According to a study in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness people who work out with a friend or in group classes are 50% more likely to continue exercising regularly after six months than those who go it alone. If you feel intimidated by starting back at working out regularly, struggling to stay on a workout schedule, or working out but craving more community, working out with a group will help you get and stay on track.
We stopped in with The Max Challenge Ocean, to get expert advice on how create healthy workout habits for 2025 and beyond.
Increased Motivation and Accountability
Study on Motivation: Research from the University of Aberdeen shows that people who work out with a partner or in a group stick to their fitness routines better. The study found a 40% higher adherence to workouts when people exercised together rather than alone.
Accountability: A Strava survey found that 35% of people felt more motivated to exercise when they had a workout buddy, and 30% felt more committed to their goals with someone by their side.
Better Performance and Intensity
Performance Boost: A study in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology showed that people who worked out with a partner performed better than those who worked out alone. They pushed harder, lifted heavier weights, and ran longer. This could be because they naturally try to match or compete with their partner's performance.
Social Connection and Enjoyment
Fun Factor: According to a survey by ACE Fitness, 60% of people who worked out with a partner said they had more fun during their workouts. The social interaction made exercising more enjoyable and gave a sense of camaraderie.
Social Support and Adherence: A study in Psychology of Sport and Exercise showed that having social support during exercise can help you stick with your fitness routine. People who worked out with a partner were more likely to keep up their workouts long-term.
Variety and Creativity
Variety in Exercise: A Gympass survey found that 49% of people were more likely to try new activities or workout routines when they had a partner. A workout buddy can encourage you to try new exercises or classes you might not attempt on your own.
Creative Workouts: The University of Sydney found that people working out in pairs reported feeling less bored with their routine and were more likely to mix things up with different exercises.
Safety and Support
Spotting and Injury Prevention: The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) highlights how important a workout partner is for safety, especially during weightlifting. A spotter can help you avoid injury when lifting heavy or pushing to exhaustion.
Emotional Support: Research from The Journal of Behavioral Medicine shows that having a workout buddy can lower stress and anxiety. The emotional support from a partner can make challenging workouts easier to handle.
Consistency and Habit Formation
Habit Formation: A study by behavioral scientist Gretchen Rubin found that people who work out with a partner are 30% more likely to turn exercise into a long-term habit. The social bond and accountability make it easier to stick with a consistent routine.
Friendly Competition helps Increase Effort, having someone to compete with can push you to put in more effort, but that's where your coach comes in. According to The Journal of Applied Social Psychology, exercising with a partner can motivate you to work harder, especially if you see them as a "competitor" or role model.
"If it's your first day, we'll say, hey, don't try to compete with the person beside you, just take your time. We are here to help you process, at your pace" Miller recommends.
"Start with one day at a time, we will help you go step by step."
It's clear that working out with a partner or in a group setting brings a lot of benefits. From better motivation and performance to more fun, safety, and consistency, having a workout buddy can make a big difference in your fitness journey. Whether it’s friendly competition, emotional support, or simply having someone to share the experience with, working out together can help you get better results and enjoy the process more.
It's clear that working out with a partner or in a group setting brings a lot of benefits. From better motivation and performance to more fun, safety, and consistency, having a workout buddy can make a big difference in your fitness journey. Whether it’s friendly competition, emotional support, or simply having someone to share the experience with, working out together can help you get better results and enjoy the process more.
7 Reasons to Workout with a Community:
Increased Motivation and Accountability: Taking on a challenge like The Max Challenge of 50 for 50 is rewarding and helps with helathy habit formation.
Better Performance and Intensity. Having a coach beside you will help you work at the right level for you.
Social Connection and Enjoyment. You come for the workout, but you stay for the friends. "As we age, or friend circle can shrink," Miller says, "But here people make friends of all walks of life."
Variety and Creativity. The programming is done for you, just show up!
Safety and Support. Trust you are doing the moves right!
Friendly Competition. That's always fun, right?