60 Minutes per Month Plank Challenge - June 2018!

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. 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/10663518/60-minutes-per-month-plank-challenge-may-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-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
    Sorry for the late post. Lost my glasses on Vacation this week, and a new pair is going to take two weeks lol. But as usual I'm in for 180 and hope to see everyone back this month for some ab blasting fun! Bring your friends!

    Spliner
  • Elfinnyx
    Elfinnyx Posts: 55 Member
    I'm in for 60, I got ill at the end of May so didn't quite manage my goal last month.

    1/6 - 4 minutes, mixed planks
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
    I just completely lost motivation at the end of last month. But I'm gonna get in for 100 minutes.
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    June 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)

    Total for June, 10 minutes, 170 to go!
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    Glad to have you guys back! Hoping we see some new faces too. I'm still on vacation until Monday but making myself keep up!
  • SoozeE512
    SoozeE512 Posts: 439 Member
    June 1st - 2 minutes
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    June 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
    June 2nd, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)

    Total for June, 20 minutes, 160 to go!
  • kashcopyright
    kashcopyright Posts: 21 Member
    In for 60!
  • Crochetmama84
    Crochetmama84 Posts: 224 Member
    What about the planks set to music that i see on youtube (such as "cupids shuffle)???
  • SoozeE512
    SoozeE512 Posts: 439 Member
    June 1st - 2 minutes
    June 2nd - 2 minutes

    Total: 4 minutes
  • Elfinnyx
    Elfinnyx Posts: 55 Member
    1/6 - 4 minutes, mixed planks
    2/6 - 4 minutes, mixed planks

    Total: 8 minutes
  • blackburn23
    blackburn23 Posts: 385 Member
    Going to try to keep it going! I am going to set a goal of 70 mins. this month.

    June 1: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 3 mins. (I held my first "one minute" plank!!!)
    June 2: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 6 mins.
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    What about the planks set to music that i see on youtube (such as "cupids shuffle)???

    Whatever works! ;)

  • Crochetmama84
    Crochetmama84 Posts: 224 Member
    What about the planks set to music that i see on youtube (such as "cupids shuffle)???

    Whatever works! ;)

    Awesome! Im in!
  • Crochetmama84
    Crochetmama84 Posts: 224 Member
    How do you log them??...or do you??
  • blackburn23
    blackburn23 Posts: 385 Member
    Going to try to keep it going! I am going to set a goal of 70 mins. this month.

    June 1: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 3 mins. (I held my first "one minute" plank!!!)
    June 2: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 6 mins.
    June 3: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 9 mins.
  • SoozeE512
    SoozeE512 Posts: 439 Member
    June 1st - 2 minutes
    June 2nd - 2 minutes
    June 3rd - 2 minutes

    Total: 6 minutes
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
    Goal - 100 minutes

    6/4 - 5 min mixed planks

    Total - 5
    Remaining - 95
  • Elfinnyx
    Elfinnyx Posts: 55 Member
    1/6 - 4 minutes, mixed planks
    2/6 - 4 minutes, mixed planks
    3/6 - 3 minutes, mixed planks
    4/4 - 4 minutes, mixed planks

    Total: 15 minutes
    Remaining: 45 minutes
  • blackburn23
    blackburn23 Posts: 385 Member
    Going to try to keep it going! I am going to set a goal of 70 mins. this month.

    June 1: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 3 mins. (I held my first "one minute" plank!!!)
    June 2: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 6 mins.
    June 3: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 9 mins.
    June 4: Rest day
  • kashcopyright
    kashcopyright Posts: 21 Member
    edited June 2018
    GOL: 60 minutes
    6/2: 2 one minuters = 2
    Almost forgot today!
    6/4: 3 one minuters = 3
    Total = 5 || Remaining = 55
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    How do you log them??...or do you??

    We just post updates here, you'll see the rest of us posting daily or every few days with updates of how many minutes we've done so far, we keep a running total and generally post how many minutes we have left to reach our goal. But there are no specific rules other than posting as regularly as you can to help keep yourself and others motivated. Life gets in the way sometimes and many of us manage to get them done but take a few days to post updates, and that's completely acceptable.

  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    June 1st, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
    June 2nd, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)
    June 3rd, None, Planking Rest Day
    June 4th, None, Planned Rest Day
    June 5th, 2x5 min mixed planks (10 min)

    Total for June, 30 minutes, 150 to go!
  • blackburn23
    blackburn23 Posts: 385 Member
    Going to try to keep it going! I am going to set a goal of 70 mins. this month.

    June 1: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 3 mins. (I held my first "one minute" plank!!!)
    June 2: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 6 mins.
    June 3: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 9 mins.
    June 4: Rest day
    June 5: 3 mins. (1x60 sec interval, 2x45 sec intervals, 1x30 sec interval) Total: 12 mins.
  • KLM4k
    KLM4k Posts: 181 Member
    Plank Challenge
    Late to start! Round 2 for me :)

    6/5 3 min mixed planks

    Goal 80 minutes
    Remaining goal 77 minutes
  • lbenson2006
    lbenson2006 Posts: 3,372 Member
    Goal - 100 minutes

    6/4 - 5 min mixed planks
    6/5 - 5 min mixed planks

    Total - 10
    Remaining - 90
  • SoozeE512
    SoozeE512 Posts: 439 Member
    June 1st - 2 minutes
    June 2nd - 2 minutes
    June 3rd - 2 minutes
    June 4th - missed a day, oops!
    June 5th - 4 minutes (2x2 to make up for yesterday)

    Total: 10 minutes
  • kashcopyright
    kashcopyright Posts: 21 Member
    edited June 2018
    GOL: 60 minutes
    6/2: 2 one minuters = 2
    6/4: 3 one minuters = 3
    6/5: 2 one minuters, 2 thirty seconders (done in a class) (I'm totally counting them) = 3
    Total = 8 || Remaining = 52
  • allison8668
    allison8668 Posts: 885 Member
    Started yesterday - gonna try for at least 2min per day

    Goal 50min
    6/5 : 2x1 min strt arm (2min)
    48min to go
  • Wen2Run
    Wen2Run Posts: 62 Member
    Starting a bit late but I'm up for the base challenge on this one, 60 minutes for the month.