At times during my weight loss and maintenance journey I have found that different levels of accountability are important to me at different times. Before I realized just how important it was I tried to do it all on my own. It didn't take me too long to realize that I needed some or even a lot of accountability to live the healthy lifestyle that I wanted to live.
During this point of my journey I need all of the accountability that I can get. I am to a place in my weight and health where most people would look at me and think that I have it all under control. Those people don't know what goes on in my mind every day. They don't know how many times I am tempted in a day and how many times I give in. They don't know that I am just as human as the next person with a weight issue. Although I am at a healthy weight I know that I can and do slip at a moment's notice. Those slips are what I work so hard to avoid day in and day out.
These are just some of the accountability people and places that I have found:
1. I go to my Weight Watchers meeting each and every week. This hasn't always been the case. Last year whenever I didn't feel like going or weighing in, I didn't go. I didn't find that helpful at all so I have now decided that I need to go each and every week. I've been going every week for this year but haven't always taken it seriously. Sometimes I go but do not weigh in. That now has to stop too. I need the accountability of being weighed in by someone each week at my meeting. Don't get me wrong, going to the meeting is certainly a step in the right direction but I need to do the weigh-in too. Sometimes I have decided days before my meeting that I will not weigh in this week and that causes my choices to waiver. That is no longer going to happen because I am telling you now that not only will I go to my meeting every week but I will also weigh in.
2. I regularly tell Bryan and the kids when I am finding myself needing some extra encouragement. This certainly does not take care of all of my eating temptations but it helps. It's nice when Bryan or one of my kids reminds me that I have already eating enough for one meal or that I don't really need to eat that dessert.
3. My mom loaned me a book a few weeks ago that has helped me with accountability. It's a devotional that is written specifically for women who have weight or eating issues. I have found myself more accountable because of this devotional. It's nice to read about how others struggle with the same issues that I do and then ask God for help. God has become the ultimate accountability through reading this devotional.
4. I have several friends and family members who know that I am a Weight Watcher and know my struggles. When I led meetings I made many friends that I still keep in touch with. I love sharing my journey with them. I sometimes see them in meetings or hear from them by email or phone. Having these friends is immeasurable. Last week I found myself thinking about one of them so I texted her. Just having a little conversation with her over text helped me keep my head on straight. It helped me to hear about her recent successes and want that for myself too. I value my friends and family members that ask me how things are going. My mom regularly asks me how things are too. It's really good accountability to know that she cares and wants to see me be successful.
5. I recently added a new person to my life that helps me too. Her name is Kim and she is my health coach. That sounds kind of silly to me because really, who has a health coach? My husband's company offers a health coach for free with their health insurance. It's something I have had access to for the past year and a half but have just finally given in to. She calls me once a month and we talk about how things are going in my life. We talk about my health goals, how I did last month and what I can continue to do to attain those goals. I've only had 2 calls so far but I like them. It's nice to take the time for myself and think about what I need in my life to keep me healthy.
6. This blog is a great place for me to be accountable to many people. I always want to be honest with all of you about my triumphs and struggles. I blog as often as my life allows. Some weeks it's hard to fit it but I know how vital it is to my life. Thank you to all of you for sharing in it with me.
Accountability is such a valuable part of a successful, healthy journey for me. If I didn't have people, things and places to be accountable to, I know it would be much harder to stick to my goals and pick myself up when things don't go as planned.
Find as many people, places and things to be accountable to as you can. I have found over the years that I need as many things as possible because at one time in my life I may need a talk from a friend while at another time in my life I may just need a WW meeting. Because I have worked hard to build up these accountabilities I know that there will always be at least one of them there for me when I need it the most.
Have a great day,
Corinna
PS. As a side to my message that we need help to keep ourselves healthy, here is a link to a video my brother-in-law made last week. He tried to do it all himself but found that he even needed a little help from his daughter to learn how the play the cup. Watch it! It's fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSK7VAbx_7A
If the link doesn't work, google: Funny Cup-Drumming "Cecilia" Music Video and you should be able to find it on youtube.
"Two are better than one, because they have a better reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken." -Ecclesistes 4:9-12
2. I regularly tell Bryan and the kids when I am finding myself needing some extra encouragement. This certainly does not take care of all of my eating temptations but it helps. It's nice when Bryan or one of my kids reminds me that I have already eating enough for one meal or that I don't really need to eat that dessert.
3. My mom loaned me a book a few weeks ago that has helped me with accountability. It's a devotional that is written specifically for women who have weight or eating issues. I have found myself more accountable because of this devotional. It's nice to read about how others struggle with the same issues that I do and then ask God for help. God has become the ultimate accountability through reading this devotional.
4. I have several friends and family members who know that I am a Weight Watcher and know my struggles. When I led meetings I made many friends that I still keep in touch with. I love sharing my journey with them. I sometimes see them in meetings or hear from them by email or phone. Having these friends is immeasurable. Last week I found myself thinking about one of them so I texted her. Just having a little conversation with her over text helped me keep my head on straight. It helped me to hear about her recent successes and want that for myself too. I value my friends and family members that ask me how things are going. My mom regularly asks me how things are too. It's really good accountability to know that she cares and wants to see me be successful.
5. I recently added a new person to my life that helps me too. Her name is Kim and she is my health coach. That sounds kind of silly to me because really, who has a health coach? My husband's company offers a health coach for free with their health insurance. It's something I have had access to for the past year and a half but have just finally given in to. She calls me once a month and we talk about how things are going in my life. We talk about my health goals, how I did last month and what I can continue to do to attain those goals. I've only had 2 calls so far but I like them. It's nice to take the time for myself and think about what I need in my life to keep me healthy.
6. This blog is a great place for me to be accountable to many people. I always want to be honest with all of you about my triumphs and struggles. I blog as often as my life allows. Some weeks it's hard to fit it but I know how vital it is to my life. Thank you to all of you for sharing in it with me.
Accountability is such a valuable part of a successful, healthy journey for me. If I didn't have people, things and places to be accountable to, I know it would be much harder to stick to my goals and pick myself up when things don't go as planned.
Find as many people, places and things to be accountable to as you can. I have found over the years that I need as many things as possible because at one time in my life I may need a talk from a friend while at another time in my life I may just need a WW meeting. Because I have worked hard to build up these accountabilities I know that there will always be at least one of them there for me when I need it the most.
Have a great day,
Corinna
PS. As a side to my message that we need help to keep ourselves healthy, here is a link to a video my brother-in-law made last week. He tried to do it all himself but found that he even needed a little help from his daughter to learn how the play the cup. Watch it! It's fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSK7VAbx_7A
If the link doesn't work, google: Funny Cup-Drumming "Cecilia" Music Video and you should be able to find it on youtube.
"Two are better than one, because they have a better reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him - a threefold cord is not quickly broken." -Ecclesistes 4:9-12
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Corinna