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A good
training partner can be a great asset to your
training but if you get stuck with a bad one,
it could lead you down the road to frustration.
Be selective when choosing a training partner.
Not every person is a good one (some can be downright
horrible!). Here a few things to look out for:
1. Punctual
Nothing
is more frustrating than waiting to start a workout
when you're ready to go but your partner is late.
2. Dependable
Choose
someone who you are sure will show up for every
scheduled workout or who will call you if they
can't make it. It is a drain on your valuable
energy (especially before training) to have to
constantly remind and harass.
3. No personality conflict
It
is obviously not a good idea to train with someone
who annoys you, unless of course you want to focus
that negative energy into your training. If you
dread going to work out because you can't stand
your partner, soon you may not work out at all.
4. Similar strength levels
Look
for someone who is at the same or a little above
your strength level. When your strength is the
similar, you won't have to constantly switch weights.
If they are stronger, it will motivate you to
use heavier weights. It is okay to lift with someone
who is much stronger or much weaker than you,
but be prepared to do a lot of weight switching.
5. Training level
If
you are a beginner, try to find someone who knows
what they are doing. You will get more out of
your training than if you train with another beginner.
6. Motivation
Find
someone with a similar motivation level as you.
It you are gung-ho and your partner is ho-hum,
you will be dragged down and your progress will
suffer. If you are both "psycho," you
can get some incredible workouts though! If you
are moderately intense and lift with someone who
is much more intense and willing to drive you,
it can spur you onto much greater intensity.
7. Attitude
Get
a partner with a positive attitude. This is very
important. If they constantly say that something
is impossible or that they can't or you can't
do something, you may end up believing them. Do
not train with someone who is satisfied with no
improvement.
8. Open mind
Get
a partner with an open mind. Someone who has to
do things his or her way all the time, will not
listen to you and will not change his or her mind
is not a good partner to have. In every partnership,
one person will tend to be the leader. The leader
should take into account the needs and feelings
of the other partner not totally ignore them.
9. Overpartnering
Do
not get too many training partners. Sometimes
a group of friends want to work out together.
This is okay if there aren't too many of you.
You won't get a good workout if you always have
to wait for your partners to do their sets and
you will probably end up talking too much. Three
in a group is probably the most you can deal with
and even that is probably pushing it.
10. Spotting
Get
someone you feel comfortable with spotting you.
One of the main roles of a training partner is
spotting and if you don't trust them, there's
not much point in having them around to help.
11. Male/female training partners
Members
of the opposite sex often make excellent training
partners. Showing off is good motivator for using
heavier weights or working harder. One of the
obvious drawbacks might be the differing amounts
of weight used. If there is only one bench press
available and one benches 300 pounds while the
other benches 95 pounds, changing the weight is
going to take awhile. This can be solved by having
one person doing dumbell presses on the same bench
rather than barbell presses.
--
While
there are a number of advantages to having a training
partner such as spotting, motivation, and companionship,
there are also advantages to working alone, e.g.
self-reliance, self-focus, no hassles over schedule,
no one to wait for, etc. In the end, it is really
up to you whether or not you want or need a training
partner.
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