What Makes Team Awesome So Very Awesome?

I'm pretty stoked that I can say I haven't been updating because I've been too busy being healthy and active. Megan and I have been hitting the gym like it owes us money! Although sore from the TRX workout yesterday, we were on the elliptical by 6:30 am this morning and pushing ourselves as hard as we could.  Our momentum had me thinking about why Team Awesome works. Is it just that Megan and I are fitness soul mates? Is there something... SCIENCEY at work? There is (There always is; science is the business)!

I read a recent study that looked into how performance was affected by competition and by teaming up towards a common goal.  Participants were advised to workout for just as long as they wanted.  In the next leg of the study participants were given the impression they were to compete with another person. That drove the average time of workout up by 90%! Encouraged, the study then moved to cooperative goals. Participants initially did not perform significantly better than they had while competing but, over time, the average time of workout grew to nearly 200%  that of those who worked out alone. 

When one isn't paired with a virtual partner in a study, working out with a buddy has some serious benefits to kicking rear.

• No-Brainer Exercising
• Working out alone gives you the opportunity to wake up and say, "I don't wanna" and talk yourself out of whatever activity you planned. With a partner, your less likely to cancel because your actions affect someone else.
  
•  Time Flies When You're Having Fun
• Working out can be monotonous and boring for someone who is doing so alone.  The mind can wander into the other things you want to get done leading you to cutting workouts short. Chatting with a pal can make the time go by more quickly and reduce the discomfort you feel from the activity.

•  No Two Snowflakes Are Alike
• A partner may have different experiences or interests that open doors into new experiences with exercise.  As an anecdotal example, I would never have considered TRX were it not for Megan's interest in it and it was one of the best workouts I've ever experienced. 
  
•  Treasure Is Most Enjoyed When Shared
• Sharing the reward after a particularly intense workout or after a milestone in your goals is even more satisfying than enjoying it alone.  Not only are you enjoying the company of  someone you care about - you're both reinforcing the positive habits you're building together!