Get Healthy With Your Honey

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

1. Stand facing your partner at arm’s length, clasping hands between you

2. Lunge forward with your right leg as your partner lunges backward with their left leg

3. Reverse the motion, lunging backward with your right leg as your partner lunges forward with their left

4. Complete 12 reps, then switch legs and repeat

HIGH-FIVE UP DOWNS

Targets: arms and core

1. Face your partner in push-up position

2. Bend your arms to lower your body toward the ground

3. 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)

4. Complete 12 reps, switching hands each time

WHEELBARROW PUSH-UP WITH SQUAT

Targets: arms, core, back and legs

1. Start in a plank position on hands and toes; have your partner stand behind you and hold an ankle in each hand

2. 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

3. Your partner stays seated in their squat as you extend your arms upward to complete your push-up

4. Do 12 reps, then switch positions and repeat

SQUAT WITH ROTATIONAL PASS

Targets: abs and obliques

1. Grab a medicine ball or something similar in size and weight

2. Stand back-to-back and drop into a low squat so thighs are parallel to floor (hold this position throughout the exercise)

3. 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

4. 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.