What would you see if you could go back 50 or so years? Odds are you’d be amazed at how cities are bigger, cars are smarter, and technology has advanced to include smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers. Those are big changes, but if you went back and looked at how couples spent time together, you’d see huge changes too.
Take getting fit for example—50 years ago people really didn’t focus on fitness, whether that be together or solo. Just watch Mad Men and you’ll see that most of their time was spent lounging around having cocktails, and the idea of exercising together for your health was a pretty bizarre idea.
These days, getting fit is a big part of couple time, and exercising together is one of the major ways people build strong relationships. My husband frequently travels for work, and before kids we bonded over riding bikes, hiking, and inline skating. As we added to our family we had to mix it up a bit, because the things we did before became too challenging and too time consuming.
We went from one to two to three kids in under four years, so we had to switch our focus from hour long cycling trips to running, then running with the kids in a jogging stroller. By the time baby #4 came long, we were pros at carving out time together, and I really think it helped us keep a united front to survive the early baby years.
Whether you have kids or not, you probably still have a really busy life, and it’s hard to stay connected to your loved one. That’s why there’s nothing better than getting out and playing tennis, running 5k, or just taking the dog for a walk to bring a couple together and give them a chance to reconnect after a long day apart.
And now it’s easier than ever to get and stay fit together—just try a few of these fitness solutions and start building a better relationship today.
Turn the garage into a home gym
If you can’t go out for a run together because you have small children and no sitter, or you both work varying hours and you can only carve out time to work out together late at night or early in the morning, you need to come up with an at-home solution for getting fit. Home gym equipment will fit the bill perfectly.
If you want an all in one gym solution, look no further than the Bowflex Xtreme SE home gym. It comes with everything you need to bulk up and slim down. Or, if you’d like to be a bit more portable, you can use a Kettlebell set from Empower. It has weights up to 12 pounds and includes a DVD you can do together.
Take the kids along for a ride
Sometimes, if you want to have some couple time you have to bring the kids along too. When my kids were little and we wanted to get some exercise, we just put them in a jogging stroller and we’d be off.
A jogging stroller like the Mountain Buggy Terrain stroller has 16” high-traction tires and a hand operated brake for safety. The large tires will ensure baby has a smooth ride and if you’re lucky, the ride will also lull him or her to sleep so you can enjoy some quiet time together.
Monitor your fitness level
Part of keeping on track with your fitness is keeping track of it, and using fitness tech like the Fitbit Charge will challenge both of you to go further, faster, and exercise longer. It tracks steps, distance, calories, stairs climbed, and how long you are active. It also monitors your sleep duration and quality.
One of my favourite parts of having a Fitbit is how you can challenge each other, and I’ve challenged my husband to a ‘dual’ where I try to beat his steps and he tries to beat mine. It really motivates you to keep going and get up and exercise, especially when you don’t feel like it.
Whether you challenge yourselves to a month long race off or you just do a day-by-day exercise plan, you can see exactly how you weigh in by picking up a Fitbit Aria scale to share.
The Fitbit Aria keeps track of your weight, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI). What’s really cool about is that every time you weigh in, it automatically sends your data to your Fitbit account. With the ability to weigh in up to 8 users, you can keep in synch with each other and your fitness goals.
Don’t forget about Fido
A couple that plays together, stays together, but a couple that brings along the family dog for fun and fitness really has a chance to bond. Some people think of their dogs as their kids, and they enjoy including their pooch in their plan to work toward fitness as a couple.
Did you know you could track your dog’s fitness levels too? That’s where the FitBark comes in. It’s a small, wireless receiver that attaches to your dog’s collar and it tracks daily progress, activity levels, and even sleep. You can synch all of the data to your dog’s FitBark account and he or she can earn BarkPoints and see how they measure up against other dogs of the same breed. It’s a great way to track your dog’s health too.
Getting fit is fun on your own, but you can boost your motivation, gain a workout partner, and grow closer than ever when you choose to get fit together. Meeting goals together can also give your relationship a positive boost that will last a long time to come.
So what are you waiting for? Trust me when I say all you have to do is try to exercise together once or twice and you’ll both be hooked. There’s mountains to climb and roads to be ran on, and for spending time together, getting fit definitely beats sitting on the couch watching TV. Check out all of the fitness gear available on Bestbuy.ca and hit the road running to build a better relationship.
