Candace Cameron Bure once turned down Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test because she was afraid of what the experience would demand from her. But after turning 50 in April and spending the past year and a half stepping up her fitness routine, the Full House alum decided it was finally time to face that fear.

A major influence in that decision was her friend Shawn Johnson, who successfully completed the course alongside Gia Giudice during Season 4.

“I really love physical fitness, and I’m a very competitive person,” Cameron Bure told TV Insider. She had previously been offered a spot on the show but ultimately passed “out of fear.”

When the opportunity returned, however, she took a different approach. Rather than allowing fear to make the decision for her, she decided to embrace the challenge.

“I’m the kind of person that when something scares me, I want to say yes to it just to push through that fear,” she explained. “I don’t want fear to limit me or dictate my life.”

Johnson was the first person Cameron Bure called while considering whether to participate. Her friend’s response was immediate: “You’ve got to do it. You should do it.”

The conversations that followed had a major impact on Cameron Bure. Johnson had nothing but positive things to say about her experience, giving the actress the confidence to finally say yes.

‘Special Forces’ Forced Cameron Bure to Confront Her Own Weaknesses

Cameron Bure quickly discovered that the hardest part of Special Forces wasn’t necessarily the physical punishment.

The challenges were certainly demanding. She described herself as one of the smallest people on her season, meaning that carrying a 35-pound bergen bag was especially difficult. The weight alone represented roughly a third of her body weight.

Still, Cameron Bure said the mental side of the experience was ultimately harder.

The show pushed her to learn more about her weaknesses than her strengths, particularly when it came to working with other people under extreme pressure. In those moments, she found herself confronting an uncomfortable truth: she wasn’t always the teammate she believed herself to be.

“When you get in really high-stress situations, it’s like fight or flight,” she explained. “Do you fight through it, or do you fly? And I realized, ‘Oh, I fly, man.’”

That realization forced her to look beyond the competition itself. She began thinking about how she could become a better friend, wife, mother and teammate.

One of her biggest revelations came during activities in which she found herself prioritizing her own survival. As a mother, Cameron Bure had always believed she would instinctively put herself in harm’s way to protect her children.

But when similar situations arose during the show, she found herself thinking about saving herself instead.

She acknowledged that the other contestants weren’t her children, but seeing her own reaction play out in real time still left her disappointed.

“I was so disappointed with myself for not being a better teammate in that way,” she admitted.

Despite those difficult moments, Cameron Bure walked away with a deeper understanding of herself. She also hopes viewers will see sides of her that aren’t always apparent from her public image.

Her faith remained an important source of strength throughout the experience. She memorized Bible verses before and during the challenge so she could draw on them when things became difficult.

She also formed close friendships with several of her fellow contestants. Cameron Bure said a large group of them still communicate through a group chat and remain friends. She specifically praised professional boxer Alycia Baumgardner and said she was relieved to see Oliver Hudson, whom she already knew, when she arrived. Hudson, she added, provided plenty of comic relief during the experience.

Family Support, an Eight-City Tour and Two New Christmas Movies

While Cameron Bure was ready to take on the challenge, her husband understandably had concerns.

He worried about the possibility of her getting injured, especially with the family preparing to welcome two grandchildren this year. He also wondered whether appearing in such an intense reality series could affect her career and public image.

Ultimately, however, her family supported her decision. Cameron Bure said they prayed for her every day while she was away, something that meant a great deal to her.

Outside of Special Forces, Cameron Bure is also preparing for another busy season professionally. She will return to the road this fall for an eight-city tour after performing in several cities the previous year.

The actress said she enjoys live events because they allow her to connect directly with people rather than communicating through television or a microphone. The tour will feature storytelling, laughter, trivia, games and audience interaction.

Dr. Tabatha Barber, who has appeared on Cameron Bure’s podcast, will also join her for conversations about women’s health and the changes women experience throughout their 40s, 50s and 60s. Cameron Bure will also share stories about faith and encouragement.

Meanwhile, she has already completed two Christmas movies for Great American Family Channel and GFam+, both scheduled for November. The projects are The Sweet Christmas Anniversary and A Second Chance Christmas.

Cameron Bure also has more devotional material on the way. Wild Hope was released last month, while 100 Days of Joy and Strength is forthcoming.

With much of her work for the remainder of the year already completed, Cameron Bure plans to slow down once her grandchildren arrive. She has intentionally cleared her schedule toward the end of the year so she can spend the holidays with her family before returning to making movies in the new year.

Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 5 premieres this fall.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/