How do you hold yourself accountable?

SparkPoints: (354)
Fitness Minutes: (240)
Posts: 14
8/4/12 11:22 P

By showing up every day at the gym.

June SparkPoints: 0

0 25 50 75

100

SparkPoints: (21,853)
Fitness Minutes: (9,158)
Posts: 574
8/4/12 9:41 P

fear motivates me to track my food and exercise. seeing the numbers and that they are good makes me feel good and aleviates the fear. Relieving the fear and having a lower level of it is therefore what keeps me accountable...
So....
Fear seems to motivate me to be accountable if that makes sense.

I now understand the horrors that are the consequences of being obese (and now 'morbidly obese' as I gained a lot during the pregnancy)
My recent detours in my journey were most responsible for this, but also watching these shows helped to hammer home the urgency:
Supersize vs. Superskinny
Big meets bigger
BBC's Truth about series (Fat, Exercise, etc.)
BBC: why are thin people not fat
HBO series: The Weight of the Nation
ETC.

current weight: 254.0

262 237.75 213.5 189.25

165

Posts: 2,082
8/4/12 8:50 P

My daughter Rezziroo, and I joined sparkpeople and glad that I did this

current weight: 208.0

240 217.5 195 172.5

150

Posts: 11,882
8/4/12 11:00 A

I watch how my clothes fit.
I tallk with family about health.
I Spark.

Pounds lost: 20.0

0 10 20 30

40

SparkPoints: (10,893)
Fitness Minutes: (9,320)
Posts: 24
8/4/12 10:41 A

I track everything :) I have spark people on my phone so I make sure I sign in every day and read an article or two or look at some motivational pics :)

Pounds lost: 17.0

0 50 100 150

200

SparkPoints: (10,261)
Fitness Minutes: (6,071)
Posts: 267
8/4/12 10:21 A

By tracking

current weight: 157.0

163 152.25 141.5 130.75

120

Posts: 64
8/4/12 10:13 A

I can identify with LJ32920. I am an honest, responsible person who doesn't follow through on all of the plans. The best thing for my responsibility was when a played the "diet game on diet by Vernoff and ferguson. It had all sorts of points almost like spark people. It also was framed around a healthy eating plan, just like spark points. But it had the competition of your friends and fellow workers and teams. So if I screwed up it wasn't just my score I was screwing up it was the teams. I am a highly competitive person and this worked great for me. But after 8 months my other team mates lost interest or had life changes that made it difficult for them to play. I lost 40 pounds and have since gained back 35. I have been looking for something like that in the teams but haven't found it yet.

current weight: 157.0

180 168 156 144

132

Posts: 2,880
8/4/12 8:51 A

I track daily..exercise and nutrition.

current weight: 3.0  over

5 2.5 0 -2.5

-5

Posts: 805
8/4/12 8:26 A

The trackers and reports on Spark are really helpful. For the inspiration to hold myself accountable, I keep in mind that I want to live a long healthy life, and I don't want to be an obese, out-of-shape person.

current weight: 175.5

283 252.25 221.5 190.75

160

SparkPoints: (4,141)
Fitness Minutes: (137)
Posts: 2
8/3/12 7:47 P

i make sure i record my food on sparkpeople every day and weigh myself every day. this can be hard when a day has not gone well.
and i have my very own spark buddy. my brother and i - he is also a spark member - also share our ups and downs in our weight loss and healthy lifestyle journeys. we cheer each other on when things are going well and good choices have been made and we encourage each other to get back on the horse after a bad day or night of eating. we take consolation in a philosophy my doctor gave me: she says "two steps forward, one step back and eventually you'll get there." we find that really helps us forgive ourselves for the odd binge and gives us hope that we can go back to making healthy choices.
and it works! my brother has lost over 75 lbs since aug 2011 and i have lost 24 lbs since mid-april 2012!

Pounds lost: 37.0

0 39.5 79 118.5

158

Posts: 37
8/3/12 6:58 P

I am not only held accountable by myself, but also a group of people who attend the Over-eaters Anonymous meeting with me on Monday morning. Honesty is the basis of this program, so I have to admit when I have not abstained from eating the food that takes me over the top and causes me to overeat. In this way, I verbalize being accountable to myself. I,finally, had to come to grips with the fact that I am the most important person in my life. When I realized this, I have been treating myself better. I track my food and mileage everyday. This really helps.

