Fitness Buddy…Do You Have One?   Could your fitness walking program use a boost? Let's face it! It can be a challenge to hit the pavement alone every day. Why not make your fitness walking routine more fun with the help of a fitness buddy? Who qualifies as a fitness buddy? A fitness buddy can be your best friend, the lady down the street, or even your trusty canine companion. Studies have shown that women who walk with a buddy shed more body weight than those who walk alone. A fitness walking buddy can provide you with the support and motivation you need to stick with your fitness walking program on a daily basis. Plus, when you feel discouraged or bored with your routine, your walking buddy can talk you through it. This will help you to get back on course and shed those excess pounds. How do you locate a fitness walking buddy? Sometimes it's as simple as teaming up with a friend who already walks or can be persuaded to start walking. If that's not an option, consider joining a walking club. You can approach a member at a meeting and discuss the possibility of becoming walking partners. You can also consider advertising on a community bulletin board for a potential partner. If you have a canine companion, it's as simple as snapping on a leash! An enthusiastic canine with a wagging tail may be the best motivator of all! And both of you will benefit. Be sure you share similar goals with your fitness walking buddy. If you buddy wants to walk at a snail's pace and you're a diehard power walker, you may have a conflict that needs to be resolved early in the partnership. It would be beneficial if you sit down with your potential walking buddy and discuss your exercise goals. Together, you can establish a fitness walking schedule as well as prepare charts to monitor your individual progress. This can be a great motivator! If you add a bit of time to your regular workout or move a bit faster, add a gold star to your chart for that day to reward yourself for a job well done. It's important to remember when you exercise with your fitness walking buddy, you need to maintain your focus to achieve your fitness goals. Don't be so distracted by small talk that you slacken the pace and reduce the benefits of your exercise session. You should walk at a pace that allows you to talk, but talking should come with some difficulty if you're trying to optimize your aerobic benefits. You've now learned one secret to making your fitness walking program more stimulating and exciting. Why not grab your exercise shoes and your walking buddy and hit the pavement!