Tag: accountability

fitness and nutrition

Challenge Time

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At the end of November I decided I would post a fitness picture a day online or a combo of days online to show my activity in December 2022. The main reason for such was to document a month of consistency to me, but then I thought sharing my story may inspire others. That’s how I ended up with this post. It somewhat accents my online photo reel.

As my plan was put in motion, out of the blue a virtual challenge was mentioned in one of my fitness groups. Off I went to conquer my updated goal. For me. To add another layer to my consistency plan for December 2022. A few friends joined in on the virtual challenge. I made my first entry and I was hooked. It was the entry that got me. A light bulb went off of how being active is one thing but tracking it is another.

A national leaderboard holds you somewhat accountable. The logging of an activity holds you accountable. Doing it with friends adds an accountability layer. Much like tracking your nutrition, tracking your exercise is critical to long term success. What gets measured gets done. This added layer will justify those holiday cookies I suppose.

Progress picture one is done at the time of this post. I’ve spent 10 miles on the assault bike already. The first of many I’m sure. Not my favorite piece of equipment but one I will use for this month more than I like. I may even take a hike with a ruck if the rain lets up in my area. Something I wouldn’t normally consider but will entertain due to this challenge of sorts. Off I go.

In addition to the ruck action, I dusted off my Concept 2 bike erg at home. I used to regularly use this back in 2020 pre-corona as my second workout of day but let that go some time ago. Now I’m back in that saddle on the days I can make it outside due to weather or other reasons. 

Six days in and I knocked out some 20,000 meters. Just a mere 79,xxx to go. No big deal. I have a week of travel planned so I must stay on track the half of the month to meet my goal or at least give me a cushion. Look for an update on the coming weeks to see how I fared.

celebrations, fitness and nutrition

Today Was That Day

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Today I didn’t want to get up and workout. I looked at the planned workout for the day and it was a Debbie Downer. Just didn’t want to rip off the covers off to rise and grind on this day.


Enter the accountability system. The group check in text at the wee hours of the morning to see who is going to workout today. You see if there are enough of you in the group missing one won’t matter on most days. Unless it’s a summer day and one is on vacation. One is at a work meeting. One is on a scheduled day of rest and so on. If you are the one left you need to pull your shit together and get moving. Big sigh for me. It was my unlucky day.

It was me who was needed this day. I so didn’t want the accountability buddy job. I wanted to hit snooze 10 more times and have a big breakfast when I finally got up. Fate said otherwise. Off I went.

I was pissy on the way to the gym. Then I saw some familiar faces and I forgot I didn’t want to be there. It was pretty simple. Then the workout started and I was like blah, blah, blah. I don’t want to do that I’m not good at it. Boy did I whine a lot.

I did the motions. It wasn’t half as bad as thought. I pushed through and hit a big personal best. I was shocked. After having such a trying time with myself in the morning I had to pinch myself. I did it. I did it again. And again. I laughed but also beamed with pride.

Some days you don’t want to do things but you do them anyway. Life is tough. Many push through tough times. I don’t know what I was really pushing through that morning when I was half asleep but I pushed to my personal best without even flinching. Now the bar is set a bit higher.
Thank goodness for accountability partners. If I wasn’t held accountable I would have just hit snooze.

working women

Just Show Up!

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You own a restaurant and the food prep starts at 10am for the lunch crowd. You look for your prep cook and they are nowhere to be found. You think to yourself: just show up! All have to do is show up to get paid.

-does this $10/hour employee even know how important their prep role is to making the restaurant operate effectively for the day?  

You wake up to the ding-a-ling of your alarm clock. You hit snooze. You hit snooze again. You say to yourself just get up. Your friends are expecting you to show up. Just show up and get your workout in. You will feel much better after you do.

-if you don’t show up how does this make your accountability partner feel? Did you think about how your inaction may impact others?

You have a doctor’s appointment at noon. The doctor is saving a spot for you in their busy day. You just need to show up. It’s what’s expected when you make an appointment. Time is money for that doctor and if you don’t show up you prevent somebody from using that spot that they may really need. Just show up!

-did you even think your lack of preparation would impact others? How many have a non-caring attitude when it comes to appointments? I bet if you paid a deposit for the appointment you would show up! Skin in the game matters.  

In life there are many times when we all need to just show up. Sometimes things get in the way. Other times we make excuses. And then sometimes there are those who just don’t care and never plan to show up. The latter I despise.  

I have seen a lot of examples of this lately in various parts of life. Many times I don’t want to show up but I do. I do because it’s what is expected. It’s the right thing to do. I show up because people rely on me. 

I just show up.  

Show up for you.  

Show up to set an example for others.  

Show up to make a difference.  

Just show up!