We’ve all heard the word accountable before and it basically means an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility. For most of people, we do this on a regular basis. We are accountable at home with our families, work, church, clubs, and many other places.

Many times we hold ourselves accountable for the things we do and that’s all we need. Other times, we need others to help us be accountable for the things we do as well as don’t do.

I say this because our health is something that we need to be held accountable for and we need to have our friends and family helps us be accountable for it each and every day.

It’s important for people to set goals throughout life and reevaluate those goals to see if they’re on the right track.

By setting goals, it makes us aware of what we want to accomplish and by telling someone else those goals, whether it’s a family member, friend, co-worker, etc. they can help remind us of those goals if we hit a wall or just lose focus.

I’ve watched people throughout my time at the YMCA and I’ve noticed how many people workout with a friend on a regular basis. I actually had two members this week tell me a great story that sparked this week’s topic.

These two men work together and workout together here at the Y.

One of them said they were having a rough day earlier this week and his friend/workout buddy poked and prodded him to go workout even though he didn’t want to. He eventually caved in and worked out and said it made a huge difference in the rest of his day!

That is what I am talking about!

It’s great to have someone to workout with and be your accountability partner. Make sure it is someone who is going to be there for you and be supportive of what you are doing. You are making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle so you need people who will support you throughout the journey. We all have crazy, hectic schedules and day to day tasks, so make a plan with your workout buddy in advance and call, text, or e-mail them (you could do all three if you really want to get the point across and you know they won’t get annoyed) to remind them of your plans.

Your accountability partner doesn’t even have to actually workout with you unless you want them to.

One thing I’ve noticed in the past few months is the amount of families that come to the YMCA. The children are actually holding their parents accountable for their health without even realizing it.

Our Vault; an interactive gaming area for members 6-12 years old and is a really cool place for the kids to play! The kids have a fun place to hang out and play interactive games and the parents have the ability to utilize other areas of the YMCA while they are there.

I can not tell you how many times I have heard someone say, “I was not going to come today but my child wanted to come to the Vault so I figured I would workout while they played!”

I love hearing that children are helping to keep their parents active!’

If you are doing your own thing and do not have access to an area like this, get a group of friends together for walks through a park or join a community sports team. Connecting with people who want to do the same type of activities as you will help provide you with a community of support which will aid you achieving your goals.