Health accountability: We are not failing, we need support
Every human being, at some point, falls out of good habits.
We often start the year committed to eating well, exercising regularly, prioritising sleep, reducing alcohol, calming our nervous system, and then life happens. Work stress increases. Children get sick. Energy dips. Old coping strategies return. The gym visits taper off. The phone creeps back into the bedroom. Takeaways enter back into the weekly routine.
This is not failure.
This is being human.
The question isn’t “Why can’t I stay disciplined?”
The better question is: “Who is holding me accountable?”
What is health accountability?
Health accountability is the structured support that bridges the gap between intention and action.
It is the difference between:
Knowing what to do
And consistently doing it
Research into behavioural psychology shows that habits follow a predictable pattern often referred to as the habit loop - a concept popularised by Charles Duhigg in The Power of Habit.
The loop consists of:
Cue – a trigger (stress, boredom, time of day)
Routine – the behaviour (snacking, scrolling, skipping exercise)
Reward – relief, dopamine, comfort
Feedback – reinforcement that strengthens the pattern
When you introduce accountability, you insert something powerful into that loop:
A prompt
A reflective pause
A new reward (progress, recognition, momentum)
Constructive feedback
An example of constructive feedback in my practice recently:
“You have told me your energy levels have improved over the past fortnight, that’s probably because you’ve been disciplined about avoiding your phone an hour before bed and cutting caffeine after midday. That’s progress.”
That reinforcement becomes the new reward. And that is how habits change. How do you know you are on track?
Why is it so hard at the beginning?
Switching to a nutrient-dense, nourishing diet can feel overwhelming.
Starting daily movement when you’re exhausted feels unrealistic.
Protecting your sleep hygiene in a world that runs on screens feels almost rebellious.
Beginning a nervous system reset when you’ve been in fight-or-flight for years can feel uncomfortable.
Your brain prefers familiar patterns, even when they aren’t serving you.
Behavioural research consistently shows that small, repeatable changes outperform drastic overhauls. The people who succeed rarely transform everything overnight. They build micro-wins that compound.
And importantly, they are not doing it alone.
My most successful clients have this in common
The individuals who sustain meaningful health change usually have:
A friend or partner also improving their health
A family member invested in their progress
A small internal support network
Or structured accountability with me
You do not need a large community.
You need support, momentum and reinforcement.
A step-by-step accountability structure
For many people, long consultations aren’t the missing piece.
What’s missing is consistent review and recalibration.
That’s why I offer:
15-minute accountability calls – $40 per session
Or a bundle of 6 x 15-minute calls over 3 months – $215
These are focused, practical check-ins. We discuss:
What worked
What didn’t
Where you slipped (without judgement)
How to adjust based on your energy, schedule (current environmental challenges) and stress levels.
Payment plans are always available (from a minimum of $50 per week of the total invoice).
This is not about perfection, it’s about progress. What triggered this, and how do we make the new behaviour easier?
The gap in modern healthcare
Our current healthcare system is extraordinary in acute care and crisis intervention. However, when it comes to chronic disease prevention and long-term behaviour change, there is often:
Limited follow-up
Minimal accountability
Inadequate lifestyle education
No personalisation
Many people leave appointments feeling:
Discouraged
Dismissed
Disempowered
You might be told: “Lose weight.” “Exercise more.” “Reduce stress.” Autonomy without guidance can feel overwhelming and education without accountability often leads nowhere.
Personal accountability and cognitive dissonance
You can say you want to change.
But you are the only one who can take the first step.
This is where cognitive dissonance comes in; the discomfort experienced when behaviour does not align with values.
For example:
You value longevity, but frequently eat processed meat (bacon, ham, salami etc), which research shows increases bowel cancer risk by approximately 18%, and even more so if you have a family history.
You want stable blood sugar, yet regularly skip meals and rely on caffeine for energy.
You want restorative sleep, but scroll on your phone before bed.
The discomfort between knowledge and action creates mental tension. Many people resolve that tension not by changing behaviour, but by rationalising it.
Prioritising change based on risk
Part of my role is helping you decide where to focus first.
Not every habit carries equal risk. Your risk is different to someone else’s.
Excess sugar intake and increased risk of metabolic syndrome and certain cancers.
Chronic sleep deprivation and cognitive decline risk.
Sedentary lifestyle and insulin resistance.
Persistent nervous system dysregulation and autoimmune diseases.
Your current environment, genetic material and routine will help me assess your risk and make you a personalised structured plan for habit change.
This reduces overwhelm and increases compliance.
The framework I endeavour to create with you
My intention is to build a personalised framework based on:
A full evaluation of your current lifestyle
Risk profiling
Education on the consequences of inaction
Practical, achievable changes
Ongoing structured accountability
This is not about fear; it’s about personal empowerment and informed autonomy.
Because you are not incapable.
You are simply human.
And humans change best when they are supported.
