There are multiple reasons why working out with a gym partner will give you a leg up on your workouts. First of all, when working out with a buddy, it’s more fun, you’re going to do it more, stick with it longer and in the end, you’ll get better results. Of course working out with somebody you know will add a little fun to your workouts. It will take some pressure off of yourself when you are not doing the most fun workouts in the world, like hitting the treadmill or working on your bench press. Working out with a gym partner will also assure you that you will always have a spotter. As long as they know what they are doing, they can give you advice on your form and vice versa. It is a great learning opportunity as your partner may know tips and techniques that you don’t. The more you learn, the more you will advance your level of fitness.

Another big reason why you should take advantage of a gym partner is because they are counting on you to be at the gym with them. It’s one thing to cancel on yourself, but it’s much harder to say no to a friend who is counting on you to be there. It will help you stick to a schedule and keep you on track, which is very important when trying to get in shape.

Hiring a Personal Trainer who is well educated in the field and has been forced to work around many things in the past throughout his career adds an entirely new element to the workouts. The accountability level is so much greater because you are investing in yourself. When asked the question “What are the top three most important things in your life?” “Health” is always among the primary answers. Yet, when we look at where the same people allocate their funds, we find health being one of the smallest slivers on the pie chart. Invest wisely in yourself and it will pay huge dividends.

“How do I find the time in my schedule to make this a priority?” Stop with the excuses & MAKE the time. Heart attack is still the number one killer in this country and fear is usually the biggest reason why people procrastinate. Having a partner or hiring a trainer ingrains in your mind that someone is there waiting for you, relying on you and there to cheer you on. Some of the best athletes in the world have people there to coach them up, cheer them on and put their boot in your butt when needed. This is a psychological commitment with physical results.

The best of both worlds is working out with a partner that is led by a professional personal trainer. Our industry had advanced tremendously over the past 20 years and our knowledge about exercise science has evolved. The tools we have at our fingertips get better and more advanced each year. Why not hire a professional to deliver world class results to you and a friend. It will increase your likelihood of success and achieving your goals 10 fold.

Authors: Jeff Schopka & Kevin Dunn, CEO TEST Sports