The Importance of a Good Training Partner

[J DUB]

I know sometimes it is hard to find a fellow dedicated lifter, but it is worth your time and effort to find a good partner if you a serious about getting big, strong, whatever.

I recently (3 mos ago) started training with a fairly established powerlifter, and all 3 lifts have jumped up. Why? Because I have to keep up with him as much as I can. He is 6', 350 lb. while I am 5'10, 248. He is natural (for sure) and squats 930, bench 650, and DL 630. I have no idea what my actual maxes are as I really don't max in any lifts except my assistance lifts (GM variations, pulls, etc.), but for example my safety squat good morning went from 275/4 to 340/6 in 2.5 months. My raw CG bench is still stuck at 405, but that will change soon with some more speed work. That is progress, folks, and wouldn't have happened training alone.

Bottom line, even if you have to drive 45 min. to train with a serious lifter, find time to do it if you want to be at your best.

[Girth]

I think the key thing here is that you have to find someone whose better than you. It's the same with any aspect of life. You'll never get better by competing with those whom you know you can beat.

I always had been a staunch supporter of training alone. Why....I am the harshest critic on myself ever, and am a perfectionist. Thus, there is no need for additional motivation. But it surely helps to have someone there reminding you of your shortcomings.

That being said, I train alone. Why....I have to. I have a wife and child who deserve my time and money. Thus, I have my own power rack to avoid membership fees, and get up at 5 A.M. to get my weight training in. But is that the ideal.....no.

[MANWHORE]

I get up at 5:30am to go to the gym where i also train alone. I use the smith machine alot so i can get the intensity i need without dropping the weight on myself. ... Every time i trained with someone,they would want to spend 1 1/2hrs in the gym to get in a 30min workout. I like my workouts like i like my sex .. get in and out as fast as possible,because i have other things to do

[J DUB]

Yeah, I have a feeling one day when the wife and kids come along that will change. I'm having a good time with it now though. I actually look forward to getting my own rack and training at home...I hate driving to the gym.

[CyniQ]

I train alone. Yeeeeaaaaaaheeeehhhh with nobody else. You know when I train alone?? I prefer to be by myself.

I get my wife or one of my brothers to go with me to spot me sometimes. Neither of my brothers lifts seriously. When I train with one of them I usually focus more on bitching about their form than I do about my own training.

[Girth]

I do need a partner when I push my Jeep around the block though. So my wife fits the bill for this. The next step is to add a chair to my pulling sled. My little one can sit up pretty well now, so I'm going to sit her on my sled while I do my dragging. I'm sure she'll love it.