Why Weight Loss Accountability Works and Where to Find It

​Have you tried to lose weight on your own, but have not had success? Trying to lose weight can feel overwhelming and discouraging when you try to do it alone.

Using a weight loss accountability plan can make all the difference! Weight loss accountability can come from the encouragement and support of another person or group of people. Accountability can also come from a system you set up to check if you are taking the steps necessary to achieve your goal.

The first step? Create SMART goals. No accountability system will work unless you have SMART goals. SMART weight loss goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. SMART goals turn your goal of “losing weight” into steps you can be held accountable to like “walk 30 minutes five times a week” and “eat seven vegetable servings a day.”
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Once you have created SMART goals, then you are ready to set up a system of accountability. 

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Where can you find accountability for weight loss management?

• Ask a friend or family member to keep you accountable.  Pick a friend or family member who is firm, dependable, and committed to keeping you on track.
• Participate in group weight loss meetings. The most effective group weight loss meetings are hosted by someone with medical or nutritional training. 
• Meet with a health coach. Not only can she provide you with accountability, but she can help you create SMART goals that are personalized for your weight loss needs.
• Use a food diary to keep track of your calorie intake. Plan ahead of time what you will eat so it is easier to stay on track with your goals.
• Keep your goals visible like posting a chart to mark off your exercise. A visual representation of how you are meeting your goals is motivating!
• Use apps like MyFitness Pal, Lose It!, and SparkPeople to keep your accountability with you on the go.
• If your SMART goals include a particular number of steps per day, a pedometer can measure your progress.
• Set your own challenge and reward incentives. For example, when you exercise for 30 days, take a trip to a new store or watch a movie you’ve been waiting to see.

Why does accountability work for weight loss?

• When you choose a health coach or group weight loss meeting as your accountability system, you know that you are not alone. Listening to other weight loss successes empowers you for your own. You also have the opportunity to build long term friendships.

 

• Knowing that you will be reporting your actions to either a person or recording it in an app or diary will keep your daily decisions in check. It will make you think: “do I really want to report that I chose this?”

 

• Having an accountability system provides motivation. Having a visual representation of how far you have come propels you to press on towards your goal when the work gets hard.

If you are in need of accountability for your weight loss goal or any other healthy lifestyle goal, schedule your free first session with Dr. Mehri. If you live in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania, you may want to meet in person. If not, or if you live anywhere else in the world, you can meet with Dr. Mehri online or by phone. Schedule your session by clicking the "schedule now" button to the right.