On February 14, couples all over the country will make a special effort to acknowledge their love for each other in observance of St. Valentine's Day. Many celebrations will involve going out to dinner at a favorite eatery, followed perhaps by a trip to the movie theater or drinks at the hottest new nightspot in town.
But the fact that the average restaurant entree contains close to 1400 calories and a medium-sized bucket of buttered popcorn packs nearly 900 more should be enough to give any health-conscious person pause. Adding appetizers, a bread basket, dessert, sugary soft drinks, and/or several glasses of alcohol to the equation ups the calorie toll considerably, and ought to make you rethink the wisdom of these typical Valentine's Day activities. For something totally different (and much healthier) try working out together instead.
Benefits of couples workouts
Fitness experts have long touted the motivational advantages associated with having a workout partner. When that partner happens also to be your significant other, the emotional benefits are even deeper and extend far beyond that of solo exercise.
For example, working out together has been shown to eliminate the feelings of guilt that often arise when fitness priorities differ. Couples feel more connected to each other as trips to the gym evolve from me time to us time, and they begin to view exercise as another way to build closeness. Moreover, couples that work out together are more likely to support each other's healthy lifestyle. Good eating habits and similar changes are easier to sustain when both partners have similar goals.
Tips for success
To enjoy the above benefits, couples simply need to share their experiences. There are so many options to choose from when it comes to finding ways to get fit together, whether that be at the local health club, in their home fitness center, outside at a local park, or in a fitness class. For example, here are some great fitness ideas that couples can do together:
- Play a sport or take a class you both like (like CrossFit or dance lessons)
- Exercise at home on side by side treadmills, ellipticals, or stationary bikes
- Head over to your local park or playground and go jogging together
- Try out a new fitness DVD together in your living room
- Spot each other while lifting weights
- Go on a bike ride together (or even try out tandem bikes)
- Encourage and push each other to achieve personal bests
- Take a healthy cooking class together
- Try out a new restaurant that boasts healthy items on its menu
- Go grocery shopping together in the produce section of your local grocery store
- Enjoy a little healthy competition as you work to achieve your personal fitness goals
This Valentine's Day, forget about traditional date night outings that may lead to overindulgence and fitness setbacks. Instead, add a new dimension to your relationship by making the healthier choice of working out together!
Please share with us your ideas for a healthy and fun-filled fitness date night!