Getting back into the swing of things with the holidays behind me, I started up my weekly exercise routine. Part of my routine includes working out with my BFF’s 3 times per week.
[side note] My BFF’s are my Best Fitness Friends! They keep me motivated! They keep me fit! They make me look forward to my workout, even if I don’t want to be there! (yes, sometimes I would rather sleep in than wake up at the crack of dawn, but I know in the end it will be worthwhile) They’re like a dose of therapy for the day!
It had been about a month since we had been together, between vacation schedules, family obligations and parties: we took a break in December and did our own thang.
This past Monday we started up one of our most favored workouts called Chalean Extreme, which we completed last July, 2009 (See my blog about it). I love the program because it’s like having your own personal trainer in your house with your friends. It’s a hard core muscle workout, and by the end of the hour you feel as if every muscle in your body has been worked and it feels great!
In addition to the stellar workout, we had the pleasure of catching up with each other, laughing, crying, venting, and sweating: a daily dose of therapy for the mind and body. All in the course of one hour!
So of course, this is my argument for finding BFF(s) to work out with: it is so much more fun to work out with a friend than going at it alone. Exercising with my friends keeps me accountable and keeps me motivated; I am allowed to vent and be forgiven! I am allowed to sweat and encourage, and to be encouraged by friends whose opinions I value and respect.
So, by the end of our workout, I walked home with a spring in my step, excited for the day ahead. That’s a lot better than just burning 500 calories, don’t you think?
If you would like to meet new friends while exercising, here are a few options for finding local groups to meet up with:
- Go to your gym and take an exercise class! Gyms have so many options, from yoga, to TurboKick to Hot Hula to Cycling – read the description of the class and try what works for you. If you find a class that you love, chances are, you will meet people who love it too and you’ll see them regularly in class. Other options include signing up for classes through a community college or specialized studio. The gym I belong to is 24 Hour Fitness. You can do a google search to find a gym near you.
- Check out Moms in Motion. They are a global social network that connects moms through fitness and philanthropy. You get your workout and help save the world at the same time! While, of course, forging new friendships.
- Meetup is a very large social network that connects people together locally. You can search for fitness groups by zip code and find local groups that meet. Or, you can form your own if you don’t find one that fits your schedule or interest. All you need is one person to be your BFF to get things going!
