Do You Prefer Exercising Alone or With Others?

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Do You Prefer Exercising Alone or With Others?

February 15, 2009

I'm a busy lady, being a mom, working full-time, and taking care of my pooch. All this doesn't leave much time for exercise, so when I squeeze it in, I'm often solo. Most of the time I prefer exercising alone because I get right down to business and get it done. I consider it quality alone time. I know how much time I have, and I make the most of it. I do like working out with friends especially for long bike rides and runs, or power walks that are also catch up dates, but mostly I prefer sweating on my own. What about you?

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45 Comments

jessolicious 4 years 12 weeks

ditto the ipod thing, the intensity thing and the individual pace thing. though if i've already finished my workout for the day, i don't mind relaxing and going for a run or hitting the gym with friends as a social activity.

kclulu 4 years 13 weeks

I also prefer to work out alone so I can go at my own pace, I find working out out with someone slows me down. And I am also in agreement with the comments regarding likely coming off as unfriendly because of having my ipod on the whole time and trying not to talk to too many people. There is this one older man who interrupts my workout at least 4-5 times, even though I have to stop him, say hold on, turn off my ipod and then ask him to repeat. Some people are just so dense!

ladyr 4 years 13 weeks

I usually prefer to exercise alone or with my dogs. I like to go for walks/hikes and bike rides with others, and I also like to play tennis or racquetball for exercise.

teremel 4 years 13 weeks

Definetly alone. Also because I dont like doing excercise without my ipod. So, if somebody else goes with me, I wont be paying attention.

hippiecowgirl 4 years 13 weeks

I'm a workout loner.

hippiecowgirl 4 years 13 weeks

I'm a workout loner.

DeviousMuse 4 years 13 weeks

I definitely prefer working out with a partner, at least when it comes to weight training. I have a personal trainer I work with 2x/week and one of my best friends meets me one other day a week -- both of them are key in making sure my form stays corrected, that someone is helping to keep me motivated and we change up the routines more. For cardio, if I'm in the gym and doing elliptical or bike, I'm fine on my own. Occasionally, I'll join a spin class and have everyone around, or if I go for a run, it's usually with the Saturday morning running group (we divide into pace groups and they supply water/gatorade at 2-mile increments).

DeviousMuse 4 years 13 weeks

sloane220 4 years 13 weeks

i like working out alone because i can get pretty intense and i like going at my own pace without having to worry about someone else's pace. i also don't want to worry about socializing. like the some other commenters said i can't stand when people are taking up space on treadmills obviously more concerned with chatting with their friends then exercising, when i could be using it.

tlsgirl 4 years 13 weeks

Alone, generally, although sometimes I'll run with a friend. Alone just means that I can take all the time I want and not have to worry about anyone else's schedule.

becoming brina 4 years 13 weeks

For years i was a karate instructor and enjoyed the interaction, but these days i really value the time i spend exercising alone, focusing on myself after a long day at work. I work out at a gym, so i guess i prefer working out "around" but not "with" other people. I think that having the gym as a destination makes me more inclined to actually work out; i head straight over there after work instead of coming home, and use that to de-stress instead of sitting down and watching tv.

glitter junkie 4 years 13 weeks

Generally I'm an exercise loner, but I need music! My after-work workouts help me have me-time and clear my head, and make me a nicer person at home, even if I'm home a long time after everyone else.But I do a group swimming class, and sometimes my sister comes to train in the pool with me and that's fun now I can race her! I enjoy my spinning class too. However those type of classes don't rely on two people having the same pace - I don't think I'd get a running buddy - I'd be holding them back and I wouldn't want that!

glitter junkie 4 years 13 weeks

Generally I'm an exercise loner, but I need music! My after-work workouts help me have me-time and clear my head, and make me a nicer person at home, even if I'm home a long time after everyone else. But I do a group swimming class, and sometimes my sister comes to train in the pool with me and that's fun now I can race her! I enjoy my spinning class too. However those type of classes don't rely on two people having the same pace - I don't think I'd get a running buddy - I'd be holding them back and I wouldn't want that!

manishal 4 years 13 weeks

Definately alone. Not only is it a 'Me' time and a time to destress but when you work out with someone whose pace doesn'e match yours, you don't end up burning as much as you should. Coz you don't reach your own target heart rate. So definately alone. i Have lately started doing the suryanamaskar... more in number and faster. It burns so much... this one article talks about its benifits... http://www.idiva.com/idiva/bin/view/idiva/Homepage_topstories_health_goodmorningsunshine_fat?language=its a new exercise for me so this shift proved quite beneficial.

manishal 4 years 13 weeks

Definately alone. Not only is it a 'Me' time and a time to destress but when you work out with someone whose pace doesn'e match yours, you don't end up burning as much as you should. Coz you don't reach your own target heart rate. So definately alone. i Have lately started doing the suryanamaskar... more in number and faster. It burns so much... this one article talks about its benifits... http://www.idiva.com/idiva/bin/view/idiva/Homepage_topstories_health_goodmorningsunshine_fat?language= its a new exercise for me so this shift proved quite beneficial.

marie-lee 4 years 13 weeks

I prefer working out alone...I tend to work out more when I am stressed and I use the time to unwind and think things through.

miss malone 4 years 13 weeks

Definitely alone. Like others said, it's my "me" time. I can really focus that way. I don't mind going for a casual walk or run with someone else though.

cfp 4 years 13 weeks

For me, I like having someone to go to the gym with me, just because it keeps me motivated. If I know that someone is counting on me to go, then I will stay honest and not get lazy and skip a day because I'm a little tired or whatever...that being said, once I am in the gym I want nothing to do with my "workout buddy." When I'm running I'm really pushing myself, and I physically can not have a conversation with someone or even think about anything other than putting one foot in front of the other. I actually get really annoyed if someone bothers me by interrupting my workout trying to make conversation.

almostloli 4 years 13 weeks

it's my "Me" time, and i don't have to care about my looks when i'm sweating, and i can do whatever i want during that exercise, i can slow down on treadmill, as slow as snails, i can sprint and jump on it without having to care about people asking me, what the heck you're doing or why this and why that

GlowingMoon 4 years 13 weeks

Alone. Exercise is my "me time." I enjoy focusing on my body and breathing.The only exception is when I attend dance studio, but we all dance solo in our own space, similar to a workout class. It's still a fairly independent activity, in my opinion.

GlowingMoon 4 years 13 weeks

Alone. Exercise is my "me time." I enjoy focusing on my body and breathing. The only exception is when I attend dance studio, but we all dance solo in our own space, similar to a workout class. It's still a fairly independent activity, in my opinion.

Teagan 4 years 13 weeks

I like running with friends, but I also love running by myself at times too. I usually run with people 2 or 3 times a week and run the rest of the week by myself. It depends on my mood.After too much time running on my own it's nice to go with friends, and vice versa.

Teagan 4 years 13 weeks

I like running with friends, but I also love running by myself at times too. I usually run with people 2 or 3 times a week and run the rest of the week by myself. It depends on my mood. After too much time running on my own it's nice to go with friends, and vice versa.

HoneyBrown1976 4 years 13 weeks

When I exercise, I use my Ipod; therefore, the need for someone else to accompany me is not there. I prefer to focus on me, not anybody else, at that time.

Spectra 4 years 13 weeks

I definitely prefer to work out alone. I like to listen to my music or watch what I want to watch on TV with no interruptions. Plus, most of my friends don't like working out with me because I tend to be pretty intense. I don't mind there being others there with me if I'm in a class though...that's the only exception.

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