Really it’s no secret at all. You have to make a commitment to changing your life to achieve your goals and once a commitment is made to reaching those goals, it’s imperative that you are held accountable to it.
The commitment I am talking about is life long. There is no magic pill when it comes to decreasing your body fat and improving your overall health. There is work involved, but when done the right way it doesn’t have to take up all your time. The human body takes 4-8 weeks to adapt to a new exercise program before you see noticeable changes.
Therefore, because you will have to work toward your goal at a minimum of 8 weeks (actually for life since your adopting a new lifestyle) you’ll need someone to hold you accountable. Someone that will push you when you don’t feel like working out. Someone that knows your goals and how painstakingly important those goals are to you. That is the real secret. Without accountability it’s just too hard to do it on your own.
In a study done at Virginia Polytechnic University they found that accountability increases the likelihood of sticking to an exercise program by 2200%. They simply took two groups of people who were asked to go walking everyday. For one group they placed a phone call to the participants each week for 6 weeks, while the other group received no calls. Simply by calling and asking how the program was going increased the participants adherence to their commitment to stick with walking.
I use accountability in several facets of my life. My commitment to my clients and helping them achieve their goals keeps me accountable to my health and fitness. If I’m not living it, how on earth can I ask others to “buy” into it. I’m connected with a men’s group at my church and the relationships I’ve developed there help me stay accountable spiritually. Accountability is key to success.
One way to incorporate more accountability into your fitness routine is to get a workout partner. Find a friend with common goals and commitments so you can keep each other on track. Schedule your workouts with each other in your planners so you treat it like an appointment. By doing this both of you will be more likely to stick with your commitment to achieving your goals.
The other way, and the most effective, is to hire a personal trainer. This is not some shameless self promotion either…it’s fact. While having a friend to workout with will help, your still at the mercy of how consistent your friend is their program. Plus, you need an impartial party to push you in areas that you need improvement. And a friend or family member won’t risk hurting the relationship to make you work harder, or even make you stick to your workout schedule.
So, why hire a personal trainer? Three very, very important reasons:
- We have the knowledge of how to put together a complete program
- We create a workable plan of action that integrates all components required for weight loss, health and fitness success
- We are the support system required to help you make the lifestyle changes necessary to not only achieving your goals, but also maintain them for life
Make the commitment to changing your lifestyle, your habits, your future, and your health. Get the necessary help and accountability that you need so you are guaranteed to achieve your goals. With these two elements in place before you start your new exercise program there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll finally achieve the weight loss, health and fitness results you want!
