THE HARDEST PART of any fitness journey is getting started ... as you struggle to find motivation, measure your progress, and keep pushing. Trust me, I know. When I first started strength training ...

Motivation through Accountability Accountability is a powerful force when it comes to staying on track with fitness goals.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Phil Mackenzie, a 37-year-old fitness influencer from Burlington, a city in Ontario, Canada. It has been edited for length and clarity.