DETROIT – Breaking a sweat with your sweetheart might be good for more than just your waistline.
New research published in SAGE Journals shows that couples who exercise together may not only reach their fitness goals more consistently -- they may also strengthen their emotional connection.
Let’s face it: we all know exercise is good for us. But sticking to a routine? That’s often the real workout.
The secret to staying motivated might be as close as your own home.
Whether it’s box jumps, medicine ball throws, or simply trying to keep up with your little ones, fitness doesn’t have to be a hardcore CrossFit session with a trainer. It can be about sharing the experience — and the effort — with someone you love.
My 4-year-old daughter Sophia joined my wife Stephanie Steele and me for a recent couple’s workout. We weren’t chasing personal records. We were just trying to stay active together -- and laughing along the way.
According to Dr. David Moore, director of Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Psychology Services at Henry Ford Hospital, there’s real science behind the benefits of partner workouts.
“Not only does exercising with your partner help to increase your likelihood of making that behavioral pattern more of a habit,” Moore said inside a training facility at Henry Ford Health in Detroit. “It does increase your emotional response while you’re doing it. You enjoy it more.”
Even better, Moore says the benefits extend beyond the workout.
“Most of the research does indicate that the rest of the day goes better too,” he said. “You feel better, and you’ve got a higher sense of satisfaction in the relationship.”
Stephanie Steele — who’s not only my wife but also a Ph.D. and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples therapy — agrees.
“If you’re already working out and you want to spend time with your partner,” she said, “you might as well do both at the same time.”
She adds that couples struggling to stay motivated — or simply looking for a more creative date night — might benefit from swapping dinner and a movie for push-ups, box jumps or just a walk around the neighborhood.
Think of it like this: working out with your partner becomes a kind of two-for-one deal. You’re strengthening your body and your bond at the same time.
It’s like relationship cardio.
And who knows? Your soulmate might just be your best workout partner.
