Levels of Accountability!
People like to throw the word accountability around when they talk about health and weight loss goals. Heck, I am guilty of this myself. Often though a question that follows is “Ok, great, I need accountability but what does that even mean? How does it work?” Today I like to dive into what it means and the levels that accountability can operate in your life. So let’s start at the beginning…
Merriam-Webster defines Accountability as: “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.”
As individuals we can look for accountability in regards to our actions, our words and of course to our goals. We often use the scale as our primary accountability tool when talking weight loss but I want to encourage you to consider that accountability as a useful tool should be about so much more than just that number. I think that you should be putting together a plan for accountability that functions on multiple levels in your life, like fail safes, so they support and reinforce each other. If one area doesn’t hold up properly, there will be other mechanisms in place to continue holding you accountable. For me I break this plan down into four levels, each with unique and useful facets
Accountability to Yourself
Like most things, accountability starts with you. The first step in being accountable to yourself might seem obvious when you hear it, and that is be honest. Accountability isn’t a feeling or even a made up list in our heads. Accountability takes concrete action. So getting honest with yourself means creating avenues for tracking and evaluation. Whether it is about food, activity, personal reflection or more, define the specific mechanisms you will use to track your actions. Apps, journals, and even the notepad on your phone can help here. Create specific goals and targets, craft your action plan and then report on it to yourself. Using tools that get this check list out of your head and into the real world allow you to see proof of accomplishment and also help you identify deficiencies. When we keep this in our heads it is very easy to let things slide or convince ourselves we are doing more than we actually are. When you get those tracking measures in place you can determine how best to reinforce their completion. This might mean building a list of personal rewards for hitting benchmarks, and do I need to stress they shouldn’t involve food?! They should be gifts to yourself that support your goals and the life you are building. If you’re hearing me talk tracking and you’re pushing back on the idea, examine that. Is it a true inconvenience or are you more concerned that you might start to see areas you know you should be putting greater focus?
Real Time Accountability
I could have just said that accountability is to ourselves and to others, and been done there but I wanted to break down that second category into two different levels because I think they do operate in different ways. Up first is Real Time Accountability, aka the people you see regularly face to face. I’m diving into this one first because it is possibly one of the hardest forms of accountability to put into action. It sounds simple, find like minded folk in your day to day life, friends, co-workers, family members, etc who are on similar journeys and talk to them about building mutual support. Share your goals and how best to check in on them together, and you’re off to the races. Of course is life ever that simple? Too often we can’t immediately think of people that fit the bill perfectly, so we avoid trying to reach out for support. This can be due to shame or a belief that they might not understand what we’re going through or trying to do. The reality is, the people that love and care for us often are very willing to be supportive and help us with accountability it can just take having the right conversations and asking the right questions to get there. I want to encourage you to find people in your immediate circle who you can talk to and seek out for help. The first question to ask though is one for yourself, “What do I need?” Coach Amy is a huge proponent of getting your environment in order to support your journey and people are a part of that! Do you need someone you can talk to when things are challenging or you’re tempted to go off plan? Do you need someone you can check in with when you accomplish your daily/weekly/monthly goals? Do you just need someone who will understand when an environment or situation, like a family dinner or party, or work event, might be a real challenge? Indentifying what specific actions will be useful and helpful is a great starting point because then you can work to identify who might help best. Be realistic in your expectations but also willing to be vulnerable. Asking for help is never easy when you’ve been fighting alone for a long time. In the end it can be well worth the effort!
Virtual Accountability
The final level of accountability I think can be truly powerful comes from people you might not ever meet up with face to face, online contacts. Social Media in all of its forms can help you build connections with people on similar journeys, using similar tools, or possessing similar goals. For some of us, this level offers the opportunity to be truly open and honest without the usual fear of judgment and consequence we sometimes feel when we consider doing the same with people in our immediate lives. It can allow us to find virtual spaces where we can draw support and gain assistance with achieving our goals. Once again the big question is what do you need? Are you looking for one to one support or would a group environment be better? If you’re following a keto lifestyle would it be good to find others doing the same? There are many groups on Facebook and very active communities on Instagram, Twitter & TikTok. It is in the virtual space that you learn quickly that building connection and accountability is directly correlated to how willing you are to put yourself out there and share your experiences, so not only can people discover who you are but they will be more willing to share their stories with you. This can be a fine line to walk for sure because that sharing can be challenging to balance. On your own account you can open up about your journey for sure but you may find that a more focused support group environment makes it easier to do. Only you will know what is best for you in the end! Whatever you do, don’t overlook this powerful resource and also don’t be afraid to be selective in your interactions, especially as you get started. It does not need to be about laying out your entire life for others to view and judge, it can simply be about finding like minded folk who are willing to be on your team!
Coaching!
I would be remiss if I did not include this last level of accountability in this discussion and not just because I work as a coach! Coaching, whether one on one or in a group setting can offer some things that the other levels do not. Namely, an expert resource in your corner that is there for you specifically. A Coach does not do the work for you but will work with you to help you properly identify your goals and create an assessable plan of action for achieving them. Coaches can work with you on nutrition, physical training, business skills, personal development and more. Something to consider as well in the context of accountability, as human beings we are often more likely to be consistent with something if we are actually financially invested in the outcome. Paying a coach is an added expense but often one that can give us that boost of “I need to do this because I paid for it!” when our motivation wanes. Some folk might be upset at me for saying that out loud but it is true! It was a huge component of my decision to hire a coach myself in the past. If you are considering working with someone make sure you ask them all of your questions before committing so you can understand what you are getting yourself into, what they offer, how it works and more. And yes of course I want to encourage you to check out the coaches on our team if you’re interested, click here to do that! You can also look at the new group accountability program offered by myself and Coach Jon by clicking here.
I hope the lesson you’ll take away from this blog is that accountability comes in many shapes and sizes, and you don’t have to pick just one level to find your success. Using these tools in all of their forms could add up to be the keys you were looking for all along. If you want to talk more about this topic in general do not be afraid to reach out to me on Instagram at @gormygoesketo any time!
