Find A Fitness Friend
By Jody Giardina

Recently I have found a few new friends who are joining me in my workouts. It has changed my entire outlook on working out. I had gotten bored and tired of working out myself and found myself just going through the motions.

Here are the benefits I have found from working out with others:

1. Fitness friends make you accountable. If I say I will meet them at 6:00am at the pool, I will be there. I most likely will arrive 5 minutes early so I don't keep them waiting for me.

2. Fitness friends provide variety to the workout. We all take turns planning out the workouts. I am more motivated by doing someone else's workout than my own. Maybe it is a new walking route, or a new sequence of stretches. Variety will help motivate and keep us exercising for the long haul. It is much harder to drop out of someone else's plan than your own, and you will find you will work much harder.

3. Fitness friends make the time fly by. It is amazing what good conversation will do to help pass the time. The workout will be over before you know it. We solve the world's problems on a 5-mile run.

4. Fitness friends challenge you. There is nothing like a bit of healthy competition to make us physically and mentally stronger. You push each other, which benefits everyone involved. Some day I have more energy than my friends, and some days I need their motivation to keep me going. We feed off one another.

5. Fitness friends create lasting friendships. Exercise has a way of bonding relationships quickly. Many of my fitness friends have become my best friends.