Boot Camp Guest Blogger: The Importance of Accountability

Being someone who prefers laziness over physical exertion, I really have to push myself to go to boot camp. I still don't look forward to it, and I'm constantly trying to find excuses not to go (except for election night when I wanted to work out my pre-election angst). Knowing this about myself, I've set up some accountability groups in different areas of my life.
One of my best accountability groups is my co-workers. Some of my co-workers go to the morning workouts so I usually probe them for information about the day's boot camp. Part of this is because I like to know what I'm headed into that night, but I also know that they will always encourage me to go. If I start teeter-tottering on whether or not to go, they usually talk me into it. They encourage me throughout the week by telling me they're seeing results, and they also encourage me at boot camp by telling me how they see progress in my endurance and strength. They sometimes see what I can't, and that's what makes them good accountability partners.
Another group is my small group. This one was rather unexpected. I mentioned at one point that I was going to to start going to boot camp. Since then, they've been constantly asking if I'm still going, how often, and if I'm seeing results. I know that every Monday, I have to report to them about my week at boot camp. It's great, though, because they are very encouraging. One person was in my same exact position a year ago, and he's always telling me that it's worth pushing through.

The other group is my family and close friends. They check in to see how my exercising is going. They keep telling me how proud they are that I'm sticking to it, and they are always reminding me of the health benefits of going. I feel like they are my cheer leading squad, and it keeps me motivated and driven.
The last thing I want to say in this blog is that it's really important to have friends in your class. I'm not talking about just trying to recruit people you know, but you can also make friends in at boot camp. After attending a few times, you get to know who's a regular, and you can start to form friendships. What's great about having friends in your class is that you are able to encourage each other during tough spots in the workout. You find times when you can laugh or joke around together, and it makes parts of the workout fun! When I have to miss a boot camp, they will often ask me where I've been, which also gives me a sense of belonging in the class.
So I encourage you to find people in your life who will hold you accountable to attending boot camp and also to find friends in your class. You'll find that it will be much easier to achieve your goals with those two groups of people in place.