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Feb 22 2022
Top 5 Benefits of Working Out With an Accountability Buddy
Finding it harder and harder to make it to your workouts lately? We’ve all been there. Sometimes, no matter how good you feel after exercising, kickstarting yourself beforehand to get moving can really become a battle.
What if we told you there is a hack for curing your fitness slump that is both easy and fun, and works for everything from eating healthier to crushing the latest Jazzercise attendance challenge? According to the experts, the secret could be sitting right next you or just a text away: your family and friends!
Finding a partner to exercise with regularly is a scientifically proven way to improve your results. Of course it’s fun to spend time with pals, but the benefits of working out with what’s often referred to as an “accountability buddy” are more than just double your fun. Here are the top five reasons you’ll want to find your own workout wing woman (or man!) and watch the rewards come pouring in:
1. Consistency: It’s Not Just About You Anymore
One big reason you get better results from working out with a friend or family member (the special ones are both) is that it leads to more consistency. According to the CDC, “When someone else is counting on you to show up, you won’t want to let them down.” Once getting up for your morning workout is no longer just about you, it leads to more showing up. Of course, the more consistently you show up, the more benefits you will begin to reap in short order.
2. Completion: We’re Talking Marathons, Not Races
What’s really encouraging about working out with a friend is that the benefits are not just short-lived—quite the opposite in fact. Take one study which found that 95% of those who started a program with friends were likely to complete it, as compared to 75% of those who chose to go it alone. The buddied-up group was also 42% more likely to maintain their gains over time. This is great news for setting goals, knocking them out of the park, and then moving on to the next—talk about results!
3. Motivation: It’s Game On
There’s nothing wrong with a little friendly competition. In fact, the right partner or partners can help push you and create a competitive, albeit supportive, challenge. The increased motivation you feel when you and your buddy egg each other on means everybody works harder and, thus, everybody wins.
The flip side of this coin is the way an accountability partner can also motivate you by cheering you on. Praise, validation and just some plain old fist bumps can really up your effort and the results you’re looking for are sure to follow.
4. Adventurousness: Out With the Old, In With the Fun
According to the CDC, working out with a friend can make you more adventurous and open to new and different ways to stay fit: “It’s easier to try new things with a buddy. You may just find an activity you love, one that feels more like fun and less like a workout.” This is music to our ears here at Jazzercise, where the best way to break a sweat is to have so much fun, you barely even notice how hard you’re working!
5. Perspective Change: It’s Positively Contagious
Nothing works to change the channel in your head like tuning in to someone else’s. Sharing your workouts with a friend or family member means hearing different perspectives and influencing one another’s points of view. From getting inspired to try a new approach, to the infectiousness of someone else’s joy, the way you think drives your actions. So, surround yourself with positive pals and the good vibe mindset will begin to rub off.
To maximize these accountability buddy benefits, look for someone with roughly similar goals, schedule and commitment. You’ll especially want to keep an eye out for those who uplift your mood just by being around them. If you’re wondering how to find the right fit, talk to friends, coworkers, neighbors (close to home is always a plus) and get the conversation started. You’ll know you’re on to someone good when plans naturally fall into place. Don’t forget reaching out via social media to increase the number of choices you might have, too!
Even if you’re a sworn lone wolf when it comes to exercise, try committing to one out of every few workouts with a solid accountability pal – the results might surprise you. You can always go back to your solo ways after time, but with the data and your buddy on your side, you might not want to!