Workout date

Couples who workout together, stay fit forever

Dating idea for healthy couples

A romantic date coming up soon? Or just want to hang out with your partner? What about a date working out? Well, although a trip to the gym does not sound romantic, there are many others ways to stay fit and also be with you loved one. On a recent hike to Mount Major near Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, my partner and I met many couples of all ages hiking their way up. Some even had children that were excitedly hiking with their parents. (Related article: Cheap date ideas)

In a country where approximately two-thirds of the population is overweight, these couples we saw on the hiking trail were all very fit. We wonder if there is a correlation between a couple’s lifestyle and being fit. The obvious answer is yes. Just because you are dating or have a great relationship with your partner, it does not mean that you should end up in a restaurant every time and eat greasy food. There are so many other options to go on a date these days.

A recent study found that most couples put on weight as soon as they get married. To judge by the hikers we met in New Hampshire, the answer is simple. To stay fit together you have to select activities that you can do both outdoors and indoors that do not require meals. Traditionally, the date has always been around drinking and eating in a fine restaurant. Not any more. You can be romantic in many other places and not just in an elegant restaurant.

Workouts can improve your body and make you look younger
A recent article in the Self magazine said that a 30-minute walk everyday can help us lose approximately 16 pounds a year and a 60-minute walk means a drop of as many as 30 pounds a year. Walking is a great exercise that can be done with your loved one. 30 minutes is very little time and at home time goes by pretty quickly doing something meaningless. On the other hand, if you can workout with your partner, it can be 30 minutes to connect with your partner, and at the same time, it helps your and your partner's health. (Related: Lose weight to recover virility)

Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, swimming and other similar physical activities are great ways to spend quality time with your partner. Similarly, during winter, skiing, indoor swimming and working out indoors can be done. (Related article: Keeping the weight off during the holidays)

Other fun activities to do as a couple may include scuba diving, dancing, martial arts or a sport that you can practice together. My friend Angela and her husband found that after two years of marriage they were getting bored doing the same things all the time: dinner, movies, hanging out with friends, watching sports, etc.. They thought that they needed something different that will take them away from their boring routine. The solution was snorkeling. They started to take lessons and set a goal to take a vacation in Mexico after they have learned enough. Now they are passionate about water sports and belong to a club where they live. They have traveled to many places (and yes, they did go to Mexico and St. Barths) to practice. Let me add that they both are now very fit.

In many fitness programs, overweight couples, who have taken the road to fitness together, have achieved better results than those people who went to workout alone. They have developed a meal plan and an exercise routine that both of them can follow. To follow fitness program with a friend is always easier because you can motivate each other and are accountable to each other. You both can join a gym or follow one of the Internet diet programs that adjust to your needs and taste. If you have kids this is even more important, because if one of the parents is overweight, the kids have 50% probability to be overweight. And if the mother is overweight this percentage is slightly higher. If both parents are overweight, the probability is almost 100%. (Related article: Dating for overweight women)

Whether you are married or single, physical activities during a workout are a great way to have fun and develop a healthy relationship.

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