One of the things in which I have prided myself over the years has been my ability to adapt. While it can be argued that this may stem from my years of military service or even the skill of a good pilot to meld with assigned crew, the ability to adapt can go so much further. Most fitness regimes, goals and coaching classes I have developed were for a single person working out on their own. In the last several months I have had the good fortune to partner with my significant other during my daily fitness ritual. While it can be said that anything I have learned is purely anecdotal, I can tell you that I have discovered a few things that may make your fitness journey more interesting.
Accountability
First, I have taken great pride in my own ability to focus and set goals. What I was missing was having someone who would help hold me accountable for what I was trying to achieve. Having a partner with whom to share your goals, no matter what they are, creates an external force that will hold you responsible. Sharing your goals and asking for help will help you achieve your goals faster.
Motivation
Ever have one of those days? You know, the “I can’t work out today,” that turns into “I haven’t seen the inside of a gym in three months!” Since I have been working out with my partner, I feel more motivated to be in the gym and if I miss one day, I can live with it, but we haven’t gone more than a couple of days without being in the gym, or outside walking.
Competition
I have also found that a little friendly competition can do a lot for your fitness goals. I have a teenage son who often tries to show me how strong he is when he slings heavy weights. While I would like to believe that at my age I can still keep up, sometimes I wonder if it’s possible or advisable. Being pushed a little and having small competitions on form and raw strength have helped me work harder when I hit the gym. This doesn’t mean I can do what I did 30 years ago, but that little bit of competition makes going to the gym fun.
I have heard “adapt or die” as a business slogan, but it also relates to fitness and nutrition. You should always be looking for ways to improve or add new ideas into your fitness repertoire.
As always, if you have questions or ideas for future articles, please send me an email and I will do my best to include your idea(s) into future articles. [email protected]
