Made the commitment to be more active, lose weight or quit that unhealthy
habit this year? Your secret to New Years resolution success might be
as easy as asking your partner to join you on your pursuit to better health.
“Researchers found that men and women were more likely to exercise more, lose weight
or change unhealthy behaviors (like smoking) if their partner joined them,”
explained Jenny Cloninger, Certified
ACSM Personal Trainer and Fitness Specialist at
Fitness Plus. “In fact, the
study concluded that your chances more than double if your partner makes the
commitment with you.”
Active
Fitness Plus members, Erin and Michael Kushner, used to work out with each other several
times a week and have made a commitment to get back into their routine
this year.
“We want to live healthy, energetic lifestyles in an effort to give
our marriage and our children the best life possible,” the Kushners explained.“Having the energy to keep up with the day to day and all of the
extras requires a healthy body!” After 6 years of marriage and routinely working out together, they both
agree it’s not just more fun to work out with someone else but they
also feel more motivation to stay in shape. Erin says,
“It’s inspirational to be with someone that is interested in
health and wellness. To share the desire to be fit and eat healthy is
a great support system.”
Jenny suggests these awesome couple’s exercises to help you and your
Honey fall in love — with fitness:
DYNAMIC LUNGE
Targets: legs and glute
- Stand facing your partner at arm’s length, clasping hands between you
- Lunge forward with your right leg as your partner lunges backward with
their left leg
- Reverse the motion, lunging backward with your right leg as your partner
lunges forward with their left
- Complete 12 reps, then switch legs and repeat
HIGH-FIVE UP DOWNS
Targets: arms and core
- Face your partner in push-up position
- Bend your arms to lower your body toward the ground
- Push back up to the starting position, lift your right hand, and high-five
your partner (your partner high-fives you with their right hand)
- Complete 12 reps, switching hands each time
WHEELBARROW PUSH-UP WITH SQUAT
Targets: arms, core, back and legs
- Start in a plank position on hands and toes; have your partner stand behind
you and hold an ankle in each hand
- Your partner then sits back into a wide-legged squat, keeping arms straight,
as you bend your elbows and lower your chest towards the floor
- Your partner stays seated in their squat as you extend your arms upward
to complete your push-up
- Do 12 reps, then switch positions and repeat
SQUAT WITH ROTATIONAL PASS
Targets: abs and obliques
- Grab a medicine ball or something similar in size and weight
- Stand back-to-back and drop into a low squat so thighs are parallel to
floor (hold this position throughout the exercise)
- Slowly twist to one side to hand the ball off to your partner (who should
be turning toward you), then twist to the other side as they turn to hand
the ball back to you
- Continue passing the ball in that direction for 60-90 seconds, and then
repeat the exercise in reverse.
“Fitness Plus has so many programs to offer. I like the way they change them up periodically
so that the workouts aren’t boring,” said Erin.
“You really can’t beat how amazing and friendly the staff are.”
To learn more about the programs offered at
Fitness Plus visit us
online or stop by for a visit – the first one is
FREE. Have questions about Fitness plus, personal training or aquatics classes?
Contact April Berg by calling 828.326.2412 or email at
aberg@catawbavalleymc.org.