Exercising ALONE

sullivann

Walking is okay with someone. I love walking the dog with my bf, but I always feel like I am holding back or holding him up if we run. He tried talking with me on the run this morning and I barely could gasp words out. :P

blink1021

I prefer to workout alone too. My husband started to work out with me because he wanted to get back into shape. All I find is he distracts me especially if its a really hard move like in my ab workout and he finds it too hard so he just lays there and then he decides it will be funny to tickle me. This gets me out of my rhythm and I screw up the exercise. When I workout I am serious I am there to get the work done goofing off is for later.

SinIsIn

I love doing classes, having the other people around me only motivates me to keep pushing. Same thing with running, if i run alone I tend to keep a slower pace. When me and my husband go running, I don't expect him to stay right beside me. I want him to go ahead of me so that I can find a good pace and keep it. We never talk unless we are walking. I'd love for him to join me at the gym and be my spotter while doing weights but he hates the gym. =/

TheDaniProject

awesomeness doing 30ds myself =D dont you just love it.

SOLO is the best way to go!!!

keep up the great work people.

I dislike going to the gym. I don't like the fact that I can't be myself - I am very self conscious and I know I can't afford to fail in front of other people.

On the other hand I started the 30 DS today and I could make any noises I wanted cause I was alone in the house.

JustLindaLou

I prefer solitude for cardio, as many previous posters have said, it is your time to get in your head and think your own thoughts. I will listen to my iPod in a gym environment or walking later in the day when more people are out, to tune them out, but if it's really early in the morning, I just want that silence - something I rarely have in my daily life.

I would like to work with a trainer or more experienced partner for a while for strength training, as I can't see my own form and I want to be sure I am doing the moves correctly and effectively. But after I learn, I would probably prefer to be alone for that too.

RachelVerthein

I love working out alone. It gives me ME time and I can stay focused and do what I need to do.

mjbrickley

I dont care to much for working out in public gyms and places like that, doing any kind of cardio indoor or outdoor I always prefer to do on my own, it gives me the freedom to set the pace I want for that workout. However weight training workouts I always prefer to work out with one other person especially for medicine ball workouts.

akossen

I HATE working out with people, although I enjoy having support I feel that I don't get a great workout when I do it with friends. I feel that I have to scale back my weights so that I don't intimidate them, and I feel that I have to go beyond my comfort zone when running to keep up with my more advanced "cardio" friends! Plus, how am I suppose to "rock out" when they wanna talk?

annameier8706

I totally prefer exercising alone. Otherwise I feel I'm obligated to talk to whoever is with me, and that always messes with my momentum. Plus, my hubby is in WAY better shape than I am and I always feel super self conscious (he likes to give me "advice" while I'm working out). I always make him leave the room when I'm doing my exercise videos...

thesarahsundae

I always exercise alone. When I first joined my gym it was with my sister but she stopped going and I continued alone. Now when someone wants to go with me (my sister or husband) I agree, but I do enjoy working out by myself. I have my own home gym now anyway and next month my gym membership will be ending so I won't have to worry.

CrystalMarie253

I like exercising alone too. I like to jog alone and use the elliptical alone cuz I have my ipod I'm listening to. It's kinda my "me" time. I don't mind if someone is around when I am using my exercise ball cuz I am usually watching tv -or trying to- when I am using it anyways.

jtmh2012

I actually work harder when I have some competition and encouragement.

This! I also find that I'll stay longer if I'm at the gym with somebody.

gioisa75

Love to workout alone! Can go at my own pace and as long as I want without feeling rushed.

dfborders

I enjoy exercising alone - but once in a while it is nice to exercise with someone so long as you both plan it in advance and are happy about it. But during those times I am not as focused on working out as socializing and if I really want to workout that day then I will still do a workout by myself.

amberpryor

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I am able to maintain focus a lot easier when I'm alone. Plus, I hate it when I want to go a lot faster or harder than the person I'm with. It becomes a social outing rather than a workout. On the other hand, in a group class, I tend to try a little harder to keep up with the instructor than I would if alone. And if I'm running with someone who has a similar gait and speed, it can motivate me to keep going through the pain.

If, however, I had a friend who was unmotivated to exercise anyway, I might go with them just to ensure that they go at all! (Not every day, but maybe once a week.) Or go to the gym together so that you can each have your own machine and go at your own speed.

wordynerd76

I also prefer exercising "alone". So glad to see I'm not the only one!!

