Hit the treadmill for a happy relationship

Struggling for romantic date ideas? Look no further than your local gym!

A romantic workout?

It may not seem the most romantic of locations but according to new research, couples in long term relationships would rather go to the gym together than the cinema, and have far happier relationships as a result.

According to the survey of gym-goers, increasing numbers of couples are shunning expensive meals in restaurants and conversation-less cinema outings in favour of couple workouts.

Over half (55 per cent) of those polled admitted they’d rather head to the gym with their partner – with couples who work out together arguing on average once a month, compared to once a week for non active partners.

Reasons for veering away from more traditional romantic activities included saving money, improving fitness, avoiding guilt-laden meals (61 per cent of women admitted to feeling guilty after dining with their partner) and shunning uncomfortable environments such as intimidating restaurants.

But for anyone thinking of suggesting a workout as a date, competitive sports such as tennis or squash are not recommended with 21 per cent of couples admitting to having argued at least once when competing against each other in sport. Instead, swimming, spinning and free-weights were voted top couple-friendly activities.

Personal trainer Kevin Wiltshire, said:  “I train lots of couples together who genuinely enjoy working out alongside one another - exercise stimulates the release of the ‘happiness chemical’ endorphins which people associate with feeling good. Therefore when people work out with one another they associate this exercise companionship with feeling happy.”