Is Weight Lifting Without a Workout Partner the Secret to Building Muscle Mass?

Bodybuilding is a pursuit that demands substantial weight lifting discipline and dedication, and many feel that having a partner with similar goals can improve mental focus and enhance the effectiveness of each weight lifting workout. This theory is true for many, but there are also some who actually find that solo weight lifting workouts provide an environment for enhanced dedication and consistency when compared with relying upon a weight lifting workout partner. Surprisingly to many, there are those who feel that weight lifting partners actually hinder long term results, and are able to achieve far superior fat loss or muscle building progress alone, without the benefit of a weight lifting 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 adopts a desire to attend on the agreed upon day and time each week can prove difficult. Even when finding a potential candidate, we all seem to experience agenda conflicts regardless of how well intentioned we may be, and two seemingly compatible weight lifters are likely to find themselves at odds. Also, many weight lifters have their own individual weight lifting time preference, with some feeling more energized in the morning hours, prior to starting their work day, and others feeling far more motivated for an intense weight lifting session during afternoon or evening hours. This difference in preference naturally makes finding another weight lifter with an identical frame of mind cumbersome.

In addition to the potential for scheduling conflicts, similar goals are required, meaning that a weight lifter who wishes to produce substantial muscle growth cannot comfortably weight train with one who seeks fat loss and tone, as the two will often perform different routines. Although both could train at the same time, because their workouts may be significantly different, motivating one another without wasting substantial time switching between various weights becomes difficult, and soon, the two will find that they experience far greater focus and intensity when training alone.

Even if both weight lifters have the exact same muscle building and fat loss goals, the amount of weight used in each exercise will likely differ, sometimes dramatically, and the two bodybuilding partners will feel as if they are swapping free weights on the bars more often than they are actually training for muscle growth, leading to excessive workout length. Weight lifting workout sessions can become mentally grueling when distractions begin to monopolize gym time, and making dramatic workout weight changes each set due to differing strength levels is a quick way for any weight lifter to become disgruntled with the time spent on each weight lifting session.

Another roadblock towards finding the ideal weight lifting partner is workout pacing, as some wish to quickly complete a weight lifting workout session seemingly at the speed of light, while others feel far more comfortable with longer rest periods. This will create a substantial pacing conflict, and considering that disciplined weight training is sufficiently difficult to endure when all environmental variables are perfect, just imagine when a weight lifting partner decides that he or she wishes to execute a workout at a speed which you find offensive! In such a scenario, the weight lifting workout will become unnecessarily stressful, and the two partners will try to find a way to relinquish the obligation to train together in order to preserve sanity.

Lastly, regardless of how committed two workout partners may be towards achieving muscle building or body fat reduction, the chances are extremely high that idle chatter will infiltrate weight training 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 insignificant to reach several minutes, and the lengthy weight lifting workouts that result are known for draining all motivation and desire to train.

I personally 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 weight lifter ever asking to train with me for a second time, and those particular workout sessions with partners were, for me, significantly less intense than my normal weight lifting workout sessions, when I am training alone, without any obstacles, at my own pace, with music I enjoy, and without unnecessary discussions that extend workout length beyond mentally sustainable levels.


Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for muscle gain without supplements or drugs. He also owns FatVanish.com, teaching exactly how to burn fat without supplements.

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