Whether you are in a relationship, single, or were recently dumped, exercise is a great way to maintain your body, keep your head clear, and gain life-long health benefits. It is the perfect antidote to release unwanted weight and unwanted feelings, and not to mention, a great way to meet people.
Joining a gym or starting your own routine both create avenues of positive endurance to help you improve your life physically and emotionally. An active body can be linked to an active mind. If you are dealing with a breakup or another type of loss, exercising is a perfect outlet to let your mind unwind while your body does the work. When you stop trying to solve a mental challenge, the solution often pops into your head. Exercise is an opportunity for your subconscious mind to put together all the puzzle pieces, allowing you to heal more quickly and with more confidence while you better your health and physical appearance.
As a couple or if you are newly dating, working out together is a great way to spend quality time together. While lateral curls and 45 minutes on the elliptical machine cannot compare to a movie and a romantic candlelight dinner, it does allow people to enjoy time together. It also allows the flow of discussion of mutual goals and can create an opportunity for sharing a common commitment to well-being. It's important to find something that you love to do when you're looking for an exercise regime. Maybe you don't like the same forms of exercise, or physically cannot do a workout together, but maybe you can do your cool-down routine together. Hitting the gym together, running at the track, biking along a bike path, swimming at the pool and even bringing the dogs for a long hike may be the perfect date.
Together you can increase motivation, and may develop a deeper bond with each other. It is well known that exercise is good for the mind, body, the soul and your relationship. And according to quickiechick.com, couples that work out together have a better sex life. Exercise in general, and even more so, exercising with a partner has been shown to create more satisfaction in the bedroom. In fact, exercise can even serve as a form of foreplay! When you work out, you get your blood flowing, your muscles firing, and your heart pumping. Your skin begins to sweat, while hormones and feelings are triggered. As your mind clears, and your body tightens, it could just be the perfect remedy for an increased or newfound sex life.
If you're single, working out can offer you a perfect opportunity to meet someone. According to exercizetv.com, “Dedicating time to exercise together is a commitment to take care of yourself and shows your partner that you care about improving or maintaining your physical appearance. Not to mention basic attraction." Even if you don't have a partner right NOW, that initial attraction is what can spark the first conversation with someone - and it happens all the time at the gym.
A commitment to exercise shows potential partners that you place value on staying in shape and getting - and keeping up - an attractive appearance. Also, as exercizetv.com states, "Any interest or activity that a couple shares and experiences together can have a positive impact on the relationship, especially when you are depending on each other to do it." If you both enjoy working out, perhaps that shared interest can lead to a first date.
With the start of every year, people make multiple resolutions - many of which aren't kept past January. However, in 2012, hopefully a commitment to exercise will be a resolution that you make and keep. You may open yourself up to a new love, a better relationship, and an overall healthier, happier self. If you aren't sure where to begin, we recommend Patrick or Leslie at Consistent Fitness to help you begin and stay motivated. Together with an online support team or individual consultations, they can help you make a New You this New Year.
Alysia Stern is a published author and a freelance writer in the New York area. www.alysiastern.com
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