Our body changes constantly throughout our life. Trust That Seasons Will Change.
In my neck of the woods (Chicago), we have been having an unseasonably warm, early spring for a couple of weeks now, and it’s making me antsy to get outside.
Since mid-January, however, I’ve been having some minor health stuff (don’t worry, it’s not a big deal at all) that has really hindered my ability to move, exercise, and get outside the way I would like.
I had 3 weeks where I was on a medication that gave me bouts of vertigo, so laying down was pretty much the only position I could manage.
Then, when that was finished, I sprung into action, moving and grooving out in the sunshine, but very tentatively, because I know I have a history of injuring my feet &/or calves every spring FOR THIS EXACT REASON. LOL! I literally get so excited to go outside that I overdo it.
“But not this year!” I promised myself.
If you would have passed me at the lakefront while I was walking a couple of weeks ago, you probably would have heard me muttering to myself, “Don’t run. Don’t run. Don’t run. You’ll tear your calf. You’re not trained to run right now. Don’t do it.”
And that was true, and right, and good.
But now I’m having more/continued health stuff that is preventing me from working out, and I am bummed. And I don’t mean “bummed” the way I used to mean it, where I was actually feeling guilty and ashamed of myself for the lack of exercise.
No, I’m bummed, because I want to get on my bike, but biking & vertigo do not mix! (Ask me how I know.)
I’m also sitting with the feelings of definitely being less conditioned than I’m used to (what many call being “out of shape.”).
Intellectually I know this is just a season of less movement for me, that it’s relatively short lived, and I have an expected end date for it on the calendar (which is rare for health stuff). As a coach & someone who has coached myself through this, I also know that it means nothing about me as a person, & I feel no guilt or shame about it.
But physically and emotionally, it is weird to sit with this. My arms, shoulders, back, calves, quads, and knees are weak compared to a few weeks ago. I’m not withering away, but because I’m so in tune with myself, I notice the differences all the time.
So what am I doing about it?
I’m grieving.
Yes, our body, health, & ability ebbs & flows constantly throughout our life. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less of a loss with each change.
I’m RAINing (Recognizing the emotion, Allowing it, Investigating, & Nurturing myself through it) for this season of limited movement and atrophy while I sit in my bay window and let the sunshine hit my face.
And because I have done this so many times before, I am not worried, because I know the seasons always change, and I am always able to ease myself back into movement, strength, and cardio. I have trust: in myself, my body, my journey, & my timeline.
THAT is Intuitive Fitness.
Doing what you can, when you can, how you want to, without guilt or shame.
So, if you’re also in a season of less movement and wondering if you’ll ever get back to it, or worried that you’ve lost all your “gains,” I see you. This is just a season, just for now, and you can absolutely regain your “gains” when the seasons change.
If you’re ready to change the season yourself, we can do that together with 1-on-1 Intuitive Fitness Coaching. Just reply to this email and we can chat about where you are and what you want.
TTYL,
Deanna
