Think of the perfect date. Dinner at an upscale restaurant. Listening to your favorite band at summer concert. A quiet night snuggling with popcorn and a chick flick.
           Itâs probably safe to say that you werenât envisioning a gym filled with sweaty, flush-faced people lifting weights and running on treadmills as an ideal setting. Okay, so itâs not exactly most peopleâs (I say âmostâ because I happen to love it) idea of a good time, but if youâve never given a thought to breaking away from stereotypical couple activities and hitting the gym together, itâs time to reconsider.
 The thought of doing a workout with your guy may cause concern and apprehension for a range of reasons. Maybe youâre thinking to yourself, there is no way I would let my boyfriend or crush see me without makeup and just the right outfit. If youâre like me, you could care less whether he sees you in a dress and heels or sweats and a t-shirt.
However, Iâll admit that itâs not easy to look cute and flirty with sweat stains peeking out from under your armpits and a knotty mass of hair on top of your head. No matter which category you fit in, if the thought of looking anything less than flawless in front of your guy is terrifying, you may need to re-evaluate the strength of your relationship.
Aside from a vanity standpoint, a number of young women experience irrational anxiety at the thought of going for a run or doing a set of sit ups. If you value your health and want to look physically fit, consistent exercise is essential. The additional support of sharing this time with your significant other increases the chances that you will reach your goals while furthering the bond between you.
Still apprehensive? Here are some tips and benefits of starting a couplesâ workout regime:
Tip #1: Do not assume you and your partner are at the same physical fitness level.
           Most people have the notion that women will be the weaker and less physically fit member of the pair. I have been on both ends of the spectrum (my ex was not into exercising as much as I am and my current boyfriend shares my love of fitness) and am proof that women have the ability to exceed guys physically if they simply work harder. When planning workouts with your partner, make an honest judgment of each otherâs strengths and weaknesses and modify accordingly.
Perhaps youâre freakishly flexible and your partner has the cardiovascular endurance of a marathoner. Use these qualities to demonstrate the proper way to stretch and increase your cardio level by gradually increasing your weekly running mileage. Donât use this mentality to push yourself beyond your capability. Can your guy lift +200 lbs without a problem? Great. Go for a weight that makes you push yourself without getting hurt.
Tip #2: Don’t be a know-it-all exerciser
Unless one of you is a qualified personal trainer or especially skilled in a certain area âdo not act like you know everything there is to know about fitness. This mindset will only cause resentment and frustration from the other person. There is plenty that each of you can learn from the other if you have an open mindset.
Tip #3: Be each otherâs support system.
Timing each other during a workout, cheering your partner through a set of pushups, or even challenging them during the last hundred yards of a run are small ways that can provide tremendous results. Having someone else hold you accountable for your progress will most likely lead to improvement more so than attempting to do it on your own. You must be able to trust and be honest with your partner; both qualities necessary for a healthy relationship.
Benefit #1: More commitment to getting in shape.
Studies have shown that couples that hit the gym together increase their chances of sticking to their fitness routine by 90 percent. Â If you see your significant other going to the gym, chances are youâll get off the couch to go with him. Who wants to be the lazy bum watching TV while your partner tones and trims?
Benefit #2 Youâll both be improving your appearance.
Not only will working out improve your physical health, youâll also be working together for a better bod. The better you feel about your physique, the more youâll want to show it off. And the better you feel about your physical appearance, the more comfortable youâll feel and want to show it off. Who knows? Maybe your boyfriend will find abs under his gut that you never knew he had before. No complaints here!
Benefit #3:Â Youâll be spending more time together (doing less-than-monotonous dates).
           Who said working out necessarily had to be restricted to a gym? Get creative and go for a hike or swim laps at the local pool. Feeling ambitious? Sign up for a road race or triathlon (for the REALLY ambitious) together and start training! You can reward your hard work by making the event a small vacation. Not only will you literally be sharing blood, sweat and tears during preparation, youâll also experience the sense of accomplishment for the completing it together. Boring couple? No way!
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Unsure of where to start? These websites have a wide range of exercise plans and fitness advice that can be useful to workout newbies:
·     http://crossfit.com/
·     http://www.self.com
·     http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/default.htm
·     http://fitbie.msn.com/get-fit/
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Photos courtesy of Kellie Rizer, featuring Kellie Rizer and Zach Ward
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