Don’t just join ANOTHER gym or workout program only to fall off or worse, never even get started!  Eliminate common barriers to successfully transitioning to living healthy and active by finding and interacting with an accountability partner.  Accountability comes in all different forms.  If you are on a healthy living journey, you might recruit accountability from yourself in the form of journaling/blogging/social media posts, in dietary needs with a nutritionist or by ordering preplanned meals or in exercise in the form of a trainer or working with a group.  Even with all of those things mastered, you may need to solicit the help of an accountability partner! The role of the accountability partner would be to help you set specific goals and hold you accountable to those goals.  We are launching #InThePaint: A Culture & Accountability Buddy System with the goal of living the #StayInTheGame #OneCommunity Culture and holding each other accountable to the workout sessions and the 165.  The 165 is highlighted in our Monday Coaching calls and is the hours in the week that we spend away from our workout sessions.  Those hours are what make the difference in our healthy living journey.  When you have the responsibility to check-in with a person with no strings attached other than the mutual benefit you both receive from motivating each other, you will be more committed and thus, successful along the journey!

I posted years ago about Making Fitness Buddies to Increase the Success of Your Workouts.  This is still relevant if you are going to a gym still or even in a program like mine where members workout #InThePaint virtually using Zoom.   Keep in mind, the methods used to seek out an accountability parter in the previous article will work in areas other than fitness.  You can use them in your spiritual walk, entrepreneur journey, work environment, financial planning or whatever area of your life that you would like to establish calculated assistance with accountability.

 

Once you get an accountability partner, here are some tips to make it a successful relationship.

• Find a Partner:  I have covered the first step for you in a previous article listed above. #InThePaint, as the Fitness trainer, I am matching my members initially and as new members join they will be matched for the best onboarding experience.

• Prioritize:  If you are going to commit to having a partner, you need to prioritize the relationship.  Right from the start, you should establish your scheduled communication times and lock it in.  For example, #InThePaint, we have  Monday coaching call after the workout and the easiest checkpoint for our accountability plan would be to have a quick chat after the call while goals and focus is already on your mind.  Furthermore, #NeverMissAMonday is like scripture in the fitness world so Mondays would be an ideal day to check-in with an accountability parter as it relates to fitness.

• Choose the rights tools to use: You can use SMS text, Group me, Facebook messenger or groups as your communication.  You can also pick up the phone and call your partner when needing more than the standard quick text communication.  You can use journals to keep track of: diet, exercise and goals. The Diets are Dead journal is perfect for those on a fitness journey. You can make your own tracking system with worksheets that can be used daily, weekly, or monthly.  The idea is to check in on a regular basis and assess where you are in the journey.  #InThePaint, your accountability could be as simple as checking in before workouts which is what a lot of people do on their own anyway.

NOTE: In the event that your partnership is not working out: one party is NOT prioritizing the relationship or your personalities aren’t compatible, then you can always seek out a new relationship.  Your accountability partner should encourage and inspire you BUT they should be candid and honest with you as well.  Don’t eliminate you accountability partner for calling you out.  That is their duty. However, everything should be done in love and with empathy.  Work really hard to to establish that relationship and you will have an accountable partner turned friend for life!

Accountability partners will help you stay focused on your goals.  In the world of fitness:

• They help you attend your workouts regularly
• Plan your meals responsibly and share new recipes and tips on eating healthier 
• Look out for opportunities for you to challenge yourself
• They will encourage you to attend live events in the fitness industry
• Suggest participation in productive activities like making a vision board
• They help shift your thought process and change the narrative 
• They help you get results 
• They will encourage you to CELEBRATE along the journey when you are killing it!

If you are not #InThePaint, I hope you will use the tips advice and tips to move forward in your healthy living journey.  Those of you that are a part of #OneCommunity, let the new program begin!