JAY FREEMAN, 29, AND ANN FREEMAN, 27
ST. PAUL
Workout of choice: Spinning, running, biking, swimming, strength training. (I even got Jay to go to a Zumba class. Only once, though.)
How does exercise strengthen your relationship? If we are stressed out or getting fussy with each other, usually a trip to the gym cures it. Before we started working out we spent a lot of time watching TV and using the Internet. When we work out, everything is turned off. It's kind of hard to update your Twitter when you're running.
Motivation techniques: We'll send each other text messages throughout the day: Guess my weight? How much water have you had today? It keeps us accountable to one another when we're not together.
Valentine's Day plans: Aside from running the Twin Cities in Motion Valentine's Day 5k, we'll cook a healthy meal together and work out. After all, it's on the schedule. We don't use holidays as an excuse to break our healthy habits.
DEBBIE WARD-BAKER, 50, AND PETER BAKER, 59
MINNEAPOLIS
Workout of choice: Boxing.
Why it works: It's something we both love to do. It's a great way to spend time together and still get exercise. Both are important. Boxing is great for getting all your aggressions out. We both joke when we're having a bad week that we look forward to getting in the ring with each other. Having a set time to do something every week gets us both home from work at a decent time. It keeps our lives in balance.
Tips for other couples: Turn your date nights into workouts. Most of the time we go out to dinner after boxing and make a night out of it.