Total SparkPoints: 26,532

	25,000 26,249 27,499 28,749	29,999
SparkPoints Level 14

SparkPoints: (26,245)
Fitness Minutes: (20,715)
Posts: 1,544
8/3/12 6:31 P

Using ths trackers have been helping tremendously!

current weight: 230.0

247 230.25 213.5 196.75

180

Posts: 17
8/3/12 5:49 P

I hold my self accountable by exercising most every day--I think to myself that if I am going to eat today then I also need to be moving and exercising today.

current weight: 180.0

183 170.5 158 145.5

133

SparkPoints: (481)
Fitness Minutes: (275)
Posts: 1
8/3/12 5:43 P

Having only been using this site for less than a week, I appreciate that I'm a complete novice. However, the tracking option for me is superb. It shows me what essentially are wasted calories. I can have a huge, well balanced meal for less than 300 or 400 calories or 'waste' the same amount on a chocolate bar which can take less than a couple of minutes to eat...! I think being accountable is all about acknowledging our mistakes/bad choices, holding our hands up, and making a real attempt to put them right. In less than a week I'm already making better (if not the best) choices!!

current weight: 482.0

524 502.5 481 459.5

438

SparkPoints: (85,914)
Fitness Minutes: (83,657)
Posts: 4,995
8/3/12 5:42 P

Tracking here helps a lot

current weight: 124.0

156 147 138 129

120

Posts: 198
8/3/12 5:37 P

I keep a visual of my short term, mid-range and long-term goals in front of me at work, where I will see them every day. I make sure I log into SparkPeople everyday, so I can be motivated by my Sparkfriends. I know if I dropped off the radar for a week, GOLOPTIOUS and probably LENLEN3 would be checking on me!

current weight: 135.0

150 146.25 142.5 138.75

135

SparkPoints: (4,623)
Fitness Minutes: (1,344)
Posts: 16
8/3/12 4:31 P

This helped motivate me to start getting back on track with my fitness program after getting derailed around the time I was completing my degree back in March. Thanks for sharing and best of luck to you!

current weight: 210.0

219 211.75 204.5 197.25

190

SparkPoints: (4,010)
Fitness Minutes: (2,891)
Posts: 138
8/3/12 1:58 P

I use a variety of inspiration sites such as reasonstobefit.tumblr.com and inspirefitness.tumblr.com for visual motivation.

I'm on my computer so much that I even made a collage of a few of my favorite Reasons to be Fit so that everytime I sit down at my computer, I remember why I'm munching on clean foods instead of junk, and reasons why my workout is so important.

If you're doing a program like I am, Insanity, the feeling of checking off the box for the workout of the day is an awesome feeling!

June Minutes: 0

0 31.25 62.5 93.75

125

SparkPoints: (1,692)
Fitness Minutes: (2,198)
Posts: 13
8/3/12 1:12 P

I joined Spark People with a friend. We don't live close together, but have checked in with each other every Monday which is our weigh in day. we don't tell our weight, but what we lost. I think I would have quit already if it weren't for her.

Pounds lost: 7.2

0 7.5 15 22.5

30

Posts: 51
8/3/12 12:23 P

I track my food daily, and I remind myself of the progress that I am making.

current weight: 208.0

212 188.5 165 141.5

118

SparkPoints: (2,391)
Fitness Minutes: (590)
Posts: 65
8/3/12 12:10 P

Well I weighed for the second time today and have lost a total of 7.8 pounds. It was very exciting for me and shows that holding myself accountable will get me to my goal!

current weight: 271.5

280 267.5 255 242.5

230

Posts: 10
8/3/12 11:21 A

I missed my Zumba class yesterday because it was my son's 1st day of flag football practice and I felt so bad. I had invited a co-worker and she was excited about coming (by the way,she still came!)......I still could've made the class but I didn't want to be late coming in and so I just didn't go: I even changed and put my workout clothes on and everything!.....I really felt bad. I have to make that up to myself....any suggestions?????

current weight: 151.0

160 153.75 147.5 141.25

135

SparkPoints: (1,508)
Fitness Minutes: (470)
Posts: 6
8/3/12 5:20 A

Sticky notes instead of food and fitness journal works for me..

