60 Minutes per Month Plank Challenge - May 2018!
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. or want to do more, 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 or do them in a couple of longer mixed sets at the end of my normal workout routine.
>>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 5-minute set that goes something like this:
30 seconds forearm, 30 seconds straight arm with 15 push ups added in for good measure, 30 seconds left side plank, 30 seconds right side plank, repeat the 30 second side planks until I hit 5 minutes total without stopping. Mixing things up gives me a more rounded workout, and I generally never hold any one position longer than 1 minute. I'll then stop, do some yoga, stretching, maybe a few crunches or leg lifts, inverted bicycles, then I'll go back and do this 5-minute plank again to finish up my 10 minutes for the day. 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 next post 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. Remember form is more important than length of the plank. Don't slouch. Make sure your core is tight during each plank, don't put all the pressure on your arms or legs. There are plenty of youtube videos (some examples below) about how to make a plank effective with good form. Take some time and view a few of them. It'll help in the long run. Your times can increase as you get better, no worries if you can only do a few seconds at first. Rest, and do a few more seconds, or switch positions.
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. Just post either daily or as often as you can with your running totals. No spreadsheets, no groups. Easy peasy.
Last month's 60 minute plank challenge thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10655841/60-minutes-per-month-plank-challenge-april-2018/
Welcome and get planking!!
As always, 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 original examples, quoted text, and ideas were, and still are, her contribution. I've added things along the way to help, and if anyone has suggestions I'd be happy to incorporate more. She tells me she copied this from another site, well.. it's ours now! 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. There's no need to feel you have to out match someone else. Your goals are just that, yours. We have never been judgemental. Everyone needs a strong core, and we believe this is a good path to that goal!
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 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):
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):
For details on the variations, here's the full slideshow: http://www.slideshare.net/TodaysFitnessTrainer/30-day-plank-challenge[/quote]
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 or do them in a couple of longer mixed sets at the end of my normal workout routine.
>>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 5-minute set that goes something like this:
30 seconds forearm, 30 seconds straight arm with 15 push ups added in for good measure, 30 seconds left side plank, 30 seconds right side plank, repeat the 30 second side planks until I hit 5 minutes total without stopping. Mixing things up gives me a more rounded workout, and I generally never hold any one position longer than 1 minute. I'll then stop, do some yoga, stretching, maybe a few crunches or leg lifts, inverted bicycles, then I'll go back and do this 5-minute plank again to finish up my 10 minutes for the day. 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 next post 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. Remember form is more important than length of the plank. Don't slouch. Make sure your core is tight during each plank, don't put all the pressure on your arms or legs. There are plenty of youtube videos (some examples below) about how to make a plank effective with good form. Take some time and view a few of them. It'll help in the long run. Your times can increase as you get better, no worries if you can only do a few seconds at first. Rest, and do a few more seconds, or switch positions.
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. Just post either daily or as often as you can with your running totals. No spreadsheets, no groups. Easy peasy.
Last month's 60 minute plank challenge thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10655841/60-minutes-per-month-plank-challenge-april-2018/
Welcome and get planking!!
As always, 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 original examples, quoted text, and ideas were, and still are, her contribution. I've added things along the way to help, and if anyone has suggestions I'd be happy to incorporate more. She tells me she copied this from another site, well.. it's ours now! 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. There's no need to feel you have to out match someone else. Your goals are just that, yours. We have never been judgemental. Everyone needs a strong core, and we believe this is a good path to that goal!
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 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):
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):
For details on the variations, here's the full slideshow: http://www.slideshare.net/TodaysFitnessTrainer/30-day-plank-challenge[/quote]
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:
DareBee Killer Core Plank Workout:
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:
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
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Shooting for 80 this month! And hopefully a better back half
3 -
I'd like to join this challenge. I already do planks occasionally, so my goal is the 60 minutes of plank for the month of MAY...lucky we get one extra day for a rest day in there. Thanks3
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I'd like to set a goal of 60 minutes in May!3
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I would like to set a goal of 60 minutes for the month of May! Im really looking forward to this group. I’ve been following this group some in April and was so Impressed by the members!1
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Welcome to the challenge! Love to see new faces!1
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Shooting for 80 this month! And hopefully a better back half
At least May is a bit easier for me, can stick to 10 min/day instead of 12 like last month. Wore me out lol! Should be a total of 18 days for planking for me doing 4 days a week so if I don't get behind I'll just make 180 for the month lol.0 -
Spliner1969 wrote: »At least May is a bit easier for me, can stick to 10 min/day instead of 12 like last month. Wore me out lol! Should be a total of 18 days for planking for me doing 4 days a week so if I don't get behind I'll just make 180 for the month lol.
