Do you know the old saying "It takes a village to raise a child"?  That theory applies to the UB program as well.  Accountability is way more than having to do "x" number of push-ups for eating poorly or missing class.

Accountability starts with you.  Set realistic goals and do everything in your power to reach those goals.  Some very basic goals could be to show up to class every day, to plan your menu in advance, to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water.  Those are all very simple steps that play a huge role in achieving your success.

Another way accountability is so vital to the UB program is in being a good workout partner.  Encouraging your partner to give 100%, making sure you are there to spot them, and are also assisting them during high points are just some of the ways you can be a good workout partner.  The most important characteristic of a great workout partner is dependability.  If your partner isn't there, your workout suffers.  Most people cannot push themselves the same way the encouragement from someone else can.  Always "be there" for yourself and for your workout partner.

Accountability is also experienced as a class.  When a new person joins a particular class often times they are nervous, inexperienced, and possibly intimidated.  What an opportunity for a seasoned UBT-er to help assimilate that "newbie" into the program by sharing their knowledge of what they've learned! The one thing all UBT-ers have in common is that everyone was new to the program at some point.  Take the time to be supportive of all the people in your class.  With this type of supportive atmosphere success is more easily achieved by everyone.

As UB transformers, you already know, nothing about Ron's program is easy.  The workouts are tough, and the accountability is high.  Furthermore, since you expect positively dramatic results in just five months, you must be willing to embark on a very healthy and aggressive food program designed to help you reach your goals in a relatively short time.  To remain on this bee-line path toward dramatic fat loss and, thus, a healthy lifestyle, you must be willing to eat, on a consistent basis for five months, probably healthier than you have ever eaten in the past.

     To maintain this aggressively healthy way of eating, you must exercise a great deal of self-discipline, consistently opting for only healthy foods.  In other words, except for cheat meals, you cannot afford to cheat further by having occasional bits of unhealthy foodstuff and still expect to meet your daily nutritional recommendations.  On the other hand, once you have reached your fitness goals and want to maintain your new fitness level, whether you believe it, eating or drinking these occasional bits of unhealthy food and drinks is OK, as you will know exactly how to quickly delete those extra calories without compromising your fitness level.  You will be a stronger, healthier and happier person with more physical stamina in this maintenance mode, but until you reach it, you must stay on a highly focused path of eating healthy during your five months in the program.

     After completing the program, consuming an occasional unhealthy piece of foodstuff will not necessarily turn you into the less fit person that you were when you first began the program.  What I expect is your being able to maintain your new healthy fitness level, since you will have the tools to keep fit on your own.  The take home of this article is this:  save for your cheat meals, do your best to eat as healthy as possible in this boot-camp like food program, and then once you are done with your twenty weeks, use what you have learned to maintain or improve your fitness level.