To get to know our own body leads through trials and errors to finally materialize in experience

Entrepreneur Rinalds was looking for a new challenge in his life. On a trip to Portugal he saw a triathlon race poster. “I’m going to do this!” he said.” 5 years later in 2013 he decided to take a break from his business. Rinalds is a very charismatic and intelligent guy. He was so kind to send us his view on body perception.

Meanwhile he returned back to his company, but the experiences he made during his short excursion into the sport of triathlon are still up-to-date.  I think we all can take something out of this text.

You can definitely see how tricky body perception and interpretation can be.

Rinalds Sluckis about body perception

The body processes hundreds if not even thousands of signals as a reaction to what a person does and thinks. Part of the success in one’s permanent „body-mind growth” is his ability to catch and comprehend these signals.

In the beginning, these are only some funny states of the body that the person misinterprets or even ignores. You’re lucky, if there’s someone with some experience who can translate these signals, somebody you can consult to understand. But at the end of the day we’re all unique and experience different senses during similar states of mind and body (e.g. appetite), so you have to have your own “dictionary”.

I believe, for me the key is not to be afraid of doing something wrong and make a mistake. When I feel something I don’t understand, I continue my training and observe what happens. If it was a signal of illness or injury, and I performed the workout anyway, but got to stay in bed for the next 3 days, I’ll recognize this signal next time and be smarter. I believe, the “trial and error” approach gives the most of knowledge, but it takes some time and involves some set-backs and frustrations.

I’ve gathered some observations to recognize, for instance, a state of constant fatigue and raising fitness. In parallel, I use training peaks WKO+ software, a powermeter and a GPS watch to collect and analyze all my training data and link this “science” with my body signals to perfect the self-perception process.

I know I’m in a state of deep constant fatigue when:
I’m constantly cold. In the pool it feels like the water is too cold. When sleeping, I’d love to have an additional blanket. If going outside for a workout, I need an additional jacket. It’s a “cold feeling” from inside and has nothing to do with the actual weather.
I need more time and some stimulus like caffeine of guarana to “wake up” during the morning workout and get ready for the main sets.
I sweat less during the workouts; and the body holds more water which leads to some weight gain.
I fall easily asleep, but during the night the sleep is “flat” and I wake up feeling broken.
No interest for sex.
I have to fight with myself to avoid getting chocolate and some bottle of red wine. I feel that desire for sweets and wine raises with the level of constant fatigue.
The appetite is average, I eat more to fuel me not to enjoy the food. By the same time I feel hungry between meals and grab for a snack.

I know I’m in a good shape and my state of fitness raises when:
The workout on the paper seems harder than it is in reality. I have the feeling I can do whatever I want and still have energy left.
I’ve a good appetite, but don’t need snack between meals. I feel the food gets better processed and I get more out of each meal.
It’s easy to fall asleep and to wake up.
I feel and look lean.
I enjoy the muscle pain during the workout and the soreness afterwards. It feels good to feel the body.
I feel enjoyment and kind of an internal celebration when thinking about the upcoming race. There are these internal vibrations between body and mind when even a small visual imagination of racing raises muscle contractions and adrenaline rush.