Knowing how to ask for a spot in the gym is a great skill and can really help your workouts.  However, outside of hiring a professional trainer to work with you every workout, the best thing you can do for your workouts  is to find a regular workout partner.  This is someone who would show up every workout to train with you.

Having a regular workout partner is a great motivator and can take your workouts to the next level.  Alternating sets with someone can actually keep your workouts moving faster, plus there is a lot of motivation that comes from seeing your gym mate working hard and moving a lot of weight.  This motivates you to train harder and stay focused.  Best of all, this gives you a built-in spotter, and means that you’re almost guaranteed to lift heavier since you have someone to watch you on every set and help you finish those difficult last reps.

What may be the best benefit is that you are sure to always show up and never miss a workout if you know that someone is waiting for you.  You’re also more likely to show up on time and finish on time with a preset schedule.

So how do you find a good workout partner?  Almost all of my best workout partners have simply developed from someone I saw regularly in the gym and who I had asked to spot me in the past.  By showing up at the gym at basically the same time each day I got to know a collection of other gym members who were also there at the same time.

I simply ask someone if they want to share a workout sometime and we plan to work a certain body part on a certain day.  Of course, I try to find someone who seems to have a similar gym philosophy and work ethic to mine so that we are “on the same page” with our workouts and goals.  Then if the first few workouts are successful this might develop into a regular partnership that benefits both parties and helps both make better progress in the gym.