current weight: 134.5

144 138 132 126

120

SparkPoints: (5,340)
Fitness Minutes: (3,973)
Posts: 72
8/2/12 7:27 P

I really like the idea by Niclobee. Having a visual - thanks.

current weight: 165.2

167 155.75 144.5 133.25

122

SparkPoints: (1,179)
Fitness Minutes: (1,178)
Posts: 12
8/2/12 3:28 P

Same for me--the nutritional tracker is essential for me. It still takes me a while to get that "perfect storm" balance of carbs, protein and fat, but I rely heavily on that final nutritional report with the pie charts. The fitness tracker helps me visually see the fruits (e.g. calories burned) of my efforts. This is only my second week (for this go 'round), and I actually entered a starting weight that was about a pound and a half lower than what the scale said (I weighed after I signed up and used my last known weight). But I did, in fact, lose a pound and a half the first week and am steadily losing--not by leaps and bounds, but that's okay. I've totally changed the way I eat (semi-vegetarian) and it's a challenge, number-wise. I don't miss meat at all, surprisingly since I used to say, "Just give me half a cow and I am happy!"

Next Monday, I am hoping my little tracker icon will be able to move!

Pounds lost: 2.2

0 10 20 30

40

SparkPoints: (37,121)
Fitness Minutes: (49,248)
Posts: 27
8/2/12 1:47 P

Use of the SP nutrition and fitness trackers hold me to my goals. I'm honest with myself in recording in both categories. I find that on those rare days when I fail to enter the information for the day, I'm more likely to be challenged to get lazy!

Pounds lost: 35.0

0 8.75 17.5 26.25

35

SparkPoints: (2,629)
Fitness Minutes: (462)
Posts: 62
8/2/12 1:24 P

I made a chart. On one side is a list of everything I need to do everyday to reach my goal; count calories, stay in calorie range, drink 8 glasses of water, exercise 20 min, eat 5 freggies, and get at least 7 hrs sleep. Along the top are the days of the week. For every day I complete ALL of my tasks, I pay myself a dollar. At the end of the week I give myself a bonus if I have completed everyday. If I have a perfect month, I give myself an even bigger bonus.

You could use any dollar amount to achieve any reward you choose. And if you need to, have someone else check you off.

I'm saving up to buy a nice bike, and I will feel like I have earned it and am more likely to use it more often. This holds me accountable because I know if I miss just one day, then I forfeit my weekly AND monthly bonus.

current weight: 185.0

200 182.5 165 147.5

130

Posts: 338
8/2/12 12:52 P

I tell myself this life of health and fitness is not solely a feeling, it takes discipline (forming daily good habits no matter how up or down the day is), constant reinforcement that goals you set are valuable, and strong community backing.

Total SparkPoints: 23,359

	20,000 21,249 22,499 23,749	24,999
SparkPoints Level 13

SparkPoints: (16,786)
Fitness Minutes: (6,745)
Posts: 676
8/2/12 12:51 P

I post my totals on Facebook for each meal - calories, carbs, fat, protein, sodium, and fiber. I let my friends help keep me accountable. Some do. Some don't and that's ok.

current weight: 165.4

179 171.75 164.5 157.25

150

SparkPoints: (2,391)
Fitness Minutes: (590)
Posts: 65
8/2/12 12:35 P

I am doing this for ME! So when tracking, I am entirely truthful, because I am only hurting myself if I don't reach my goals. And, I haven't reached every goal, every day, but I am reaching more than not. I am imperfect and can only do the best that I can. The main thing for me is that I am the one gaining the most from doing this. Spark People has been a life-saver for me because it helps to keep me motivated.

current weight: 271.5

280 267.5 255 242.5

230

Posts: 18
8/2/12 12:20 P

my location makes a buddy for losing weight difficult...finding this site has made me so happy I make myself responsible to myself..I know I must write and track daily exercise...this gives me the incentive to MOVE everyday...

SparkPoints: (17,618)
Fitness Minutes: (11,464)
Posts: 411
8/2/12 9:33 A

A best friend who is working the same goal I am - we text each other every day for support, and have the same weigh-in day. My husband wants to lose weight, too, so that keeps the entire household on track with what we eat.

