How do you hold yourself accountable?

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11/10/12 11:27 A

This is such a great topic. I have only been a spark person for a week, but so far, the tracking is keeping me accountable. Also, reviewing my nutritional reports each day has been very helpful. I am slowly increasing my exercise and it feels great. I am very excited to get to my goal weight and am confident throught the tracking, message boards and all the tools "sparkpeople" have to offer I am on my way.

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11/5/12 7:20 P

Let me know how you are doing. I need someone with me! I love to eat but I am trying and I need help! I need someone to talk to! My boyfriend thinks I am being obessive and I have had trouble in the past! How are you doing? I was 124 to 127 I got to 132 then I dropped down a few pounds then up to 135! Now I am at 126 I need help and I need to tone up round the waist. I have a muffin top but I am trying to tone it up a little.

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9/20/12 9:06 P

This is a great topic seeing I am addicted to sugar & haven't walked in a while. I live alone so I don't have anyone to be accountable to...
trouble...

current weight: 122.0

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Posts: 6,710
8/23/12 8:09 P

I belong to a support group and have to weigh in each week. Also, I write everything down and also enter what I ate into the Spark site.

Posts: 1,722
8/23/12 6:23 P

Sign up for a race.
Get rid of bigger clothes as soon as I shrink out of them.

Edited by: KAPELAKIN at: 8/23/2012 (18:24)

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Posts: 1,727
8/23/12 4:44 P

I like what I've read here. I haven't been holding myself accountable at all lately, thus, up down up down up down goes the scale. The truth is, I don't want to see it on the chart when I ate a box of cookies. I look at the numbers in the nutrition label of something really yummy, and want to die. Will I track that I just ate 2K calories of cookies with 70 grams of fat? No Way!!! Thanks for the heads up. It's harder to ignore my behavior now that I'm using Spark Coach! Love that app by the way!

current weight: 167.0

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Posts: 5
8/23/12 3:31 P

I write down EVERYTHING It keeps me on track and I feel better with the choices I make....and I feel better knowing what is going in my body....mostly all good but I do have a few weak spots..just figure it in :)

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Posts: 322
8/23/12 1:01 P

track, track and track the good, bad and ugly. through ups and downs. looking back on the calendar i could see the food and calories for many, many months. i looked back and saw the reasons i haven't been losing. i could see that the last time i was consistently under 1300 cal and eating the right amt. of protein, ect was in last oct!! since then i have been ok but not the devoted and hard core.it was an eye opener. we get complacent and looking at the calendar shows you day by day, month by month - your calories, and lots more. I highly suggest looking around the site and finding how to get the calendar months and check it out - i hope you we be pleasantly surprised.

Posts: 29
8/23/12 8:44 A

I write down everything I eat and drink and monitor my totals during the day to see what calories, carbs, fats and proteins I still need to finish out my day in a healthy way. If I don't write it down and see it, then my mind tells me I'm not cheating when I eat that slice of cake or whatever. It's much easier for me to refuse unhealthy foods when I know I'll see the numbers before the end of the day. Instead of asking myself if I'm feeling deprived, I'm asking, do I want to see that number show up on my paperwork? I feel like this takes the focus off me which makes me feel better.

I only weigh myself when I got to my parent's house once or twice a month. I don't worry about what the scale says, I'm more concerned with how I feel in my body and clothes.

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8/23/12 7:45 A

I weigh every day and adjust my eating depending on my weight. I track food and exercise on Spark. I exercise almost everyday. I post on Spark almost every day. This helps me stay focused.

current weight: 3.0  over

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Posts: 4
8/23/12 6:54 A

I find it easier to stay accountable if I eat pumpkin seeds as part of my snack plan. Can't overeat them, but seems to help counteract that "I could eat the entire pantry right now" feeling. I track everything and drink required water. I have to keep looking at the goals achieved section every day and try to keep tracking at least 5 days a week.

