We all have reasons for stepping away from the gym. Injuries. Illnesses. Personal/life problems. Financial problems. Time restraints. Pregnancy, or more specifically, labor and delivery. 

Whatever the reason is, many people use this as an excuse to fall off the habit of working out and never coming back. Or they’re too afraid of coming back. Afraid of starting over. Afraid of being a beginner again. 

But we’re here to tell you we all have these seasons of life. Seasons where we have to take a step back. Where we have to prioritize other things in our life. Where we are beginners all over again. 

And that’s okay. Nobody judges you. Nobody looks at you any differently. 

In fact, I’d say the opposite is true. The act of you coming back after days, weeks, months off, shows you respect yourself enough to be a beginner again. And that, my friend, demands respect from others. 

But I know it’s hard. It’s hard knowing where you once were and not being there upon your return. Having to start over. Having to modify the weight, the movements, the workout itself. 

It takes swallowing your pride, putting your ego aside, and knowing that with the same time and consistency you had before, you will get back to where you were before. 

Take it from me… I’m 7 months pregnant. And I am, in general, a competitive person. I love pushing myself in the gym, going hard in my workouts, and seeing what I can accomplish. It was a hard adjustment to take a step back and know that I am simply in a season of life right now. I won’t always be here, but I have to be smart about what I do in (and out of) the gym in order to get back to where I once was. 

And yes, coming back post-delivery, I will, once again, be a beginner. But I’ve been here before. I know what it takes. I know what it feels like. I know it will be hard and will take hard work. But I know I’ll get back there. 

So wherever you are, however long you’ve been away from the gym, know that it’s okay to come back, even as a beginner. Know that it will be hard but it will 100% be worth it. And know that nobody will judge you. You’ll be received with open and supportive arms.

Whitney