I’ve been going to the gym regularly for a few years now....

For a long time I *really* wanted to have a workout buddy to help keep me motivated and accountable at the gym. However, it’s a tremendous challenge to find someone that has a similar schedule, compatible level of experience and somewhat similar workout routine....so I’ve been going to the gym on my own.

Instead of being accountable to another person, I simply keep a log of my workouts, etc. so I’m accountable to my log book.

Instead of bonding with another workout buddy, I bond with my music.

Ironically, I’ve found it to work really well for me, and now realize that a workout partner would probably make my workouts take alot longer than they do now.

I now go to the gym duing my lunchbreak, and I’ve found that many co-workers from my company hit the gym at the same time. In fact, there are so many people there from my company during lunchtime (approx 20-30 of us) that we unofficially take over the place from 12pm-2pm.

Interestingly enough, eventhough there isn’t much conversation that takes place at the gym between these co-workers (hey, we’re there to workout, not to socialize) I’m finding an interesting dynamic taking place between all the folks there.....a new kind of networking and bonding, where seeing the same folks in the hallways of the office later in the day - we now share a common daily routine.

I’m just wondering…

What has YOUR experience been like?

Have YOU been workout out with a partner? Have you found it helpful?

try this site for online partners
http://www.peertrainer.com

Yes, I understand what you are saying!

In college I had lots of “buddy’s” but ambitions only lasted at most one session for each

I quickly realized that my goals were different than my “buddy’s” and it was simply not going to work out.

I believe having a buddy *is* possible and could be *highly* successful but for me it would take time to find that special partner. So my personal preference is to ‘have a date with myself’.

Besides, working out to Scott is kinda-sorta-like having a partner and listening to all the letters reinforces that we are all in this together.

I’ve tried having a buddy a couple of times, but in those cases neither of us was motivated enough to not let the other person slide.  And I usually prefer to not chat when I work out, in fact I quit the gym in part because my town is too small and everyone wanted to chat while I was resting between sets.

I use my calendar the way Tech Guy uses his log for accountability. I write my workouts with a big felt tip pen when I’m finished and it’s nice to see them lining up across the page.

I do like the daily workout/diet log section that Scott made.  For me it is also a form of accountability - I know I can post my workout for all to see, and when I don’t work out you guys see that too (as I haven’t worked out since Saturday).

Thanks for the interesting reading in the posts. I started going to a uni-gender gym. I felt less overwhelmed. Whatever it takes to get inside your head, and find out what works for you is the way to go. The gym offers some participation incentives for group exercise classes. This morning I rolled out mainly because I wanted “one more stamp” on my participation chart. Could anything be more ridiculous for an adult? But it got me going. And once I got to the gym, I asked someone why they were not on the way to class. When the person said: “I’m running late”, I replied: I’ll set up your equipment—just come along. When you look for opportunities to be helpful, it reinforces your own commitment to follow your program, no matter what it is.

StepperUp - 25 February 2006 08:19 PM

This morning I rolled out mainly because I wanted “one more stamp” on my participation chart. Could anything be more ridiculous for an adult? But it got me going.

Hi Stepper,

It’s not silly at all.  People do the same thing with to-do lists: they put items down just to cross them off.  I’ve got a sheet that I bring to every workout so that I can chart my progress.  I need to see it in writing for it to be “real.”

So there’s nothing silly about wanting another stamp / gold star / whatever.  If it works for you, that’s all that matters!

Welcome to the community!

Julie