Deciding to get fit is a big decision and one that often impacts heavily upon a person’s life. For people who share their lives with others, this can make things difficult. Getting fit may mean changes to eating habits, the trying out of new foods or the rescheduling of shared events. All of these things can not only make it difficult to get fit but might also put a strain on the relationship. This is why it makes so much more sense for you and your partner to work together in order to get fit.
Aspire to be fit
But why should you worry about getting fit? You are young, clever and happy with your body shape. Well, being fit is not all about looking good; it is about feeling good from the inside out and protecting your body against injury and disease. You should want yourself and your partner to be fit because you want to spend decades together, enjoying good health. Becoming and keeping fit should mean that your risk of succumbing to heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers is significantly reduced.
When it comes to getting fit, there is often one major problem: motivation. Exercise for many is boring, a chore, something that is simply not worth the effort, so that new exercise regimes often last for only a few weeks. This is why it is a good idea to have a fit buddy, someone who has the same goals as yourself and who will nag you when you say you cannot be bothered, who will encourage you when you think you can’t do that extra mile and about whom you will feel guilty if you let them down by not being as committed as they are. What better person to get fit with than your partner, someone who ticks all of these boxes?
The easiest way to start getting fit, especially if exercise is new to both of you, is to start walking. The advantages of walking as part of your new fitness regime is that you do not specialist equipment or pay out a membership fee; all you need to do is step out of your front door. Begin by taking a brisk walk, not a stroll, around your neighborhood, for around fifteen minutes. Then, as your bodies become used to exercise, begin increasing your pace and the distance you cover. You should start to feel less breathless as you walk, and less tired.
Once you are a bit fitter, you can both try something more strenuous, such as an exercise that is more structured and may need specific equipment. Check out your local gym to see if they offer a discount on a dual membership. You could both enroll in exercise classes that are cardio-based or improve your flexibility with Pilates or yoga. If this kind of exercise is less than appealing, why not opt to play ballgames, such as tennis, together? Playing a game is more interesting than class-based aerobic exercise and may not actually feel like exercise. Remember to vary the types of activities you engage in to target more than just one area of your body.
Whatever exercise you choose to engage with, you will need to protect your bodies against injury and discomfort with appropriate clothing. This does not mean knee and elbow pads necessarily, but just clothing, particularly men’s trunk underwear and new trunks that provide adequate support and helps you to feel dry. For women, during exercise, this should mean the wearing of a sports bra; for your partner, men’s truck underwear. It is especially important that your footwear is appropriate to your activity. For example, if you plan to jog, then you must invest in running shoes rather than fashion sneakers, as they will actually cause injury if you try to run in them for any length of time.
You could also make major lifestyle changes to facilitate you and your partner’s new fitness regime. For example, could you live without your car and get around on bicycles? You could cycle to work instead of driving or getting public transport, and this would mean that you get fit while lowering your gas bills. The money you save on transport could be spent on setting up a home gym that fulfills all of your fitness needs.
While exercising with your partner is one of the best ways to ensure high motivation levels, a manageable home life and sustainable fitness regime, it is important to understand and accommodate each other’s exercise limits to achieve your ultimate goals.