keepin' accountable

How to Pick the Perfect Workout Buddy

Hint: friendly competition can only help.
(c) Cultura/Edwin Jimenez

I don't think anyone will argue with me when I say working out with a friend is better than working out solo. Who else are you going to make grimace-y faces at during the fifth set of burpees or exchange side-eye with when you see some bro grunting by the weight rack? And, obviously, having someone to hold you accountable can go a long way in actually getting you to the gym.

But, who you pick to work out with can make all the difference in your sweat sesh. So, which friend should you choose? Someone who's more fit than you, according to new research published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise*.* Participants were asked to hold a plank as long as they could, and as soon as they finished, they were told that similar exercisers held the pose 20% longer than they did. Then, they were asked to perform another plank for as long as they could. The result: participants held their second plank 5% longer than their first, thanks to peer pressure and a new level of competition.

This totally makes sense to me—even when I'm not sweating ** with someone I know, I'm competitive with the people around me. Uh, hello, that's why I love Flywheel so much (as far as I'm concerned, if I'm not on the leaderboard, the workout doesn't count!). So, next time you're looking to really maximize your workout, don't invite the friend you can out-run on the treadmill; invite someone who's going to make you ** work a little harder to catch up.

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Image Credit: Cultura/Edwin Jimenez