Generation III Blog

One of the biggest motivators for some is to have someone along with them and naturally so.  We need someone to be with us especially to start something we are new to. Imagine some of the difficult things we do by ourselves, like job interviews, blind dates, and so forth, those all would be a lot easier if we had a friend with us.  There is a great upside to having someone at your side that shares the same gusto as you do. A partner can pick you up when your not fully up for the workout, they can be someone to compete against just to name a couple but can be among so many other motivational factors. Maintaining a good push and pull relationship is very important, likewise so is recognizing when to let go.

Find the Right Partner

Selecting a partner sounds pretty easy right? Not so much. Make sure you fully understand your goals. Knowing what you want if the first stop because it will do no good if you have a partner that does not carry at least similar goals.  Men and women as training partners are great as long as the goals stay similar. Going to the gym and lifting heavy would not be a similar goal for many woman. That can be discouraging if you need a spot or need a good prep talk before a big set. On occasion this is okay but be realistic. The goals have to be similar, working out with opposite gender can be a great benefit to the a relationship but make sure you both are there for the same reason and you guys out there do not be a know it all.

Before going out and asking your best friend, make sure they know your goals before you actually ask them to be your right hand (wo)man. If they share your enthusiasm take advantage.  Sit down and lay out personal goals together, this way you both know what needs to be done.

Make the Routine

• Sit down with your new workout partner and lay out the routine one week at a time. Lay out every time for all of the days your will be working out together.
• Make a make up time and consequences for no-shows and for being late. i.e. buy the post-workout meal, something to that effect. 
• Randomize the body parts you work. Often times excuses will arise for days partners don’t like like lower body. Decide when you get there and do it. (At the beginning of the week when you both sit to coordinate times, set up workouts, sets, reps and so forth.

Know When to Make it Your Own

Remember, this is for you. When your partner starts to skip out on you or is bringing you workouts down, it may be time to call it good and move on to someone else or your own rather.   The biggest issue with partners, is falling into a routine of comfortability. i.e. you show up and equally agree to skip this because your tired, “we should skip this day because this or that”, or when you are afraid to tell your partner he or she is slacking and you are bringing me down. When you are afraid to say something to your partner, it may not be the best partnership.

Your partner is there to help you and vice versa. You should be able to say when one another is being a sissy or a slacker. The first few times not so much, however when you both have been getting after it for a while, you know both limits and you both will know what buttons to press to motivate one another.

Keeping it Going

If you are one of the fortunate ones to keep your partner for a long while, you must have something going right. Make sure to keep the relationship spicy so to speak. Sit down every couple weeks and critique one another. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that, critique yourself and your partner by yourself. Some common problems are taking too long to get started, too long between sets because of chit chat, one of you spots too much (too quick to lift the weight), etc. Ask your partner if he/she feels like you do that too much.

Do NOT BE A KNOW IT ALL

Unless one of you is a personal trainer, do not be a know all, tell all what to do. My biggest pet peeve with partners is when they saw this great workout in magazine and that is all they want to do or want to change it every week.  Magazines are great references and can add a lot of variety, but workout basics still ring true. Some of those bodybuilding workouts are awesome, but very advanced and if you are not advanced be careful.

Those crazy awkward movements that Joe Blow saw some guy doing, not only looks silly but makes you look even dumber. Everybody know the guy at the gym that does those goofy looking curls, making loud noises, thinking he knows what the hell he is doing. Ask any bodybuilder, watch any bodybuilder’s workout you will see them doing the basics with slight adjustments to some of them. Please do not be that guy!