Anyone done a 30 day plank challenge?

[BrassicaBabe]

I'm on day 3. 30 seconds isn't tooooo difficult. The 5 mins at the end of 30 days seems like a bit of a leap.

Anyone else done it and achieved the 5 mins?!

I can't do even one, but will admire you from afar.
(hurts my shoulders too much)

Sounds interesting, do you just build it up over the 30 days?

I started it this year. I didn't do it everyday but most days. I had to repeat Day 12 two or three times as I just couldn't finish the last one Then I had two weeks where I didn't do any due to a gallbladder infection! When I felt better I did Day 12 again, dreading it thinking I'd lost progress, and I finished it! Now I'm Day 21 (I think) and have had to repeat some days as it can get really hard. I don't 'feel' any stronger in myself, but clearly I am. There's a beginner, intermediate and advanced on mind so plenty to move forward with once I've done 30 days. I do like it mostly because I hate exercise and this just feels like lying about for 5 or 10 minutes

Nice one Spark. Didn't know there were different levels. I'm doing this one.

Mine is this one. It does 5 planks (the others are much easier) a day and takes 5 minutes. Really worth doing. Good luck!

I plank, but it is sooooooooo boring. What do you do for 5 minutes?

(I also tend not to like static stretching: you should always be keeping the body dynamic - moving, even if only tiny movements).

5 minutes must be horrific. I plan for 30-40 seconds at my gym sessions and that's enough and time goes SO SLOWLY!! I don't even wanna plan for a minute or more.

Hats off to anyone who does!

I do it while watching Netflix on a tablet

My teen sister is a competitive swimmer and planks for AN HOUR while watching TV. It's very funny

I love planking. Got to about day 20 though and trapped a nerve in my neck...

No more planking for me.

I do 3X 1 minute before my shower each morning.

And have any of you seen any results?

What counts as 'results'; being able to do it for longer?
Other than strange thing to brag about, what is the benefit?

@Morgan12 that's a bloody good question isn't it I do believe that a stronger core will help with my poor running form. I slump over from my shoulders especially when I'm tried.

And have any of you seen any results?

Excellent question. I think a plank is good to check out just how strong one's core is but I'm a convert to functional fitness. Planking shows you're good at planking. Another way to help with poor running form is remembering to engage the core as you run:

• think of trying to lengthen your spine from out of your pelvic girdle, without flaring the ribs.
• think of sliding the shoulder blades away from your ears and down your back towards your waist.
• think of keeping the front of your chest open and relaxed.

You need to engage your abdominal muscles like a corset to do all that, and doing that will activate your muscles and strengthen them through use - using dynamic strength.

Too often people hold planks through tension - I see their shoulders hunching up and their neck & spine alignment going to pot.

I'm working on trying to get a full unassisted pull up (it'll take me about a decade at the rate I"m going!) One thing I'm doing for that is practising "hollow holds" - I can just about hold for a count of 25. It's tough, and it's tough to keep the body dynamic and not holding by tension or clenching. I have to focus on really deep breathing.

But the hollow hold is essential for the strength in the font of the body, to complement the strength in the lats & shoulders for a pull up.

Well I l'd say my abs aren't too bad for an old bird with 2 kids...