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Can accountability really do the trick?

Lately, I have been wondering about the importance of accountability in daily life.  It was a central concept to many of the Christian movements during various times and a central theme in the Methodist movement.  But, accountability is not often part of church life any more.

I think I understand why.  Regrettably, my first thoughts of the word accountability are not positive.  I remember a yelling football coach in my face screaming about accountability.  I hear an older person with a mean spirit and a hard look on their face saying, “Well in my day …insert-item-that-they-are-upset-about-here.., I was accountable.”  To make matters worse, the term personal accountability carries with it a political baggage that it picked up during the late 20th century culture wars.  The word has a history.

But, as I reach 290 pounds and feel very overweight.  I can’t help wonder if personal accountability is what is missing in my goal setting.  I have made many attempts during the past five years to lose weight.  Each attempt has met with temporary success followed by my gaining more weight than when I started.  Many people in my range, obese, seventy pound overweight opt for surgery or a regimen of pills for weight loss.  Before I consider those options, I would like to instead choose diet and exercise as the method of my weight loss.  

So, if you have read this far, you are unwittingly part of my experiment on accountability.  I am on day 2 of a 249 day journey to 220 pounds (a healthy weight for my stature).  My tools are an app called Lose It!, daily exercise, and personal accountability.  Lose It!  allows me to track my calorie consumption and other dietary information.  For exercise, I will be walking three times a week (M, W, F) and jogging three times a week (T, Th, St).  I will also be doing some light weights and games with my kids on week nights (M, T, Th, F).  But, I have done all of these things before.  What I have not done is allowed people to hold me accountable.  So, I’m going public.

Please help hold me accountable between now and August by asking me how it is going.  And, if you feel so inclined to join in this experiment with me… pick a measurable goal, make a road map, and then ask me and others to hold you accountable.  I’ll be checking in here along the way…  We’ll see if accountability can change the results.


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