How can couples over 55 work out together effectively? (…and Survive!)

Show of hands; how many of you feel like your Life-Partner should also be, and would make your best "Training/Workout Partner"?

Show of hands?

To quote Bruce Springsteen, "Oh that's not many, that's not many... You guys are in trouble out here."

Well if New Years Resolutions are any accurate sign, you doubters may want to reconsider, because the "Stat's" say that couples who approach resolutions and changing together, get it done better.

According to available research, married individuals tend to stick to New Year's resolutions longer than single people as having a partner can provide additional support, accountability, and motivation to stay on track with their goals. 

They report these Key points/benefits to consider: 

ACCOUNTABILITY: A spouse can act as a reminder and encourage their partner to follow through on their resolutions.

SHARED GOALS: Couples may set joint resolutions, which can increase commitment and the likelihood of success.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: A partner can offer praise and support for achieving milestones towards their goals.

Now let me tell you two tales to tip the balances here...

1)Kurt & Goldie

2)Joe & Debbie

First, Kurt & Goldie - odds are you know who I'm referring to here (40+ year long successful couple, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn).

They're one of the sincerest, sexiest, silliest but successful couples in the weird wacky world where divorces & break-ups are the expectation, not the exception, and Kurt & Goldie "get after it, together!"

Now these two could probably make Sex a Vital-Life-Improving workout (they are Hot together), and honestly all us committed Couples should, but they do more than just that... They help each other be healthier, together.

According to People magazine, "The pair also explained how fitness and working out together plays a part in their strong bond. "I'm quite sure that if it weren't for Goldie, I'd probably weigh 300 pounds by now. Goldie's a beast," Russell said of his partner's penchant for physical wellness. "Goldie's seriously a good chef," added Russell.

Kurt & Goldie, still a sweating with the Oldies, 'cuz the Oldies, are 'Them'!

Now let me tell you about a couple I personally know, and Trained before; Joe & Debbie.

They've been married for decades, both more attractive than your average Midwesterners, most would say, both very successful, and both bound and determined to bug the living crap outta' the other ine whenever I trained them together as a couple.

She'd complain about how loud he was whenever he exercised and said it was so distracting she couldn't get as good a workout, and then He'd complain about all the crap they had in the house and it was her fault and that's why He ate incorrectly for weight loss success.

So what did I do? 

Well since I trained them at their home (not my personal Gym like most of my clients), whenever She seemed distracted by his sounds, I'd engage her in conversation and it virtually ALWAYS did the trick. He didn't have to turn it down or tone it down to get thru a good workout for them both 

And when he complained about the food in the house he "just couldn't say no to", well it only took one big, bold, grand gesture on my part and THAT was never an issue again.

See their Workout room was next to their Entertainment Room/Movie theater, with a beautiful And stocked bar between the two spaces.

On the Bar were 2-3 foot tall glass cylinder vases's FILLED with Candies.

I asked Him why he didn't get rid of them, he blamed her, and I asked his permission to remedy the problem... He said sure, I could, and so I went behind the Bar, got a trash bag grom a drawer, and emptied one of the tall glass vases full of candy into the trash bag and promised to drop it off someplace to help the homeless.

His mouth dropped, BUT, he stopped blaming HER for HIS hang-ups.

Th secret to couples succeeding together in fitness is those three things - 

Accountability, Shared Goals and Positive Reinforcement. 

If you're not willing and/or able to do that, then either learn how to or lean another direction and don't hold each other back.

You BOTH deserve your best shot at success.