60 Minutes per Month Plank Challenge - October 2017

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Spliner1969
Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
This is a pretty simple challenge thread for those that want to have some accountability with their plank workouts. This plank challenge thread is meant to be flexible enough that people of various fitness levels should be able to successfully complete it as long as they are consistent with doing their planks regularly. If you find you cannot complete 60 minutes, you are welcome to set your own goals, many of us do.

Original Challenge Goal - 60 minutes of planks for the month. That's about 2 minutes of planks daily, or 3 minutes of planks for 20 days or 5 minutes of planks for 12 days...or...what ever you want to do to reach the challenge goal. I, personally, do mixed planks of up to 10 minutes per day. I split them up throughout my normal workouts.

>>If you are already a planking superstar or start to consistently hit the challenge goal, feel free to post your own goal at the beginning of the challenge that is higher than the one for the posted challenge. Or post an updated goal once you hit 60 minutes.
>>If you join us late in the month, feel free to post an alternate goal that is in the spirit of the original challenge (for example, joining around the 15th would be a 30 minute plank challenge to finish out the month).

How many sets? As many as you need. If you can do a 5 minute plank in one set, that is amazing!! If you want to do a few sets of 1 - 2 minute planks, that's cool! If you need to break up your planks into multiple sets of 15-30 seconds, that's okay too! I do a 4-minute set that goes something like this:

1 minute forearm, 30 seconds left side plank, 30 seconds right side plank, 30 seconds left side plank, 30 seconds right side plank, 30 seconds left side plank, and finally, yup, you guessed it.. 30 seconds right side plank. Mixing things up gives me a more rounded workout, and I generally never hold any one position longer than 1 minute. Feel free to create your own.

Types of planks? ALL planks and their variations count! Straight arm planks, forearm/elbow planks, side planks, reverse planks, etc. This allows you to vary your planks depending on your personal workout goals. (See below for a variety of planking ideas.) I even add push ups during some of my planks as well as leg raises, etc. to push just a bit harder.

How to join / participate? Just post your intended goal, then the total minutes of the planks you did for the day and your running total for the month. No spreadsheets, no groups. Easy peasy. I get behind on the weekends and catch up my posts during the week. That's ok too. It helps your fellow challengers to see others posting regularly so do so if you can. I subscribe to this post, that way I will see when others post and it gives me motivation to keep up my plank workouts.

Last month's 60 minute plank challenge thread:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10592354/60-minutes-per-month-plank-challenge-september-2017/

Welcome and get planking!!

I am continuing this challenge once again for @b3achy, the original author. All credit goes to her for starting this thing many many moons ago. All examples, quoted text, and ideas were, and still are, her contributions. I take no credit here, just keeping the torch lit in her absence. Stay tuned for some examples, and happy planking!

I'd like to add (as stated above in bold) that it has long since been a tradition that we accept any goal. If you don't feel you can do 60 minutes, or if you start late in the month, we want you here. So post your personal goal and start planking. You can come back each month and increase your times until you reach the challenge goal or go beyond it. Some of us go way beyond it and that's ok too. We have never been judgemental. Everyone needs a strong core, and we believe this is the path to that goal!

Remember, no judgement, ever! That's the one rule about this challenge, you may not judge other people's efforts. All effort is good effort, and all we care is that you try. If you need to drop out for personal reasons, and/or come back later, it's all good. Do your thing, fitness is about you.

Some examples:

30 Day Beginner Plank Challenge - builds to a 2 minute plank (total is 26 minutes and 55 seconds for the month, so 33 minutes and 5 seconds short of 60 minutes. Recommend doing multiples earlier in the program when they are shorter to get more minutes for 60):
30-day-plank-workout6.jpg

30 Day Advanced Plank Workout - building to 5 minute planks (total is 53 minutes and 20 seconds for the month, so 6 minutes and 40 seconds short of 60 minutes unless you do multiples earlier in the program):
30-day-plank-challenge-chart.jpg

Here's an Alternate 30 Day Plank Workout (for beginners, intermediate, and advanced) that also builds to 5 minutes of Planks (by doing multiples of no more than 30 sec planks; also 53 minutes and 20 seconds for the month):
30-day-plank-challenge-10-1024.jpg?cb=1438051399
For details on the variations, here's the full slideshow: http://www.slideshare.net/TodaysFitnessTrainer/30-day-plank-challenge[/quote]
b3achy wrote: »
Intermediate Plank Workouts:
These are intermediate level workouts, good to try once you have a good foundation of standard planks and are looking for something more interesting or with more variety.

