They say that it takes four weeks for you to see your body changing, eight weeks for friends and family to notice and 12 weeks for the rest of the world.

Sounds legit, right? It doesn’t always seem this way all the time though, and I can attest to this.

Lately, I’ve felt it quite the opposite with everyone else noticing progress while I sit and nitpick, basically complaining of my “slow” progress – mainly due to my own lack of discipline. We all do it. What’s important to realise is that slow progress is still progress and whilst you may not be where you want to be, you are further along than you were yesterday.

The simple fact is that since you aren’t where you want to be, you have all the more reason to stay disciplined, committed and push towards reaching your goals, right? If that isn’t fuel enough I don’t know what else is.

I just want to encourage you this week to sit back, relax and praise yourself for what you have accomplished so far – especially with this year being what it has been. We tend to be so destination driven that we forget to enjoy the actual journey, never stopping to acknowledge what we have accomplished.

So today, stop. Stop thinking of the “final” product. Matter of fact, recognise that this fitness and wellness journey is just that – a journey. No skewed view of a perfect physique, body fat percentage, mile time, squat max should outweigh how you feel about your body nor your achievements so far. Marvel in that and use that to fuel you. Use your recent progress to light a fire within you to push even harder but while enjoying the journey, loving your body as it performs and transforms. I guarantee if you change how you view yourself and your achievements the journey will be that much sweeter.

If you saw your body on someone else and witnessed your achievements through someone else you’d congratulate and marvel. But, because it’s your body, you see only flaws and hate it. Let’s aim to erase this flawed sense of thinking and do ourselves some kindness for once!

Continue to enjoy your journey, remain unapologetic about your fitness and wellness lifestyle and always, always be honest with your efforts!

Dre Hinds is a retired track and field athlete who is now a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict”. Contact her on: absbydre@gmail.com, 599-0412 or @Absbydre on Facebook and Instagram