Feb
2013
Sweat Together, Stay Together
Okay, first a shameless Valentine’s Day flower photo. And actually….these aren’t the flowers Jared got me (I got roses, lucky me)…but these are the ones I got him. I love tulips and seeing them makes me happy, so I’m posting them.
Is it weird that I got him flowers? He gets them for me all the time, so I figured I’d reverse it for once….and actually, I just love tulips and they were all over the stores yesterday, so I picked up a bunch. I guess they were kinda for me too. But I meant well.
Moving on……speaking of couples and Valentine’s Day….
Do you and your Significant Other exercise together?
The Huffington Post had an article earlier this week stating that the couples who work out together, stay together longer. It gives both people in the couple a sense of cooperation, a shared passion, and an emotional/physical boost. In turn, the couples that exercise together end up having a stronger relationship. That makes sense, right?
I think the shared passion part is important. But I have to admit, Jared and I struggle with this a little bit.
We both like to ski….but he’s a much better skier than me so if we spend the day there together, we’ll be on different slopes (me the bunny slopes, him on something steep). Sure, he’ll go down my hills a few times with me, but it’s not the same…he’s bored and it’s more like him being with me while I do my thing rather than us doing something together.
our first ski trip together
I clearly don’t do Ironmen races and have no desire to start.
I would love to go on a bike ride, but my idea of a bike ride is something flat and leisurely bike path…20 miles is fine with me, but it doesn’t involved a bike outfit, “clipping in,” a serious road bike, and 80 miles uphill in wind. And because he’s much better and faster than me, I constantly feel like he’s “waiting” or slowing for me, which sucks.
cruisers…my kind of bike 
We ran a half marathon together…..but our “together” part didn’t work very well. We trained on opposite days– long runs worked better on Fridays for me, Saturdays for him. I liked to run in the morning, him in the evenings. And on race day, he “ditched” me at the start to go to a different time group because he decided the race was part of his training and he wanted to PR…he waited for me at the end and we went through the finish line together, but it certainly didn’t feel like we were working out together. Never again, honestly. So another fail there.
We did a 10k turkey trot together once too….that was more fun than the half
Sometimes, we go to the gym together…..but we do different things so once we arrive, we migrate to separate areas.
I’ve asked him to come to yoga with me and I get a big fat NO (not surprised though, I get it, not his thing).
So what does that leave?
HIKING.
on a hiking trip in big sur…so pretty!
That’s really the only “workout” that we enjoy together and that we’re at the same level at. Thank goodness there’s something!
Also, thankfully there are many many trails in the area. Now that he’s not training, we have weekend days to spend together. And hopefully, as spring arrives (though it’s been 70 degrees all week so I guess the season doesn’t matter over here), we’ll go much more often.
my favorite hiking buddies
Whew, at least there’s something! Other than that, I don’t think Jared and I are destined to exercise together in any of the other areas….at least not now! We do have other “non exercise” shared interests as well though…and I do think that shared passions– exercise or non-exercise related– are keys to a strong relationship.
How about you?
Do you work out with your significant other? (or have you in the past)
Do you feel like it improves your relationship?
What’s his favorite workout? What’s yours?
25 Comments on Sweat Together, Stay Together
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Alex @ therunwithin
February 15, 2013 at 9:18 am (96 days ago)I hope when I find my future husband or even dating someone that they enjoy to be active like I do. i fully believe that doing things like that, out of your comfort zone with each other can bring you closer
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:16 pm (95 days ago)It’s great when you each introduce each other to something new– def makes the relationship more interesting!
mariafalls
February 15, 2013 at 9:39 am (96 days ago)I love the points to this article! They actually make a lot of sense.
In college, when we had access to the same gym, we’d have a 9pm gym date 6 nights a week (now a days, 9pm is pajama time for me – oh to be young again). Most of those nights, he’d teach me how to lift weights and we’d work out together in the weight room. Sometimes I’d head to the elliptical or treadmill, but we really enjoyed our gym dates. I think it helped solidify our relationship early on.
That being said, he works at a company now that provides him with a free gym, one that I can’t use. Whomp. So we do our own thing. But I do think my “me-time” is very healthy, so I don’t mind at all.
But alas, hiking is our weekend thing. We typically go hiking 2-3 times a month and have hit all the major trails in the airea. If you guys ever want hiking buddies – let me know!
aftertheivyleague
February 15, 2013 at 9:42 am (96 days ago)I think it’s totally normal for two people in a relationship to not be at the same or similar fitness levels…I mean let’s face it, in general men are gonna be faster runners than women. Me and my boyfriend are at similar ski-skill levels, so that was a super fun workout for us to do together. But I don’t think I’d ever run with him, he was captain of his track team in HS and I know I wouldn’t be able to keep up!
