Comments on: Weight Loss Accountability

By: Stu MacFarlane

Stu MacFarlane — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:02:49 +0000

Tyler — I just came across your blog when doing research for our business. I have always believed in accountability, but have found that the person you decide to make yourself accountable to can have a big impact on your success. I’ve struggled when accountability comes from a friend with worse habits than my own, or as another one of your readers commented, is too forgiving. I need someone that I truly don’t want to disappoint, and have found that that person can be someone going through the same challenges as myself (how could I let someone down that is fighting the same fight as myself?) or in some cases, an expert or a professional that I’ve chosen to open up to. I’m surprised how little information there is online about accountability when it comes to weight loss.

PS: our business is http://www.ichange.com, which is built on accountability ( and is why I was searching google for “accountability” and “weight loss” and found you).

By: Jenelle

Jenelle — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:58:58 +0000

I myself have lost over 100 lbs and contribute much of my success to accountability, be it from friends and family or people I met on the internet through PeerTrainer.com and Flickr. Congratulations on taking control of your life and letting everyone know. It takes a lot of courage to admit to yourself that you have a hurdle you need to jump, but to admit it to everyone you know is even more difficult. Keep up the amazing work!

By: Marcia

Marcia — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:54:58 +0000

Hey great blog (found you via cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com)

I like the accountability thing. I’m not really a joiner. And I’m pretty busy. About 7 years ago, I decided to try and lose some weight. Really, I didn’t think it was possible. I’m a “big girl”, and 182 lbs is just my body’s setpoint.

Enter weight watchers, the rest is history. I lost 57 lbs and have kept most of it off (you know, there was a baby in there). I didn’t do the group thing, I did the on-line thing, and you can’t really lie to your computer. Well, you can, but why would you?

I realized just recently how amazing it is. Through life changes and job changes, I’d say 90% of the people I know now – never knew me as fat. And those who do? Barely remember. It’s impressive, because people treat you differently when you are fat. I got the impression that some folks were a bit intimidated by my weight loss (skinny people even!)

I still remember though, and the picture is on my fridge to remind me every day. And a couple pics on the screen saver at home.

Keep up the excellent work! You’ve averaged 4.5 lbs per week since you started, that’s AWESOME!!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:20:11 +0000

I think bossymommy has it all wrong. If you constantly feel like a failure because of a perceived slipup, you will never accomplish anything. The idea of accountability, is not for it’s negative motivation, but positive motivation. You need someone to give that push out the door to gym, not a shove and a kick in the butt or critizism for not feeling like it. It is admirable to have the goal of losing 10 pounds a week, just not the healthy way to do it. Slow and steady is much better for your health and much easier to maintain. The first couple of weeks will be big losses, then you should taper off to 2 pounds a week. This is not failure, but being sensible.

By: Joy Manning

Joy Manning — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:43:20 +0000

As someone with a weight loss/maintenance/issues blog of her own, I can’t say enough how much it has helped me stabilize at a healthy weight. Even if you don’t alert the media, if it’s just something your family and friends check in on, it’s so helpful to come clean about it. Why are we all so weird about our weights? Come clean, get it out there, and, as you stress, be accountable to yourself and others. That’s half the battle.

And no one expects you to lose 10 pounds a week, Tyler. You are human!