Alone or partner, how do you lift or prefer to lift

[polishedball]

Ran into my old workout buddy last night at the gym. Boy was it fun. I usually lift by myself as my schedule doesn't allow me to meet with him anymore, but i sure do miss it. Hopefully come summer will start lifting together again for one or two a week.

There just some odd joy, lifting with the right person, only have found three such people though over the past twenty years.

[SteveWright1]

I have had 10 sessions with a PT that I did enjoy
working out in company did add a new dynamic to the equation

I have only worked out with a training partner three times since last September
2 occasions with a Crossfit PT that visits me from UK ( old friend) both of those sessions felt great for exactly the reasons you describe above

1 occasion with a mate who visited from UK last weekend, but he is not a gym regular and focused on cardio equipment
so whilst we arrived and left the gym at the same time, we did not actually train together

[asilcenk]

I know it is more fun working out with a friend as buddy but I always prefer to workout alone...

To be alone is matching with my workout style because I am not going with heavy heavier and more... To be fit is enough and when I reach my limit of weight I donot need more...

[Mike Spitzer]

The right matched training partner can be good .. but that seems rare in my experience.
Goals and progress often seem to differ.
With that in mind, I usually prefer alone.

[Plateauplower]

Right now I prefer to lift alone. Headphones on focusing on what Im doing. I also keep a pretty intense routine usually doing super or giant sets to get everything done in under an hour. There are times when doing more of a bulking routine when I would like a good partner to spot me and give that extra bit of competion during heavy sets, but I'm still cutting...I can usually get a spot if needed.

[mirroroferised]

I first started with a buddy years ago and loved it. After the first few months we both got out of it and when I went back, it was alone. I miss it a bit to be honest. I like working out alone a lot but there is something fun about having a partner there.

I know it is more fun working out with a friend as buddy but I always prefer to workout alone...

To be alone is matching with my workout style because I am not going with heavy heavier and more... To be fit is enough and when I reach my limit of weight I donot need more...

And your friends try and force you to do more than you want?

[drudixon]

Alone. Don't want to waste time waiting on anyone.

[asilcenk]

I first started with a buddy years ago and loved it. After the first few months we both got out of it and when I went back, it was alone. I miss it a bit to be honest. I like working out alone a lot but there is something fun about having a partner there.




And your friends try and force you to do more than you want?

No, I mean I just donot need...

[MiddletoM]

Lifting solo crew

I can motivate myself well enough and dont want to wait for others. They normally try to change up my routine or insist their way is best.

[Jbizzlechizzle]

Ran into my old workout buddy last night at the gym. Boy was it fun. I usually lift by myself as my schedule doesn't allow me to meet with him anymore, but i sure do miss it. Hopefully come summer will start lifting together again for one or two a week.

There just some odd joy, lifting with the right person, only have found three such people though over the past twenty years.

I have 2 lifting partners right now. Both are pretty big guys @275 and 320 lbs looking to lose weight and get more fit while maintaining or improving strength. My goal is to put on muscle mass and maintain or slowly reduce by bf%. We're all similar in strength, so it's pretty easy to workout together. I find the company to be a good thing as we all bring a little bit different to the table. We work very well together. We spot each other and give opinions on different routines and form. I find it a good thing, but I do sometimes miss the solitude of working alone.

[Cleveland33]

I lift solo in my basement. I wouldn't mind having a partner, but at this point I don't have friends that live close enough by to make it work with my schedule - I lift early am.

I think I might enjoy some aspects of it, but really it is the only time I get any time to myself. By the time I am done lifting my daughter is up and I am with her and the woman, then at work all day, then home with them again.

[jlsnyderTypeR]

I've had about 12 workout partners in the past 25 years, some good, some bad, but I prefer now to be by myself.

[mcbourque]

I've had only one partner in 30 years, about 20 years ago. We really complimented each other: I had more experience, she had a kinesiology degree - I learned a lot.

