Here’s a reminder from Week 26 of my pregnancy. With a big praise clap and living room twirl, my body recently sent me a lovely little reminder that it is, in fact, tired. Not tired like, “Maybe I should lie down for a second,” tired, but “If one more person asks me to walk anywhere, I might start crawling instead”, kind of tired.

But here’s the twist ― I’m not discouraged. Why? Because I’ve learnt something critical on this journey, whether it’s lifting weights, managing stress, or fighting off that 9pm craving for an entire bakery: fatigue is only temporary.

The physical grind

In fitness, fatigue is a familiar foe. Muscles burn, lungs scream, and you swear your legs are about to file for divorce. But the truth is, the body is beautifully resilient. Every rep, every run, every early-morning sweat session builds capacity. You will recover. You will get stronger. And that heaviness you feel in your limbs? It’s not a full stop ― it’s just a comma.

Pregnancy fatigue? Whole different beast. Some days, it feels like I'm carrying a backpack filled with wet cement — and I can’t take it off. My body is shifting, stretching, and working overtime on something bigger than me, literally and figuratively. But, even in this kind of exhaustion, I hold onto the reminder that it won’t last for ever. One day I’ll look back on this season and smile (OK, maybe wince a little too), but I’ll remember I pushed through.

The mental marathon

Mental fatigue does not get enough credit. It’s sneaky. It’s the fog that rolls in after a long week, the decision fatigue that makes choosing a Netflix show feel like advanced calculus, the burnout that whispers, “What’s the point?“.

But here’s what I remind myself ― and what I want to remind you: just like sore muscles, the mind bounces back.

You are not weak for needing rest. You are not lazy for feeling overwhelmed. You're human. And human beings need recovery just as much as we need progress.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is pause, take a breath, and then decide to keep going anyway.

Progress does not always look like motion. Sometimes it looks like staying still long enough to gather yourself and move smarter.

The nutritional tug-of-war

Let’s not ignore food fatigue. You know the one: where you’re so over meal prep, you’re two seconds from eating cereal out of a mug for dinner.

Nutrition takes discipline, and that discipline can wear thin ― especially when you’re juggling a million things (and growing a baby, for instance).

It’s easy to think, “one skipped meal plan won’t matter”, and you know what? It won’t ― if you keep perspective. The goal is not perfection, it’s consistency.

When the motivation dips, let the habit carry you. And when the habit breaks, let grace step in. Because fatigue in this area, too, is temporary. The body knows what to do if we give it enough good choices over time. Don’t let one tired moment become your story.

So what's your point, Dre? Well, fatigue isn’t failure. It’s feedback.

It’s your body and brain saying: “Hey, maybe we need a moment.” And that’s OK. Honour the pause, but don’t mistake it for the end. Fatigue is part of the process. Whether it’s lifting a barbell, navigating motherhood, fighting mental burnout, or resisting the siren song of fast food ― it’s a season. A moment.

Temporary.

Right now, my body is fatigued. It’s building a life, for crying out loud. But my mind? My mind knows this is temporary. And in that truth, I find peace. I find motivation. I find resolve. Because if there’s one thing I know ― it’s that I’ve gotten through tired before. And I’ll do it again. And so will you.

As usual, remain unapologetic about your fitness and wellness journey, stay true to yourself and always be honest with your efforts.

Remember “fatigue is only temporary”. Happy Wednesday, fitfam!

• Andrea “Dre” Hinds is a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict” with more than 20 years’ experience. She specialises in nutrition, weight and sprint training, operating out of HindsSight Fitness and Wellness at the Berkeley Cultural Centre. Contact her onabsbydre@gmail.com or 599-6683. Find her on Facebook, X and Instagram under @Absbydre