Hey fitness freaks....and wannabe freaks. Time for the November installment of the fitness challenge. To try to be more inclusive and get more participation, I'm going to open things up in a new way.

The point of this challenge is to set a goal for yourself for the month of November. A fitness goal which will be challenging.....slightly more than you know you can do, more than you did last month. The goal needs to be a concrete measurable goal. The goal can be miles run, walked, biked, swam, ellipted or paddled....or a combination of all of them. But it can also be a goal of hours of exercise. 30 hours of exercise in a month is a challenging goal for many people. It can also be a specific exercise if you prefer....like 3000 squats and 1000 push-ups. Whatever it is, make it challenging, not easy. As I always say, growth and comfort cannot coexist. You want to be slightly uncomfortable. The goal should challenge you...make you slightly nervous as to whether or not you can reach it. Then....GO FOR IT!

Introduce yourself and spell out your goal for the month. Then come back here everyday or as often as you can and update the group as to your current progress toward your goal. Whether or not you make your goal is not the point. The point is to push yourself just a little further than you thought you could go.

I'll start. I'm only 4 weeks post op from my TT so not back to 100% yet, but I anticipate getting stronger as the month goes on. So my goal for November is to walk/run 60 miles. That's double what I'm going to do this month, so a challenging goal. Wish me luck.

Please join in and get moving.

But Butter! How can I let you and the team down with my fitness challenge!!??

perhaps you can amend your goal to doing 10000 steps per day on non strength training days.

Hi all: congrats to every one on all your impressive fitness achievements! I haven't checked in since last week. I've managed to get in a few walks and two trips to the gym but I was being really unrealistic with my goal of 3 days in the gym and an hour walk or bike ride the other days. So I'm just doing as best I can. I always struggle with minor depression this time of year and getting exercise, especially outdoors when possible really helps. It also helps me to read how great every one is doing! Fiddleman, I want to be like you when I grow up!

Just an update, I too had stopped getting notifications. I'm at 83.4 miles MTD of 125. If I keep averaging just over 4 miles a day I can do it!!!

4.4 miles on a yet to be explored trail today. Miles to date....57.2. Get my full release to resume all exercise tomorrow. Looking forward to that. This is from my half marathon last weekend in San Antonio.

4.4 miles on a yet to be explored trail today. Miles to date....57.2. Get my full release to resume all exercise tomorrow. Looking forward to that. This is from my half marathon last weekend in San Antonio.

Those pictures are great. I especially like the close up. You look so happy! Congrats!

Butter, you are lookin' good! Got in another 4m today, MTD- 68.5 miles 8 sessions

3.15 miles in today but my left hip has been killing me all day. I am going to give my hip a little break for a few days and back off the mileage. I will still do what I can, just won't push it. Not sure what is going on but I hope it starts letting up soon. My mileage to date is 89 miles.

It is already hard to accept not walking as much. I am amazed how much I enjoy walking and exercising.

MTD: 31 AND. I planked today for 90 seconds. I'm happy about that.

MTD: 33 and planked again for 90 seconds. Was going for 105s but I basically grunted and collapsed. Very attractive, I know. The dog keeps licking my hair every time I get on the floor. Very distracting!

3.15 miles in today but my left hip has been killing me all day. I am going to give my hip a little break for a few days and back off the mileage. I will still do what I can, just won't push it. Not sure what is going on but I hope it starts letting up soon. My mileage to date is 89 miles.

It is already hard to accept not walking as much. I am amazed how much I enjoy walking and exercising.

My husband's hip is bothering him too. Kind of like a soft tissue pain. I forced him to see a chiropractor and that helped for a bit, but he's limping now. I have to nag him to go see the doctor and get some x-rays. I hope you get yours seen to as well.

Butter great pics! I want that t-shirt because that would SO be me. Where did you get it?

I'm guessing this was you running by this girl since it's the same blue shirt? did you stop? was she any good?

My hip is killing me too! Is this just a "new runner" thing? Is it a gait problem? I was hoping to avoid such typically "heavyweight" aches and pains! I'm doing hip abductor stretches and strength training, and have good running shoes. Any other advice?

Butter great pics! I want that t-shirt because that would SO be me. Where did you get it?

I'm guessing this was you running by this girl since it's the same blue shirt? did you stop? was she any good?

<img src="http://jinxyjen.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/funnymarathon2.jpg" alt="funnymarathon2.jpg">

I soooooo would have stopped.

My hip is killing me too! Is this just a "new runner" thing? Is it a gait problem? I was hoping to avoid such typically "heavyweight" aches and pains! I'm doing hip abductor stretches and strength training, and have good running shoes. Any other advice?

Roger isn't running so I don't think that's it. I don't know if this is happening to you, Isu, and my husband but I've read on here that when you first lose weight, you get these odd aches and pains in your back, hips, knees etc. and they're because your center of gravity shifts significantly with the weight loss. For some it goes away with time.

But honestly, I think it's worth a check up. It could be something else and why take a chance, you know? Might make it worse if neglected.

For those of y'all having hip pain....as an LMT I've dealt with this frequently. Bad sitting posture leads to tightness in the gluteus medius which of course leads to pain. But it's very easy to stretch out, increasing flexibility and relieving pain. Also, focus on not letting your knees splay out while sitting or lying. If tightness is causing the pain this will help. It can't hurt.

Here's 2 good stretches. Start with the first and advance to the second when comfortable doing so.

Thanks Butter! This is what my PT told me to do.