What is an Accountability Buddy?

Dr. Wallace: Like many people, I’ve gained weight the past year and a half since I’ve been home so much during the pandemic. I’ll readily admit my eating habits have not been the best. I’m 19 and now find myself 20 to 25 pounds heavier than I was back then.

During my time at home, I ate a lot and often because I was so bored and even slightly depressed that the world had seemingly stopped on its axis. Now, I know I need to lose at least 15 to 20 pounds just to get back near my original, healthy weight. So my question at this point is, how many days, weeks or months should it take to get back to my goal weight? I’m normally pretty good at following through on a goal once I make my mind up to commit to it. And when it comes to this issue, I will follow your instructions as long as they seem workable and reasonable. I know I could just start this project off on my own, but I’m writing to you so that I’ll feel accountable to someone. I’ll now consider you to be my “accountability buddy!” — Want my old body back, via email

Want My Old Body Back: First of all, I’ll absolutely be your de facto accountability buddy! I’m always up for rooting for our readers to reach their worthy personal goals. Doctors and nutritionists alike mainly agree that when you seek to lose weight, you should still follow a healthy and nutritious eating plan. Ideally, this plan will be one designed especially for an overweight person. The ideal weight loss goal should be approximately one pound per week.

Excerpted from The News-Enterprise