Thread: Training partners: Yes/no/maybe?

I have a partner, he is one of my friends that actually lifts. We have been doing H.I.T. so we spot eachother on most of the compound lifts then once we are done with those we go off on our own. Its a good motivater to work out with someone, i see benifites from solo and partner

no partner cept for my power rack

I go Solo now, the best training partner I had was my first one. He taught me the ropes, the one thing I learned from him was intensity.
After him I went thru 4 other partners, mostly co-workers who wanted to train with me....what a mistake.
One just bitched about his wife, the other never showed up, the third one only wanted to do biceps and the last one only did cardio.
I don't even bother anymore.

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I go Solo now, the best training partner I had was my first one. He taught me the ropes, the one thing I learned from him was intensity.
After him I went thru 4 other partners, mostly co-workers who wanted to train with me....what a mistake.
One just bitched about his wife, the other never showed up, the third one only wanted to do biceps and the last one only did cardio.
I don't even bother anymore.

BINGO! Thats the potential problem with partners. If I feel like going in to the gym an hour early or late I can, If I want to skip a day I can, I was planning on working shoulders and then change to working back I can. YES, there are several positives to having a partner but unless the guy is compatible to you and your both flexible it can cause problems.

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

YES, there are several positives to having a partner but unless the guy is compatible to you and your both flexible it can cause problems.

I gave up on finding a partner.

I wouldn't want towork out with any of my friends because they don't know what there doing. They wont listen to me either. I just ask who ever is near my for a spot when I need one.

Originally Posted by ihateschoolmt

I wouldn't want towork out with any of my friends because they don't know what there doing. They wont listen to me either. I just ask who ever is near my for a spot when I need one.

Dont get me wrong, I have several friends at the gym and I do occasionally set in with them on chest day or something like that and they around whenever I need a spot or some advice...maybe thats why I dont really need a "partner". SOLO at my gym would be going in at 5 a.m. THere are usually nothing but cardio kings in there at that time and I used to have the whole weightroom to myself...was nice as long as I wasnt going real heavy that day. There are some guys who do go in that early here and there.

I almost always work out with friends. I get good motivation from them and they can spot me whenever I need it.

I have a training partner who is competing with me, gotta have one to get the most out of my workouts.

I have gotten injured two different times, both times it was when I had a partner. I rely on my partner/spotter and one time when I was repping out on benchpress he didnt catch the bar soon enough and something popped in my shoulder. I push MYSELF to MY OWN limits, I know what my body can handle without straining something. When I need a spot at the gym I tell them that I am going to get at least 8 reps (or whatever)and dont touch the bar till it stops moving completely or I tell them to grab it.

I workout on my own , have not found anyone that is as serious as I am in my gym .

i always workout alone. I dont have a partner because none of my friends dont really lift. They just do every once in a while chest/arms only.

That's why when i do squats, i do freeweight first until the point i have to switch over to the smith machine when i am doing heavy weight without a spotter. It prevents me from getting stuck so i wont injure myself.

No workout partner.

How do you squat on a smith machine.

I used to always lift with at least one lifting partner, but now I go solo most of the time since I find that my friends aren't as dedicated as I am. There are some good and bad aspects of lifting solo. On the up side, I spend more time actually lifting and less time wasted talking. And when lifting with friends, sometimes they're there to goof around or can do things that are distracting to you. Also, waiting on them (to get ready and leave) can be annoying as well. On the down side, some days you aren't able to push yourself as hard without a spotter. Either way, I only ever need a spotter on chest day.

Originally Posted by ihateschoolmt

I just ask who ever is near my for a spot when I need one.

That's my preference, too, as I prefer working out solo. A couple of people have attempted to work out with me, but on the condition they do my workout, not vice versa. They usually fade after a couple of weeks.

Originally Posted by BiggerNstronger

THere are usually nothing but cardio kings in there at that time ...

i used to love working out on my own, no distractions and you can stay at the pace you want....yet without a training partner there are downfalls as well, such as you not being able to work to complete failure and get those extra forced reps in which is a nesesity for maximum muscle growth...ive finally found a partner with intensity and that modivates me. My last partner would make up excuses and basically just bitched out and stopped comming, he couldnt ball's up and tell me to my face that he didnt want to workout with me anymore (he said im too intense for him or some shit, haha) so i told him id find someone else which i did. and im getting a lot better workout now than ever so, basically you need to find a partner that is as dedicated as you and go in then..

it might be a good idea to look around the gym and find someone that is always at the gym at the same time as you and train with them

i need a partner, sux lifting alone. I can never go to my max on bench or squats
and i feel like a big douche asking someone for a spot every other minute.