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Workouts for couples - Body talk: Black health and fitness - Brief Article

Ebony, March, 2002 by Kimberly Davis

IT'S 6 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and you and your man have a hot date. It's one of those standing appointments, the time and place understood. You don't have to worry about your hair (not really, anyway), your clothes aren't that important and it's actually good if you break a sweat.

That's right, your hot date is at the local gym or health club, and you and your man have the couples' workout down to a science. After all, fitness experts say, the couple that plays together, stays together. What better way to play than by exercising your way to a healthier, happier lifestyle?

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Whether you spend time together at the gym, on the tennis court or in a salsa class, getting together to exercise as a couple lays a firm foundation for your lives together. "It does help them [couples] to build a closer relationship," says Lisa Taylor, owner of Taylor Made Fitness in San Diego. "It helps them to keep each other motivated and accountable to their workout and to each other, and it gives them quality time they wouldn't normally have throughout their busy day."

Before you even consider running side-by-side with your soul mate, here are a few important ground rules to make sure the ride goes as smoothly as possible.

1. Consult a physician before beginning any exercise routine. Make sure that you are physically equipped to handle the stress the workout may cause to your body. Often, Taylor says, couples want to work out together but don't know what their bodies can handle. Not knowing your limitations can lead to injuries.

2. You may also want to consult a dietician or nutritionist before beginning a workout program. Changing your eating habits is generally the first important step to a healthier lifestyle. You also want to know what foods your body needs and doesn't need in regard to your exercise program.

3. If you're just starting out, you may want to have one or two sessions with a fitness professional to help you set reasonable goals. A professional can also help you with form and technique when doing the exercises and can advise you about which exercises are right for you. Once you feel confident, you can proceed on your own.

4. Realize that men and women are different. Not only are their bodies different, but their minds are also different. Therefore, how men and women approach and meet their fitness goals may also be different. Women may want to lose weight, but not bulk up. Men may want to bulk up or even add weight. "Women tend to have a harder time losing weight than men," says Taylor, a certified fitness instructor. "How she gets there has to be different."

5. You don't have to do every exercise together, particularly if you have different body types. You may need to do more cardio or your mate may need to work on his abs. That's fine, as long as you come together at some point during the workout and do at least part of it together.

Henry M. Harris and his wife Lorie, a Chicago couple who have been married since 1989, have been working out together from the start of their relationship. For both of them, fitness has been of lifelong importance. They work out together five to six days a week at the Bally Sports Club in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, but they don't limit themselves to what they can do indoors.

They also in-line skate and enjoy snowboarding together. Their children, Jordan, 10, and Joshua, 12, are also getting the message that physical fitness should be a lifelong commitment. The two boys have taken karate and tennis lessons, and play other sports as well. "It's something we can do together," says Lorie, 36, who works in the airline industry. "And it keeps us healthy."

The couple shares an easy camaraderie during their evening workouts, catching up on the day, talking about the boys and just spending quality time together. Often, it's the only time they have all to themselves during the day. "There's a comfort we have with each other," says Henry, 38, a police officer. "We really are best friends."

6. The key to maintaining that friendship you have as a couple is to continue having fun. Once an exercise program becomes a chore, you tend to lose your motivation. The way your partner motivates you also has a lot to do with meeting your fitness goals. Being a workout bully may be fine for some couples, but not everyone appreciates feeling as though they've done something wrong. "You always want to encourage them [your partner]; it's not about bullying them," Taylor says. "You want to treat them the way you want to be treated."

7. One way to stay motivated and on track is to keep a fitness journal. Taylor suggests to her clients that they record items such as their daily food and caloric intake, their exercise program that day and, among other things, how much water they drink. The journal is also a place for them to write down their goals and keep track of their progress in meeting those goals.

8. Keep your workout as fresh as possible. Instead of using the treadmill every day, consider riding the exercise bike. If your mate doesn't enjoy an aerobics class, try kickboxing or spinning. It's all about finding a series of workouts that each of you enjoys and is determined to stick with.

Workouts for couples - Body talk: Black health and fitness - Brief Article

Ebony, March, 2002 by Kimberly Davis

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