Being pregnant has taught me many things about myself (both good and bad). One of the things it has taught me is just because the circumstances around you become more difficult doesn’t mean you have to quit. Pregnancy has limited me in two areas that are most frustrating for me. The first, I can’t work out the way I would like to. Things which used to be easy (for example, an hour of high intensity Cardio MadHouse) is no longer easy. It’s also no longer possible. Even things like “high knees” isn’t physically possible. Every time I pick a knee up it meets my belly. SO what do I do? I find a way to adapt. I found a 45 minute cardio video (which takes me over an hour to complete because I have to stop it at certain points and make sure to take in enough water to stay hydrated for Kaitlyn) that makes me sweat, gets my heart rate up (safely) and makes me feel like I am still challenged. I didn’t quit working out but I modified what I couldn’t do with what I could do. Modifications are coming again soon – so it’s not always “modify once and you are done”.
A second area this has affected me in is singing. The larger Kaitlyn gets, the less room I have to take in air and sing. This affects keys of songs, types of songs, etc. Much more than you would imagine. This past Sunday I realized it was time to modify. The keys I normally sing in are not quite tangible anymore with her in my tummy. Will I quit singing? No. I’ll bring the key of the song down so I don’t need quite as much air to breath. I might have to modify again in these remaining 11 weeks – and if I do – then so be it. It’s not the end of the world.
Modifying something doesn’t mean permanently changing it. When you modify something it should only be temporary (at least in situations like this). No need to settle for doing less… only settle until your circumstances return back to where they were or get better. Once Kaitlyn is born I’ll be able to rework my diaphragm to breathe again while singing and rework my body back to the level of fitness I was at. It will take time and I’m sure I will get totally frustrated and disgusted along the way but it comes with the territory. (I will probably need this reminder again once I’m in the middle of that point, lol).
It’s also important not to allow ourselves to become obsessed with the process. Once I restart my training in both of these areas my mind is going to want changes within weeks but that isn’t reality. Reality is it takes time. Hence the term PROCESS. Don’t give up because it isn’t easy. Would you want God to give up on you because you don’t listen? He would have given up on us before we were born… and yet He didn’t. Give yourself more credit and face those situations head on!
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
2 Thessalonians 3:13
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
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