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8/22/12 8:28 P

I have strayed for two weeks. I am holding myself accountable by tracking everything I eat and posting my exercises for the day plus I try to garner as many points as I can by tracking water intake, taking a quiz and a poll, and reading an article and reading a blog with the most applicable topic to my issue. This is appropriate to my issue and after reading what the rest of you have said, I know that this is what I need to do.

Stay healthy and fit.

current weight: 25.4  over

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Posts: 15
8/22/12 1:52 P

Hey Monet,

I just looked at your videos. Well, week 1 & 8 only as I was pressed for time. Great job losing 23 lbs. Good luck with the rest of it. You can do it!

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8/22/12 10:05 A

I weigh myself once a week, I write down everything I consumed each day (even if I overindulged), I have a workout/fitness buddy who is committed to losing weight and getting healthy. We keep each other accountable simply by just communicating during the day if we have a craving or want to ditch a workout. It's nice to have a friend who supports your cause for good living.

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Posts: 535
8/22/12 10:00 A

By tracking everything and having my boyfriend keep me on track and pushing me, makes me not want to eat bad or skip any workouts because I know he is going to ask me how I did each day.

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8/22/12 9:46 A

I've been staring at this topic that comes up in the "Message Board Hot Topics" - I've been looking at it for literally weeks, wondering how to answer it.

I'll just respond by saying that in one of these message boards, somewhere a while ago, I read from a Sparker who lost 100 (?) lbs that "Losing weight is a job." She explained that sometimes you don't want to get out of bed and go to your job, but you do it anyway.

This time around - and I've been on and off of this site for 3 years now - it feels different for me because I've decided I will lose the weight no matter how long it takes me. I've decided that I'm going to make lifestyle changes that put/keep me on the road to healthy, and that my family is coming along for the ride, learning these lessons with me.

So, accountable? I don't know how I hold myself accountable. I just know that if I don't take care of myself now, my next 10 years will be harder, and then 10 years after that harder still (if I am blessed to live a long life).

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Posts: 12
8/22/12 9:36 A

I agree FAHLAVA, it's not all about pounds. I am monitoring INCHES, cause you can loose inches & gain muscle mass,which is Great! If you keep stepping on the scale you can get frustrated by the weight gain & not recognize the inches. I will take inches lost over weight loss anytime...

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8/22/12 9:35 A

I weigh and measure everything that I eat. I don't really track that often. I just keep reminding myself that the time is passing whether or not I'm doing what needs to be done. I can keep moving forward and reach my goals in another 9 months or I can continue to be unhappy.

current weight: 166.0

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Posts: 222
8/21/12 11:10 P

I track all of my intake including things like my morning coffee or glass of milk. I have a set selection of drinks from Starbucks that I custom created on their website so that even when I am on the run and grab something I know the count.

The second thing I do is pay attention to my pants, I know it sounds nuts but if my jeans feel snug at all I am checking myself to make sure I stay on track. I went from having a waist of around 60 inches to a 25 and I have found for me personally how my jeans fit keeps me very aware of what I'm doing.

I have just found that after 5 years it's just easier to stay on track vs. getting back on track. I am accountable to me I have to face everything I do to my body throughout the day.

current weight: 132.0

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Posts: 342
8/21/12 7:11 P

by tracking: anything & everything!

Posts: 223
8/21/12 6:46 P

I come to SP - track, read, and make friends. My spark friends are my support system and with the help of SparkLive I have that personal contact and support from people who are reaching for similar goals. This is how I'm holding myself accountable.

current weight: 277.8

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Posts: 338
8/21/12 3:52 P

Tracking everyday. Everyday. Forming good habits. :)

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8/21/12 3:22 P

Tracking my nutrition and workouts daily is a big piece of it. And I try to remember days like today where I'm wearing a pair of pants I hadn't put on for a few months. Today they are noticeably looser than the last time I wore them. It helps me deal with not losing a lot of pounds but losing a lot of body fat! Next measurements are this Thursday and I can't wait to see what additional body fat I've lost in the last month!! :)

Edited by: FAHLAVA at: 8/21/2012 (15:23)

Posts: 1
8/21/12 2:01 P

I tend to let the scale get the better of me, so I focus on how well my clothes fit and make a point twice a week to slip on a certain outfit to determine my progress. For me it's more than just a number that is tainted my bloating and strength training.

