The 1% Solution: Couples who sweat together, stay together…

Some may say… “No way am I getting sweaty and gross in front of the guy I like.” Or, “I’m not interested in training with a chick'” (not challenging enough, what if I look like a fool, what if she kicks my butt); or I remember a day when I told myself, “I have my thing, they have theirs, we like to do our own thing.”

My wife and I have a motto “ Couples who sweat together stay together ”... and then some!

I can tell you that over the past 13 years we said all these quotes and more. Christie grew up participating in team sports whereby I preferred the individual ones. I preferred to workout in the morning and get it over with, she had more energy to train later in the day. She gravitated toward social group-lead workouts, where I plugged in my headphones and went to town on my pre-planned routine. Not very conducive to working out together now is it? Regardless of our difference of opinions, we've always shared a passion for health and fitness, and 4 years ago our interests intersected and we've worked out together ever since.

With Propel water in hand, my wife (and best friend) Christie and I made our way to the gym and got our sweat on! It’s that simple… and only took 15 minutes.



As busy parents we were both in need of effective and less time-consuming workouts. A way to get our sweat on, increase our strength with a flexible, yet consistent, commitment to squeeze in 30 minutes of daily fitness. We know on the days we make time to sweat together, we’re happier personally and our home is too, so making time is essential to our way of life. Not to mention, the more we workout together, the more we want one another… sweat comes in all forms now doesn't it?

Our 1% Solution (the fitness check-in and check-up in only 15 minutes per day)

There’s tons of movements we could do in the comfort of our living room, backyard, the local park or even our condo’s gym. Movements that were intense enough to get our heart rates pumping, giving us that ‘good’ (getting comfortable with feeling uncomfortable) ache. You know what I’m talking about. The ache where you feel you did something physically active, yet you can still function normally the days following. The type of aches that allows our clothes to fit like they should, giving us the inner confidence and self-worth that we are following through with our commitment to improve our health.



One thing is absolute and that’s the singular fact that working out together enhances our relationship. We keep each other accountable, we razz each other to step it up when one of us is dogging it, and best of all we challenge each other to stay on track. Our 1% solution is the navigation system guiding us to a lifestyle of functional fitness. Understanding that we are both on the same journey, heading to the same destination, allows us to live our daily want to stay functionally fit for life.

Whether you have a significant other, a best buddy or are on the hunt for a workout partner, teaming up to train makes it fun. I challenge you to book a time with your wife (husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc) and do the below workout together.

The Workout: Couples That Sweat Together, Stay Together

Duration: 15 Minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible)

Complete as many rounds in 15 minutes of the following:

• 5 x burpees


• 10 x push-ups (scaled options - push-ups from knees or wall push-ups)


• 15 x sit-ups (we like to use an ab-mat and do butterfly sit-ups)


• 20 x air squats (body-weight only squats)

2 weeks after doing the above workout, reconnect and do it again.  Questions to note:  Did you improve? Did your partner improve? What goal are you going to work toward together now? What commitment do you make to each other?

http://youtu.be/Aug0Vj9Myjs

4 Tips to help you stay committed both in your workouts and in life

1. Set a goal of squeezing in 15 minutes of activity each day (only 1% of your day)


2. Workout with your partner - if you struggle to find a time to be together physically, then be sure to message and check-in with each other daily.


3. S.S.U.E. each other daily! (Share, Support, Uplift and Encourage one another)


4. Be accounta-buddies (hold each other accountable to your goals, ambitions and dreams)

Couples who sweat together stay together has translated to “a happy spouse equals happy house” in my books. Stop wasting time, book a time and workout with your partner!

[divider]

Need some inspiration? Here’s a link to get your free copy of the 1% Solution . Enjoy!