Women's Health

You... Play to win He... Plays to totally annihilate the enemy

Do-it-together strategy
Researchers at Penn State University, US, found that when women anticipate competition they get a surge of testosterone, which boosts the libido - you do the maths. Choose a workout strategy that plays off your "I love you but I'm going to kick your sweet arse" nature - without killing each other in the process.

If you're all about weights, you can keep his Schwarzenegger-size ego in check with this tip from strength and conditioning specialist Rachel Cosgrove who owns a gym with her partner: divide the number of kilos you're each lifting by your respective body weights and, voila, suddenly the playing field is level.

If you're more about cardio, run or bike together three times a week. Day 1, let him pick the route. Day 2, you devise the workout plan. Day 3, play Simon Says: do intervals, alternating who gets to set time, distance and style. "Our bodies love routine, but that gets us into a rut," Curry says. Mixing it up "shocks the muscles and you start burning major kilojoules".

May 3, 2012