O1xygenAustralianJulyAugust2015_

When it comes to losing weight and

getting in shape, do you feel “alone” – that

it all feels too hard by yourself and you

are not having fun?

REVIEW YOUR EXERCISE PROGRAM

The first step to increase the effectiveness

of your workout program is to check your

current motivation level and to see if you

are experiencing any of the following:

• boredom with your current
  exercise routine;


• low energy levels;


• lack of motivation or self sabotage;


• lack of clarity or focus on goals;


• missing exercise classes
  Overall, if you have experienced any of
  these negative factors, it can easily build
  into a story in your mind that will prevent
  action and de-motivate you You have

the opportunity to take charge now and

reverse that trend with new options for

motivation with a workout buddy. The

key to long-term (and even short-term)

success lies in developing multiple sources

of motivation that are both internal and

external. Internal motivation comes from

within and is a measure of your own

drive. External motivation, on the other

hand, is derived from external sources

and this includes praise and support from

others. The ultimate goal is to strengthen

all areas of motivation to achieve success

for you.

Benefits of a

workout buddy

Workout buddies play extremely important

roles in any successful exercise program.

To accomplish your exercise goals, you

first need a concrete workout regime, a

detailed nutrition plan and a steady exercise

schedule. Once all these things are in

place, you can search for the next valuable

addition to your exercise program – a

workout buddy.

A good workout buddy provides support,

helps you stay focused and excited on a

daily or weekly basis and stays by your

side through thick and thin until you've

achieved your exercise goals. Having

a workout buddy who asks you to be

accountable for your workout schedule is a

sure way for you to stay on track. They also

provide knowledgeable insight into your

strengths, weaknesses, habits and fears.

Research has shown that working out with

a buddy increases motivation and, because

we are highly social by nature, gives us

someone to compare ourselves to and

someone to stay accountable to. Workout

buddies bring a lot to the table, including:

• Accountability. If you know that you’re
  scheduled to meet your workout buddy
  at the gym, you’re less likely to skip the
  workout.


• Motivation. Your workout buddy can
  really push you to get that extra last rep
  or when you are about to give up.


• New options. There are numerous
  strength moves you can do with your
  buddy, like crunches with a medicine
  ball, partner push-ups and leg tosses.
  These are fun and very effective.


• Companionship. Having a friend next to
  you to talk with while you slave away on
  the exercise machine can make the time
  fly by and often you talk about things
  other than exercise.


• Competition.By trying to keep up with
  your buddy, you will challenge yourself
  in ways that you cannot do alone.


• Outside perspectives.Your buddy can
  view you more objectively and remind
  you of your progress so far and keep
  your motivation levels high.


• Opportunities to celebrate success.
  Celebrating your progress alone isn't as
  muchfunasitiswithabuddy.
  Having a workout buddy can mean the
  difference between success and failure
  when it comes to your exercise goals.

Having a Power Gym

Sister or workout buddy

to support you won't just

make the process easier:

buddies are great for

giving encouragement

and advice along your

healthy lifestyle journey.

The more you surround

yourself with people

who support your

goals, the greater your

chance of success will

be. Your buddy can be

part of that support

system – someone

who gives you a boost

when you need it, and

to whom you can lend a

hand in return. Exercise

partners provide a

powerful combination of

support, accountability,

motivation and, in

some cases, healthy

competition. They

can play the role of

teammate, co-coach and

cheerleader — all while

working out.

I have provided some

suggestions here for you,

so why not give it a go as

you have nothing to lose.

action and de motivate you.You h ave

“ A good workout buddy provides

support, helps you stay focused and

excited on a daily or weekly basis and

stays by your side through thick and thin

until you've achieved your exercise goals.”

PHOTO CREDIT:SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

oxygenmag.com.au | JULY/AUG 2015 | 85

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