Motivation + partner(s) = success!

Some people log in some massive hours at their local gym, others hoof it up the side of a mountain, and many break a serious sweat in the center of their living room amongst the kids’ Legos (painful way to land a jumping jack!). Whichever venue is your favorite, (maybe even a combo of outdoors & in?) may you find inspiration, momentum and a teammate to take you every step along the way.

Within each domain or venue your workout space exists, tools are often involved- a paddleboard or yoga mat, for example. However, aside from specific fitness enhancing objects, one of the most important tools you need in any fitness regime is a motivator. What is the driving force behind your health goals? While milestones can inspire and convict many a couch potato: a future wedding, reunion or post-baby body. There are some already on the fitness track but need a breath of fresh air in that stagnant daily routine. “Find your strong”. Find your driving force, whether it be competing in a race, overall toning, fed up with the gooey middle area, or a desire to push yourself to limits never reached- until now.

Once you have honed in on your goals and the inspirations behind them, the next and equally important step is the buddy system. Call it “peer pressure”, “bandwagon approach”, or simple encouragement, the truth is, you are who you surround yourself with. According to U.K.’s the Telegraph: “Researchers compared the weight loss of a group of men and women who joined a fitness program on their own with a group who invited one or more friends to join in. They found that if the friend attended fitness sessions frequently and also lost weight it spurred their partner to do the same.” “Cultural modifications to

[these standard] programs—such as the inclusion of family members and support networks—may enhance their effectiveness,” the report author said. This can look different to many people, but the take home wisdom for this is ‘No man is an island’- instead, we are more like a machine: working, moving and spurring one another on.

Whatever stage you are at in life, identify your goals and the motivation behind them. Call up a close friend, join an online forum or team. Share what programs have worked the best for you throughout your workout history, the quirks that come along with them and cheer on others one step, jump, pedal, or paddle at a time. Oh, and don’t forget to thank the workout buddy that logs in that accountability sweat by your side as you hurled furious insults at them!