Working out with a buddy can significantly increase your chances for success, according to Get Moving Houston. The same is true of buddies who can support you through your weight loss challenges and mishaps. Working on weight loss as a group allows you to motivate each other, have more fun and be accountable. Trying new healthy behaviors isn't so daunting when you have somebody else trying them with you.
Create Your Own Boot Camp
A great way to motivate each other to lose weight is to work out together. Before you even start, sit down and have a talk to define goals and objectives. Some people may just want to meet and work out for as long as they can a few times a week, while others may want to try a specific type of routine at set times. The key to making this work is finding common ground that works for everybody.
Once everybody is on the same page regarding goals, you will need to decide on a system and a place to work out. Unless you all belong to the same gym, it might make more sense to work out outdoors. You cand do this by riding bikes together, going for hikes, forming a softball team or buying a couple of fitness books and creating your own routine.
Set Up Group Challenges
Friendly competition can do wonders for your weight loss efforts. If everybody in the group is at a similar level of fitness and has similar weight loss goals, you can set up challenges to lose two pounds a week for the next month, or to exercise six days a week. If your goals or present situations vary greatly, you can set up more general challenges, such as increasing your workout time by 10 minutes each week or losing a certain percentage of body fat by a specific date. For even more motivation, have a reward waiting. You can pull money together and pay for a spa visit for the winner or take her out to dinner.
Share the Work
One of the main advantages of losing weight as a group is that you can share the work and the expenses. A scale with a fat analyzer can cost a few hundred dollars but can help you track your progress and ensure that the weight you're losing is from fat, rather than just water or muscle. If you pool money together, you can easily buy a scale or other weight loss tools and share them among the group. You can also make arrangements to get together to cook snacks or meals for the whole group or to try new low-fat, low-sugar recipes.
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