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.

Fiddle I've had 2 turn biceps tendons. Not a pleasant experience and it cannot be treated with anything other than surgery.

Hope it's not that.

I do not think it is that because according to online info, a torn bicep tendon would be in the shoulder region. The pain I had was about 1/2 way down the upper left arm. And I have had this before several times in the last few months. It is just that when it happened yesterday, it was really intense and all day. Neither voltaren gel (topical nsaid) nor 3 extra strength Tylenol would touch the pain. I keep thinking it might be the start of Rhabdomyolysis, but who knows. I do not have any of the other symptoms.

Anyways, that is not the real reason for taking a couple rest days. My whole body felt like it has been tackled by a line backer yesterday. It is feeling about 60% today.

LOL....ok. Well that online thing I'm sure can't be wrong. But I've had 2 and they hurt like hell toward the elbow end of the bicep. It's called a distal bicep tear. If it tears at the shoulder it's called a proximal tear.

I'm pretty frustrated...haven't done any exercise since Thursday. Friday was a rest day and Saturday I got sick and I just feel miserable. I'm hoping to jump back in as soon as this passes!

Yesterday was nothing but a bit of Costco walking and pain meds for my hip. Today is a trial bike commute (I hope!) and sailing. Details to follow.

I'm pretty frustrated...haven't done any exercise since Thursday. Friday was a rest day and Saturday I got sick and I just feel miserable. I'm hoping to jump back in as soon as this passes!

Hang in there. I've had several days like that and I felt like I was being "lazy" even though I was in so much pain I couldn't walk! I had to give myself a stern talking to. You'll be back when you can.

Well I did 11 miles today (1 on cross trainer, 9 on the bike and 1 on the rowing machine)

I do feel like I've been unrealistic in my goal which was 150miles this month. The reason I feel it's unrealistic is not because I can't achieve it but rather because I'm feel I'm sacrificing effort for miles. For example the cross trainer gives me a much better workout but only 1 mile in the same time the bike gives me 9.. No blood, sweat and tears on the bike, where as I'm pouring on the cross trainer?? I do like a good sweat!!

Well I did 11 miles today (1 on cross trainer' date=' 9 on the bike and 1 on the rowing machine) I do feel like I've been unrealistic in my goal which was 150miles this month. The reason I feel it's unrealistic is not because I can't achieve it but rather because I'm feel I'm sacrificing effort for miles. For example the cross trainer gives me a much better workout but only 1 mile in the same time the bike gives me 9.. No blood, sweat and tears on the bike, where as I'm pouring on the cross trainer?? I do like a good sweat!![/quote']

I know what you mean. The bike is so much easier than walking for me. Perhaps you should break your 150 down into different buckets and say so many for cross trainer, so many for bike etc and not worry if it doesn't add up to 150?

Well I did 11 miles today (1 on cross trainer' date=' 9 on the bike and 1 on the rowing machine) I do feel like I've been unrealistic in my goal which was 150miles this month. The reason I feel it's unrealistic is not because I can't achieve it but rather because I'm feel I'm sacrificing effort for miles. For example the cross trainer gives me a much better workout but only 1 mile in the same time the bike gives me 9.. No blood, sweat and tears on the bike, where as I'm pouring on the cross trainer?? I do like a good sweat!![/quote']

Or just set a goal of calories burned. Haven't seen that one yet. I think it's a good one. Say....15000 calories burned for the month. Just a though.

I pledge to walk/jog 60 miles.

I know what you mean. The bike is so much easier than walking for me. Perhaps you should break your 150 down into different buckets and say so many for cross trainer' date=' so many for bike etc and not worry if it doesn't add up to 150?[/quote']

Thanks gamergirl.. Yes that's I guess in essence what I was trying to get at. The bike for me is easy!! Thanks for the alternate suggestion.. I'll have a sleep on it.. Very much like BTB's suggestion!!

Or just set a goal of calories burned. Haven't seen that one yet. I think it's a good one. Say....15000 calories burned for the month. Just a though.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes perhaps that's a good target. That will also make me push harder because we all know higher resistance equals more sweat and more calories!! I don't have an accurate calorie counter but I could use the machines as a generic!! Many many thanks to you and gamergirl for your helpful and positive suggestions.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes perhaps that's a good target. That will also make me push harder because we all know higher resistance equals more sweat and more calories!! I don't have an accurate calorie counter but I could use the machines as a generic!! Many many thanks to you and gamergirl for your helpful and positive suggestions.

Perhaps a HR monitor is your next purchase. It will give you a very close idea on calories burned no matter what workout you do.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes perhaps that's a good target. That will also make me push harder because we all know higher resistance equals more sweat and more calories!! I don't have an accurate calorie counter but I could use the machines as a generic!! Many many thanks to you and gamergirl for your helpful and positive suggestions.

Another approach you might try that will increase the perceived effort on the bike is to consider HIIT or Tabata style training.

For HIIT, go 80% intensity for 2 minutes, then 60% intensity for 2 minutes and repeat for 20 minutes.

For Tabata, go all out (100%) for 20 seconds, rest 20 seconds and repeat for 8 minutes.

Both of these approaches will give you a great work out on the bike in a fraction of the time. You could incorporate this type of workout 1-2 x a week into your fitness plan.

Another approach you might try that will increase the perceived effort on the bike is to consider HIIT or Tabata style training.

For HIIT' date=' go 80% intensity for 2 minutes, then 60% intensity for 2 minutes and repeat for 20 minutes.

For Tabata, go all out (100%) for 20 seconds, rest 20 seconds and repeat for 8 minutes.

Both of these approaches will give you a great work out on the bike in a fraction of the time. You could incorporate this type of workout 1-2 x a week into your fitness plan.[/quote']

Hey Fiddelman, yes I love HIIT and tabata style training and use the tabata protocol with my kettlebells, planks, rowing, stair climbing etc. this is definitely the style of workout I prefer. That's where my indecision lay because the mileage is so much less than if I just sit on the bike say and pedal at 100rpm on level 1/2.

I think I may edit my original goal to 15000 calories this month because then I can still train in the style I enjoy rather than just training to make the miles.

This is a lesson for me. In future I should think through what I really want to achieve. I guess the same can be said for our weightloss.. What do we really want to achieve.. Goal, be healthy and happy, have a 6 pack, sexy or whatever else it might be. I need to consider the perspective more. Many thanks for helping me see it in a different light.

Day 3- 4 miles walked MTD-11.5