Working Out Alone Vs With A Partner
After experiencing both for roughly the same amount of time I still haven’t decided which one is better.
Working out with a partner has a lot of benefits. The most obvious one is always having a spotter. With barbell benching my personal trainer would have me attempt weight that I would never even consider trying by myself (one rep max type lifts). Dumbbell benching is also so much easier with a spotter. Having him hand me the dumbbells when I’m ready is so much simpler than when you’re alone. When I start doing heavier weight it’s not the benching itself that gives me trouble, its getting into position that is really awkward.
Another difference with working out with my trainer is that he pushed me way, way, way past my comfort zone. When your arms are jelly and you don’t think you can do another rep he can give you assistance and you keep going. Straight barbell curling comes to mind especially. I remember thinking “There’s no way I can do another one” but he wouldn’t let me stop. A little help with the upward movement and there’s another rep! If you’re alone and you can’t do another rep with good form then than set is over. The problem is that he pushed me too hard sometimes. There were two instances in particular where I almost blacked out and we had to stop the session for that day. When I’m on my own I can pace myself appropriately and if I need to take a longer break no one is watching the clock.
Having a workout partner can also be a lot of fun. My trainer and I really shared a lot of laughs. He’s a funny guy and we joked around a lot. When I started out I thought of going to the gym as something I had to endure to look the way I wanted to. He helped me understand that it can be a fun activity even though you’re working harder than you ever have. Of course people can take this too far. I shake my head at the people I see standing around and talking endlessly. You’re at the gym people! Work out!
Of course there are negatives also. The biggest problem I had with using a personal trainer was the damage it did to my wallet. Ouch ouch ouch. I definitely would have continued training with him longer in a perfect world, but the amount of money it was costing me made that impossible. Also getting my schedule to match up with his was extremely annoying. Want to work out on Sundays? Sorry, he doesn’t. You’d rather work out really late at night? Sorry, be here at 8pm! I love being able to make my own schedule. When I ditched my personal trainer I quickly switched to working out four days a week (instead of three) at times that were convenient to me.
I think the most glaring difference about working out alone is accountability. Success or failure all rests on your shoulders. You don’t have anyone to blame but yourself if you slack off or don’t get the results you want. I’ve continued to make gains on my own. My personal trainer gave me the knowledge and motivation to continue on my own. Is being on my own better? I’m still not sure, but I’m enjoying the ride.
August 5, 2008 at 11:49 am
Hey,
I was thinking about it too and I think aloe is better. Spotting is the only reason I’d need to have a partner but you can always ask anyone near you to spot!
Also, I read that you stopped training when you almost blacked out.. just watch the video of Sarcev training…
Good luck
August 5, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Today I went heavy, and if it was not because I asked someone I know to give me a hand I could not have done my workout the way I wanted. My lifting partner goes to school at night on Monday’s through Wednesdays, after that I’m a happy camper just for the fact that I can go wild with the wieght.
On Monday I did only arms, biceps, triceps, shoulders, and did some traps. Not even the shadow in terms of weight, what I do is that I try more reps.
But for the best most intoxicating experience, a partner to go heavy.
August 6, 2008 at 8:06 pm
In the beginning i felt i needed someone for the motivation..l.now, i just need him for my contest prep…though I wonder if that is even necessary at times….. def. love working out with my girlies though…they make me smile and push me because of my competitive nature…:) thanks for your thoughts!
August 8, 2008 at 9:41 am
That is why you need to be a gym slut. Use em’ then ditch em’! Once you need a spotter, you gym slut yourself around. After the set, it was just a spot. Don’t get too attached! ROFL! I enjoy working out with a partner. the problem i run into is scheduling. Since I work out after work, if I have more or less overtime than my partner, either one of us is waiting on the other or he/I will not show up. Kinda sucks. There are definitely benefits. The whole ego thing helps. I can do one more rep than you. i can lift more weight more times than you. It’s all good. The other bad, he does not do anything hard like squats or deads. I love them both. I do them anyway and he watches or does something else.