Training Partners By: Lisa Ritchie

This week is Valentine’s Day! Do you and your significant other train together? Training partners can be a match made in heaven or a dumbbell disaster. There are a few things you should consider, including whether you need a training partner at all.

1. Some people enjoy competition, having someone there to encourage or challenge them. Others would rather focus internally and pursue their own goals.

2. Are you on a training plateau and need a good spotter to push your limits?

3. Is your potential partner dependable, reliable, and punctual? Waiting around could bemore fun and productive.

4. Do they have a similar strength level to you and similar training goals? Choose someone as strong or slightly above your level to challenge you. You want to spend only a little time switching weight plates and watching each other train.

5. Different goals are fine if you need someone to carpool to the gym. Men and women are different physiologically and in how they approach their workouts. Women may want to lose weight and tone up, while many men want to build bulkier muscle. Even friends can be at different fitness levels.

6. Does your training partner motivate you and make your training session fun? Someone with a positive, upbeat attitude is one of the most important things to look for.

7. Finally, joining a gym together can be a great choice financially. Many facilities offer discounts for signing up with a friend, so be sure to ask!