Working Out With Your Significant Other

Whether you’ve just started dating someone new or have been with your partner for awhile, there comes a time in every relationship when you ask yourself: should I work out with my significant other? Although you might be totally excited to do so, your partner may be less thrilled about the idea of spending time at the gym because ultimately preferences with regards to how, when, where, and with whom we exercise are highly individualized. We asked a few YPs what they thought about working out with their significant other, and here’s what they had to say:

Bring it on…

Time together. Spending time together at the gym (and commuting to and from) is a great way to make the most of your limited free time. Many YPs see time spent exercising together as a great way to have fun, stay healthy, and catch up on their day or week. 

Motivation and competition. For many YPs, just knowing that their significant other is expecting them at the gym keeps them motivated and holds them accountable to their fitness goals. For those with a competitive streak, working out with your loved one can motivate you to increase your usual pace, lift more weight, or jump a little higher.

Learn from each other. We all have different levels of experience and comfort with regards to exercise. As a result, some YPs totally appreciate the opportunity to learn from a partner who has been working out for a while or to try new activities and fitness challenges that their partner is passionate about.

Not so much…

Time alone. Regardless of whether we are more introverted or extroverted, we all need some alone time to unwind, refocus, and regroup. Time spent exercising, whether it is at the gym or not, lends itself well to this, especially it your schedules make it nearly impossible to coordinate time together at the gym. 

Work at your own pace. Mismatched goals and fitness/skill levels are common reasons why working out together does not work for YPs. While some feel pressured to keep up and maintain a level that is not appropriate, others feel that they need ease up on the intensity so that their partner can keep up. The result? Resentment and tension. Sometimes working out on our own is the best way to avoid drama.

Different style. While you love class-based activities, your significant other would rather spend time playing squash or wall-climbing. Do you love chatting on your runs? Turns out your partner finds that extremely annoying. Don’t worry if you are not compatible at the gym; like most things in life, it likely isn’t personal.