Marie, Maxine's Challenge is a 12 week challenge consisting of a strict diet and training regime. It's no walk in the park, but will give fantastic results to those who stick to it. the first time I did it I didn't even stick to it and still got really good results!!

It's 3 meals and 3 snacks (protein bar or shakes) a day with 3-4 days weight training plus cardio. One rest day a week. Of course - it's up to you how hard to want to push yourself. Just following the diet alone will give you weight loss. Following the training programme will give you a great physique.


There is an online magazine that you can read here. This shows you last years winner and gives a good explanation of what's required. Also shows the Top 50 women. The mens magazine is here.

The challenge website is here. You will need to register with a full length photo of yourself holding today's newspaper and wearing either a 2 piece cosie or briefs and crop top. The rules for the photo are clearly stated when you register.

The challenge is not affiliated with MFP in any way, I just thought it would be good for those of us that use MFP to support one another.

Let me know if this clears things up for you and feel free to ask if you have any other questions.

Oh, and as you probably now know, the Instagram tag for THIS group is #tttaussies I add it to all my Instagram pics.

from Skim.

I don't know about kj but there are 2 plans - Tone and Shape is about 1200 calories a day and Get Strong is about 1600 calories. It's up to you whether you follow the diet or not. I more or less follow it but eat MORE than suggested and end up around 1500 calories most days. Modify it to suit yourself, as long as you have a deficit you will lose weight and the training will get your muscles working nicely.

Private - no one can see you. I register as private for this reason. However, you are not eligible for any prizes. It also means that you don't have to use the Maxine's product if you don't want to.

Public - yes, anyone can google your name and see you.

I don't usually use Maxines products but I have bought some for the challenge just because I figure if they are giving it for free I should give them something back. I do use the Max Nite time protein shake year round because I like it

Naomi nutrition is key to all this. I don't follow the meal plan exactly but I more or less follow it, just bend the rules to suit myself.

I try to have oats on my training days for breakfast. Always with PP and sometimes berries/coconut or walnuts. I have the omelettes on the weekend when I'm home and have more time. HOWEVER, if I want to cut back one day, I'll skip breakfast and call it Intermittent Fasting - this will be a common thing in my last 4 weeks so I get to eat more in the later part of the day. I prefer to have dessert than breakfast and it saves time in the morning as well.

I'll usually have a piccolo in the morning, don't usually have the morning snack, maybe almonds if I didn't have walnuts with brekkie. Again, another way to stick to the IF way of eating.

Lunch - always protein of some sort and salad/veggies. If I feel like I need it I'll have sweet potato. A common lunch for me is veggies with a tin of flavoured tuna. I don't sweat the small stuff and if I want flavoured tuna I'll have it and I don't give it a second thought. I'll easily eat 250-300g veggies, they fill me up and don't make me hungry.

Afternoon snack - protein shake and a bag of raw veggies around 4pm.

Dinner same as lunch, protein and veggies/salad. I use dressings and don't worry about that either. If that's going to keep me on track, then I don't see how it can harm. Some nights I'll have small serve of Bolognese sauce on a bowl of veggies with parmesan cheese and I still call that a win.

Late snack - either Max Nite time shake or if I'm hungry (or didn't have breakfast) I will make dessert. A common dessert for me is 125g cottage cheese with vanilla PP and coconut. OR I'll do a lemon diet jelly and blend in the food processor with vanilla PP and cottage cheese (makes like a flummery and tastes like lemon meringue pie filling) OR if I'm really hungry I'll have some baked oats with a spoon of yoghurt. OR the berries and yoghurt sometimes with coconut. I'll usually put my food on Instagram with #tttaussies.

I love dessert - without it I feel a bit deprived.

The Max chocolate Nite time I have all year round, just on water, it is thick and delicious, either after 30 mins in the freezer or 45 seconds in a mug in the microwave for a hot chocolate. I love it! Bought the vanilla but haven't tried it yet

I'm sticking around 1500 calories for the first 4 (6) weeks, then I'll drop to 1400 for the second 4 weeks and 1300 for the last 4 weeks. Of course - I'm 46yo, 166cm and 62kg and that's about right for ME. YVMV. My TDEE is only about 1800 as I've completely f*cked my metabolism from 35+ years of eating disorders... It would be nice to eat more, but without all the junk this is actually HEAPS of food

So if you can eat AS MUCH as you can in this early stage it will be better to have something to cut in the later weeks.

Oh - and I'm going out tonight so I've reduced my intake during the day (skipped breakfast) to compensate for going out for dinner. I'll still eat well - have a steak and salad but I'm not going to miss out on life and as long as I'm more or less eating well I don't think it matters.

I don't eat wheat and I don't have recreational sugar anymore and planning to give up alcohol for the whole 14 weeks.

Hope that helps. If I need to clarify anything let me know!!

Week 2 Pre-Season!!

I had a really huge weekend and had a party yesterday, went a bit overboard and feeling seedy today... Not great but I'm looking at it like my last big bust and let's call it a re-feed.

Back to the plan today No training today but I'll be on track with nutrition.

Hi Lou!!! Good to have you on board!! I have both the vanilla and chocolate Max Nite Time and find the chocolate the best for a YUM factor, but the vanilla is good too and I use that one if I'm going to mix it with cottage cheese and coconut for an ice-cream substitute.

Just take one day at a time and as they say - nutrition is the key!!

Just did a blog post about the challenge - so excited this time around.

Peejay, we are so similar in our measurements except my bust is 98cm and thighs are about 57cm. Sadly, I fear the bust is about to go down a bit but these things happen.
Oh and I'm 167cm.