Hi There,
Welcome back to Kat & Tshepi blog. We hope your week went according to your plan. Our week went as we had planned, we managed to resume our training program and it was fulfilling. Training is very enjoyable for us and it is something we look forward to, we feel very blessed to have found this ability. Our nutrition was also good for the most part, but the weekend still wins 😦 , we still find it hard to stick to our plan on weekends. Tracking our calories was also good this week, although we are no longer being very strict with our logging, we are now accustomed to the value of nutrients in the foods we eat and their portion sizes, we are now able to determine the portion sizes and calories contained with our eyes, it is now automated.
Our challenge for this week was reduced commitment to our journey. Our emotions were not so hyped up about our journey and reaching our destination, which is very close. With three weeks (two weeks now) left to reach the end of our 6 months’ journey, one would expect a revived commitment and renewed drive to finish the journey on a high. However, it was not the case with us, we found ourselves with reduced commitment and experiencing fatigue from the journey’s restrictions and demands. But we reflected on this challenge in efforts to revive our commitment, which brings us to this week’s topic “Journey Fatigue”.
1. Journey Fatigue
Every journey has some common attributes regardless of the difference in purpose, mode and destination. It all start with the opportunity to embark on a journey, then comes the planning and the actual travelling, then at some point in the travelling there are challenges and problems to be resolved, and finally reaching the destination. The stage of encountering challenges and resolving problems is what creates a story and memories of the journey, and these can be exciting or sad or maybe a combination. A part of the challenges faced on a journey is fatigue, a state of silence where there is an imbalance on the scale of expectations and reality. A state where you honestly cannot go back but have to go on with the journey, but this time without the vigor and excitement enjoyed in the early days of the journey.
On a fitness journey, this state of fatigue is a definite reality. It is a point where one is tired of the training, caloric restrictions and the monotony of daily grind. It is a point whereby common sense and rationality is partially fogged in favor of emotions, at this point it just makes sense to live freely without conditions and restrictions. This is a somewhat dangerous state as the perceived freedom can reverse all the good efforts and benefits attained so far on the journey. This is where we are currently, fatigued and in need of freedom from restrictions. How can we overcome this? We are so close to the finish line, where can we find the strength to march along to our perceived and envisioned destination?
Through reflection, we are able to see the value add that our journey has yielded so far. There are so many benefits and qualities we have garnered in the past six months. We are certainly better people than we were when we started, both physically and emotionally. The transformation we experienced in the past six months is visible, tangible and something we definitely have earned. When in a state of fatigue, it is easy to overlook our efforts and to establish a realistic view of the journey so far. A positive reflection on the journey is a must at this point, a more positive outlook on oneself and the appreciation of efforts being expended daily on the journey, however small. This is where courage and strength to march on is unearthed, that time when we start to acknowledge our own value and the value of our efforts.
It is also helpful to have a partner that one is sharing the journey with. Being on this weight loss and fitness journey as partners has solidified our pillar of strength and source of commitment, we depend on each other for the much needed support to march on. We also found that we have varied but complementing qualities that helps our fitness journey and other goals in our lives. Kat is a good starter, an optimist who sees no barriers in possibilities and potential of life, his super power is to move us to start things (things that seems crazy at first 🙂 ). Tshepi is more aversive in nature, a realist who finds no value in commencing something if the end goal is not its ultimate completion, her super power is to relentlessly propel us to the completion of whatever we started (even when chips are really down 🙂 ). It seems then, with regards to fatigue, a positive self-esteem and having an accountability partner can pick you up to soldier on to the destination.
That’s it for the week, we will continue to have a positive outlook on ourselves and our efforts, and to keep supporting each other to see our journey through the end. With two weeks left, and faced with the reality of not making our targeted weight loss, we aim to be relentless and do our best to maximize on the remaining duration to be as close as possible to our target. Until next week, stay blessed.
Kat & Tshepi
Kat & Tshepi 