What's accountability?

actualbettycrocker
actualbettycrocker Posts: 195 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
People keep mentioning it on here and I don't know what it is.

I keep associating it with that old South Park episode? Lol

Replies

  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    They mean they want to be held accountable for sticking to their diet/fitness goals by other MFP friends... its an incentive I suppose.
  • actualbettycrocker
    actualbettycrocker Posts: 195 Member
    Oh wow that's a really weird concept. I don't think I'd be able to do that without fighting someone.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    Some people need a kick up the *kitten* I suppose?
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Accountability is a form of responsibility. For me, logging food keeps me accountable, but only to myself. It's exercising a kind of "mindfulness". Being consciously aware of what I'm eating, and reflecting on what it will do for me, instead of just eating because the food is there, is treating myself with respect, I think.

    Not to say that I always manage to do that :#
  • actualbettycrocker
    actualbettycrocker Posts: 195 Member
    edited May 2016
    LazSommer wrote: »
    Stay in school, kids.
    I know what the actual word means, I meant on this forum but OK.
  • WendyLaubach
    WendyLaubach Posts: 518 Member
    People use the word here a lot. I take it to mean they want someone else to accept the job of enforcing their own resolutions. In a milder form, it just means they think it would be helpful to have buddies who were sort of watching their daily progress and commenting on it, so they'd naturally feel self-conscious if they fell off the wagon. It goes along with the "motivation" that people here are always searching for--somewhere other than in their own heads.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    It takes different forms for different people. Such as I share my goals with a couple of friends, and in a way that holds me accountable because other people 'know' if I take the lazy route and don't do what I said I'm gonna do. I also use some tools, like MFP and an app called Pact, to help me stay accountable. These give me small 'consequences' if I don't stick to it. Like maintaining my login streak here - not a big deal if I were to lose it, but it gives me motivation to keep logging. And as a parent, I'm accountable for being a good role model for my kids.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    People who do weekly weigh in at Weight Watchers are getting external accountability. Some people keep their food diaries open rather than private to provide external accountability. I don't like being over my calorie goals, so that provides internal accountability.

    http://billzipponbusiness.com/two-kinds-of-accountability-internal-and-external/

    ...There are two kinds of accountability, internal and external. Internal accountability is being accountable to oneself. It’s an individual’s personal commitment to be true to their values and to fulfill their promises. It comes from the inside out and creates a credibility that others trust and respect.

    External accountability comes from the outside in, being accountable, not to oneself, but to others. It creates an environment that people feel compelled to follow, a set of social norms and standards.

    ...What’s the role of external accountability? It’s role is to support the resolve of internal accountability. It creates the climate that allows people to fulfill their best intentions. External accountability cannot manufacture commitment, but it can fan its flame when the fire begins to wane. Intentions must be present in the first place or there’s no flame to fan; but when intentions are given positive reinforcement, the results are amazing.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    actualbettycrocker wrote: »
    Oh wow that's a really weird concept. I don't think I'd be able to do that without fighting someone.

    What??

Categories