Training Partners and Motivation

Motivation to train can sometimes be hard to come by. There is no point in pretending that it will always be easy. Sure, there will be days when the sun is shining outside, and you are itching to get out there and do your workout. That may even be true most days for some trainers, but for those of us who are mere mortals, we sometimes need a little help with our motivation, or a little boost.

Watch Out For The Plateau Effect

Another danger with motivation and training is that you can reach a plateau, and mentally and physically you stay on it, stalling any progress you are making, or even slipping backwards. There is a danger with training in that you can enter a comfort zone where you a reasonably happy with what you have achieved, which of course is great, but be careful of the potentially detrimental effects of “switching off” a little. The common thread that binds us in fitness and nutrition is the desire to improve.

Whether you want to lose weight, or achieve better fitness, or both, you are pushing your body to constantly adapt in the way that you want it to. And these blog,s and GetFitFast.com in general, is all about giving you the best methods to achieve your goals.

Challenge Your body To Adapt

But remember, your body needs stimulus to adapt, change and develop. If you stay at the same level of training intensity all the time, your body will inevitably become used to it, and it will become more efficient at achieving that level of physical activity. That can mean that you burn less calories doing that activity, and ultimately your metabolism may slow.

Remember, when we are trying to lose weight, the aim is to stimulate your metabolism and to force your body to adapt by introducing new activities, or greater physical challenges, for example by refreshing your resistance training program from time to time with different exercises, and by steadily increasing resistance.

Pick A Training Partner Who Is Stronger And More Experienced Than You For Better Results And More Motivation

Pick A Training Partner Who Is Stronger And More Experienced Than You For Better Results And More Motivation

Get Yourself A Training Partner

Where does a training partner fit into all this? A training partner, carefully chosen, can help you with motivation and give you an extra edge in your training. If you train with a partner, you can develop a team spirit, and missing training becomes more difficult because you can feel that you are letting the team down as well as yourself.

In addition to that, you can add in a healthy element of competition. That doesn’t mean to say that every training session needs to be a contest, but a training partner can help to push you to levels you might not achieve on your own. Personally, I like to choose training partner for the gym, and on the bike who is stronger than me, for 2 reasons: first, their strength pushes me to achieve greater strength, and secondly, you can often learn a great deal from a trainer or athlete who is stronger and more experienced than you.

Don’t Forget Your Fundamental Motivation For Getting Fit

A note of caution, however. Remember our free ‘7-Secrets to Getting Fit and Losing Weight – Fast!’ report, and the important advice it contains about motivation. Remember what motivates you at a fundamental level, and keep it at the forefront of your motivational focus. Training partners may come and go but your underlying reasons for wanting better health and fitness will stay with you.

If you rely too heavily on a training partner for motivation, it can have a counterproductive effect on you if your progress becomes too tied up with his/hers or if you go your separate ways. So choose a training partner carefully. Chose someone whose goals are similar to yours and who is at a similar level of fitness. The right person can help you push yourself to even greater goals!