The Lure of Forbidden Fitness Fruit

We Fit Bottomed Girls have never been shy about sharing our setbacks and frustrations when it comes to injuries and illnesses. We’re only human, so it makes sense that our mortal selves get injured or sick or deal with stupid illnesses and have to reevaluate our workouts and goals from time to time. A wonky ankle here, some reflux there, a rotund pregnant belly way over there — all of it can get in the way of our fitness goals, and even just our standard everyday workouts.

I always go through a phase during pregnancy when I’m suddenly filled to the brim with motivation and inspiration. Inspiration that strikes that puts my motivation on overdrive for the future. I think of all the things I’ll be able to do once there is no longer an extra 30 pounds on my frame, no longer a basketball tucked under my shirt getting in the way of something simple like bending over. It’s not that I mind the weight or the pregnancy restrictions — they’re temporary and I’ve stayed as active as possible this pregnancy. But there is just something about when you can’t do something — like super deep yoga twists or sprinting without waddling — that really makes you want to do that something. It’s the forbidden fitness fruit, if you will.

For me, I’ll see a workout that I know would kick my pregnant butt and leave it gasping on the ground — and I mentally bookmark it for the future, like Tish’s garage workout. Or I’ll see a yoga pose that I’ve never in my life even thought about attempting, and suddenly it’s on my future to-do list and I think that that’s what I’m going to do immediately after I give birth. Rock climbing? Flips off a high dive? Trapeze? They have all crossed my mind even though there is no way I can do them in my current “delicate condition.” Even things as simple as jumping rope and running sound appealing because they’re just not in the realm of activities I can comfortably do right now.

I’m trying to bottle this motivational mojo and remember it once I do have the ability to bend at the waist again. I’m trying to remember how it felt not doing something so I’ll be motivated to do it when I can. So often we don’t appreciate the capabilities of our bodies until we’re not longer able to do certain activities. We don’t appreciate running until we have a bad ankle. We don’t appreciate a good swim until we have a shoulder issue that doesn’t allow for a swim without pain. So next time you’re dreading that workout, play this mind game: Pretend someone told you that you can’t do that workout or activity or that you weren’t physically capable of it. And then go out there and kick some major butt because you are.

Any activities you can’t do right now? Do you use tricks to motivate yourself? —Erin