I mean, I don't have to be the only one around - I'll even accept a friend being right next to me - but I don't chat. I'm not on that horrible torture device (elliptical) to socialize, you know? I actually get annoyed with people who see me plugged into my MP3 player and then try to strike up a conversation with me. It's like reading at lunch and having the same thing happen. UGH! Anyway, my work-out time is my me time. I like to "zone out" (as my hubby calls it): pop in my ear buds, pull up my workout playlist, and then get lost in the music. That's my Zen. Let anyone who dares interrupt my Zen beware!! lol

kiesh82

I definitely prefer to work out alone. I feel the same way about shopping too. I get more done in less time!

cleach29

Overall I dislike working out with others, but my boyfriend and I go to the gym together often. We don't usually talk too much and we do our own thing. We'll partner up to spot for weightlifting, do some partner stretches, etc. I have really enjoyed having his help and motivation for that part of the workout while still balancing alone time w/ my headphones for the rest of the workout.

yspen42

WOW I thought I was the only one! I love my friends but I do not like to workout with them! I love having my MP3 player and I could work out for hours...even when I do my 5ks I do not want to talk!
I will occassional but I dont like it!

Ashmoten

I don't like it either. For two reasons. I be in my on zone so I don't want to be bother, for one. Two, I don't want to see you doing better then me. LOL!

TubbyGill

It depends on the mood I'm in. I go walking, but I always feel it's wasted if I don't take a dog with me too! I call Dora, my Bernese Mt Dog, my personnal trainer. Even if I'm feeling lazy, she will make eyes at me until I get off my butt. But if I'm doing a major hill walk, I prefer to leave the dog at home and go with a human friend.

PlanetVelma

I enjoy working out alone, I typically work out every AM before everyone else gets up (Mon-Fri). The only time I do workout with somneone is when my husband or one of the kids go with me to walk the dogs.

But generally speaking - when I go to the gym or workout in my "At home Gym" I've always preferred to be alone. No distractions and I can focus.

buddy529

I used to be okay with working out with my friends at the gym because we used it as motivation, though it sometimes got annoying when one particular friend turned everything into a competition and always tried to one-up everyone else...that was no fun. But after they gave up on working out about three months ago and I was the last one standing, I LOVED IT! Hahaha. I just throw on my headphones, crank up my MP3 player and work my little heart out.

ingbaden

My workout time has always been "my time". I do take a pi/yo class but that is the only time I actually work out with people per se. I had a friend who at one point went to my gym and she would get really upset when we didn't do the same things and when she couldn't keep up. It was not conducive to my workout and my time at all.

My best friend just joined my gym. I wanted to be encouraging but was very hesitant at first. Thankfully she is totally good with just plugging into her music and doing her own thing.

beckylawrence70

I only workout alone, I get more done, I workout at home. I prefer this for sure!

Lady_Senie

I'm allergic to gyms, so any exercising I do is right in my living room. All by my lonesome.

I'm very aware of what I must look like when I do my DVD's or - lately, my MAX Workouts - and I don't want ANYONE to see me like that. I sweat profusely from EVERYWHERE, gasp like I'm in the process of having a heart attack, sometimes cry in the middle of the lifts after a few sets... But that's okay, 'cause it's just me and Jesus pushing through the pain. The most my husband gets to see is the aftermath - when my heart rate is pushing 200+ and I'm desperately trying to catch my breath and roll/stretch my sore muscles. He loves me dearly, and I feel the same about him, so why in the world would I want to subject him to me hurting myself? Even if it IS for my own good??

Oh, and I purposefully work out before the butt-crack of dawn now so I don't traumatize my 2-year-old. That and I just KNOW he'd be getting into my weights and dropping them on his foot or something else crazy. He's the kid that would try to trip me during my Tae Bo workouts so that my attention stayed on him. He's a bit of an attention hog and I just can't do my exercises and keep an eye on my little busy-body. Fun fact: when I put him in his high chair or playpen, he cries, whines, or screams like someone is attempting to murder him with a rusty spoon, till mommy can't take it anymore!

No, alone is for me. A friend even invited me to go to her gym for a Zumba class and I had to turn her down. I prefer to keep my jelly rolls, tattered exercise clothes, and total lack of gym self-esteem all to myself ^_^

sexyrosey

Ok... when you're over weight and next to someone you like it's hard. I think of everything that moves that really should not be moving and I limit my self. I do however like at least going with someone so I don't feel all alone....just not right next to that person especially if they like are super hipper when they work out and it makes you look like ****.

mrsjennifermaffei

I can NOT exercise to my fullest potential with others onlooking. I have my husband normally watch tv in our bedroom while I work out in the living room for 20-30 minutes. It's so normal to us, he doesn't mind. We did in the past go on walking trips though for exercise and that was fine with me.

Beezer322

I don't mind running with someone or going to the gym with them as long as they don't try to talk to me while I'm doing my thing! I just like to listen to my music and focus. But having a buddy to call up makes me feel more committed.

M_lifts

nope no guilt here, i exercise alone! work better that way. Its 'my' time to chillout and relax. saying that, i go out once a week with my running club and really enjoy it. start off with a pace group and then continue on my own.