Pounds lost: 5.2

0 13.5 27 40.5

54

Posts: 517
8/2/12 7:21 A

My support system is a tool for accountability. I find though that being truly honest with myself about my behaviour is the most important. I can't fool myself. Since I like to feel in tune with myself, I find that telling myself the truth about my motivations keeps me on track. After all, I am the one living with myself 24-7. I ask myself: do I want to live with a friend or with a stranger?

current weight: 114.0

116 115.25 114.5 113.75

113

SparkPoints: (5,340)
Fitness Minutes: (3,973)
Posts: 72
8/2/12 7:03 A

I forgot to add, on that rest day, I try to attend to my spiritual mind & body, make stronger alliances with Jesus & God, give thanks.

Edited by: PATRUCK42 at: 8/2/2012 (07:06)

current weight: 165.2

167 155.75 144.5 133.25

122

SparkPoints: (5,340)
Fitness Minutes: (3,973)
Posts: 72
8/2/12 6:55 A

I do the same thing. I don't want to form any bad habits. I also plan a rest day from cardio or strength. It's exercise my mind day, crosswords, cross-stitching, planning Christmas list, SuDoKu, Improving my mind. Learning how to download free books from libraries.

current weight: 165.2

167 155.75 144.5 133.25

122

Posts: 171
8/1/12 11:37 P

Keep a food journal and include my exercise. If I skip a day of exercise, I also journal that & why.
I know that I weigh myself more than I should but I do keep in mind that fluctuations are to be expected and only "count" the weigh in once a week the same day, same time every week.

Pounds lost: 114.8

0 29.25 58.5 87.75

117

SparkPoints: (45,447)
Fitness Minutes: (27,890)
Posts: 1,000
8/1/12 11:07 P

I lost a large amount of weight so, although I didn't tell many people I was dieting, they eventually noticed. I am a lawyer in a large law firm, and there are a number of people there who struggle hard with their weight. Several have told me I'm an inspiration, and the fact that I'm keeping it off despite some serious challenges (death in the family, illness and injuries, plus a heavy workload this year -- and those only a few people know it, fertility treatments as well) is telling them that it's possible for them too. I've gotten messages from people on Spark saying similar things.

I know how important it was for ME to see other successful dieters/maintainers at the start of my struggle -- they got me going and kept me going. The thought that I might do the same for someone else makes me proud (in a good way). Knowing that my continuing success may help someone else is a huge incentive to keep going. (Sometimes I do let myself down, but I HATE letting other people down.)

Posts: 61
8/1/12 10:47 P

When I set myself a goal, I always share it with others.

I find this really helps when the self-doubt starts and on days when those little voices start telling me "go on; it's only one glass of wine..." etc...

Knowing that my partner, friends and staff know what I'm aiming for reminds me not to slip up! I don't like looking like a failure in front of others...

Also, I visualise myself reaching the goal as much as I can...that gives me motivation to keep focussed on making all the right choices and ignoring temptation to stray...

SparkPoints: (11,324)
Fitness Minutes: (3,839)
Posts: 365
8/1/12 9:28 P

I don't weigh every day because the fluctuations can be as much as 5# in one day, especially if I eat salty chips or any kind of sugar. Both will make me retain water. I understand about the sweet tooth though. My favorite snack for bedtime is a cup of cheerios with an ounce of chopped nuts. With a cup of herbal tea it fills me up and if I have honey nut cheerios it also takes care of my sweet tooth. Sugar free syrup has a lot less calories and tastes great on oatmeal, or rice, or any other carb that helps you get past the after dinner munchies. Just be sure you maintain portion control.

current weight: 254.3

254.3 228.225 202.15 176.075

150

Posts: 11
8/1/12 7:06 P

I do my best to track everything that goes into my pie hole...

Yesterday I weighed 186.8 I got up today and weighed in at 188.8

Yes I did have an ounce of lays chips, and a piece of white bread and syrup on it

Could it really make me gain that weight in one nite !

