This Valentine’s Day Live Active Leisure are offering a little love for any dynamic duo out there; whether you want to sign up with your other half, hit the classes with your bestie or get motivated with your Mum, this is the deal for you. 

Ever since we were wee we’ve been encouraged to buddy up. When I stood in line in the playground of Northern District Primary all those decades ago, holding tiny hands with Janie or Davina or Wendy I felt happy in the knowledge I was walking into class with my pal.   Throughout my life it’s been the same; find a pal to buddy up with and suddenly big jobs are smaller, problems are halved and laughs are so, so much louder. 

There has been a huge amount of research over the years highlighting the benefits of working out with a partner and if ever there was a way to double your chances for fitness success, this would be it! From adding a large injection of fun into proceedings to keeping you on track and motivated, a buddy, pal, partner or loved one will help you out of a rut, through a plateau and into bigger and better things!

When I started Couch Potato, which was my first blog for LAL, I roped in my friend of 25 years, Kirstin.  Kirstin and I were at much the same stage in the exercise game at that point. ie We hated exercise and we loved cheese.  We booked in for joint training sessions, called each other up for Bums, Tums and Thighs (also known as O.M &G) and generally encouraged one another into a love of moving and finding fitness. She ran the 10K last year, I am Body Pump lover extraordinaire.  One of my oldest friends became my cheerleader – and I became hers.  That’s some big time girl power right there and I know it works just as well for the boys! 

When I researched this blog I discovered that there is actually a primal reason behind this.  (We’re basically monkeys with trainers and fitbits).  The need for interpersonal support is wired right into the brain - we are social animals who seek the company and positive reinforcement of others and this becomes heightened when we’re doing work.

Now, this was pushed a step further when the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University surveyed married couples who joined health clubs together.  They found that couples who worked out separately had a 43 percent dropout rate over the course of a year. Those who went to the gym together, regardless of whether they focused on the same type of exercise, had only a 6.3 percent dropout rate. 

The deal is that you’re most successful at reaching your goals when the people closest to you are on board.  And for couples, all those endorphins and praise that comes out during a workout spills over into your relationship.  You learn you can tackle anything as a team. Roy Glen get your trainers out!

So, whether you team up with your other half, hit the gym with your best pal or stay motivated with your like-minded colleague it seems that the best way to stay focused is to pair up!  LAL’s joint membership has been developed with this in mind and at only £51 per month offers two people unlimited access to pools, gyms and classes.  There’s no peak rates, no contract and no joining fees. 

All the other LAL membership benefits are in there so membership holidays, Live Active Rewards, 10% of Zoggs Merchandise, 10% of Café Active & Café Aqua, Guest Passes 4 times a year and 10% Active Fun Full Day Holiday Camps (perfect for couples with kids!)

This Valentine’s weekend, LAL are giving away 500 vouchers that will offer 50% discount off of the first month of a joint membership.  A joint membership can be couple or friends (the only rule is that the money must come from one bank account) and you can start this deal anytime in February. 

Click onto our Facebook page on Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th to claim your offer. You then have until the end of Feb (29th) to redeem your voucher.  Go on, feel the love and double up. You’ll be very glad you did!