Weight Loss and Accountability
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of weight loss and life alike is discipline in the sense of not only starting something, but Finishing.
How man times have you began a project…only to quit and start something else?
Take a trip down memory lane with me and imagine yourself as a child…let’s say around 6 or 7 years old.
One of my most favorite pastimes was building tents (inside) with my sister out of anything we could find.
What we would do is grab sheets, blankets, pillows, and anything else around the house suitable for shelter and pile, spread, and wrap the goods around couches, chairs, and tables. The whole aspect was mesmorizing…until it was built.
Once the tent was built, playing inside it was fun for a while, but once we had accomplished the task, there was little to do but take it down. We never really finished what we set out to do…build a tent for the sole purpose of using it for our recreational purposes.
So what does this have to do with weight loss?
Weight loss is similar to tent-building as a kid in the sense that:
1) it’s exciting to begin
2) it’s motivating to see progress
3) it’s awesome to reach goals
4) it’s challenging along the way
5) it’s boring once you get there
So you’re trying to lose weight, build muscle, increase endurance, eat better, and build a healthier lifestyle in general. It’s a great goal to have and it can impact almost every area of your life…think about:
1) having more confidence
2) feeling self-accomplished
3) living longer
4) having more energy
5) being complimented every day
Great, so who wouldn’t want that?
The truth is that everybody would love to look and feel great on a consistent basis, but the length of the fitness journey becomes burdensome and just plain hopeless at certain times along the way…the truth is that most people starting a quest for better health and fitness just won’t get there…UNLESS…
You pair up for success
Yup; you guessed it, having an accountability partner changes the game…you are suddenly not in it alone and you’ve got someone to report to (similar to a boss) on your successes and struggles. It’s scary, but it’s a surefire way to meet your goals.
Your homework
1) get outside ASAP
2) take a jog…alone
3) run 1-2 miles
4) don’t stop
Did you find yourself dogging it along the way? Did you find a time where you really needed a break or couldn’t stop thinking about the agony you felt and wanted to just walk the rest of it out? Its common. Now:
1) call a friend
2) take a job TOGETHER
3) run 1-2 miles
4) don’t stop
How was that? Was it easier? I would assume so. You find that when there’s another person running alongside you who shares the same goals and desires, pain becomes enjoyment and agony fades with conversation and responsibility.
What’s the point?
Accountability between yourself and another like-minded individual helps you achieve weight loss and fitness goals…it creates responsibility towards one another, creates friendly competition, and also creates loyalty towards supporting one another’s accomplishments and aiding along the way.
Once you reach your goals, there will be someone there to share in the joy of success with. When you’re by yourself, it’s kind of boring and difficult to stay on track once the fitness goals have been met.
Find your accountability partner as soon as possible. Whether it’s someone to spot you on the weight bench and during squats at the gym, a team to play 3 on 3 with, or a spouse to jog, bike, or walk with…you’ll journey together and achieve goals as a team. Now go find somebody and watch each other melt the fat and build the muscle together.
Who’s got a similar experience to share?
I run with my sister twice a week. It’s still not the most fun thing in the world but we do it to keep in shape and to catch up on whats going on in our lives. I havent done this at the gym though yet because she isnt a fan of weight training.
Acountability is imporrtant because when your friends see you and know what you are doing they notic it. If you have been slacking off or cutting back on your goals there is someone or other people to always criticize or take notice.
That’s true dude…even in other things than weight loss…that’s why it’s usually better to do things before talking about them; you don’t want everyone thinking you’re going to do something, expect you to do it, and then not hear about any results. There’s no point in bragging or sharing until you’ve done it.
So the most effective way of accountability is to reach your goals on your own (tell one close person) and go ahead and reach them…the other “acquaintances” you may have will do the rest of the talking for you.
It’s a scary thing to be responsible to another person although i think this is the best way that i can build muscle and get stronger.
That’s right it is…that’s why it’s kind of a freaky thing to do…you become responsible and really if you let someone else down you’re going to let yourself down all that much more…
This is a nice blog, it’s quite informative. Motivation is a huge factor in losing weight, if you give it up just a few days too fast, all the weight you lost the last week will be back in a day or two.
I’ve been there myself and I’ve gone through all the programs and now I decided to start a blog myself, I wouldn’t want all the other people who are trying to lose weight to go through the same hell of finding the right diet like I did.
Could you have a look at my blog and maybe give hints to improve it? It’s at http://fightpounds.blogspot.com/
Thanks a lot, good luck!
-JohannaK
Yup; it’s unforgiving…giving up just a couple times can throw you right back on the same path as before you started; fortunately, cheating in the sense of eating junk food or forgetting to work out just ONCE per week can actually keep your body balanced and aware of how well you are treating it on the norm.
I’ll take a look!
if you eat bad a couple times in a row it is so hard to get back on track. I feel like its hard to eat good again once I cheat.
That’s the difference between a rut and balancing healthy habits…it’s okay to have a pizza once a week, but if that makes you feel like you need it everyday…then just don’t eat it period. It’s more healthy to NOT cheat than it is to become easily addicted to junk food.