Is Weight Training Without A Workout Companion The Secret To Building Muscle Mass?

Bodybuilding is a hobby that requires substantial weight training discipline and consistency, and many feel that having a partner with similar goals can increase mental focus and enhance the effectiveness of each weight lifting workout. This concept is true for many, but there are also some who actually find that solo weight training workouts provide an environment for superior consistency and dedication when compared with relying upon a weight lifting workout partner. In fact, surprisingly to many, there are many who feel that weight training partners actually hinder long term consistency, and are able to achieve far superior muscle gain and fat loss progress alone, without the benefit of a weight training partner.

Despite certain weight lifters experiencing a desire to train with the help of a friend, locating an individual who has a comparable daily schedule and who wishes to attend on the agreed upon day and time each week is not always easy. Even when locating a prospective candidate, we all seem to experience schedule conflicts regardless of how well intentioned we may be, and two seemingly synchronized weight lifters are likely to find themselves at odds. Also, many weight lifters have their own personal weight training time preference, with some feeling more energized in the morning hours, prior to beginning their day, and others feeling far more capable of pursuing an intense weight lifting session during later hours. This disparity naturally makes finding another bodybuilder with an identical mindset cumbersome.

In addition to the potential for scheduling conflicts, similar goals are required, meaning that a bodybuilder who wishes to achieve massive muscle gain cannot comfortably weight train with one who seeks tone and fat loss, as the two will most likely perform conflicting types of workouts. Although both could train together, because their workouts may be significantly different, motivating each other without wasting substantial time switching between various weights becomes difficult, and before long, the two will find that they experience far more focus and efficiency when training alone.

Even when two weight lifters have the exact same fat loss and muscle building goals, the amount of weight used in exercises will likely differ, often dramatically, and the two weight lifting partners will feel as if they are switching free weights on the bars more frequently than they are actually training their muscles, leading to wasted time and effort. Weight training workout sessions can become extremely grueling when inconveniences begin to monopolize gym time, and making drastic workout weight changes each set due to a disparity in strength levels is a quick way for any bodybuilder to become disgruntled with the time required to complete each weight lifting session.

Another obstacle towards finding the perfect weight training partner is workout pacing, as some wish to quickly complete a weight lifting session seemingly at warp speed, while others feel far more at ease with greater rest periods. This will create a substantial pacing conflict, and considering that intense weight training is sufficiently difficult to endure when all environmental variables are perfect, just imagine when a weight training partner decides that they want to execute a workout at a rate of speed which you personally despise! In such a scenario, the weight lifting session will become unnecessarily stressful, and the two partners will try to find a way to abandon the obligation to train together in order to prevent loss of sanity.

Lastly, regardless of how committed two workout partners may be towards achieving muscle building or fat reduction, the chances are astronomically high that idle chatter will infiltrate workout sets, extending rest time, and the workout itself, far beyond what is necessary. Amazingly, two weight lifting partners can discuss a topic between sets and allow a time period that seemingly feels immaterial to reach several minutes, and the lengthy weight lifting workouts that result are notorious for sapping motivation and desire to continue training.

I am one who has always performed my weight lifting workout sessions alone, and have found this to be the most potent method, but during the rare times I have trained together with either one partner or a group, I cannot recall any individual ever asking to train with me again, and those particular workout sessions with partners were, for me, far less intense than my normal weight lifting workout sessions, when I am training alone, with no distractions, as quickly or slowly as I choose, with music I feel energized by, and without attention diverting conversations that extend workout length beyond mentally sustainable levels.

Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for building muscle mass without supplements or drugs. He also owns IncrediBody.com, an online fitness superstore selling exercise equipment at guaranteed lowest prices.