5 Tricks to Improve Your Workout Accountability

5 Tricks to Improve Your Workout Accountability

Photo: Pond5

1. Sign Up for a CompetitionThere’s nothing like an “I’ve got to be fit by X date” mindset to get you moving. But signing up for a 5k, obstacle race or CrossFit competition also gives you something way more motivating to work toward than improving your looks. Plus, if you don’t put in the training time, you might not be able to complete the race, says Lisa Niren, head coach at Peloton Cycle. (Or, you will, but things might get ugly.) Here’s to crossing the finish line strong.

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2. Put Money on the LineOh, money, the great incentivizer. Try handing over cash to a friend, and then earn it back by achieving your fitness goals, Niren says. Or, if you’re technologically inclined, sign up with an online betting system like the Pact app or DietBet.com. The concept is simple (and oh-so motivating): Hit your goals and you’ll win cash. Miss the mark and you’ll lose it.

3. … Or Bet Something ElseShort on funds? “You can put anything on the line; it doesn’t just have to be money. For example, you could bet on housework, babysitting, tickets to the movies, or anything else,” Niren says. “Find something that motivates you to help you achieve your goals.”

RELATED: Dread the Gym? Here’s What Might Motivate You

4. Share Your Goals on Social“Whether you have a hundred followers or thousands, sharing your workout plan with social media before it happens can help you stick to the plan,” says Brian Kelley, Pavement Runnerfitness blogger. “The night before a run, I might send out a tweet that says ‘10-mile run in the morning, alarm set, shoes ready.’ It helps keep me accountable for the workout and in response, friends might wish me luck or send me motivational mantras. It’s just that something extra I might need.”

Photo: Pond5

5. Make a Video DiaryBehold, the power of video. Record yourself talking about your goals or performingawesome lifts, then post it on YouTube or Instagram, Niren recommends. If you’d rather not share with your real-life buds, find a likeminded community at GiveIt100.com. The site is designed to keep people accountable while they work on something, anything, for 100 days straight. You’ll upload a video every day and fellow site-goers can follow you, like your posts, and cheer you on through comments