Graeme Attwood, director of operations at The SweatShop in St. Paul, Minn., sees differences in couples depending on their age. Younger couples often start working out together with gusto. Over time, one sticks with it, while the other drops out. Older couples, meanwhile, already seem to know what each will or will not do. Attwood often sees wives who choose to work out with female friends rather than their husbands.
Women typically exercise for health and overall fitness.
Men, on the other hand, often train with specific sports goals in mind, Attwood said. That's the case with the Conways. The couple's negotiations actually began a decade ago. Their kids were 12 and 9. Both parents decided the children had to be the top priority.