Body Fat %: 14.8

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8/21/12 8:03 A

I weigh myself every Monday morning.
I record all food consumption in the Nutrition Tracker.
I record all exercise in the Fitness Tracker.

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8/20/12 6:45 P

I weigh myself every morning but the Friday total is the official one. I try not to fall prey to guilt over small stumbles, but it is hard. I try to exercise daily. It is better for my health and makes me feel good.

current weight: 138.8

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SparkPoints: (638)
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8/20/12 4:05 P

I feel the same way as lighthouse4me! So frustrated but that is why I am here in the first place.

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8/20/12 12:35 P

thanks for reality check, Laurie. Cindy

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8/20/12 2:15 A

I wish there was a spark team (either a small team or a large team broken into groups) where we could post our exercise regimen daily and get feedback and support from others in our team/group. I invision this as a place where sparkers with all kinds of exercise goals and abilities would feel comfortable and be able to help each other stay accountable and focused. For those interested we coiuld have a buddy system. Is there a group like that already? If there is I would like to join it. This would be very helpful to me--I like to write down my daily exercise goals and if I met my goals and if not, why I didnt meet them. Having a team to help me hold myself accountable woulkd be very helpful. I found a few groups that seemed to be based on this but it didnt look like they had a lot of posting.

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8/19/12 9:08 P

Tracking both food and exercise religiously. The numbers don't lie. I also weigh myself daily but record my weight on Friday and once a month I take my waist, hip, and thigh measurements.

Edited by: BIRDLSLAURIE at: 8/19/2012 (21:10)

current weight: -3.0  under

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8/19/12 7:42 P

Keep up the good work everyone!!!

Edited by: KDLANDERS at: 8/19/2012 (19:43)

Pounds lost: 10.0

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8/19/12 7:40 P

It has been difficult, when I think that I have had a "good" food day, I find out that after tracking everything that I went over somewhere. What I have come to realize is that I am going to have good and bad days, that's okay. It's not necessarily what I eat, but how much of it I do eat. I am slowly but surely making healthier choices, but as I am sure most of you know, it is very difficult to break habits that you have developed over most of your life. I try not to do the guilt thing, but there are days that if I don't get in my exercise or something else, I do feel guilty at the end of the day. I read on here someone, a SP member said that the only regret she had was not exercising because of what happens when she didn't. To see the regression of her hard work was worked. I found that very inspiring and if I remembered who it was, I would personally thank her for inspiring me. All I do is live one day at a time and remember that I am the only one who can change what I have become.

Pounds lost: 10.0

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8/19/12 12:57 P

Got a lot of guilt if I dont. I am obsessed. I track my exercise and meet my weekly goals. It allows me to consume more calories and still stay on track!

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Posts: 2,095
8/19/12 11:23 A

I weigh myself every morning & log my exercise minutes daily.

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8/18/12 9:01 P

I weigh myself daily to make sure I am on track but only "officially" keep track once a week. The daily weight lets me know if I need to bump up the exercise and lay low on the fat intake. :P

current weight: 165.2

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8/18/12 8:05 P

Are you kidding? I have enough guilt to hold an army accountable. And that is part of the problem-my guilt and my holding onto memories which are abusive to me and my present to future life/living

Ann

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8/18/12 6:35 P

When tracking:
Don't lie to yourself, always enter true values!!! Even when you don't want to see it.

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8/18/12 12:27 P

I just joined and made one of my faststart goals to go to the gym three times a week. I'd like to start benefiting from the monthly fee! :) It's a joy to be connected with all of you!

Posts: 1,009
8/18/12 10:56 A

I think an important distinction to make is between holding yourself accountable, and starting down the slippery slope of shame/blame/guilt. When I'm doing the latter, I'm actually avoiding taking responsibility for making a mistake and will likely end up eating more and going even further off track. When I hold myself accountable, I do the following:

1. Acknowledge what happened ("I had more wine and ice cream than I was planning on").
2. Ask myself why it happened (("I was alone and lonely", "I got going and just couldn't stop", etc).
3. Come up with a game plan for the future ("Call a friend if I'm lonely", "Restrict wine to one night per week").

