A lot of good things can be said about motivation when it comes to sticking to a regular fitness routine. Motivation makes us feel pumped-up; it energizes; it’s about seeing physical results and wanting to go even harder and faster. But motivation is impossible to sustain 24 hours a day, every day. When your alarm goes off before the sun rises and the very last thing you want to do is get out from under the covers? Enter: accountability.

Accountability is what gets you out of bed at 5am for a morning run when you know your friend is waiting for you. It causes you to do things like fill out exercise and nutrition logs, so you can go back and look at your progress and make sure you’re staying on track with your goals. People are much more likely to stick with something if they hold themselves accountable in some way. For some it can be as simple as making a decision and telling a friend they’re serious about sticking to it. 

Here are 5 ways to stay accountable:

1. Use an app (Calorie King, MyFitnessPal) or the internet to track your workouts and food intake. (Use Instagram for inspiration, I follow Amy Updike, Shredded Academy and Fit Healthy Workouts)
2. Hire a trainer
3. Join a fitness class
4. Have a workout buddy
5. Establish your own set of “fitness rules”. (example: “I will workout 4x a week, eat clean 5 days, and allow myself a couple treats on the weekends”.