason. (2012). “Your Best Workout Partner: Her,” for Men’s Health.com. http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/make-her-sweat. Internet. Retrieved 05 March 2015.
- DiDonato, PhD., Theresa. (2014). “5 Reasons Why Couples Who Sweat Together, Stay Together” for Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201401/5-reasons-why-couples-who-sweat-together-stay-together. Internet. Retrieved 05 March 2015.
- Racer, Amber. (2014). “Does Sex Count as a Workout?” for Fitness Republic. https://fitnessrepublic.com/fitness/exercises/does-sex-count-as-exercise.html. Internet. Retrieved 05 March 2015.