5 Tips to Build Your Relationship through Fitness

By Andrea Schramm, LPC, CRC

We’re all familiar with the physical and psychological benefits of exercise for ourselves. Exercise can support weight loss, improve your heart health, improve your sleep and reduce your risk of depression. The Mayo clinic recommends just 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise. That’s a little over 20 minutes a day to reap the positive benefits of daily exercise! But, we all know just how difficult it can be to add just 20 minutes of something new to our busy lives.

But what if you took the time needed for physical activity and did it together with someone you love? What if sharing this time with another person gave you the boost and motivation you are looking for and fun while you exercise together? Here are some tips to getting started with exercising together as a couple.

1. Choose an activity you both enjoy. Choose a basic activity you both feel competent doing to maximize the effect and your success in maintain the habit. Working out together and sharing physical activity can increase the efficiency of the activity for both partners. It’s the simple presence of someone we feel close to that boosts our energy output. It is a “win-win” for both partners.
2. Maximize your progress by setting mutual goals. Caring about your partner’s fitness goals in addition to your own can improve your level of physical engagement in shared activities. Build success by agreeing to each maintain a basic level of your own internal motivation to benefit the most from sharing your fitness goals and experiences with each other.
3. Set time aside for your activities. Replace date night dinner and a movie with dinner and a walk in the park. Walking together in the park creates a coordinated action which promotes emotional bonding. Matching each other’s rhythm and pace can help you feel more in tune with each other.
4. Benefit from both low and high-intensity workouts. Keep it relaxed with a leisurely walk or get sweaty together enjoy the benefits of increased heart rate, sweaty palms, and shortness of breath associated with both physical arousal and romantic attraction! Grab those bikes and hit the trail to fall in love with exercise and each other!
5. Start small and reward yourself. If shared exercise is not already a part of your daily life together, add a short walk a couple times a week to begin. Use the time to support each other emotionally through positive conversation. You’re looking to build the benefits of joint participation in physical activity. Set small rewards for yourselves when you meet reasonable goals such as maintaining your shared exercise for one week, two weeks, a month. And have fun giving yourself and each other the gift of togetherness through exercise!

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