Have you heard of ‘phone a friend fitness’? No? That’s hardly surprising, given I’ve just invented the phrase (as far as I know). Perhaps it’s not a bad one, though, if the advice of some fitness experts is any guide.
That advice is to find yourself an exercise partner, someone who can help you stay the course to improve health. And at the same time, the chances are you’ll be returning the favour.
The idea of an exercise partner makes a lot of sense when you think about it. The concept brings with it a number of potential advantages.
One fairly obvious one is that it creates a level of commitment that might not otherwise exist. If there’s one thing I hate doing, it’s letting a friend down. I’m far less likely to ‘pike’ an exercise session if I know I’ll be disappointing someone other than myself.
Having an exercise partner may also lead you to working harder.
A little bit of friendly competitiveness can certainly get the juices flowing and add an element of fun. Just don’t get too competitive – you want to to strengthen the friendship, not ruin it!
Which brings me to another advantage. If that partner is already a friend, exercising together can help strengthen the friendship. And if that friend brings along another of their friends, you might develop a new friendship with them.
I have a lived experience of this. After my marriage ended, I started having cricket ‘net’ sessions with a friend. They brought another friend along and before long I’d joined that friend’s cricket club. Now, years later, I actually enjoy the club’s midweek training sessions more than the weekend games!
What if you’re more of the solitary type?
We’re all different. Some of us prefer our own company when exercising. There’s nothing wrong with that.
What you might miss out on, though, is taking your mind off the exercise task at hand. Not focusing on each passing few metres means you’ll likely exercise for longer.
But if your preference is to exercise alone, consider a different type of exercise partner – podcasts. I have a daily step count target and whenever I need to go for a walk alone to achieve my goal, podcasts are my friend.
The beauty of podcasts is that whatever your interest, there will be one out there that caters for it. I jump between sports, true crime, history and science. But the number of subjects for which there is a podcast is almost endless.
The science behind having an exercise partner
As well as building friendships and fitness, having an exercise partner can help you lose weight. University of Massachusetts researchers found participants lost more weight when support partners took part in the same program.
Others participating alone, or whose support buddies didn’t lose weight, did not do as well.
Another study, published in 2021, found that exercising with your romantic partner can provide the same benefits. In many cases, having their life partner as their exercise partner improved both their fitness and the relationship.
The phrase ‘phone a friend fitness’ might not catch on, but the benefits of having an exercise partner are myriad. So get out there and have a good time with your exercise partner in crime!
Do you have an exercise partner? Have you found it beneficial? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
Also read: The importance of exercise in stroke recovery
Health disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
