Workout partner: do you need one?
A workout partner can make a tough workout feel half as hard, but they aren’t a magic solution. If you want to improve, you need to know how to push yourself both with a partner and on your own, because each teaches you something different in the gym.
Back when I first started training, I had 1-2 friends I used to go to the gym with. We all made fairly good progress because none of us wanted to fall behind the others. That simple element of competition worked pretty well.
Workout partners and mental pressure
Up to a point, a partner helps you progress simply by being there. If they finish their set, you don’t want to stop halfway through yours. If they add weight to the barbell, you start wondering whether you actually have more left in the tank.
That doesn’t mean every workout has to be a contest. A good workout partner doesn’t send your ego into overdrive. They keep you switched on. They notice when you start taking the easy way out and say at just the right moment: do one more solid rep.
At the same time, you need to learn to manage on your own, if only because training alone does more to develop your willpower. If your bodybuilding ambitions go beyond simply looking good, you won’t get far without it. Alongside your skeletal muscles, your brain—or, as people used to call it, your mental muscle—also has a training load to handle.
Training alone teaches honesty
For most of my years in the gym, that’s exactly how I’ve trained: ALONE. It hasn’t always been intentional, but that’s how things have worked out. And honestly, I’m grateful for it.
Training alone helps you get to know yourself better. You learn when your body is truly tired and when your mind is simply looking for an excuse. Those are two very different things in the gym, even if they sometimes feel the same.
ALONE doesn’t mean there’s nobody else in the gym, of course. Sometimes there are plenty of people around, but during a set, it’s still just you, the barbell and the plan. Nobody warms up for you. Nobody makes you finish that last rep.
A workout partner makes a tough day easier
Imagine you’ve got a tough leg or back workout coming up. You already know it won’t be comfortable. If you go alone, you need twice the mental strength to get yourself ready, because once you’re in the gym, you can only rely on yourself. Physically and mentally.
Workouts like these are particularly draining. But the satisfaction afterward is greater too, if you’ve done everything you planned. That feeling of keeping a promise to yourself has a value all its own.
If you have a workout partner whose physical abilities are roughly on a par with yours, you don’t have to supply all that mental effort yourself. A little competition comes into play. Lifting your planned weights feels easier because you don’t want to be outdone. Many people have experienced that difference.
Sometimes, a little praise or an encouraging word from someone else is enough to help. No long motivational speech. Just something short and direct: good, now for the next set. On tough days, that can be all you need.
What should a good workout partner do?
A good partner does more than count reps. They need to be honest enough to tell you when your technique is breaking down. They also need to know how to support you at the right moment, rather than pushing you to add weight at all costs.
- They turn up for the workout at the agreed time.
- They don’t break your concentration with idle chatter before a heavy set.
- They know how to spot you when needed.
- They don’t turn every workout into a battle of egos.
- They help you stick to the plan instead of derailing it on a whim.
When you train alone, you have to do all of this yourself. You have to create your own fantasy world in the gym, where, for example, you’re a warrior and the barbell is your most hated enemy. When you’re training at the limit of your abilities, this kind of mental game really can help.
My workouts mostly fall into two categories. When I train alone, results come from the anger I’ve worked up inside myself to defeat my opponent. With a partner, it’s simply great FUN—a celebration of pumping iron, where you enjoy the effort and the atmosphere of getting down to work.
You realize you’re not the only crazy person in the world, and someone else is on your wavelength. Either way, your muscles can get an equally hard workout. At least, that’s how it’s been for me.
A few thoughts on the subject, inspired by a workout with Ott CHAMPION Kiivikas.
FAQ
Do you need a workout partner in the gym?
You don’t always need one, but they can certainly help. Especially if you’re doing heavy compound exercises, need a spotter or tend to give up too early when training alone.
Can you make just as much progress training alone?
Yes, you can. Training alone teaches discipline and honesty. You have to stick to your own plan, get yourself going and take responsibility for getting the work done.
Who makes the best workout partner?
The best partner is someone whose ability and attitude are roughly in line with yours. They don’t have to be exactly as strong as you, but they do need to take training seriously.
Author: Marek Bonsuna Kalmus
Source: Turg.Fitness.ee
Come and train! ArtGym
