Tips to Break up with a Workout Buddy

(520 Words)
You made exciting plans to reach your fitness goals together with a workout buddy. So what do you do when things don’t quite work out as planned? Perhaps you cannot find times together to work out or you are not at a close enough fitness level to work out together. Whatever your reasons, you want to be gentle and careful when breaking up with your workout buddy so that you can preserve the relationship.
First, you might want to consider whether a verbal breakup is even necessary. For instance, you might want to break up because your buddy is never available to exercise. In such a case, you may just have to stop bringing up the fact that you are workout buddies. You can just stop asking about going out. Go instead on your own or with someone else. He or she may never even ask about it and you can continue the relationship without strife.
In many cases, you will need to talk to them in person. You should think about your reasons. The best thing to do is to be honest, especially if it is something that makes sense. For instance, if he only wants to exercise at night and you are a morning person, then you can talk about that. Of course make sure that is the only reason because he or she may turn around and change the schedule for you. You can explain that it is not that person but that other circumstances just make it really hard.
It is more touchy when the reason is your friend. For instance, let’s say your friend likes to talk while you’re walking treadmills, and you find that it is too hard to exercise with that much talking. If you do not feel comfortable bringing up that subject then you might want to consider a little white lie that will not hurt your friend but will allow you to get the exercise that you need. For instance, you can say that you want to switch to a different type of exercising for a little while (and you can actually do that so that it really isn’t a lie). Then go back. Be careful when lying, though, because you do not want the person to find out and then feel even worse. Honesty is really the best policy.
If the person feels bad, you might want to try to increase another aspect of the relationship and this way you will not need to lie or make the person feel bad. For instance, you can say that you would prefer to see him or her at the mall or for a meal rather than exercising. In this way you cannot pose it that you are breaking up with him or her as a workout buddy but are instead changing the relationship.
It is difficult to break up with a workout buddy, but it will be worse if you are not getting the important exercise routine that you want and need. Be honest and explain what is the problem, and hopefully you will conclude the exercise relationship while preserving the friendship.