Accountability and Goal Setting

by Michael Harrison
(San Antonio, TX)

We all start off with good intentions. Lose a few pounds here, sculpt a muscle here, tone up a glute there. With visions dancing in our heads about resisting those tempting treats from our co-worker, family and friends, spending countless hours in the gym, we sit back and smile at the awe inspiring figure of health we know that we could be, will soon be.

And then reality sets in !

Here it is April (actually June), 2008, how many of us set out on those lofty goals only to find that at four (maybe 6) months into the year, we’re not quite where we should be in our fitness or weight loss program. “How come?” we ask. Why aren’t I making the progress that I know I “could” make and “should” make? “Where did I go wrong?” These are all viable questions that on the surface may seem impossible to answer, but in hindsight are quite obvious.

Starting out on a fitness plan or weight-loss program is not an easy endeavor. First of all, we live in a culture that is so counterproductive to losing weight and getting into shape that it almost seems like people we see everyday are out to sabotage us. Not only do they despise the idea of dropping a few pounds themselves, but its even worse if a co-worker or semi-good friend is able to accomplish such a feat. Their coy little offers for “Krispy Kream” donuts at the office are nearly impossible to resist. To turn down a family member inviting you over to dinner only to insist that you gorge your self over and over again on desserts and high fat foods would simply be rude wouldn’t it? No matter where you turn, someone or something is always there offering you a chance to cheat.

And its not just about food either. Friends and family are always competing for our time. Time we’ve set aside to hit the gym or attend a class that will tone up those muscles or add those extra inches to your triceps. Time is a huge commodity in our culture and we never seem to have enough of it.

What are we to do then? Just give up?

No way folks, it might only be month four (well maybe 6) of the year 2008, and despite how much you might think you’ve failed, I’m here to tell you that you’re a lot closer to success than you may believe. First of all, we’re only one third (perhaps half) of the way through the year. Second, the time you’ve invested has not been wasted. Let’s learn from our mistakes. Let’s identify where we made mistakes so we can avoid them. We’ve got a lot of time to reach our goals and make those New Year’s Resolutions a reality. Let’s refocus and get back to work.

#1. Let’s recommit to our original goals. Take a second and write down what your goal is. When I say goal, I’m talking about specifics with defined time lines. A good example would be “ I want to lose 2 inches off of my waist by May 30th 2008.” “I want to tone up my thighs to the point there is no hail damage by 20 June 2008.” I want to decrease my Body Fat ratio by 7 per cent and increase my Lean Muscle ratio by 4 per cent in six months.” These are measurable goals that we can break down and attain in regulated steps.

#2. Give your goal a Priority. I’m not saying that you make it your number one priority, but it needs to be worked into the equation of your daily life. If it’s any lower than number 3 on your list, you’re going to have problems reaching it. Studies show that most people are only able to handle their first three priorities on a consistent daily basis. Be realistic, if it’s lower than number 3, then you might want to re-define your goals into something less ambitious.

# 3. Get yourself an Accountability Partner. I probably should move this one up on the list, but like everyone else, it’s hard for me sometimes to decide which is the most important thing to do. I can’t stress this enough how important having someone who will support you and hold you accountable is to achieving your goals and succeeding in your fitness or weight loss program. An Accountability Partner is the anti-drug to all of the cultural obstacles I mentioned above. Telling those pesky co-workers that you can’t eat that pizza they brought in for lunch because later in the day, you will have to tell your accountability partner and you don’t want disappoint them is easier than trying to deal with the guilt they will lay on you. Equally important is having an Accountability Partner who is supportive of your goals, understands your goals and is not destructive when you mess up. You don’t need someone who will berate you and beat you down because they think it will make you stronger the next time. What you need is someone who will re-iterate your goals, all of your previous hard work and help you re-focus and get back on track. Having someone who truly wants to see you succeed is crucial. A boyfriend or girlfriend who gives lip service (yes dear, you look great, don’t worry about it) won’t get your there. Someone who allows you to slide is not a help! It must be someone who is firm, yet caring. Someone who will remind you of why you started down this path in the first place and get you back to your plan. As a trainer, people often confess their only reason for hiring me is because they need someone to hold them accountable. This is great for me because once we identify what your goal is, that’s all I care about (figuratively of course). While I understand there are times you might have a bad day at work, your best friend got arrested or life throws you a curve ball since our last session, you should understand my ambition is to see you succeed. Life goes on and despite what happens outside of the gym, missing a workout or taking time off from the gym is not a solution for those other problems. Actually, getting in to the gym is a good remedy to deal with the stress created by those problems and gives you a chance to organize your thoughts.

By setting your goals, prioritizing your actions and having an Accountability Partner to coach you through the hard times, you create the environment that leads to success. Surrounding yourself with people who support your goals is crucial to freeing up the time to hit the gym. Ironically, I was putting together my thoughts for this paper at a Chinese restaurant and could not come up with a way to end it. At the end of my meal, I opened my fortune cookie which said…….”The only way to know what the future holds is to create it.” Funny huh? I challenge you to create your success in pursuit of fitness!

v/r michael