As I mention above - accountability has been an interesting topic for me today, so I figure it's a good jump back into my JIT blog. Why is accountability important when it comes to fitness? Why can it be helpful to have someone else going through the trials and tribulations you are? Will that actually stop you from grabbing the pint of ice cream in the fridge? Umm maybe not...but it will definitely keep you motivated. A recent trend...and not to imply this is NEW at all, just new to me...would be accountability websites, Facebook groups and get togethers. I shied away from this in my earlier years of fitness. I was a brat and thought it came easy to me - but in reality I was hiding from other more personal things. I "didn't need those challenge websites"...I "just do it on my own"....I "have discipline" - BLAH BLAH BLAH. Realistically, I had a lot of personal things going on and was using fitness as a scapegoat. Quite simply, I was spending time in the gym because I didn't want to spend time at home.
Now - shoot life is good man! Life is SO good. I'm super happy. I'm loving my weekends and time off and traveling. (You may have noticed this change in my personal life if you follow Facebook or even this blog). Regardless, as I've come to realize, ACCOUNTABILITY is more important now then ever - cause shit, it's NOT easy! Balance is hard and if finding that balance and if being good to yourself can be better achieved with others - great!
 |
| Having a fitness partner is great because you also have a photographer! haha!! |
Some fit friends of mine (an amazing group of strong, motivated women) started a Facebook group today for accountability. We were all involved in a different one before but not as personal. This one is ending, so rather then just go our own separate ways we're committing to being accountable together in our own group. But WHY? What makes this such an important part of the fitness journey - aside from you know... the obvious?
Would you believe that statistics show that people who work out alone have as low as a 43% success rate, opposed to those who work out with a partner who show up to a 95% success rate. HUGE numbers there. Having an accountability partner can facilitate a more consistent, regimented and disciplined work out routine/schedule. You'll be motivated to work out more often seeing other people get their sweat on. Nutrition is a whole another aspect. When I log onto Facebook and see that my "fitness peeps" are eating healthy, it's making me second guess about wanting a massive burrito and reminding me of why I'm even working hard in the first place. Now that I think about it, I was most consistent and successful when my roommate AND I were working together to food prep and keep each other going.
Believe it or not, this blog - as seldom as it's probably glanced at by others - is part of my accountability. I look for cool and interesting recipes. It keeps me checking out new classes and learning more about metabolism (future post, and an interesting one, I promise) and I work hard so I can show success here...on blogspot haha. I think the key is finding YOUR accountability and holding on to that...not being ashamed of it. Mother, boyfriend, friend, blog, Instagram, Facebook, food diary, photos....whatever it is! In reality - we need each other. Not only that, I can't think of a more win/win situation! We're all helping one another out to be healthy and live an awesome, energy filled healthy life....BAM! Music to my ears!
Loved ones can be a great motivator. Be open and honest about your goals and do it together. Achieving goals together can be fun :)
My Jawbone UP team is the jam. We motivate each other, give each other "virtual kudos" and keep each other rockin!
A good resource if you aren't involved within a fitness community is Dt3.com run / managed by "Danegerous". He's committed himself, and will help you commit yourself to health! Reach out to him and scan his blog (http://www.d3tblog.com/)
If you're interested to join our accountability group - message me! I would love for you to be a part of one of the ones I am in. We're committing to sending our meals on a daily basis, share work outs and fitness goals and successes (as well as down falls). I have a couple I'm a part of and I can tell you - they're great and so are you so again, win/win. :)
