12 Healthy Ways to Get Lean, Mean, & Gorgeous

Photo by: Designed by Naomi Abel, R29

June: Embrace Your Inner Mean Girl

Researchers, workout gurus, and glossy magazines have been touting the benefits of working out with a friend for years. Been there, done that, right? But new research shows that you've got to choose your running mate wisely - and the last person you should ring up is your BFF.

It turns out that the not-so-nice aspects of working out in tandem (hello, competitiveness!) can ... more 

Photo by: Designed by Naomi Abel, R29

June: Embrace Your Inner Mean Girl

Researchers, workout gurus, and glossy magazines have been touting the benefits of working out with a friend for years. Been there, done that, right? But new research shows that you've got to choose your running mate wisely - and the last person you should ring up is your BFF.

It turns out that the not-so-nice aspects of working out in tandem (hello, competitiveness!) can do even more to help us reach our fitness goals than hitting the lap pool with a dear friend. A recent Kansas State University study showed that exercisers worked out longer and more intensely when they exercised with someone they perceived to be a better performer. The better-than-you buddy system worked to achieve even higher output when people worked on the same team in an activity in which score was kept. Makes sense, since nobody wants to be the weakest link in a team.

Up the ante in your output by joining a community intramural team or sports class offered by the local junior college. Just be sure to think big when you enroll in a class; even if you haven't played tennis since high school, skip the novice classes for the next level up. If you're like participants in the study, it can boost your performance by up to 200 percent.
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