YOUR FITNESS AND WELLBEING
OVER the last few weeks I’ve done better at attending the gym than I have done in years. So I’ve asked myself, what’s changed – and the answer is an easy one – I’ve been going with a friend.
That 6am text message letting me know that my friend Matthew is on his way to pick me up has been the motivation I’ve needed to be up and out early doors.
But it’s not just the “duty” factor that’s kept me going – the other benefits of exercising with a friend are well researched. Exercising with a friend increases: Weight Loss: People who work out with a partner lose up to 10 additional pounds than if they exercise alone, according to Motley Health. Weight loss occurs when you burn more calories than you consume. Any type of physical activity burns calories, including exercise. Combined with a low-calorie meal plan, exercise is likely to help you lose weight. This is possible whether you exercise alone or with a friend. A group session, however, might prove more beneficial than a solo one. Working out with a partner might also increase your motivation, encourage you when you need it and help you focus on your weight-loss goals. Mood: Exercise is good for elevating mood and reducing stress, effects that are enhanced when you work out with a friend, according to the American Journal of Health Behaviour. In addition, friends tend to enjoy exercise more when working out together, which increases motivation and reduces the chance that you’ll skip your session. Having an exercise partner gives you a chance to catch up with each other’s lives while fitting in a workout. Group exercise might also allow your brain to release more endorphins, this helps you get through difficult types of exercise by reducing pain and enhancing good feelings. Intensity: Exercising with a friend decreases feelings of fatigue and increases energy, according to a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Health Behaviour. When compared with exercising alone, working out with a friend increases the intensity of an exercise session and helps you keep going for longer periods of time. Exercising together might start a friendly competition, which allows you to push yourself harder than you would when working out alone. So thanks to my friend Matthew, I’m finally making some good progress. In light of what I’m learning, our team at the Leisure Trust has decided to do a special offer for the rest of February. With every adult annual membership bought between February 14 and 28, we’re giving away a second membership free so that new joiners can start their fitness journey with a friend. Drop into Marl Pits or Adrenaline (Haslingden) to find out more and sign up.