R Buddy up to make exercise more fun
Keep good company and stay motivated, says fitness expert RUTH LYNCH
ESEARCH shows that you are more likely to stick to an exercise if you are doing it with a friend.
And as September has been designated ‘Friendship Month’ by Oddfellows, a charitable society all about companionship, now is the perfect time to look at how people of all ages can keep their fitness on track by bringing along a pal.
Being part of a team or exercising with friends brings camaraderie and a shared passion, making it much more appealing to both kids and adults, and making everyone more likely to commit to regular attendance.
Friends will also give you that extra push when you need it – not to mention the guilt trips when you fail to turn up to a class, and chatter and laughter during a session will help keep your mind off how hard your body is working.
BUILD YOUR COURAGE
TAKING a friend to an exercise class or gym session is perfect for anyone who is unsure about starting something new, whether you’re an adult or a child. Having someone by your side could give you the security you need to take on a new challenge, as well as feeling less conspicuous when you arrive for that first session.
Likewise, if your kids are a little unsure about trying something new, try encouraging them to take a friend, or see if there are options to introduce them to class participants before the sessions begin.
TEAM UP WITH YOUR KIDS
KIDS and parents can make the perfect exercise partnership, so finding something you can do together could be the key to unlocking a shared love of sport. This can be anything from running or swimming together, playing sports such as tennis or badminton, or kicking a football around at the park. As long as you are doing it as a family everyone will feel motivated to get stuck in.
Kids are also great for motivation. If you don’t feel like getting out and about for a kickabout, they will have no reservations about being honest and will make you defend yourself if you try and cancel without a genuine reason!
GUILT TRIP
KIDS aren’t the only persuasive power. We are all guilty of planning to attend a class, go for a run or finish the gardening and then, at the last minute, come up with a million excuses not to do it.
So, having a partner who will chastise you for ducking out or to give you some gentle encouragement to remain committed can be the difference between you making it out and staying at home.
Choosing a dedicated, headstrong friend who won’t let you off so easily is best – try to avoid pals who will be a bad influence and easily dissuaded from doing that final set of reps and going for a coffee instead! Make sure your active partner knows the rules – no quitting before you’re done.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
STARTING a new routine with a friend or your kids means you can share and compare your progress. A little healthy competition could be the thing you need to push yourselves that bit further, or perhaps setting targets you can reach together could be the key?
Adults need to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day and kids should do 60. Having a check list to ensure you are meeting these targets together could be enough, while fitness trackers could introduce a little healthy competition.
TEAM SPORTS
WHY limit your fitness pal to one friend when you can have a whole team?
If you or your child needs encouragement to get moving, or you are looking for an extra push, then joining a team could be the perfect solution.
There are plenty of team sports for all ages, from toddlers rugby to walking football and walking netball for older adults.
Not only are they great ways of keeping fit, but your kids will benefit from learning about teamwork and sharing responsibilities.
You are not limited to traditional team sports either, group exercise like fitness classes, swimming clubs and golf are all technically ‘solo’ sports where you can still benefit from being social.
FITNESS FOR ALL AGES
OLDER adults in particular are at risk of slowing down and thinking they are too old to exercise.
But joining an exercise class, whether it’s a low-level chair exercises or walking football, will give you all the health and social benefits I’ve been talking about.
The ready-made friendship group could also do wonders for your social life, especially if you’ve been looking to expand your horizons and meet new people.
Finally, the benefits of exercise are not just about maintaining a healthy weight or keeping fit; it is also a wonderful way of making and keeping in touch with friends.
So if you’ve got a pal who will be the push you need to get out and about, or if you think you or your kids could benefit from a wider and more diverse social circle, then why not look at your local clubs or exercise classes available to you?
If you know an older adult who could benefit from support from The Oddfellows and its members, go to oddfellows.co.uk
■ Ruth Lynch is Head of Health, Fitness & Communities at lifeleisure.net sports trust.