30 days of accountability

Editor's note: My hip was acting up and in great pain so I gave myself some extra time off with plenty of stretching. I will be starting the program over again tomorrow and will be accountable to all of you! - G 11.29.11

If you follow my Facebook page or Twitter you may have noticed that every day I've been posting a workout accountability photo and telling you when I drank my Shakeology. Why? Ultimate accountability.

For 30 days (starting last Monday), I'm sticking to the Hip Hop Abs schedule and drinking one shake each day. I took before pictures and I'll post those soon along with my measurements. Then, after I complete the program, I'll post my "after" photos and stats! Why is this so important to me? Three reasons:

• My number one priority right now (until it's ingrained deep in my psyche) is my health. If I'm not healthy I cannot give the time and energy I want to Nate, my family and friends, my job, or my fitness business. I need to be healthy and I need to stay on track to do this.
• The Beachbody Challenge! A chance to win cash just for working out?? Sounds good, right?  
• To share my results! I hear so many excuses all the time about not having enough time, not wanting to count calories, this that and the other. I am working out less than an hour each day and drinking 1 shake each day. That's it. I'm not counting calories (although I maintain that I know how to eat better because I spent a decent amount of time doing this at the beginning of my lifestyle change and I still recommend this for starting out, breaking a plateau, or checking to make sure you're on track!). I'm not doing two workouts each day. I'm not going to the gym. Nothing like that. I put in a DVD each day and push play. 

My scheduled off day with the plan is Sunday but I'll still drink a Shakeology at some point. I won't count calories but I will be smart about what I eat and be careful not to overindulge. I'll also be sure to be drinking my water but nothing I do will be so far out of the ordinary that anyone could take exception and declare that they couldn't fit choices like these into their life.

For those of you who have made these excuses (you know who you are) - I hope you're listening and watching because my blog post in 30 days will be mostly for you. It's not about being perfect, it's about getting started and ANYONE can do that!