Day 96: Accountability

As I have thought about it, I think that no matter what diet you are on, there is one key that is of more importance than any other:  accountability.  You have to be accountable for what you do.  In my case, I have two accountability "partners."  The first is my wife.  I am fortunate enough to have a spouse who is honest with me about her dislike of my poor health habits.  No, she doesn't dislike how I look, per se, she is more concerned about the health problems that run in my family (diabetes, heart disease, etc.).  She doesn't want to have to take care of an invalid or raise her children and grandchildren on her own.  (I really can't really blame her for that.)

Sadly, I am not sure everyone has a spouse like this, and if you are one of those people, you may have a problem.  I don't think that a spouse who will not tell you that you are really screwing up--and will stay on your case as you eat each bite of that donut--is a very good accountability partner.  An accountability partner doesn't have to be a jerk, but he or she does have to hold you accountable every single day.  When I started the lifestyle, I would report to my wife every single day about my progress.  I think she was a little bored by all the details, but I thought it was important.  Now, I have a lot more self-accountability, and I don't have to use my wife as my sole source of accountability.  

If you don't have a spouse you can use as an accountability partner, find someone else.  It could be a family member or friend.  I am happy to do it too.  Just send me an email and let me know what your struggling with--I am sure I have gone through it!  I know that you may say that an "on-line" accountability partner won't work, but that isn't true.  My second accountability partner is the Internet.  I know that sounds funny, but the Internet has provided accountability in two different ways.

First, I have this blog, which has allowed everyone who reads it to become my accountability partner.  I have often thought as I have considered pigging out on a cheese danish or something (actually, I haven't had a cheese danish in three-and-a-half months--man I love those things) that I was going to regret having to report my indiscretion to my readers.  

Second, I have had Trish, who is one of the developers of Live the Life, who has been a great email companion and support over the last several months.  She has provided insights, tips, and support (and has done a wonderful job of it, by the way) as I have struggled through losing my weight.  I have never met Trish in person, but she has become a real friend and partner in my effort to become a healthier person.  

The other night I was watching Toy Story with my girls, and Woody made a statement about moving buddies that I will make to you about an accountability partner (actually, I am going to start calling them "accountability buddies"):  If you don't have one, get one!