Exercising in a Group Increased the Motivation to Stay Fit

A survey of 1,000 women has revealed the benefits of exercising in a group or with a friend - two thirds of them admitted to training very hard and feeling motivated in company. Most of them felt that exercising with friends worked much better than exercising alone.

The study showed that 64% of them worked harder at the gym if they went in a group or exercised along with a friend. Friends provided the motivation they needed to stay in good shape.

'We all have a need to socialize and be with other people, it's written into our DNA. Sometimes having an exercise partner is the difference between sitting on the couch in the evening and getting up and out of the house. You are less likely to let a friend down and it is more fun. Many women will spur each other on, and provide their friends with the incentive they need to get going. Most importantly, having a friend to exercise with makes it more fun - and as well as training hard they can also catch up and treat the experience as another social event.'

The study also revealed that women who exercise with friends end up burning up to 236 calories, as compared to 195 for girls who exercise alone.

Ultimately, those who trained in groups enjoyed the workouts along with the chats and gossip which kept them emotionally and physically fit.



Source: Medindia