7 Tips to Get Your Partner On-board with Fitness

Another crazy-intense workout down, and you’re feeling on top of the world. Your adrenaline is pumping, and all you want to do is tell your partner how you killed it in the gym. Too bad she’s about as interested in fitness as you are in doing your taxes. Any time you ask her to join you in working out, she comes up with every excuse in the book. When you’re grilling up a week’s worth of chicken breasts, she’s mowing down on junk food. Your interests in fitness couldn’t be more opposite if you tried. So how can you encourage her to join your get-fit crusade? While we can’t work miracles on fitness non-believers, these seven simple steps should help your cause…

1. SHOW YOUR SOFT SIDE
Nobody likes to be bullied into a decision, even if you think it’s the greatest decision known to man. Instead of cramming fitness down your partner’s throat, just be honest with her about why it means so much to you. Tell her how staying fit makes you a healthier, happier person, and how you want the same for her. If she sees that you’re motivated by a sense of caring – and not to whip her into a smaller dress size – she may be more open to picking up the lifestyle. The key is to stress how much you love her as is. The last thing you want to do is make her feel like your relationship hinges on how much weight she loses, or if she can keep up with you at the squat rack.

 

2. LEAD BY EXAMPLE

If one day you’re begging your girl to eat clean and the next day you’re wolfing back a large pizza while comatose on the couch, you’re sending mixed messages. She might be wondering why she should commit to fitness if it’s not high on your priority list after all. If you want her to join in the crusade, stay consistent with your eating habits and workout routine. You don’t need to be perfect, but you do need to model what a fit, healthy lifestyle looks like. The more she sees your commitment, the more likely she’ll be to get the fitness bug herself.

3. MASTER CART OF COMPROMISE
Ask any relationship expert or married couple and they’ll tell you that compromise is essential to a great partnership. As a poet in 1886 once wrote, “Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break.” How does this translate to fitness? If running absolutely bores you to tears but it’s the only activity your partner is interested in, give it a shot and hope for the best. You’ll get some good cardio out of the deal, and your partner may be more willing to try something you love next. The best scenario, of course, would be to choose an activity that you both enjoy. After all, the couple that trains together, stays together.

4. CELEBRATE HER RESULTS

Sometimes it can be hard to notice changes to your own body. After all, we see ourselves every day. If your partner starts working out with you, make a point of complementing her results – even if they’re minimal – because she might not notice them the way you do. It’s not about throwing a party every time she looks good in her gym gear (that might be over the top), but sincere recognition goes a long way. Knowing that all her time in the gym is paying off will motivate her to keep going. Also, kindness has a boomerang effect. The more you compliment her, the more compliments you may receive in return.

5. APPEAL TO HER TASTE BUDS
Goodbye junk food, hello healthy and delicious alternatives. If you know your partner is a sucker for chocolate, buy her the best-tasting chocolate protein shake or protein bar you can find. Show her that living healthy doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom; she can still enjoy her favorite flavors, just in different ways. Nutritional supplements have come a long way in the past couple of decades thanks to better ingredients and enhanced flavor profiles. They’re no longer the chalky, barely edible products your partner might assume them to be. Case in point: Labrada Nutrition products. Make sure your cupboards are stocked with all your favorite healthy snacks and meal-replacement supplements, so she can get in on the delicious action.

6. HAVE FUN
It’s quite noble to be serious about your results, but don’t forget that fitness should be fun. If watching your carb intake turns you into a hangry (i.e. angry when hungry) version of your usual, good-natured self, or you act like a drill sergeant every time you’re showing your partner a new exercise, she’ll want to run right back to her old lifestyle – and fast! The good news is, exercise triggers feelings of euphoria, well-being, and better mood. The minute your partner starts working up a good sweat, she’ll feel the joy all on her own. You can thank her brain’s release of endorphins for that one.

 

7. PACK YOUR BAGS

Got the travel bug? While there’s lots to be said for all-inclusive, lay-by-the-pool-all-week vacations, more and more couples are choosing to strengthen their mind, body, and relationship at wellness retreats. This might be an ideal way to introduce your partner to a fitter lifestyle. Go as tame or as hardcore as you like, as you can find anything from luxury yoga retreats to high-intensity fitness boot camps. These retreats can also be tailored to your unique needs – such as weight loss, muscle building, stress management, and more. After a hard day’s work of pushing your body to new limits, you can relax together by the pool or in the spa. It’s the perfect mix of fit time and free time rolled into one. Remember, at the end of the day you can’t force someone to love something just because you do. But with all the benefits that fitness has to offer – and with these helpful tips by your side – winning over your partner might come sooner than you think!

About the Author: Nicole Kepic

Nicole Kepic is a fitness & nutrition expert who specializes in health, wellness, and lifestyle writing. She has also had articles published in a variety of fitness and bodybuilding magazines. When she’s not busy writing for her clients, Nicole is either keeping active with her family or dreaming of her next sunny vacation. www.nicolekepic.com


Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not meant as medical advice, nor is it to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Please consult your physician before starting or changing your diet or exercise program. Any use of this information is at the sole discretion and responsibility of the user.