GO FITNESS
Sticking to a workout plan or diet can be quite challenging and sometimes cumbersome. When you start a new fitness plan, it’s easy to blame environmental factors for missing your workouts, eating poorly or missing out on sleep, but if you dig deeper, most people find it harder to hit their fitness goals when they don’t feel accountable.
Accountability can be a huge factor in determining the likelihood of success when working towards your health and fitness goals. That is why accountability is one of my business's pillars; which also include consistency and dedication, but that's a conversation for another day.
What I would like to focus on is how accountability can help you achieve your goals and result in success.
One of the best strategies to achieve your fitness goals is to hold yourself accountable for your actions. So, what does accountability mean?
Accountability means taking responsibility for what you eat, how much you work out, and how you progress toward your fitness goals. Whether you’re on a weight loss journey, want to eat healthier, or want to achieve a big PR accountability is essential!There are several ways to help with accountability. Here are several tips to add accountability to your health and fitness journey so you can start seeing results and crush your long term goals.
Tip #1.
Use the SMART ApproachWhen it comes to accountability, the first step is setting a health and fitness goal.Use the SMART approach, which stands for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time sensitive. This approach certainly helped me with me journey and I have been using it with clients for almost 7 years.
Specific
Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” specify the exact amount of weight you want to lose. Avoid setting general goals, like saying “I want to be more fit.” Set a specific goal.
Measurable
You should be able to track your goals to see how you are progressing. This is key to sustainability and keeping your motivation high. As you set your goal, plan how you will measure success, and how you will track progress along the way.
Achievable
Set a goal that is a challenge, but is still manageable and achievable. You want to give yourself the opportunity to succeed rather than set yourself up to fail.
Realistic
Make sure that your aim is realistic for you. Think about how you can adapt your lifestyle to your goals. When it’s a realistic goal, you are more likely to keep it up.
Time Sensitive
Set a goal for a certain amount of time. You can set a goal for one week, one month, or even several months. Give yourself a deadline so that you can reassess your goals and see how far you have come. Typically short term goals range from present day to 3 months; while long term goals can be more of an ultimate objective that is meant to be achieved through a series of smaller goals over a long period.
SMART goals are a logical way to organize your goals; both short and long term. Not only does it help you determine achievable and realistic goals, but it also allows you to break down your goals into manageable tasks. That way you can conquer your goals and check tasks off your list.
Tip#2.
Create a Plan
Whether you use your phone, tablet, or a journal, make a plan! Put pen to paper, create a routine, and stick to it. No more excuses. Having a reference or physical copy of your plan can really help. Don’t just think about your workout schedule; plan your workouts, your meals and sleep pattern in advance. The idea behind jotting everything down is that it will discourage you from making choices that will hinder your success. The more that you can plan, the better your chances are of succeeding.Once you have a plan in place, make it concrete. Sign up and pay for a workout class in advance, book a session with your trainer, confirm your schedule with a buddy or family member, and share your plans with friends. These are simple and straightforward steps that can help you feel accountable.
Tip #3.
Document Your Fitness Journey
The next tip to help with accountability is documenting your journey. Write down or log your diet, your workouts, the weights you are lifting, progress, feelings and successes. There are several tools out there that can help, such as apps, wall calendars or journals. It is important to document your fitness journey that way you can check off tasks on the way to your ultimate goal.
Tip #4.
Have an Accountability Partner
Your accountability partner keeps you on track, encourages you to meal prep, and gets you to the gym even when you don’t feel like going. This can make a huge difference in getting results and achieving your long term/ ultimate health and fitness goals. A family member, a good friend or a personal trainer or therapist can really help with that!
Tip#5.
Stick to Your Fitness Plan and Hold Yourself Accountable
Improving your health and fitness can feel like a chore, but I am here to tell you it does not need to be. Falling in love with the process is key! That way these changes will not be a flash in the pan, but something more sustainable.
Keeping yourself accountable and taking responsibility for your actions can make it a lot easier to reach your fitness goals. It’s essential to make time for yourself so that way you do not resort to old habits.
I certainly hope these tips will help you or someone you know on their health and fitness journey. And if you feel like you need more guidance, structure or experience I am here to help!
/go-fitness/images/go-k3107.png)