As a trainer, I’ve seen many people fall off the fitness wagon and back into their typically unhealthy daily routine. However, I’ve also seen many people lose 20, 30, 40, up to 150lbs and gain back a life that they never knew was possible. That begs the question:
What makes the difference between the person that succeeds in fitness and the one that doesn’t?
While there are many factors that determine this, there is one that is continually at the forefront of the list:
Accountability
Throughout this article, I am going to define what accountability means, it’s value, and provide you with 5 tips to make it truly work in your life.
Accountability is defined as the condition of being accountable or responsible. In terms of health and fitness, this means holding yourself to the goals that you’ve created and allowing someone you trust to be your accountability partner.
Even as a trainer, I need someone to hold me accountable. Luckily, I have surrounded myself with like-minded people in fitness. I actually share my training logs with some of them so that they can keep me in check, as I do for them.
With that in mind, here are the 5 tips that I offer my clients to develop a strong practice of accountability.
Tip 1: DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT
The first step with any goal in life is to access where you are and where you want to be.
Do you want to lose weight, gain muscle, decrease your risks of injury or health complications? Choose what it is that you want to accomplish as your first step. This is your long term goal. Then, create minor short term goals or trail markers to help keep you on the path.
Tip 2: FIND YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER(S)
An accountability partner is someone who is consistently there to help, correct, and encourage you on your way to those goals that you’ve created.
That person can look like a spouse, a friend, a co-worker, or a trainer. All that matters is that you and the person or people that you choose to hold you accountable are there for you. They ought to be consistently checking in with you to the degree that you need.
One factor that has helped with my clients is to have a Google sheet of their sessions. That way we can both engage with it daily. Knowing I will be looking at it motivates them to get their training in and document their progress along the way.
You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Tip 3: CREATE A PATH
Now that you have your trail markers and accountability partner, it’s time to map out the steps of your path.
Let’s take for example a long term goal of losing 30lbs, which would be the mountain peak in our metaphor. Losing around 1-2 lbs per week are trail markers. In between the trail markers are your steps.
Steps can look like creating a daily walking habit, starting a strength training routine, following a nutrition program, or all of the above. Either way, know your steps and allow your accountability partner to access and keep you on that path.
If you need help creating these steps, I would recommend investing in a professional as an accountability partner to create the map for you. At this point, all you have to do is follow their guidance and you’re on your way to the mountaintop.
Tip 4: TRACK YOUR STEPS
Once you have the map and are in the process of following it, the next step is to document your path.
You can log your progress with a hand-written journal, word document, notes on your phone, or a number of other ways. Also, make sure your partner has access to your logs as a way to stay accountable with your steps.
We’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.
1 Thessalonians 5:10-11
Tip 5: REWARD YOURSELF
While your ultimate reward is the success in achieving your goals, it is important to treat yourself along the way.
Rewarding yourself releases dopamine, which helps you stay motivated as you create this new lifestyle. A good example of this may be treating yourself to a massage for a month of hard work. It could be allowing yourself to have your favorite food after a few weeks of healthy eating.
Whatever that looks like in your life, make sure it doesn’t negatively affect your journey, tell your accountability partner, and enjoy!
ACCOUNTABILITY LEADS TO SUCCESS
We began this article by asking the question, “What makes the difference between the person that succeeds in fitness and the one that doesn’t?” The one factor that remains consistent throughout those that reach their goals is some form of accountability.
I challenge you to go through the five tips above to strengthen your practice of accountability. You are more than deserving and capable of obtaining those dreams in your heart. Believe this is true for your life, follow those tips, and you’ll see a great transformation very soon.
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