30 day plank challenge

[lookout]

I'm only on day 3, which is 30 seconds plank, and by 20 seconds I am shaking like a leaf! I find it impossible to believe I will be able to plank for 5 minutes at once by the end of 30 days. Am I doing it right?

[Sleepwhenidie]

Probably yes!

[lookout]

Hahaha , so shaking whilst planking is perfectly normal? And 5 minutes after 30 days, really??? Have you done it, out of interest?

[Sleepwhenidie]

I can plank, think the longest I've managed is just over 3 mins, I haven't tried the plank challenge though and don't do it every day. I have no idea if you'll manage 5 mins but you will be much stronger and have a flatter tummy so it's worth a go!

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

God yes, planks are really tough!

I'm doing 3 x 45 seconds at the moment. I did look at the 30 day thing but I really don't think I could hold it for much more than 1 minute at a time. I don't think any amount of practice could build me up to minutes at a time.

They really hurt. It's a good kind of pain though, I can actually feel stomach muscles I though were broken forever

[OhTinky]

I'm doing it. Think it's a minute tonight but ramps up to 90secs on Monday. Expect I'll be shaking like a leaf!

[lookout]

Sleep wow, 3 minutes is impressive! Definitely agree it is the best way to a flatter tummy, plus excellent for my lower back.

Doyou, go on, you should give the challenge a go with me! I don't think I could hold it for more than a minute either, at the moment, but am willing to give it a try

I have only been planking on and off for about 9 months, going from not being able to do it at all to about a minute. But haven't done any since the summer really. I love the challenge of it, though I will be really surprised that once a day for 30 days gets me to plank for so long!

Also do you plank on your hands or forearms? I'd always thought it was on the hands but the website I am following says forearms

[lookout]

OhTinky well done on getting to a minute! Did you have plank experience () before starting??

[ConfusedPixie]

I'm doing it too! I've skipped today due to drama with a list power this morning and a looong work day, but I'm enjoying it so far, still shaking like a leaf though!

[yankeecandlebabypowder]

I do the plank & I do 1 min every AM & every PM.

[lookout]

Yankee do you shake?
Confused I forgot yesterday whoops, only day 4! What day are you up to?

[Salhal]

I'm doing it, without looking I can't remember what day i'm on but my last plank was 2 mins and at the beginning I never though that would be possible. It was very hard though and I was shaking!

[ConfusedPixie]

list power was meant to be lost rat

I was only on day three! Back to it today, it racks up lots of points on fitocracy and I'm having a competition with DP to see who can get the most this year. He's winning because he runs :( But planking will be my slow but steady income of points!

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I did 1 minute 20 seconds today, it hurt so bad!

I'm really not sure I could get beyond 1minute 30 seconds any time soon. I could do shorter planks in sets though so I'm not sure if I should try the 30 day challenge or just do planks as a mini circuit with squats and press ups as I'm doing now.

I am doing the squat challenge which I'm loving. I find that infinitely more achievable though.

[lookout]

I hate squats, they mess with my knees something rotten. I know what you mean about the plank challenge seeming less achievable though. 5 mins in 30 days??? rest day for me today, onto 45 secs tomorrow, still doable I think!

[SonorousBip]

Oooh, that sounds good - where can I find details of this, please?

(I'm currently doing the "how to do a perfect press up" challenge which I got from pinterest. Its going...slowly!)

[HalleLouja]

I had my rest day yesterday. So back on it today.

[lookout]

here Sonorous It is good but difficult, and I've only just started

[lookout]

Well done Halle, keep up the good work!

[ConfusedPixie]

Ah, I'm doing a different one, the one I'm doing incorporates side Planks too. I may try this one too though so side Planks fuck with my wrists!

[HalleLouja]

Actually got confused today is my rest day [puts feet up except I am off out for a run and pilates later]

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

I started it on 1st January, so I'm up to 4 minutes. I really don't think I'll make it to 5. I'm already struggling not to sag at the end and I don't feel like the earlier bit is getting any easier.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

4 minutes!

OMG, I did 1 minute 30 today and I'm not sure I could make the leap to 2 minutes any time soon.

I've only been planking 3 weeks! I'm a long time runner but finally decided I need to work on my core strength a bit. Press ups are getting a bit better, can lower myself down a bit further and squats I find fairly easy tbh.

Planking is just tough!

I did try some other abdo exercises but it strained my lower abdomen too much where I've got a large scar from surgery. My tummy will never be flat because of an overhang from the surgery so my focus is just on improving my core strength for my running and general well being.

[yankeecandlebabypowder]

lookout not any more when I do 1 min. I have no increased it to 90 seconds and I shake a bit!

[BlueChampagne]

Is 1 x 5 min very much better than 5 x 1 min?

[lookout]

I guess the idea Blue is that you build up to longer planks because that is progressing your strength. I think 5 x 1m a day would be brilliant though, I'm only doing it once a day haha!

Did my 45 secs today, still shaking. I'm wondering whether I should try and do it twice a day to see better results. I'd also be more likely to believe in the 5m outcome if I was planking twice a day!