The “I Used to Be Fit” Syndrome
Baby Day is the Best Day
Strong isn’t a phase. It’s a decision.
There’s a line I hear in the studio all the time.
“I used to be fit.”
It’s usually said with a little laugh.
Sometimes with a shrug.
Sometimes like it belongs to a completely different chapter of life.
I used to run.
I used to play tennis.
I used to go to the gym five days a week.
And then… life happened.
Work got busy.
Kids needed rides everywhere.
An injury showed up.
Or the routine just quietly slipped away over time.
Next thing you know, you catch yourself saying it like it’s a fact.
“I used to be fit.”
But here’s what I always think when I hear that.
Being strong isn’t something that only belongs in the past.
Starting Again Is the Hardest Part
Honestly, the hardest part isn’t the workout.
It’s walking through the door.
It’s signing up for the class.
It’s wondering if everyone else in the room will be stronger, younger, or somehow magically better at it than you.
Almost every new client has the same quiet thought running through their head.
Am I going to be able to keep up?
The funny thing is, half the room is usually wondering the exact same thing.
You Don’t Start Where You Left Off
A lot of people think that if they were active years ago, they should somehow start there again.
But that’s not how this works.
You don’t start where you left off.
You start where you are today.
And that’s actually one of the reasons Pilates works so well.
The reformer lets us adjust everything to the person in front of it.
The springs change.
The positions change.
The pace changes.
What doesn’t change is the goal.
Helping you build strength in a way that feels good for your body.
A Moment in the Studio That Always Makes Me Smile
One of my favourite things to watch lately at the studio is our mom and baby class.
These women have just spent months growing an entire human being. Their bodies have gone through enormous change. For a while, exercise isn’t the priority. Rest, healing, and caring for a brand new little person takes centre stage.
But eventually something shifts.
They decide it’s time to come back to themselves a little bit.
To move again.
To rebuild strength.
To reconnect with their bodies.
And when they do, it’s pretty amazing to watch.
Week by week you can see their confidence returning. Their posture changing. Their strength coming back.
They made the decision to start again.
And honestly, if these incredible women can do it while juggling babies, sleepless nights, and everything else that comes with new motherhood…
The rest of us can probably find our way back too.
Progress Happens Faster Than You Think
One of my favourite things to watch in the studio is what happens after a few weeks.
Someone who walked in saying,
“I used to be fit.”
Starts saying something very different.
“My back feels better.”
“I’m standing taller.”
“I feel stronger again.”
Not because they went all out or pushed themselves too hard.
But because they simply started.
Strong Isn’t a Phase
Strength doesn’t belong to a younger version of you.
It isn’t tied to a certain age or stage of life.
Strength is something we can rebuild anytime.
Sometimes it just starts with the decision to begin again.
If you’ve been thinking about getting back into movement, maybe this is your little nudge.
At Pilates on Plains, we meet people exactly where they are.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Just a place to start again.
And one little studio note before I go…
You might be noticing that some of our classes are starting to fill up, and we’ve even had the odd waitlist pop up here and there. If there’s a class you really want, it’s a good idea to sign up ahead of time so you can be sure to grab your spot.
Have a wonderful week…Happy Easter (next weekend) and check back in on Easter Monday for a new post.
xo
Marion & Tank