Accountability

I can talk myself out of almost anything. Not only can I talk myself out of it, I can spin it around so it sounds like a good thing. Should I wake up one morning and say to myself, "Ugh, I don't feel like running". I can rationalize all the 'reasons' for staying in bed. Once I have them, I can then tell myself that it's OK to miss ONE day. Then one day turns to two, and two to three, etc.

How do I break that cycle? How do I force myself out of bed, knowing that once I complete the intended workout I'll feel great? How do I make that leap?

I ask someone else to hold me accountable. I chose someone who I knew would have the guts to call me out on it if I missed a workout. Who would listen to my so called 'reasons' and call bullshit. That person is my friend Karen. She's a runner. She's in training for her first marathon. There are days where we email each other and finally get ourselves back on track with motivation. 

Today, I got up and ran because I knew that if I didn't I would get an email from Karen tomorrow asking me, "WTF?". What would I tell her?
That I was tired? Yeah, when am I NOT tired.
That I was cold? It's only fall, it's only going to get worse.
That it was foggy? There's a treadmill readily available, and I have a headlamp should I want to run outside.
I had nothing. No concrete reason to give her. So, I dragged my lazy ass out of bed and ran a 5k.

I took it easy today because I wanted to see where my HR would land if I stayed slow and even. I also took it easy because the outside of my left foot was in serious pain on Friday. It got better over the weekend, and when I ran I had zero issues. I made sure to give my Achilles and calves some nice stretches after the run.

After the run? I felt great! I did it, I got out of bed, I didn't need to worry about what I was going to say to Karen.

Now, I also started the dreaded calorie counting today. Big sigh over here. It went OK, I got frustrated with the software (I use an app on my phone). Phil showed me how to use it more efficiently (he's a pro with this software, he's been using it for almost 5 months now), how to log my foods, find my foods, etc. It did hold me accountable. I was the master of self restraint knowing that I didn't want to put any extra numbers on for the day.

By 3pm? I was starving. However, mind over matter and all that: I made it through. I ate dinner, not a lot. Sensible portions. Didn't go to crazy with the cheese (I love cheese), had less ice cream than normal for dessert. We had tacos. One very large benefit to having a spouse that is into weight loss and eating healthy? He cooks very healthy meals. He substitutes less healthy items for more sensible options. He also likes to cook. This is all very good for me and my goals. He's hitting his weight loss goals as well, it's a win/win.

I signed up for a 5k this weekend. Me, Phil, and my sisters will be running this race together. It should be a good time, it looks like a pretty course, and it's for a good cause. I also signed up my oldest daughter to run in the 1/2 mile kids fun run. She ran one last May and has been dying to do another. At 4, she's shaping up to be fitness minded. I'm pretty sure it's because she's been to enough of mommy's (and soon daddy's) races to see the fun you can have running.

It's all about accountability for me. I need to be accountable to someone else, someone who will get me out of bed and won't listen to my excuses. Accountable to myself to keep on track with my eating by watching the numbers during the day go up and up and keeping them reasonable. Accountable to my family to stay healthy and set a good example.