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:14 pm (95 days ago)That’s true- men and women’s bodies are just different, so it makes sense that we each prefer different things
Jodea @ chillichocolatelove.com
February 15, 2013 at 10:15 am (96 days ago)Those tulips are so bright and colourful! Gorgeous!
My boyfriend is a long distance runner and I just don’t do running anymore! I may have convinced him to try my new military fitness class with me, but he doesn’t seem convinced… However, like you, we both enjoy long scenic walks and I find we have some of our best talks when we walk together. Win win! We also both love music, food and travelling.
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:13 pm (95 days ago)Walking and talking is the best… I love it when we do that too
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance
February 15, 2013 at 11:32 am (96 days ago)Funny . . . hiking is our favorite workout to do together as well! Otherwise, we do separate stuff, which is fine with me. I guess I prefer to leave my workout time as “me time”. Beautiful tulips!!
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:13 pm (95 days ago)Totally agree about the “me” time…so true
Becky @ Olives n Wine
February 15, 2013 at 11:34 am (96 days ago)Your smile is so big and gorgeous!!
I laughed about your yoga comment, I convinced Kyle to come with me once. He thought he was going to die because it was a heated yoga class and kept leaning over to ask me how much time was left. It was definitely NOT relaxing! We are going to run a St. Patrick’s Day 7K together in March so I hope that begins a great habit of us running together!
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:12 pm (95 days ago)Lol- your hot yoga story made me laugh! Thanks for the smile compliment
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog
February 15, 2013 at 11:46 am (96 days ago)My husband goes through phases of working out and I’m more consistent on what I do, so we’ve tried working out together, but like you, it usually works better if we each do our own thing. That’s okay though, I think, as long as you can appreciate what the other person likes to do and goes through.
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:12 pm (95 days ago)That’s true- appreciating what the other person does is what matters most
Jessica @ Fit Talker
February 15, 2013 at 12:06 pm (96 days ago)Not much working out together here either.
We used to take some spinning classes together, which was nice. I got him to do TRX with me once but he didn’t like it. He’s big on home workouts and I’d rather go to the gym.
We had been riding (cycling) outdoors together but now he’s been training a bit and I haven’t, so we may have a gap. I think I’m going to get an indoor trainer for the bike (which he already has) so we can attempt to ride side-by-side.
On a related note, I’ve always enjoyed my solitary workout time.
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:11 pm (95 days ago)That’s true- I like it as my solitary “thinking” time too.
jessielovestorun
February 16, 2013 at 12:38 am (96 days ago)Whenever Joshua and I would go to the gym together, we wouldn’t really work out together unless I was having a weight day, but even then he did his thing & I did mine. However, he would join in on some of my runs. We ran a half marathon side by side the whole time & crossed the finish line holding hands once.
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:09 pm (95 days ago)I bet your race photo crossing the finish was so cute!!
Apples and Arteries
February 16, 2013 at 4:32 am (95 days ago)Tulips are my favorite!
We used to workout together when we first started dating but it was because we lived in different cities and I’d come to visit so we’d go to his gym as part of weekend plans.
But now in “real life”, our schedules are just opposite. I like to go to the gym early AM, he goes later in the day (8 or 9pm). Sometimes I can get him to do a DVD with me at home but that’s rare. When we go on vacation, though, we do workout together and it’s fun!
Rebecca
February 16, 2013 at 8:09 pm (95 days ago)I don’t think Jared would ever do a DVD with me- ha!
Anna Smith-James (@AnnaTheApple88)
February 17, 2013 at 11:44 am (94 days ago)I think it’s really hrd to workout ith your partner. Both have different interests and skill levels. It was the same skiing for Ben and me. He was a lot better so we didn’t ski that much together. And we can’t run together much as I’m a bit speedier than him.Its nice you have places to hike together though, it looks beautiful.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
February 17, 2013 at 7:10 pm (94 days ago)I’m with you. The Hubby and I both workout, but not really together and not at the same level. At least you two have hiking and plenty of other passions, plus valuing health and wellness. That’s more important than do the exact same exercises.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
February 17, 2013 at 7:11 pm (94 days ago)P.S. I love tulips. One of my favorite flowers. Beautiful.
Sara @my less serious life
February 18, 2013 at 3:19 am (93 days ago)my boy and i are the same way – a lot of our active activities don’t really coincide with spending time together. for us it is hiking (although i must admit we don’t do this nearly enough) or simply taking the dog on a long walk together.
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie
February 18, 2013 at 6:24 am (93 days ago)James and I used to work out together all the time and I wouldn’t have survived the half without him. But when we moved into our house, we joined different gyms (based on where we work), so now we don’t any more and I really miss it
Cinnamon
February 19, 2013 at 9:45 am (92 days ago)i love working out with Paul but i agree it can be really hard when you arent at the same fitness level. Paul is in the army and does PT all the time…he can run, bike…faster than me so it makes it tough. I always feel like I am slowing him down.