Challenge Your Friends: How Can Working Out Together Boost Your Results?

Have you ever thought about how much more motivated you are to do something when you do it as a bet? Extrinsic motivation is a great way to make people more interested in an activity.

Working out is no exception. Fitness challenges have become so popular not only because working out together is a way to socialize, but also because of the motivation that you get from the team and thus, better training results.

But how exactly can challenges or training with a friend help you achieve more?

1. Accountability and commitment. Research from the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic shows that among 166 people​, 95 percent of them who started a training program with friends completed it. Working out with your fitness buddies boosts your motivation, and you won’t skip workouts since you know that your fitness partner is counting on you. You don’t want to let down your friend, do you?
2. Healthy competition. A little competitiveness never killed anybody (or anybody’s friendship). Training with someone else makes you push yourself more compared to if you train solo. When you see your teammate doing another squat set, you won’t skip that last one if you’re tired.
3. Better results. A strong fitness partner can be the best motivator to work out harder. A study published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology revealed that those who exercised with a more capable partner increased their plank time by 24 percent. The people you surround yourself with affect the way you think and behave. Thus, motivated people will only make you more motivated.
4. Safety. Your fitness buddy can support you and monitor whether you're doing everything right. Walking with a friend is a good idea since they won’t let you get lost if you're in an unknown area. Moreover, walking is a great way to meet new people, either simply in the park or by joining a local walking club.
5. Fun. And last but not least. Having fun during your workouts is essential to build positive associations with exercise and to stop dreading any physical activity. You can find an activity you both love and make it your social routine. Also, it’s a great and healthy way to spend time with friends, especially if you don’t have a lot of free time. Don't forget to take a photo after a hot workout and tag your buddies on social media if they don't mind.

Start working out together with a friend or fitness buddy and it will be an absolute win-win situation — you'll be combining business with pleasure.