Couples workout: exercise together to lose more weight, the science says. Meet one couple who got fit quick
- Research shows that couples who work out together lose weight more easily than those who exercise alone
- We talk to a couple who helped each other: he swapped 4kg of fat for 4kg of muscle; she lost 3kg of fat and gained 1kg of muscle
Moving to Hong Kong in 2017 was the motivation Arash and Harriet needed to lose weight and get into shape. Impressed by the city’s fitness culture, the husband and wife, who had arrived from the Middle East, set out to lose fat, build muscle and eat more healthily – as a team.
The couple, who agreed to share their story but not their surname for privacy’s sake, say working towards their goals together was a key factor in their success in achieving their lean, taut bodies. Wanting to look and feel their best for themselves and each other incited them to spur each other on.
“I wanted to lose three to five kilograms and get toned. Arash wanted to lose a few kilos too, as well as build muscle,” 35-year-old Harriet explains. “Deciding to take charge of our health and weight together made achieving the goal so much easier.”
They signed on with trainer Ivan Corsi at the Athletic Club in Central, who designed an exercise and meal plan to help the pair meet their targets.
“Before starting the programme a typical weekend for us would have involved hanging out at the beach in the morning and then sitting down to a long meal,” Harriet says. “But now, we start our weekend mornings with a hike and reward ourselves afterwards with some beach time and a healthy lunch.”
