Buddy Up: Lose Weight with a Gym Partner

Friends, relatives, your bariatric surgeon—in Detroit, Ypsilanti and Saginaw, the support of these people is important, but a workout partner is one ally you should never be without

We’ve already told you how valuable friends can be after bariatric surgery, but these friends can come in many forms. Your bariatric surgeon is certainly an important ally, as are family members and friends who offer a patient ear or kind word when times get tough. Yet one of the most practical allies in your quest to lose weight will be a fitness partner.

A good exercise buddy can help you take every workout to new heights. Your fitness partner can keep you motivated and accountable, bring out your competitive edge, help you learn new techniques and make every second of exercise feel more like fun and less like an inconvenience.

When you feel unmotivated or worn down by a long day, your partner can hold you to your workout plans and help you power through. Your partner can fill the silence of solo workout sessions with engaging conversation, helping you forget that what you’re doing is actually hard work. When you fail, your partner is there to pick you up; when you succeed, your partner is there to help you celebrate.

Few things will benefit your exercise sessions after bariatric surgery like sharing them with someone else, but not everyone will be the right fit for you. Here are some factors to consider when picking the perfect partner:

• Do you have a similar fitness level? Having a more in-shape buddy can help you learn new exercise techniques and inspire you to do better, but it may also lead to a disconnect in your relationship. The best buddy will be someone who shares your workout goals.
• Can this person motivate me? Though you may be understandably inclined to pick your best friend as your workout partner, this may not always be the best choice. Pick someone who is unlikely to accept hollow excuses, a partner who won’t be afraid to call you out for slacking off.
• Can we make our schedules work? All of our schedules are different—the exercise time that works best for you may not work well for someone else. Be sure that you and your workout buddy can make your schedules overlap enough to exercise together regularly.

Start Your Search

Once you have an idea of what you’re looking for in a workout partner, start thinking about who might make a good candidate. Bariatric surgery gives you plenty of opportunities to make new friends, so don’t limit yourself to people you already know—the following locations can be perfect for meeting a new buddy:

• Your gym. A gym membership can help you stick to your exercise goals, but it can also help you socialize. Stay friendly and open while at your gym—once you’ve gotten to know another regular, ask if he or she would like to exercise with you.
• Your support groups. Bariatric surgery support groups are full of people with fitness needs and lifestyle circumstances similar to your own. Ask a friend you’ve made in your support groups if he or she would like to head to the gym one day, or arrange a group fitness outing with several other members.

A fitness partner can be a crucial part of your support system after weight loss surgery in Ypsilanti or Saginaw, helping you stick to your bariatric surgeon’s exercise recommendations and have more fun with every calorie burned. Who do you exercise with? Share your workout buddy experiences in the comments below.