I have trained for a very long time. I would tell you how many years but someone would comment that they get tired of hearing me say how many years I have trained. Over these years, I have trained with some great training partners, trained with some shitty ones, and I have trained solo. Whether I am training with a training partner or training by myself, it is always by preference and not by coincidence. What I mean is, if I want to train with a kick-ass training partner, I will find one and do just that. If I prefer training by myself, I will do that.
Over the 36 years that I have trained (there, I said it), the very large majority of that time I have trained by myself. There are pros and cons to both, of course, but the pros far outweigh the cons (for me) when it comes to training by myself.
PROS
1. I do not have to be on time and I have total control and flexibility over when I train.
This is probably the number one reason that I prefer training by myself. My schedule has always been such that I sometimes have to flex the time that I train. It used to be due primarily to raising 4 kids, but these days it is more because on any given day, I may have more or less work to get done. Being flexible with my training time allows me to give more priority to my business.
2. After training as long as I have, there are things that I don't want to compromise or negotiate when it comes to training.
I have past injuries and some movements simply do not work well for me. I also have weaknesses that my training partner may not, so we would likely have different things to focus on in the gym.
I am a bit of a control freak in the gym due to training by myself for so many years. If I want to start a chest day with cable flyes prior to a pressing movement, I don't want my training partner arguing about it.
3. I set the tempo and the "style" of training for that session when I train by myself. I don't need to hurry, and I don't have to deal with a training partner taking their sweet time causing me to go longer between sets that I may prefer.
4. I don't have to listen to my training partner's drama or shitty day at work. I don't want to sound insensitive but, honestly, I just don't give a shit. I am at the gym to train, not to listen to why Karen used too much copy ink and didn't reload the machine. I don't care if you didn't get enough sleep, and I don't care if your stomach hurts because you ate bad chicken. I just want to fucking train.
5. I train harder by myself than if I am training with someone.
This might seem strange most people but I abhor someone yelling at me, thinking they are motivating me to get another rep. That shit quit working for me about 2 decades ago. In fact, it is distracting in the sense that it makes me feel douchey because it attracts attention that I simply don't want. I used to want attention when I was younger. Now that I am older, I much prefer training when no one is in the gym or the gym is closed and I have access after hours.
When I train after hours (like I do now), I train harder than any other training scenario. I don't have to worry about what anyone thinks and if I want to be loud, I can. If I want to train without my shirt, I can. I can take video or pictures without feeling douchey. I also never have to race the clock when I train after hours because there is no deadline to finish my session.
CONS
1. I don't have a spot if I am doing something like benching.
2. I don't have anyone to help me get my elbow sleeves on.
3. There isn't a third con. That's how much I prefer training by myself.
There are times where I do prefer to train with someone but it is typically after a long period of training by myself. This is due more to break up the monotony because after only a brief time training with someone, I start to regret it, usually.
To me, bodybuilding has been more of an isolative endeavor than it has been something that I find to be a "brotherhood." Back in Colorado at Armbrust Pro Gym they still have Sunday leg days where everyone comes in on Sundays to train legs and kind of feed off of each other. I trained there for years and did not do that even once. I have never had much of a desire to do the bro-thing.
When the gym is closed and I am the only one there, I am where I want to be. Honestly, I doubt I have felt more comfortable, anywhere, than in that place at that moment.
Choose from the best belts in the industry by clicking the link below:
