You’ve probably seen the hashtag “#swolemate” on social media. If you thought it was just another trending hashtag to show off your gym skills (and the fact you’re dating), you’re partially right. It’s definitely a trend, but not an unfounded one. Despite the fact that building your online reputation has some benefits, working out with a partner has some other benefits as well.
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Who is a swolemate?
In the gym, a #swolemate is just a trendy name for someone who goes with you. A soulmate is a pair that is usually romantic, hence the play on words.
Why should you have one?
Most importantly, the most important quality of a gym buddy or having someone to hold you accountable motivates you to exercise in the first place. In addition, study results suggest that exercisers who exercise with a partner are more likely to go to the gym more often than those who exercise alone.
You will exercise harder and longer.
A proven motivational factor is sweating it outside by side. Your workout buddy doesn’t have to be human to make you exercise more. It included both human and cyber workout partners for study participants to perform five different isometric plank exercises. On average, those exercising with human companions held planks for one minute and 20 seconds longer than those without a buddy, while those exercising with virtual partners held planks for 33 seconds longer.
You’ll build healthier habits (together)
You’ll be more successful if you and your partner adopt healthy habits together. Researchers studied the daily routines of nearly 4,000 couples over the age of 50 and discovered that people were better able to make positive lifestyle changes if their significant other did as well. This was especially true when it came to losing weight or becoming more active—67% of men and 66% of women were able to do so when both did it, compared to just 26% and 24%, respectively when only one person did. Another study found that when one spouse improved their eating habits, couples tended to do the same.
Let’s suppose one of you is fitter than the other
No, for a swole-mateship to work, you don’t both need to be able to deadlift 300 pounds. It all comes down to your fitness regimen, and one of your greatest options is a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session. According to William Suggs, a personal trainer and sports nutritionist in New York City, “Those exercises are all ones you can do with any partner, regardless of fitness levels.” Find HIIT workouts online and see which ones suit you the best. Keep in mind that couples don’t need to exercise at high intensities for the “swolemating” to work (but never exercise when you’re exhausted).
Lifting weights is still an option; you just need to be on the same page and implement it at the appropriate moment. Suggs advises performing HIIT exercises outside so you can build a strong fitness foundation before incorporating weights into the mix. (Avoid these weight-lifting blunders.) If you’re working out with free weights, your objectives must be the same, and you must be able to support someone who is bench pressing a greater weight, advises Suggs. Plan out the exercises you’ll perform, the movements you’ll use, and the weight that’s right for you both, he advises, adding, “You both should be serious about meeting your fitness goals.”
Remember, Swole-mating is not everyone’s cup of tea
If your relationship is solid and you are aware of each other’s peculiarities, mannerisms, and reactions, working out together can strengthen your physical and emotional connection. “The majority of the romantic arguments I have witnessed have been made worse by personalities. One person can be overbearing or quickly offended. Or a guy will get upset if his girl cracks a joke or supports him because they interpret it as criticism,” Suggs explains.
He claims that knowing your partner’s physical and emotional limitations or sensitivities is another method to make sure your relationship doesn’t end at the gym. You should also make sure you can take the mental and physical strain without allowing emotions get in the way. “It’s crucial to understand how you behave under pressure because this will affect how well you perform throughout workouts. All around patience is required, and pride and ego must be put to the side, advises Suggs.
Conclusion
Finally, never discuss personal matters outside of the gym. Many of the arguments I witness aren’t genuinely about exercising, he claims, adding that any other relationship concerns can surface in the gym.
