How Modifications can be a Powerful Tool
After I had my son, I hated modifying exercises. Here’s how my mindset has shifted.
After I had my son, I HATED modifying exercises.
In my head, modifying movements I had previously completed easily felt like failure. It was frustrating and disheartening. All I wanted was to be back to where I was pre-baby.
I didn't want to accept that my starting point had changed.
Or, that my body deserved some grace after enduring nearly 10 months of changing and adapting to grow a baby.
But letting go of the control I was holding so tightly to in exercise actually allowed me to feel what was really going on in my body. I started to notice things like:
The fact that I couldn't even feel my lower core, let alone engage it.
A pulling sensation in my abdomen during movements with twists.
The fact that I had zero endurance in any form of cardio (enter a new love for walking!)
Here's the thing:
Modification can actually be a powerful tool in helping us tune in and rebuild.
Rather than failure, modification actually means you're allowing your body to adapt in a healthy way. Ironically, it's the slow, consistent build that will actually give you faster results and a stronger body in the long run.
So, whether you're jumping back into fitness after having a baby, starting again post-injury or finding your routine after a long hiatus, there's no shame in the modification game. It's actually the sign of smart, healthy training.
