How to train alone?

[rjavi10]

I'm thinking about going solo because of my disagreements with my partner's training methods. He likes to do too many sets (25-30) and too many exercises for each body part, and our workouts are too long (2 hours). I've done alot of research on the subject and we should be doing 15-20 sets and our workouts should be no longer than 1.5 hours. I worry about overtraining with this guy. I've tried talking to him about it, but he thinks I'm just being lazy and soft. Should I just go solo? Is training alone still effictive? I won't be able to go real heavy anymore without a spotter though and he motivates me to grind out a few extra reps...

[Lendogg]

You can lift heavy without a spotter..... Just use the squat rack for benching.

I love lifting solo. You get to do what you want, exactly how you want.

[Engineer_Guy]

I won't be able to go real heavy anymore without a spotter though and he motivates me to grind out a few extra reps...

I can understand the motivation factor. But what do you really need a spotter for?

[rjavi10]

I can understand the motivation factor. But what do you really need a spotter for?

Some lifts we go real heavy and he spots me on weight that I otherwise wouldn't be able to lift alone

[rjavi10]

You can lift heavy without a spotter..... Just use the squat rack for benching.

I love lifting solo. You get to do what you want, exactly how you want.

Do you find it easy to stay motivated working out alone?

[Engineer_Guy]

Some lifts we go real heavy and he spots me on weight that I otherwise wouldn't be able to lift alone

In other words he's assisting you with the lift, not spotting you. There's nothing you can't do alone that you can do with a spotter unless it's purely a mental thing in which case you need to get over it.

[musikguy72]

In other words he's assisting you with the lift, not spotting you. There's nothing you can't do alone that you can do with a spotter unless it's purely a mental thing in which case you need to get over it.

^^^This exactly. I workout alone (most of the time) and with my music and preworkout youtube videos I have plenty of motivation.
OP just find a routine that meets your goals but doesn't have you going to failure and you will be fine.

[PeterGibbons316]

Some lifts we go real heavy and he spots me on weight that I otherwise wouldn't be able to lift alone

If he is helping you, then he is effectively lowering the weight being lifted. Lighten it up and lift it yourself - much easier to track progress that way anyway.

[airpak]

Personally, I'm more motivated when I work out alone. I always get distracted and lazy when I'm working out with someone else as opposed to just myself pushing me. If you really really need a spot, just ask someone else around you to help for a minute.

[warney]

^^^This exactly. I workout alone (most of the time) and with my music and preworkout youtube videos I have plenty of motivation.
OP just find a routine that meets your goals but doesn't have you going to failure and you will be fine.

You can even go to failure alone in a rack.. lower it to the safety bars.. ive stood on my bench and deadlifted the weight back up.. otherwise take some plates off and lift it back up

[Prediluted]

I have worked out alone for the past few years. My fiance comes to the gym with me on weekends (she goes at school during the week), but she does her thing and I do mine. If I ever need a spot on anything I have never had a problem asking a random stranger who looks like he knows what he's doing to give me a hand. I have never had a problem with motivation, I haven't missed a workout once in the last 18 months.

[johnniepeters]

I'm thinking about going solo because of my disagreements with my partner's training methods. He likes to do too many sets (25-30) and too many exercises for each body part, and our workouts are too long (2 hours). I've done alot of research on the subject and we should be doing 15-20 sets and our workouts should be no longer than 1.5 hours. I worry about overtraining with this guy. I've tried talking to him about it, but he thinks I'm just being lazy and soft. Should I just go solo? Is training alone still effictive? I won't be able to go real heavy anymore without a spotter though and he motivates me to grind out a few extra reps...

i've had many partners.i prefer training alone but i needed to find a way to compensate so i have found the rest-pause method and/or Drop sets to do far more than any partner ever could.

[230plus]

i've had many partners.i prefer training alone but i needed to find a way to compensate so i have found the rest-pause method and/or Drop sets to do far more than any partner ever could.

This^^^

Personally, I'm more motivated when I work out alone. I always get distracted and lazy when I'm working out with someone else as opposed to just myself pushing me. If you really really need a spot, just ask someone else around you to help for a minute.

This^^^

[Fairfax]

I've always trained alone (4 years now) and think it's actually better than having a training partner. You're free to train exactly when it suits your schedule and do exactly what you want in the gym. Also, unless you both follow a tight drill, I find training with someone usually slows things down. Training to failure is still possible on most things. The only thing I've ever missed is help for the odd forced rep here and there.

[PeterGibbons316]

You can even go to failure alone in a rack.. lower it to the safety bars.. ive stood on my bench and deadlifted the weight back up.. otherwise take some plates off and lift it back up

Sounds dangerous. I've done hang cleans, and zerchers to re-rack with success.

[Retoaded]

OP - you don't need a spotter to lift heavy. squat in a power rack. bench in a power rack, or do dumbbell chest/incline press, or practice the "roll of shame" technique. I can't think of anything else that even needs a spotter...

[Lendogg]

Do you find it easy to stay motivated working out alone?

Yes. My progression is what motivates me to come back to the gym. When your squat goes from the bar to almost 300 over 6 months.. that makes you very motivated to keep going.

[Faust24]

I work out alone but because barbells scare the scat out of me I just use dumbells for everything lol. Dumbell bench press when l fail I just rest in on me and sit up(throwing weights is for douchebags).

I will say it would be nice to do a negative but I'm fine.

[xanimalcontrolx]

you can make gains but you need to be dedicated and have a little more discipline than the guys that have their own cheering squads at the gym.

good luck