How many areas of our life do we give up on because we think we’re not “that kind” of person?

For one, I’ve never considered myself athletic. Sports and disciplined workout regimes were for athletic, coordinated people—I was not one of them. I’ve enjoyed jogging for most of my life, but I didn’t think of myself as someone athletic or strong. Anyone could put one foot in front of the other. I ran because I wasn’t athletic enough to do any other sport!

Even things like strength training and pilates intimidated me. The few times I tried either, I quickly found an excuse to never do them again. It was awkward and uncomfortable. I didn’t know what I was doing, while those around me seemed to know exactly what to do. Best just to stick with running.

But recently I made a commitment rather unlike me: I started on a weekly strength training programme with a personal trainer. I’m in my second trimester of pregnancy, which might seem like a strange time to begin, but this is why: As my pregnancy progressed, my lower back had begun to ache constantly. My runs had become extremely uncomfortable, and I knew that unless I intentionally focused on gaining strength to help adjust to my changing body, I would soon stop exercising.

I didn’t want that to happen. In another few months, I would be facing the most physically difficult experience of my life, and I wanted to start off with a good relationship with my body—physically and mentally. I wanted to be—and feel—strong and healthy. The trainer I found had expertise in strength-training exercises that are safe and helpful during pregnancy. So, I got started.

And something completely unexpected has been happening: I like it. Under the guidance of a skilled, enthusiastic trainer, I’ve started to feel confident in the routines. I feel stronger. My back pain has nearly completely gone away, and I’m enjoying my runs again. When I recover from giving birth, I plan on working with this trainer again to rebuild strength, and I’m genuinely looking forward to it.