So I woke up this morning, walked 30 min, then 30 more this afternoon, then excersied 20 to a DVD workout. All that was eaten after 8:00pm . Yes what am I asking u all for. Of course I can gain that overnite. Up Up and away

Pounds lost: 56.0

0 14 28 42

56

Posts: 64
8/1/12 4:55 P

Like everyone else, track your food. this site is a great tool for holding yourself accountable. No one else can do it for you, you have to hold yourself accountable and be honest. We I decided to get serious about loosing all this extra weight, I made no promises to myself or anyone else. I will eat what I want to, however have changed the choices that are in my refridgerator. Drinking the 8 cups of water a day really helps, cause I am not hungry. My biggest weakness is not chocolates, it is bread, good bread with butter. I love sour dough bread. But I still eat it, just one slice and not every day. I count it and if I go over in areas, I don't sweat it cause it is all one day at a time as they say.

current weight: 191.0

191 177 163 149

135

Posts: 16
8/1/12 3:20 P

After losing the majority of my weight last year, I'm down to the last 10 lbs and seem to be stuck. I started meeting with a personal trainer, once a month, for weight/measurement/body fat. She gives me a new routine to use on days I don't like the classes offered PLUS she listens and helps adjust my diet for my lifestyle. She also helps me focus on the new found body/muscle definition more than on the number the scale shows. That helps a lot. You have to remember that muscle is more dense, and therefore weights more than fat. I like having an objective person help me makes sense of the numbers and my progress!

current weight: 148.0

175 166.25 157.5 148.75

140

SparkPoints: (36,153)
Fitness Minutes: (38,386)
Posts: 2,952
8/1/12 12:56 P

Finally admitted that I needed to be accountable to someone else back in January. I started going to Professional Weight Management here in Branson and have managed to lose 32 pounds so far. It costs me money I don't really want to spend, but it does keep me losing. Now I am back with Spark and I think that will just add to my success because y'all understand everything I'm doing and going through because you have been or are there with me! :~) *S*

Pounds lost: 39.2

0 13.75 27.5 41.25

55

SparkPoints: (2,066)
Fitness Minutes: (275)
Posts: 28
8/1/12 12:42 P

Like a lot of people on here, I just track all the food I eat and not miss a day. They say it takes 3 weeks to create a habit and I've been tracking for nearly 3 months now :-D

SparkPoints: (4,565)
Fitness Minutes: (1,691)
Posts: 18
8/1/12 6:56 A

I have found it so hard to hold myself accountable in the past, but since finding SP things have gone more smoothly. I make taking the time to track my exercise and now nutrition on the site. What I tell myself is that nothing is free. If I feel like eating chips, I just remind myself that I'll have to burn more calories through workout because I'll have to pay for those calories in sweat or added fat to my backside. Lol. It keeps things easy for me by not forbidding myself from having the chips but allowing myself to understand the consequences of eating them and making the better choice not to have them instead.

Pounds lost: 31.0

0 22.5 45 67.5

90

Posts: 510
8/1/12 6:56 A

I have apps on my phone where I track things. MyFitnessPal is especially useful for food and exercise tracking.

Posts: 11
8/1/12 12:22 A

A more expensive solution than most, but I went to Africa for a few months (for a different purpose, of course, but with shocking results). Two scant meals a day for weeks on end. Nothing keeps you accountable better than talking to your friends in Uganda and remembering what they have to each day.

I refuse to be a part of the quarter of a world that's dying from eating too much when I've lived with some of the quarter of the world that's dying from eating to little.

Keeps me pretty positive. It's guilt, but dang it works well.

current weight: 124.0

134 130.25 126.5 122.75

119

SparkPoints: (45,425)
Fitness Minutes: (82,192)
Posts: 867
7/31/12 11:24 P

i start accountability groups on facebook and we keep eachother accountable and i post pictures of myself working out all the time

Pounds lost: 138.0

0 41.25 82.5 123.75

165

SparkPoints: (11,248)
Fitness Minutes: (11,560)
Posts: 239
7/31/12 9:16 P

I have three accountability buddies. Two of them I walk with so they hold me accountable with the exercise and the food. I also depend on my SP family to check on what I eat and hold me accountable. I keep my food tracker open so others can check me out.

June Minutes: 658

0 90 180 270

360

SparkPoints: (68,477)
Fitness Minutes: (28,869)
Posts: 1,824
7/31/12 9:16 P

Tracking my nutrition and fitness activity holds me very accountable, particularly when it is time to get on the scale.

June Minutes: 328

0 300 600 900

1200