Do you prowl the gym floor like a lone wolf? Or go through training partners more regularly than tubs of whey? Let's look at the pros and cons of gym training partners.
A great training partner will:
- spur you on to turn up at the gym when you want to stay in bed
- spot you on heavy lifts or technical exercises such as squats and bench press
- join you in specific goals like a fat-loss cut or competition prep
- be someone to bounce ideas off (when everyone else is sick of hearing about training and diet!)
- motivate you to work harder, lift heavier, train smarter
- boost your confidence, great for beginners who don't feel at home in the gym
- give you someone to yell with, if you're into making noise when you lift
- be someone for you to chase down if they are always one step ahead of you
But a bad training partner could:
- reinforce bad habits, telling you it's OK to skip the gym or to finish a workout early
- crush your confidence by being too far ahead of you in skills, fitness or training age
- have a poor attitude, giving the pair of you a bad name in the gym
- sabotage your goals or training for reasons of their own
- chat too much, spend too long on rest periods, or not be serious enough about training
- not understand the best way to encourage and motivate you
- be unreliable, not turning up on time or failing to show up at all
Do you have a great training partner? If you do, treat them well, because they're a valuable asset to your training and physique goals. And make sure you're a good training partner in return!
