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In the "pics" section, I gave a blurb that I started working out with my wife. I'd like to share a little of my experience...
Preface: Like MANY of the other guys here, I NEVER work out with anyone. I never had a consistent training partner. There were times before I might share a squat rack with a buddy and push each other or some other exercise on occasion, but it wasn't often and certainly not a regular thing. Now-a-days, like many here, I pretty much go to the gym, do my thing, and get out.
My Wife has really struggled to lose the weight since our kids and it's very depressing for her. She's 5 foot and BEFORE weighed 105#. She'd kill me if I said how much she weighs now
. I've given her diets and training routines which she would follow for a while, make some decent improvements, but for some reason or another, would fall back to the usual and put the weight back on. This then would only further make her feel bad about herself.
Originally, I decided I would work-out in the morning by myself, then train my wife. I was always concerned with just how intense (or lack thereof) her training was. Based on our conversations I was always wondering if she was really pushing herself on the weights and relying too much on cardio to lose weight. She liked the cardio b/c she said she could see results faster and gave the "usual" thoughts about women and weight's (fear of getting too muscular, etc.). I explained the whole more muscle higher metabolism mantra but nonetheless, still afraid.
Present: For some reason, I decided that we would start working out together. My routine is somewhat low volume so I wasn't too worried about her overtraining. She does the same exercises. I do my set, then she does hers. I bring our training log and keep track of our weights, set and reps.
Results:
Her- She now knows what "intensity" is when it comes to weight training. She realizes she wasn't working all that hard on her own. It's really increasing her "self-concept." Although she hasn't dropped all the weight yet (she has a bit to go, but clothes are fitting more loose) she feels better about herself now than when she was working out on her own b/c she knows she's working harder, doing the right things, etc. She get's the whole "to lose weight, you need to lift weight" mentality now.
Me- I've gained a whole new respect for her. When I see her really push herself, even give out a few grunts on the last few reps... it really impresses me. My wife is the "strongest" woman I know for various reasons that I may share some other time, but I get to see a whole new "tough" side to her... and it turns me on! hahahaha It does increase my admiration of her. It's actually pretty cool watching her help me load the 45's on, especially the squat rack- I'm 6'1 so the pins are pretty high for her but she does a great job hoisting them up and down from the bar... she says it's part of her workout
Us- My Wife is really enjoying the working out together and she feel's closer to me as a result. It's something we are "owning" as a couple more and gives us one more thing shared we can enjoy together. We like talking about what time we're going to workout the next day, what we'll do, etc.
I was concerned it was going to add all this time to my workout as I like to get in and get out... it only added 5-10 minutes tops... and added a little "extra" to our marriage
Preface: Like MANY of the other guys here, I NEVER work out with anyone. I never had a consistent training partner. There were times before I might share a squat rack with a buddy and push each other or some other exercise on occasion, but it wasn't often and certainly not a regular thing. Now-a-days, like many here, I pretty much go to the gym, do my thing, and get out.
My Wife has really struggled to lose the weight since our kids and it's very depressing for her. She's 5 foot and BEFORE weighed 105#. She'd kill me if I said how much she weighs now
. I've given her diets and training routines which she would follow for a while, make some decent improvements, but for some reason or another, would fall back to the usual and put the weight back on. This then would only further make her feel bad about herself.Originally, I decided I would work-out in the morning by myself, then train my wife. I was always concerned with just how intense (or lack thereof) her training was. Based on our conversations I was always wondering if she was really pushing herself on the weights and relying too much on cardio to lose weight. She liked the cardio b/c she said she could see results faster and gave the "usual" thoughts about women and weight's (fear of getting too muscular, etc.). I explained the whole more muscle higher metabolism mantra but nonetheless, still afraid.
Present: For some reason, I decided that we would start working out together. My routine is somewhat low volume so I wasn't too worried about her overtraining. She does the same exercises. I do my set, then she does hers. I bring our training log and keep track of our weights, set and reps.
Results:
Her- She now knows what "intensity" is when it comes to weight training. She realizes she wasn't working all that hard on her own. It's really increasing her "self-concept." Although she hasn't dropped all the weight yet (she has a bit to go, but clothes are fitting more loose) she feels better about herself now than when she was working out on her own b/c she knows she's working harder, doing the right things, etc. She get's the whole "to lose weight, you need to lift weight" mentality now.
Me- I've gained a whole new respect for her. When I see her really push herself, even give out a few grunts on the last few reps... it really impresses me. My wife is the "strongest" woman I know for various reasons that I may share some other time, but I get to see a whole new "tough" side to her... and it turns me on! hahahaha It does increase my admiration of her. It's actually pretty cool watching her help me load the 45's on, especially the squat rack- I'm 6'1 so the pins are pretty high for her but she does a great job hoisting them up and down from the bar... she says it's part of her workout
Us- My Wife is really enjoying the working out together and she feel's closer to me as a result. It's something we are "owning" as a couple more and gives us one more thing shared we can enjoy together. We like talking about what time we're going to workout the next day, what we'll do, etc.
I was concerned it was going to add all this time to my workout as I like to get in and get out... it only added 5-10 minutes tops... and added a little "extra" to our marriage
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