The Buddy System

I have recently discovered the importance of the buddy system. Not in the way we all know (never will I ever take an Uber home alone…) but in terms of health & fitness.

Ignore my feet above (I hate feet, why did I take this picture) and let’s chat about why we all need a buddy when trying to stick to a new lifestyle.

Step 1: Realize that you’re not 16 anymore and you can’t eat cheesy pasta for every meal.
Step 2: Find a super cool and/or trendy workout regime (Kayla Itsines, you’re my girl!)
Step 3: Realize that you’re too social and/or lazy to 100% stick to said workout regime (Sorry, Kayla…)
Step 4: Find an adorable gym like Barre Beautiful.
Step 5: Eyes will cry happy tears, muscles will cry sad ones.

Only half joking…

What I’ve realized is the common thread between the above steps is having someone right there beside you to struggle through the process. I love going to the gym and getting into fitness, but I give up more often than not. What makes  the difference between falling off the wagon and hanging on for dear life is having a BUDDY!

FIRST, FIND YOUR EXIT (workout) BUDDY!

image via memecrunch. image via memecrunch.

I told my good friend (and avid Clydescope reader) Reilly that I was thinking about starting Kayla Itsines. She IMMEDIATELY jumped at the chance to have someone workout with her…at first I was like “oh cool, we’ll do it for a bit and then stop talking about it.”

Nope. We’re on week 6 and we haven’t stopped supporting each other.

Oooooookay fine, I’m supposed to be on week 8 or something…Scotland REALLY threw me off. ANYWAYS. I can always expect a text or Snapchat from Reilly saying “Kayla just killed me” or “Kayla time UGH” or “I just went for a run and ran into a log and continued to run 7km home.” (That last one actually happened. This gal is a TROOPER.)

The point is, it is SO NECESSARY to have someone there to hold you accountable. I didn’t realize how demanding Kayla would be, or how easily I do give up when no one is pushing me. When I hear that Reilly has already done her weekly workouts or has gone for some crazy run, it makes me feel like I should too.

It’s peer pressure in THE BEST WAY.

We hadn’t seen each other in a while and were struggling to make plans…I said “well, I have a barre class on Tuesday, but we could meet up after?” What did fitness queen Reilly do? JUMP on the chance to come to barre and go out for a healthy dinner at Fresh with me (see below. Come on.) It allowed me to see one of my fave gals, saved me a few bucks by not going for drinks, and motivated me to go to fitness class!

I haven’t done a rambly word vomit post in a while, so it was about time…stuff like this is SO SIMPLE yet so easy to miss. I’ve been trying and failing to stick to a workout regime for years, and I think I’ve finally found the key that works for me.

Now. Get off your butt and find someone to work out with you…or better yet, find a few! Aside from Rei, I have a girlfriend at work who is always up for a round of butt-kicking at Ferris 360. It makes all the difference to have a friend who will get healthy with you. Good luck, and let me know if you have a favourite Toronto spot for fitness classes (or delicous post-workout dinners…)