Train Alone? Or Strength In Numbers?

[Travis Bell]

So how about it guys? Are you able to keep motivated, move through your workout and continue to push yourself to new levels training by yourself?

Or do you succeed better when you have good training partners around you who have similar goals and drive?

I've done both, and honestly, made really good gains doing both.

Right now I am somewhere in the middle. About half my time is spent training myself because my schedule is really hectic, I have a hard time being able to commit to a time, the other half, I train down at Westside and also have a super good group up here at my gym.

I must say, on the days that I train with a group, I really do train much harder and longer. I do enjoy the comraderie that we have and the encouragement and often times rivals that come up. Really keeps me going

However I've also had training partners in the past who became a real hinderance to my training.

So what works best for you guys? How have you made either style work best for you?

[Nicky]

I train alone in my garage but would love to have a partner to help motivate me. i have made great gains out there alone though. Twice a friend of mine came over to lift with me and it was fun with him pushing me to get just one more rep out, but taking some of the plates off for him then putting them back on for me kinda sucked up time. If I could get him here more often im sure he would quickly catch up with me and it would be the kind of workout you see in buddy movies HAHAHAHA.

[Rip.66.]

I like lifting alone. I can concentrate on what I need to get done other than helping the other guy, I lift at a gym so I always have a spotter.

[HeavyBomber]

Alone.

[Kiaran]

I haven't really had the opportunity to train with a partner or group on a regular basis. I have a couple buddies that come over and train a couple times a week. The rest of the time I train alone. The times I do get to train with others are usually some outstanding sessions. They can also be very difficult as well. It's easy to train when everyone is firing on all cylinders and ready to kick some ass. Those are great sessions. It sucks when the person you are training with had a bad day or is tired and doesn't want to push and you cannot fire them up. It's an anchor to motivation. At those times, I'd rather train alone. Alone or not, I think WBB really helps motivation and all. I think sharing workouts in a blog holds you accountable for what you are doing. It's a virtual group/team of people with common interests at all levels. The community here can be as great as a good training partner, IMO.

[cold_steel]

Alone! I like to bang it out and be done. WBB and my mind are all the motivation I need.

[SDS]

I lift alone in my shop.....exactly the way I want it. But, I think I'd progress faster if there was some good old fashioned testosterone fueled male competition. It's easier to puss out when no one is there to call me on it.

[Mercuryblade]

I have to lift alone.
Lifting is one of the few times in my daily routine where I actually can get into a serious mindset. If I have a friend with me, I can't avoid pointing out every hot girl in the gym and or making fun of every douche in a spaghetti-string tanktop flexing their biceps in the mirror.

[rbtrout]

I've done both and don't mind the company for some added T, but actually I kind of prefer working alone. Fewer interruptions, etc. I can still get a spot if I need one.
I've got several friends that say they'll come and workout with me, but I tell them not to bother. I tell them how I train and I'm not going to train differently. That always scares them off.

[MPB]

I really enjoy lifting alone. I wouldn't want a partner that doesn't take lifting as seriously as I do.

[Off Road]

Alone

[Chris Rodgers]

I have done both. I think it makes a huge difference if you are training raw or in gear. Competing in powerlifting, I wouldn't have come even close to the numbers that I did without the training partners that I have had.

Like Travis, with differences in schedules and also because I have to travel quite a bit more to train with my team, I currently lift alone 3 times per week and only train with my team once. I am training unequipped right now(just belt and wraps) so this works. If I was lifting in gear I would benefit much more from training with them twice per week.

When I train alone, I get a lot more volume in and move much quicker.

When I train with my team I can do things that I couldn't do alone and I have much more fun. I like the friends I have made from powerlifting and spending hours in the gym pushing each other to new levels and just BS'ing with each other is awesome.


So I like a combination of both.

[Pete22]

I've been training alone for years now, and since I've started powerlifting I've put a few hundred pounds on my total by training alone. That being said, I'd love to do what you're doing Travis and train with a serious team at least twice a month. Not really for the motivation factor, but just to soak up info and tips from those more knowledgeable than me, and to have some live input on my form, technique, etc.

I really do enjoy training alone though; blast the iPod and it's just you and the weight.

[Travis Bell]

Interesting, seems a lot of people like training alone or the mix, rather than training with a team

You guys bring up a very good point that it often does take longer when training with other people.

I would imagine this boils down to a bit of a personality thing as well. I've seen some guys who really just draw within themselves and are able to push very hard on their own. I'm one of the guys who needs to be coached. I need to be screamed at, told I'm not working hard enough etc. I feed off it and do things that I never thought were possible before.

Others find it distracting though.

[Off Road]

The team/coaching thing might work great for me too, I've just never tried it. I do know that having people check my workout journal here keeps me motivated to hit PRs though.

[McLaughlin]

Alone for me.

Lifted with a friend once and he didn't take it as seriously as I do, was cracking jokes and such while I was lifting and nearly caused me to drop a bench attempt on myself.

Maybe if I had a workout partner that took things seriously and was only there to lift and go home it would go better, but I don't see that happening any time in the near future.

[Tom Mutaffis]

Travis - maybe this would be an interesting thread to attach a poll to?

Personally I have trained both alone and with groups, in many different atmospheres from hardcore gyms to fitness centers. I have found that most of my gym workouts can be performed alone, although I do prefer to have a partner for heavy power movements in some cases. For bodybuilding I can go either way, it really depends on the quality and motivation level of the person who you are training with. If you are training with someone who is more advanced and you are motivated then it is a good scenario, but if your partner is not dedicated or has different goals then things typically will not work out.

I would say that for bodybuilding and general strength training - having no partner is fine, for competitive powerlifting / strongman workouts it is helpful to have a partner or group.

[Tom Mutaffis]

To add to one of the above posts (from Off Road); as funny as it sounds I have found that keeping an online journal, youtube page, and having a camera in my gym bag has made training alone a lot more motivating. When you have people encouraging you and tracking your progress that will always give you an extra push.

[Clifford Gillmore]

Depends on the day for me. I need a training partner on ME bench night, just for hand offs/spots helping with gear etc. But its really helpful to be part of the crew as well, being able to be coached as well as working on my coaching skills.

But if its a day where I can come in, chuck on a cd, and attempt to kill myself (This may happen tonight!) without needing anyone there - I'd rather be alone.


When I my house is finally finished I'll only go into the gym for the heavy squat and bench days, then I'll do everything else at home.

[The J-Man]

Generally I prefer to lift alone, it definitely allows for greater focus and concentration (for me anyway). Once in a while though I love to work out with 1 or 2 other dudes on a day that I have a lot of time. The camaraderie is awesome and the friendly competition and rivalries are beyond motivating. For me these kinds of workouts are really beneficial and fun in small doses.

[Drew92]

I was just going to start a similar thread like this.

If you do train with a partner and you are stronger then them, do you find it harder to lead(sp) with gains or easier? Is having a partner stronger than you more of a motivation to get stronger?

[NickAus]

I good training partner is gold, I need help on my max effort bench day.

I do train alone about 1/2 the time.

As for motivation on the days I train alone goes EVERYTHING motivates me, when people build me up or when they put me down it all motivates me.
I want to make the people that encourage me proud and the people that try to hold me back can have a cry the day I bench 700.

[tom183]

I prefer to train alone.

[radioheadhead]

Alone.

looking insane in the avatar, nice work!

[View 1]

Alone.

I do train with friends from time to time, but 99% of the time I prefer to workout alone.