Just over a month ago I wrote a post about going beyond your "comfort zone".... You can read it here....

http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=10996

When I wrote that post, I was pushing myself beyond my own comfort zone in a way I didn't mention. Through exercise!

I started swimming regularly. I chose swimming partly because it's a good low-impact exercise. Another benefit of being self-employed is I can choose my own hours, which means I can spend time at the pool when it's not too crowded, because everyone else is at work.

I think if you want to be a "success" in life, regular exercise has to be part of it. It can be hard to get started, though.... Which is why it relates to going beyond your "comfort zone".

I was your basic "couch potato".... Now that I've been exercising regularly for about a month, I've noticed some great benefits. I feel much better overall. I'm more energetic.

I'm also happier - I think exercising regularly somehow makes you happier overall. I don't know if it's endorphins or what, but I know it works. Somehow, it seems you get more pleasure out of life! :)

When I started swimming, the only thought I had in mind was to go beyond my comfort zone! The first day, I swam a measly 10 laps of the pool (with rest breaks). That was just beyond my comfort zone. Each day I swam, I simply swam as many laps as I felt comfortable swimming - then I swam an extra 2 laps, to get me just beyond my "comfort zone". After doing this regularly, in a few weeks I was swimming 40 laps of the pool (though still with rest breaks between some laps). (This is in a 25-meter pool - roughly equivalent to a 25-yard pool in the USA.)

Now, if I don't swim for a few days, I start feeling a bit "restless". I need my regular swim!

If you're a "couch potato" like me, I recommend getting started on some low-impact exercise. After a few weeks, you won't believe how much better you feel. Make sure it is LOW-IMPACT so you don't injure yourself! Try to do what you feel comfortable with, then just a little bit extra, to push yourself just a little beyond your comfort zone every time. You won't believe how quickly you'll get much fitter!

While I'm not exactly athletic looking now, I feel much better, I am more energetic, and the payoff has been wonderful!

I highly recommend it.... :)

- Dien Rice

P.S. I once read an article which said that there was a correlation between fitness and success. That is, people who were fit tended to be more successful. I don't know if this is true or not, but it's something to think about....