3 minute Bowflex Plank Workout:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynUw0YsrmSg

Rebecca Louise 5 minute Plank Workout (shows nearly proper form (butt's a little too far in the air, IMO), and modified forms):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Ge7uGpjFY

DareBee 5 minute Plank Workout:
five-minute-plank-workout.jpg

DareBee Killer Core Plank Workout:
killer-core-workout.jpg

Advanced Workouts:
Do not try these if you have never done a plank before. These are workouts to build up to once you successfully establish a good foundation of standard planks (and probably only once you've managed to do some of the intermediate workouts).

15 Minute Advanced Plank Workout:
wh-15-min-plank-workout_0.jpeg
See details in this article ~ http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/plank-abs-workout

FitnessBlender 10 minute Advanced Plank Workout (this looks brutal):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DNN9a5pU2A
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Replies

  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
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    I'm in it for 180 minutes again this month. Looking forward to familiar faces joining us again, and some new ones, so feel free to post a status link to this thread to your friends. All are welcome!
  • missevil
    missevil Posts: 113 Member
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    Ok, last month, (well, technically, this month) I did a 30 days SHRED challenge, so might join a new one in October as well. :smiley: So count me in. I'll try to meet the 60 minutes. Need to improve my core and arm strength, so I think that's a nice idea. I'll probably join a few days late because I won't be home until the 4th. Let's see if I find a possibility to do it anyway.
    I'm looking forward to do this with you :smiley:
  • LuneX666
    LuneX666 Posts: 10 Member
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    Count me in.
    After reaching 50% of the weight goal i set to myself (60 kilo in total) last month, i should start doing more to push me further.
    Just the 60 minutes in whatever flavour of plank i feel good in.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,467 Member
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    Didn't even look because there is no way I can plank 2 minutes. Sneaked a peak. Hey! I might be able to do the beginner challenge! I'm in to give it a try!
  • dancefit2015
    dancefit2015 Posts: 236 Member
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    I'm in for 60 minutes! Do supermans count as a plank variation? I like to do those when I plank to get my back more involved.
  • nerolienik
    nerolienik Posts: 12 Member
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    In for 60 minutes.
  • 12cjansen
    12cjansen Posts: 13 Member
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    I'm in for 60 minutes
  • Asturiah
    Asturiah Posts: 42 Member
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    Alright... never did planking... I'm in for 60 minutes , trying the beginner challenge .
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
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    I'm in for 60 minutes! Do supermans count as a plank variation? I like to do those when I plank to get my back more involved.

    All planks count, welcome to the challenge ;)
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
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    Don't forget, do your planks however they suit you. No need to do any of the examples if you can't yet do them. Planks are effective when you engage your core muscles, so when you're doing your planks make sure you're tightening your core muscles. Doesn't really matter if it's 10 seconds or 10 minutes at a time. It'll get easier as you progress.
  • vandinem
    vandinem Posts: 550 Member
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    Date      Minutes      MTD   Notes
    -------   -------    ------- ------------------------
    Oct   1     4.0        4.0   1X90, 2x60, 1x30 seconds
    
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
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    October 1, 2x4 min mixed planks, 1x2 min mixed plank (10 min)

    Total for October, 10 minutes, 170 to go!
  • 12cjansen
    12cjansen Posts: 13 Member
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    40 seconds .... it's a start.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,467 Member
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    Forearm - 25 seconds
    Left - 5 seconds
    Right - 15 seconds
    Total - 45 seconds.
    Better than I guessed!
  • nerolienik
    nerolienik Posts: 12 Member
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    Oct 1: 4 x 30 sec = 2 mins.

    October Total: 2 mins
  • Asturiah
    Asturiah Posts: 42 Member
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    October 1st : 1min30 (That's a start )
    October 2nd : 4min (woop woop 3min of side planks and one of normal planking )
  • katsheare
    katsheare Posts: 1,025 Member
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    Totally in for 60 minutes, and going to try that darebee 5 minute variation at least once a week!

    1 Oct: 3 min

    Total remaining: 57/60
  • nerolienik
    nerolienik Posts: 12 Member
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    Oct 1: 4 x 30 sec = 2 mins.
    Oct 2: 5 x 30 sec = 2.5 mins.

    October Total: 4.5 mins
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
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    October 1, 2x4 min mixed planks, 1x2 min mixed plank (10 min)
    October 2, None, Planned Rest Day

    Total for October, 10 minutes, 170 to go!
  • liljon8818
    liljon8818 Posts: 8 Member
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    Starting a day late, but excited to try. I am a complete nubs so aiming for 26 min 55 secs