Is Social Fitness The Way to Go?
Fit After Fifty believes it is! One of the biggest challenges, especially for those new to fitness, is staying on track with your workout program. To some, having a “workout buddy” can help you stay motivated, as can hiring a trainer (the two roles might even mesh together!). Some might prefer to workout alone since that helps them concentrate on certain techniques with no interruptions and will be in and out of the gym. However, “going social” with your fitness routine not only helps stave off boredom but reaps other benefits as well.
Seek out a community that encourages and supports you to help reach your goals…maybe help you define those goals in the first place. A “fitness community” can vary in shape & form–a running club, a crossfit gym, the YMCA, a group of friends that meet for weekly pick-up volleyball, a golf club, your spouse that walks with you every morning…[fill in the blank]. Making social fitness most often facilitates a certain level of variety, intensity and group energy. The camaraderie and resulting peer pressure lead to accountability, which tends to keep even the most couch-potato-inclined moving.
Virtual socialization, can also be highly effective. These social fitness communities allow you to find fitness partners (if you don’t already have one), track your progress and receive guidance and support while employing peer pressure to keep you moving. Some popular fitness communities include: Fitocracy, FitLink, SocialWorkout.com, Bookieboo.com, PEERtrainers.com…
And, if circumstances prevent you from engaging directly with a group or community, chances are there’s an app that provides a social fitness component to help keep you moving: My Fitness Pal, Couch to 5k, Daily Body Workout, RunnerUnite!
As with many apps, there is most often a free version for you to try, and if not, the cost can’t be more than the Starbucks coffee you just purchased! Find something that fits for you.
