Most days, I drop in to Sue’s Lifestyle Blog for Women Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond  to read her latest posts. A few days ago she posted about Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone in April . This post of Sues was prompted by a post she had read on Leslie’s blog Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After   The question asked was what are we going to do to step outside our comfort zone. This question pulled me up quickly and really made me think.

In the past 12 years I would say that I have been constantly doing things that put me outside  my comfort zone.

For example:

•  Moved away from my hometown of Shepparton to Bendigo where I knew nobody
•  Started a new life as a single person after divorce
•  Ambassador for Michelle Bridges first 12wbt online  fitness program
•  Quit my admin job and bought a cafe – I had never even worked in a cafe
•  Ran in City To Surf and many other fun runs
• Started a new committed relationship
• Elected President of a community organisation

But when I read Sues post, I realised that lately, I’ve become more settled and have been keeping myself a bit small and very much within my own comfort zone. I’m here to say that it’s time to make a change. Sue asked her readers what they planned to do in May to get out of their comfort zone. I didn’t have to think long about this, as a thought has been going around in my head since I wrote my Maxine’s Challenge Update.

When I completed Maxine’s Challenge,  I had decided that I wasn’t going to participate in the next challenge that starts on May 14. I had success in the recently completed challenge and was pleased with the progress of my weights workouts. I told myself I would just continue on with what I was doing, without the support of the challenge.

It didn’t take me long to realise that I was taking the easy way out. I loved this past  challenge and have secretly been thinking about taking my weights training to the next level. Well why not?  SO I’ve jumped right in.  Not only have I registered for the next challenge but  I have registered for the Intermediate Strong program. Previously, I did the Intermediate Tone and Shape program.  The Strong program will take my training to a higher level and I will definitely be out of my comfort zone. I know this program will test my resolve and my resilience. But it’s time that they were tested.

My weights will be much heavier and training much more intense. To complete this program successfully, I will need to be totally committed to the program with a ‘no excuses’ attitude. When I was in my 30s, a fitness instructor and also managing a gym, I was very much into weights training. I just loved it and couldn’t wait to jump out of bed very early in the morning to meet my training buddy. I’m now 30 years older and working out in my home gym without a training buddy, but I know I am capable of doing much more intense strength training than I have been doing. I realise I won’t ever get the results that I had in my 30s but I’m willing to give it a go and be the best that I can be in my 60s.

The new challenge starts next Monday 14 May and I will definitely be stepping out of my comfort zone in May, June and July. I intend to follow the program to the letter. Usually, I follow the program, but make my own changes as I feel like it. This time there will be no changes made, except those that are necessary, to work around my dodgy knees and their injuries. I’m hoping this twelve week challenge is just a starting point for me, to revive my absolute love of weight training.

What are you doing in May to step out of your comfort zone? I’d love to hear what you will be getting up to.

Please visit again for further Maxine’s Challenge updates.