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Posts: 249
8/18/12 8:41 A

# on the scale

current weight: 219.0

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Posts: 45
8/18/12 8:19 A

Weighing in every day, and checking in with my jeans. When they're too tight, I drop back to maintenance calories.

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8/18/12 1:15 A

- by tracking my food.

current weight: 166.0

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SparkPoints: (6,724)
Fitness Minutes: (3,197)
Posts: 195
8/17/12 6:33 P

When I track everyday.....I hold myself accountable for my choices.

current weight: 213.6

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Posts: 14,324
8/17/12 1:34 P

Tracking food and exercise

152,115 SparkPoints

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8/17/12 9:30 A

TRACKERS!
Positive self speak.
Goals- daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal,yearly, and bucket list. Hugely motivational for me.

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8/17/12 9:29 A

if i am going off track and eating things I shouldn't .I plan it. it isn't n a whim. Once a week or 2 weeks I allow myself a day or meal. To indulge.
i always tell my buddy who is also on a weight loss program.
I fess up. i track it. i don't lie.

current weight: 158.1

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Posts: 38
8/17/12 7:05 A

Scale...and Sparkpeople of course!

current weight: 114.4

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8/16/12 10:41 P

stepping on the scale every day

current weight: 158.1

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145

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Posts: 47
8/16/12 5:00 P

You can cheat but in the end you only hurt yourself. I have to hold myself responsibile for changing my ways & realize the weight came on because I allowed it. No one MADE ME slack off, I did it to myself. So now, I hold myself accountable by logging in my foods, shopping wiser for food & making good decisions when we eat out.

Pounds lost: 17.5

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8/16/12 4:59 P

Yes, indeed, portion control.

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8/16/12 4:28 P

I have been planning my meals and exercise early in the morning. I get up really early!! It's been working out really good. It really enables me to stay on track. On the weekends my hubby cooks, so it's all about portion control because he's not on a diet.

current weight: 1.0  over

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8/16/12 4:24 P

I can't seem to do the tracking in advance, I don't know why.

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8/16/12 3:37 P

Some days I log all my food in advance , and I log my excercise in advance too, then I tell myself "you are only cheating yourself" so that gets me going because I feel like a thief if I get points for things I don't do, and I paid for the spark coach already so now I don't want to waste the money either,
kim

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8/16/12 1:06 P

It has to be ME because no one ELSE really can.

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8/16/12 12:33 P

I have a buddy here on spark and we check each other's trackers. It was really hard to find someone willing to do this.

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8/16/12 8:39 A

Great mantra. I'll remember that.

Pounds lost: 7.0

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8/16/12 4:57 A

I have a great buddy. We have weigh ins and help each other.

current weight: 158.1

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SparkPoints: (18,002)
Fitness Minutes: (16,713)
Posts: 907
8/15/12 6:33 P

I have a wonderful new mantra- Dedication weighs ounces, regret weighs tons!
And I come to SP.

current weight: 150.0

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Posts: 544
8/15/12 5:43 P

When I am really being accountable, I am here - on SP. I will blog (even if it's boring, it helps me), I look at the boards (and comment), I track all my food and exercise. I will also tell DH if I am struggling with motivation - and he will frequently "remind" me... saying something like "weren't you going running tonight"? It usually irritates the crud out of me... but it also gets me outside and running... so I thank him when I get home.

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8/15/12 5:21 P

Blogging helps me. I can talk about what is going on in my lifestyle change & I don't have to feel like nobody cares. Everyone else here is doing the same thing. In daily life not so many people can identify with what I am dealing with (or even want to try). People here @ SP are at similar places in their lives.

current weight: 182.5

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Posts: 114
8/15/12 3:38 P

I installed the sparkpeople app on my cell phone. That way I can track what I eat when I eat it. It helps me remember more because I dont have to track everything when I get home at one time

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