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Fitness goals for you and your partner

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Gym more-than-buddies Zinhle Masango and Limpho Tlali Pictures: Tebogo Letsie
Gym more-than-buddies Zinhle Masango and Limpho Tlali Pictures: Tebogo Letsie

Known as mamalepapafitness on Instagram, Zinhle Masango and Limpho Tlali love each other as much as they love gym. But this is not your typical “we met at gym” story. According to Zinhle, Limpho had been contacting her on her Instagram.

“He had been stalking me for three months,” she says, laughing. “He sent me a direct message, and then asked to have a gym session with me and promised to buy me pizza if he got a session with me.”

The session happened and now, almost a year later, they are a couple and still work out together, and their physiques are testament to the amount of work they put in.

Previously, #Trending featured Masango’s story of how fitness saved her from an abusive relationship. And now – with fitness – she has found a new man who loves her. So, a couple that sweats together, stays together.

Finding someone who supports your goals can make life better and finding a gym partner can be great motivation as they hold you accountable while you help each other keep consistent.

Limpho says: “What keeps us going is that we motivate each other as well as push each other to our limits. We can advise each other and, when it comes to decision making, we are able to face challenges and overcome them. We want to strive to be successful in everything we touch.”

A good number of fitness fanatics swear by having a partner to work out with. But this is a two-way stream. According to fitness writer Roger Lockridge on bodybuilding.com, there are a few steps the person would have to follow to become the perfect training partner: “Being a good partner requires you to be more involved in the training and more invested in the person. You must want the other person to succeed as much as you want to do well yourself.”

His steps are as follows:

. Have similar goals;

. Be on time every time;

. Know how to spot your partner;

Watch form;

. Accept criticism;

Know what the motivation is;

. Turn your cellphone off;

. Keep chit-chat to a minimum;

. Be positive; and

. Celebrate for both of you.

Here is a simple workout with no equipment that you can do with a partner at home, at the gym – or anywhere, really.

.Visit our City Press YouTube channel for demonstrations

1. The Clapping Press-up You and your partner get
1. The Clapping Press-up You and your partner get into the press-up facing each other. The whole up and down movement is performed simultaneously, but when both of you are back to the fully extended arm pose, you clap hands
1. The Clapping Press-up
1. The Clapping Press-up
2. Squat and leg press One person lies down as the
2. Squat and leg press One person lies down as they support the other partner in the seated position on their feet. As the seated partner drops down to get into a squat, the partner on the floor lowers their legs to a leg press. You and your partner can take turns
3. Embracive Lunge Stand facing each other with yo
3. Embracive Lunge Stand facing each other with your palms flat together. Both lower and extend one leg to get into a back lunge. Then get back up to the starting position, then repeat on the opposite side
3. Embracive Lunge
3. Embracive Lunge
3. Embracive Lunge
3. Embracive Lunge
4. partner burpees One partner starts in the plank
4. partner burpees One partner starts in the plank position while the other is standing up. The partner in plank lowers to a press-up. The standing partner jumps over their partner and quickly gets into a plank position. Then the other partner gets up to jump over too
Partner Burpees
5. Sexy sit up We just had to capture their cuteness. One partner should get both their legs around the waist of their partner, then the standing partner can support the straddled one by holding their thighs. The straddled partner performs the sit-u
6. side crunches With both parties seated and faci
6. side crunches With both parties seated and facing each other. Start with your legs off the ground and your hands supporting you behind, then slightly twist and extend your legs to one side then back to centre and repeat on the other side. This move is performed simultaneously
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