I also tried with my husband - then boyfriend - for a bit. Epic fail!! I'm really precise in what I do and he was just goofing off!

I train side by side with my teenaged boys sometimes now and that's awesome.

Otherwise it's headphone and don't talk to me! Been like that forever.

[The3Bar]

Had a workout friend once. Never again. Great guy and terrific spotter. But I am preferring to workout alone.

For me, at least I am able to focus, concentrate, lift, pause briefly and continue. Headphones on. I greet those I know, lift, and greet them as I leave. Go home.

If someone was training with me, it would involve more time than I want.

I saw a gym shirt years ago: Gym time is me time. So, F'Off!

[magic15]

Alone

[Robin13]

On me tod(that's alone in Englishmoney)best training was years back and had a good choice of regulars to spot who I trusted

[Capt_Lou]

Just started training with Ntrlftr on the weekends. We both push each other past where we were comfortable with. Nice to finally work with someone that knows more than you do.

[anonymous]

Had a workout partner for the last 3 months, and LOVED it! We were very compatible, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and working out together was such a great experience. Unfortunately, we had to part company......don't know if I will ever get a partner like him again, so working out solo for now.

[Karl_Hungus]

Hate lifting with a partner. I like doing my routine without having to adjust it to fit somebody else's preferences. I just can't lift effectively that way.

[discdoggie]

It would be nice to have a spotter on bench. I've had some embarrassing fails where I had to call out for a rescue.


I'm too upside-down/inside-out with my daily schedule. Having to be at the gym ready to work at "x" time every day would be too anxiety provoking. I NEVER ever miss a scheduled session. Ever. But just as often as not, a 5:15 session becomes a 6:22 one. Things like that. I need more flexibility than having someone expecting me there at a certain time allows. Too bad.

[polishedball]

Hate lifting with a partner. I like doing my routine without having to adjust it to fit somebody else's preferences. I just can't lift effectively that way.

Yes the big key is the three that worked great for me all had similar body types and the same lifting style. Neither made an adjustment.

[randymiscer]

Forever alone crew,!
Lifting with someone else is just a hassle

[scullin]

Usually alone. However I'm going to a conference next month and one of my buddies I was in Iraq with will be there. We used to go to the gym together back in the day so it would be cool if we can do that during the conference week. Plus the guy is a beast so he'll probably push me.

[k9pit]

Usually alone. Unless I train with someone with the same mindset of intensity as myself.

I don't like to talk and joke between sets. Sometimes I take long breaks between sets and don't want to throw them off or feel rushed.

Some people like to talk and joke but that stuff throws my intensity off. I like to be relatively angry while blasting violent music into my ears in the gym. It keeps me focused and where I need to be.

[tomnationwide]

Alone. Nobody in my gym can keep up with me. Mind you I'm in a smaller gym that doesn't have a lot of strong guys. Also I like to listen to heavy music while working out and the gym plays like modern pop n ****.

[scullin]

Alone. Nobody in my gym can keep up with me. Mind you I'm in a smaller gym that doesn't have a lot of strong guys. Also I like to listen to heavy music while working out and the gym plays like modern pop n ****.

Would listen to music with. Can't keep up with though.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Much prefer to fly solo. But right now my wife is training with me. It isn't ideal but she needs to workout and so I have adapted my workout around her needs.

[tomnationwide]

Would listen to music with. Can't keep up with though.

Word. I don't mind dropping a plate each set at all but I'm way ahead. I'm probably in the wrong gym for what I'm doing. I should probably go into a meathead gym anyway.

[Mounkey]

Over the years i've worked out both alone and with a partner. Partners get you pumped and push you past those thresholds but workouts can take twice as long. As i get older I need all the time i can get so now just work out solo, bang through it and move on.

[Photoglady]

I didn't know it but I prefer to do it alone. A friend of mine recently asked to come work out with me and I could not dial in the way I usually do. I was relieved when she fell by the way side. I'm a lone wolf.