Health experts say adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day for most days of the week. Exercise has many important health benefits. Regular physical activity burns calories and can help a person lose or maintain weight. It helps the heart and lungs work more efficiently and improves cardiovascular fitness. It can build muscle and increase stamina.
Exercise also decreases the risk of several chronic health problems. People who participate in regular physical activity are at lower risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. In addition, exercise promotes a positive outlook, higher levels of self-esteem and better self-confidence. Exercise also reduces stress and improves sleep.
Despite the importance of exercise, many Americans lead a sedentary life. According the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, more than 60 percent of adults don’t get the recommended level of activity and 25 percent aren’t active at all.
Motivation plays an important role in the willingness to start or keep up with an exercise program. One way to build enthusiasm for exercise is to work out with a friend. An exercise buddy provides positive support and can help head off those excuses to skip a planned activity.
Sometimes a person can link up with an exercise partner through clubs or gyms. But if you prefer outdoor activities, or are new to an area (or just want to try something new), it can be difficult to find someone with the same interests.
Patrick McCluskey, who stopped exercising when he lost his own workout buddy, developed the website. He realized he needed to find another partner and thought the web would offer a unique method of bringing people with similar exercise interests together.
To access the service, a registered user types in his/her zip code. The search can be tailored to match a preferred age group, sex, fitness level and activity or sport. Once a match is found, the user submits an e-mail address. ExerciseFriends contacts the other person to let them know of the interest. It is then up to the two users to make arrangements to meet and work out an agreeable schedule.
ExerciseFriends was started in September 2004 and now has users registered in every state of the U.S. and some parts of Canada and Europe. More than 100 different activities are listed on the website and others will be added if interest is indicated. The service is free to users (it is supported by advertisements). McCluskey warns the website is not a dating service and people shouldn’t have those kinds of expectations when selecting an exercise partner.
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