Amy FriendJune 23, 2016

If there was a way to double or even triple your chances of fitness success and reaching and maintaining your goals, would you be interested? How about an approach that makes exercise more fun and creates the space and time in your busy schedule to make it happen? Studies have shown that there is strength in numbers and committing yourself to a group will significantly increase your chances for success.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 68% of American adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Contributing to these statistics is the phenomenon of rebound dieting where people lose and gain weight. Nearly 65% of people who lose weight will gain back all their weight and more within three years! Another study cited 90 to 95% of people who lose weight are unable to keep it off long term! How can you increase your odds?

Personally, looking at my own track record, I know I would not be consistent with my workouts, committed to clean eating, or looking and feeling the way I do if it were not for my fitness partners and the structured workouts that our community provides. I strongly believe that long-term success is dependent upon a strong support system. Group exercise provides a powerful combination of accountability, motivation and encouragement. During a workout, we share the roles of partner, coach and cheerleader, and this makes it fun! There are times when I would, most certainly, stop short on reps because I’m tired or feeling the burn, but I don’t because I want to inspire my partner in the same way that he or she is inspiring me. By making that commitment to a partner or group you just made showing up for your workout non-negotiable. In our group there are expectations that you will be there and everyone feels needed. Making time suddenly becomes much easier and the odds for sustaining a healthy lifestyle are higher.

Many people are motivated within a group because they don’t want to let anyone down. A study, from the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University found that couples who worked out separately had a 43 percent dropout rate over the course of a year while those who went to the gym together had only a 6.3 percent dropout rate. In another study, people were told to hold the plank position as long as possible. When told they were working as a team (one person had to stop if and when the other stopped), participants stayed up 160% longer than those simply working with a partner (were free to stop planking without affecting the other) and 200% longer than those working alone.

Another key factor is the emotional connection that comes with group workouts. Your partner doesn’t have to be your best friend, but it should be someone whom you don’t want to disappoint. Psychologically, if you feel you have a responsibility and commitment towards another person, you are more likely to follow through on that commitment. Just last week someone in our group did not meet her coaching commitment to lose one pound that week. We all did an extra set of walking lunges for that missed commitment. The reality is that we all won because we got more of a workout. The one who missed her commitment is motivated moving forward as she doesn’t want to impact others, causing them to have to work harder, even though it’s really a good thing. This works quite effectively within our fitness group.

Over the last couple years, we have seen people come and go within our fitness community. We could have been our own research study. Many of the people who left, have fallen back to habits that have taken them off track with healthy nutrition and working out and it shows. Many thought they could create their own community or do it on their own. For those who have stopped exercising or who have fallen back on unhealthy eating habits, I hope that they find a support system that will help them to get back on track. I love our community but it may not be the right fit for everybody. If you fall into a similar category, the important thing is to become part of a group that inspires you, encourages you and holds you accountable. And when you commit to a community like this, your health, happiness and life will always be better. Do it for yourself and everyone around you wins!

Stronger workouts!

Amy