The FastDay Forum

I finally managed 2 minutes, but now the challenge wants me to do 2.5! I'll be lucky to hit 2 again. It's going to take me more than 30 days to reach 300s. I'm just going to proceed at my own pace.

All you plank experts out there @jools7, @ADFnFuel: what about when you're done with the challenge? Obviously it's an exercise I'll continue to do, but would you plateau the time, or keep trying to increase it? Or add in variations?

Hi,
Just loaded a little android app called "plank a lot" that keeps track of your progress, has tweaks & applauds you when you're done. I was excited to move from 20 to 30 seconds! Looking forward to working up to where you all are. One day at a time...

I finally managed 2 minutes, but now the challenge wants me to do 2.5! I'll be lucky to hit 2 again. It's going to take me more than 30 days to reach 300s. I'm just going to proceed at my own pace.

All you plank experts out there @jools7, @ADFnFuel: what about when you're done with the challenge? Obviously it's an exercise I'll continue to do, but would you plateau the time, or keep trying to increase it? Or add in variations?

Hi @MaryAnn I wondered that too. I finished the challenge on 30th April and have been doing the Little Black Dress challenge which includes planks. I also decided to add planks of varying times and styles to the exercise medley I do most days. As with most exercise, I think mixing and matching - not sticking to the same sets - is the key.

I am registering a half inch loss from my waist since starting doing planks - so thank you for starting this thread

Yes, thanks for starting this thread. I did 45 secs today. Its tough, but OK. Feeling the pain in my elbows more than anything.

I finally managed 2 minutes, but now the challenge wants me to do 2.5! I'll be lucky to hit 2 again. It's going to take me more than 30 days to reach 300s. I'm just going to proceed at my own pace.

All you plank experts out there @jools7, @ADFnFuel: what about when you're done with the challenge? Obviously it's an exercise I'll continue to do, but would you plateau the time, or keep trying to increase it? Or add in variations?

Hi MaryAnn I wondered that too. I finished the challenge on 30th April and have been doing the Little Black Dress challenge which includes planks. I also decided to add planks of varying times and styles to the exercise medley I do most days. As with most exercise, I think mixing and matching - not sticking to the same sets - is the key.

I am registering a half inch loss from my waist since starting doing planks - so thank you for starting this thread

Happy to see some life back in this thread.

WAY TO GO ANNIEW!! I'll bet you can bounce rocks of those abs! I"m quite confident that I could now safely fend off a savage ping pong ball attack. But 5(!) minutes ... seems sooo far away.

Managed 3:15 this morning in a no warmup, have to be somewhere else time slot. I'm also planking at my own pace, only paying cursory attention to the schedule. That there are so many 30 second increments near the end seems punishing.

I've been collecting dynamic stretches for pre-run warmups for a while now; planks are now on the permanent list.

Anyone know if a plank is considered isometric? Mine can get dynamic near the end if muscle trembling counts.

Variation is good. I have noticed a certain increased flexibility and limberness that wasn't necessarily there before.

Yes, thank you MaryAnn for this challenge.



John

Hi @maryann, sorry I'm not on the forum regularly atm, due to feeling a unsupported on some issues, so it took me a while to read your post. It's lonely being a voice crying in the wilderness.

I am not really a fan of long-duration isometric poses, I reckon it might be bad for blood pressure actually. I don't think muscle trembling counts as isotonic, btw! I'd be turning it into a modified downward dog, as I mentioned before, from a plank on hands, not forearms, bring your weight back over your feet, stick you bum in the air. Or for the next level of difficulty, swing one leg up behind you in line with your body. Then you can flex your hip & knee underneath your body, as you come into more of a plank alignment, then swing it out again, as you stick your bum up again. You can repeat 4-5 times, or more!

Or you could turn it into a pointer - lift opposite arm & leg away from your body, making sure you minimise weight transfer from side to side by ensuring you have your glutes & lats on. The further apart your arms and your legs are for this, the easier it makes it, so be kind to yourself to start with! For further info, consult your friendly local Pilates teacher!

Good luck!

Hi Jools. Thanks so much for your response. I have been thinking about Pilates or yoga lately. Evidently there is a good course at the local community center, I just need to figure out their schedule. The thing I like about the plank is that you can do it anywhere (more or less) and it's quick. But… I think doing a variety of core exercises will both be better and less likely to get boring.

3:15 just now but without my usual 'form' witness so not sure how valid it was. Felt pretty hard, probably could have gone a bit longer if I had more moral fibre but 5:00 was definitely not within reach...

quote]
Happy to see some life back in this thread.

WAY TO GO ANNIEW!! I'll bet you can bounce rocks of those abs! I"m quite confident that I could now safely fend off a savage ping pong ball attack. But 5(!) minutes ... seems sooo far away.

Unfortunately not! Oh the abs are there and, when you find them, are firm but even with a bmi under 21 they are keeping their warming layer of blubber. As I'm maintaining looks like I'll have to live with it

Sorry, seem to have got the quotes mixed up a bit.

Way to go CreakyPete! Did stiff hips make it easier?

Hit 3:30 yesterday adding the usual 3 more seconds to build moral fibre.

jools7 - Agree, but you can only lead them so far...


Update: May 9th - 3:45 this AM.
Update: May 11 - 4:05 this AM.
Update: May 14 - 4:20 this AM.
Update: May 17 - 4:33.
Update: May 19 - 4:45 So close...
Update: May 25 - 5:10

Hello fellow Plankers

I am on Day 5 today but keep forgetting to do it!! Need to set an alarm on my phone or something. I should be on day 7 but repeated Day 3 after a day off!

At this point cannot see myself doing 5 minutes.....Did anyone actually reach the end yet?!

I'm stuck on 2. My form starts slipping after that, and it's not worth getting injured.

[wildmissus]

I'm stuck on 60 seconds but I haven't been doing it every day. I'll keep plodding on. I think the only way I'll get to 90 seconds is to try 75 seconds for a few days first.

I'm stuck on 60 seconds but I haven't been doing it every day. I'll keep plodding on. I think the only way I'll get to 90 seconds is to try 75 seconds for a few days first.

Go for it! Any progress is good progress!

Here's a gold for motivation...

Anyone else find one side easier than the other? I can do the conventional, and one side for 60 secs, but the other side is impossible