The Tug of War Between Progress and Patience

16 Nov

Written By Jas D

Becoming My Own Superhero – Part 1

You see, when I started my fitness journey, I was often told — and rightly so — “Trust the process; results take time.”

Sounds simple, right?

Except when you’re in the thick of it — dripping with sweat, logging every workout, tweaking your nutrition — it feels far from simple.

What I’ve come to learn is that change rarely happens on the timeline we set for ourselves. Some weeks you catch a flicker of transformation in the mirror; other weeks, it feels like nothing has shifted at all.

And that alone can be frustrating.

This is the tug of war I’ve been living through — the constant pull between wanting results now and having the patience to let them unfold.

It’s not just about lifting heavier weights or adjusting calories. It’s about recognising that the body works in cycles, and results show up in different ways — often long after you expect them to.

Why Physical Change Feels Slow

Physiologically, building muscle is one of the hardest things you can ask your body to do. Research shows that, on average, you can expect to gain about 0.25–0.5kg of muscle per month if you train consistently and fuel your body properly.

That’s nowhere near the “12-week transformation” hype we’re sold online.

And on top of that, your body is constantly shifting. Water retention, sleep disruption, stress levels — even the lighting in your gym mirror — can make progress feel invisible.

But what I’ve had to remind myself is that progress is layered.

Before your reflection changes, your nervous system adapts. You get stronger. Your endurance improves. Your form sharpens.

Those invisible wins are real, even if they don’t earn likes on Instagram.

As Tony Stark put it in Avengers: Endgame:

“No amount of money ever bought a second of time.”

Progress can’t be rushed, no matter how much we want it to be. It has to be earned — day after day, set after set.

The Frustration Is Real

I won’t sugar-coat it: there have been days when I’ve felt like throwing in the towel.

I’ve meal-prepped, tracked, lifted, pushed myself — and the mirror has thrown nothing back at me.

Those are the days comparison sneaks in. You scroll past someone else’s dramatic transformation and wonder why your hard work isn’t paying off in the same way.

But that frustration isn’t weakness — it’s human.

Studies show that people are far more likely to quit when they feel their effort isn’t being rewarded. I’ve been there.

And what I’ve learned is that the only way through is to redefine what counts as progress.

Redefining “Results”

To me now, progress isn’t just about abs or muscle definition.

It is, on some level — but it’s no longer the main focus.

I’ve come to realise that it’s in the moments most people overlook:

Strength gains — when a weight that once felt impossible now moves with control.
Recovery — bouncing back quicker from soreness or fatigue.
Consistency — showing up even on the days I’d rather stay in bed.
Wellbeing — finding clarity, managing stress, and feeling balanced.

Even sleep, nutrition, and mood are results.

In fact, the World Health Organisation recognises physical activity as a cornerstone of mental health, reducing the risk of anxiety and depression.

For me, there have been weeks where that mental clarity has been the most important “gain” of all.

Why Patience Matters

Fitness is a long game.

Muscles don’t grow overnight. Bodies don’t transform in a straight line.

It’s more like planting seeds — you water them every day without seeing anything for weeks, and then, suddenly, growth breaks through the surface.

Patience doesn’t have to mean waiting around.

It can mean continuing to take action while trusting that the work is adding up, even when you can’t see it yet.

Progress in Perspective

As I look back at my notes, I can see all the moments of frustration — but I can also see the wins I didn’t notice at the time.

The times I stepped back to rest instead of burning out.
The tweaks to my nutrition that left me feeling stronger.
The fact that I kept showing up, even when my motivation wavered.

That’s what this tug of war has taught me: you don’t “win” the battle between progress and patience — you learn to live with it.

Progress will always feel slower than you want, and patience will always feel like it’s demanding more than you’d like to give.

But together, they forge resilience.

And for me, that is the real superpower — resilience.

Because that’s where true transformation begins.

Jas D