Do you like to work out? I do. I want to be in shape, and I want to be healthy, but the biggest reason I like to work out is because I have workout partners. Without workout partners, I doubt I would workout as much as I do and I certainly wouldn’t enjoy it as much! On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I meet a friend at a local park to run. Technically, she runs faster than I do, but we both enjoy the company so much that she would rather run at a slower pace with me, than run on her own (and I’m so grateful!) On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the same friend and I meet at the YMCA to workout with weights. Then on most Sundays, I meet another friend downtown to walk the bridges together. It’s about 5 miles and takes us over an hour to do.
These workouts are good for me in several different ways. For one, it keeps me accountable to actually get up, get out the door and do it! If I were left to my own devices, I would probably skip more workouts then actually I care to admit! The temptation is very strong to turn off the alarm and go back to sleep, or start some housework project, or just waste time on social media! But I know that in order to keep my body healthy, I need to work out. So having a workout partner helps me to do what I know is good for my body.
Not only is it good for my physical body, though; it is also good for my heart and soul. During these workouts, we share things that are going on in our lives: struggles but also successes. We ask for and give advice, share prayer requests, or unload a heavy burden. Sometimes what we need is a sounding board for an idea or a dream. We might share projects, something we recently heard or read about, or a recipe to try. We might just need an ear to unload a heavy heart on or someone to share a personal success with. It’s great to be able to have friends to share these kinds of things with WHILE doing something healthy! It’s the best muli-tasking EVER! And since I’m doing it just about every day, it’s like having a regular (free!) counseling session!
Do you like to exercise? Do you have a workout partner? If you don’t, try finding one! If you do, what do you like about having a workout partner? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Glad to be your work out buddy!
So grateful!
I’m the opposite: I don’t enjoy working out in groups…unless I’m at a class or something. Must be the introvert in me
That’s funny because I’m an introvert too! But I just need the kick in the pants…
I hate exercise. With or without people. Can I please just read a book? *sigh* But I am slowly, gradually, coming around to realizing that it’s getting to be a necessary “evil” that I’m going to have to work into my lifestyle. Maybe I can at least reach a point where I can tolerate it? I don’t anticipate that I will ever love it. I never have.
You can read and walk on a treadmill! That’s how I was able to bike for an hour in July while participating in a YMCA challenge.
My best work out buddy is my hubby! Couldn’t do it without him.
I workout with my hubby sometimes but he runs faster than I do and he recently joined a thing called F3. Have you heard of it? It’s for men only. So he’s been doing that instead of the gym the last few months.