I miss the days of everything being routine. I’m trying to get back to that now despite a crazy schedule.
2 -
I'm in...gonna shoot for 115 minutes.2
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I'm in. I am fairly new to planks, so I will try the Alt. 30-Day Plank Workout to get to build to a 5 minute plank day. Goal is 53 min 20 sec.2
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I'm in. Love the flexibility of grabbing your planking minutes wherever you can. I'll shoot for 60 this month.3
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I am in for 60 minutes this month!3
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5/1 - 5 min mixed planks
Goal -115
Remaining - 1104 -
May 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
Total for May 10 min, 170 left for goal.1 -
Well, I noped out of trying to come up with 12 extra minutes at the end of April so I ended up a little short of my 110 minute goal, but such is life. I’ll be going for 120 minutes this month on a four day a week, 2 x 4 minute schedule. I think more days off will be good now that I’m running again plus weight lifting. Good times. Happy planking!2
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Plank Challenge
5/1 5 minutes mixed planks wayyy to long to start but did it!
Goal 60
Remaining 551 -
Going for 60 mins again.
May 1: 3 mins. (6x30 sec intervals) Total: 3 mins.1 -
5/1 - 1.5 minutes down, 58.5 to go. 2
-
5/1 - 5 min mixed planks
5/2 - 5 min mixed planks
Goal -115
Remaining - 1052 -
Plank Challenge
5/1 5 minutes mixed planks wayyy to long to start but did it!
5/2 5 min mixed planks
Goal 60
Remaining 501 -
Going for 60 mins again.
May 1: 3 mins. (6x30 sec intervals) Total: 3 mins.
May 2: 3 mins. (3x40 sec intervals, 2x30 sec intervals) Total: 6 mins.2 -
May 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
May 2nd, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
Total for May 20 min, 160 left for goal.2 -
5/1 - 1.5 min
5/2 - 2 min
3.5 min total, 56.5 minutes to go1 -
May 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
May 2nd, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
May 3rd, None, Planned Rest Day
Total for May 20 min, 160 left for goal.2 -
MegaMooseEsq wrote: »Well, I noped out of trying to come up with 12 extra minutes at the end of April so I ended up a little short of my 110 minute goal, but such is life. I’ll be going for 120 minutes this month on a four day a week, 2 x 4 minute schedule. I think more days off will be good now that I’m running again plus weight lifting. Good times. Happy planking!
It's all good. I truly believe it's not the number of minutes that you do in a month that makes as much of a difference as consistency. If you do them regularly you're benefiting from it none the less. My goal is usually my absolute maximum I can get done in most months but I'm one of those people who push themselves too hard sometimes. I'm honestly not sure I get any more benefit from 180 minutes a month vs maybe doing 120 or so. It's just that I've baked in a minimum of 10 minutes into my normal workout routine so it averages out that I can usually do that many. But.. some months it's tough to keep it up and that 180 slaps me in the face and I have to do more each day to keep up lol. Shorter months are definitely tougher! Keep up the hard work!3 -
Plank Challenge
5/1 5 minutes mixed planks wayyy to long to start but did it!
5/2 5 min mixed planks
5/3 5 min mixed planks
Goal 60
Remaining 451 -
5/1 - 5 min mixed planks
5/2 - 5 min mixed planks
5/3 - 5 min mixed planks
Goal -115
Remaining - 1002 -
Going for 60 mins again.
May 1: 3 mins. (6x30 sec intervals) Total: 3 mins.
May 2: 3 mins. (3x40 sec intervals, 2x30 sec intervals) Total: 6 mins.
May 3: 3 mins. (3x40 sec intervals, 2x30 sec intervals) Total: 9 mins.2 -
5/3 - 2 minutes
Goal - 60
Remaining - 583 -
Is it too late to join the challenge? O,O
I am fairly new, so I would like to attempt the Alternate 30 Day (53+ minutes)
4/5: 1x15s3 -
5/1 - 5 min mixed planks
5/2 - 5 min mixed planks
5/3 - 5 min mixed planks
5/4 - 5 min mixed planks
Goal -115
Remaining - 952
This discussion has been closed.
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