Weight loss motivation, accountability and no excuses play a big part in your weight loss efforts. Without these, all the facts and figures about carbs, protein, and fruit don’t matter.

By using the buddy system and these other ways of holding yourself accountable will help you to acheive your weight loss goals.

How the Buddy System Works

It’s a fact that people who use the buddy system for weight loss are more successful in reaching their goals. Using the buddy system and having a partner not only holds you accountable, it serves as weight loss motivation for you to push yourself further. That’s sometimes why people hire personal trainers!

Find a Partner

I always tell my patients who are trying to get healthy and lose weight to use the buddy system and find a friend that shares their goals. This person may be your companion, a friend from work, roommate, family member or significant other. Try to find partners with similar barriers. For example, if you’re a new Mom, find another new Mom so you can lose the baby weight together. If you find similarities in your barriers, together, using the buddy system, you will find creative solutions.

Getting someone involved in your program is extremely helpful and motivating, not only for yourself but for them as well. This is the reason I started “Walk With the Doc” in which twice a week I invite my patients to join me in a 30-minute walk around San Diego for some weight loss motivation. I am their “workout buddy!” And you better believe I’m motivating them the whole way!

Make a Journal and Write it Down

Another tool for staying accountable is journaling, for both food and activities. A lot of the time we don’t even realize what or how much we’re eating, but actually taking the time to be aware of what we’re putting in our mouths can be eye-opening. Awareness and no excuses is the first step to making the necessary lifestyle changes to a healthier you.

Writing down your activities allows you get the full picture and see the balance between what you’re eating and how much you’re burning. Use this as weight loss motivation to continue your diet and make the changes that you need.

No Excuses and Take Action!

The biggest excuse I usually hear is “I didn’t have any way to write it down or remember what I ate or did.” Really?! Do I need to add another section on commitment and accountability here?

Make sure you keep something with you at all times to write down what you eat. Type it in your phone or do a simple voice memo if you have to, but no excuses. When you journal, make sure you write down everything you eat and what portion. You can use things like “the size of a fist” or “handful,” you don’t need to measure every little thing. Keep it simple.

Thank you for reading my article on how using the buddy system will help with your diet and weight loss motivation. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own health and diet, but having a friend through it is an excellent motivator.

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