60 Minutes per Month Plank/Isometric Challenge - December 2020
jeffrey_ad
Posts: 789 Member
Welcome to December!
This is an easy plank and isometric exercise challenge that can be done at home. This challenge started as a plank challenge, but has evolved to include other isometric exercises. New members welcome! It's never too late to start.
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 amazing too! If you need to break up your planks into multiple sets of 15-30 seconds, that's complete fine! 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 or mix things up however you would like.
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, don't slouch. 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. If any of you find better examples you’d like included in the examples below, please post them and I’ll add them in next month. Want to make your own video? Go for it, I’d be super happy to post it.
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. Some of us only get time to post on the weekends or get tied up doing other things. Catch up when you can, no pressure. No spreadsheets, no groups. Easy peasy.
Last month's 60 minute plank challenge thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10814296/60-minutes-per-month-plank-isometric-challenge-november-2020
Welcome and get planking!!
I am continuing this challenge for @Spliner1969 who continued it 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. 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 judgmental. 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: https://www.slideshare.net/TodaysFitnessTrainer/30-day-plank-challenge
@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://youtu.be/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://youtu.be/3DNN9a5pU2A
Remember, multiple sets of short duration well-executed planks will be better than longer holds:
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/are-you-holding-planks-too-long/
More excellent tips here. Thanks to @dewit for sharing!
https://youtu.be/lismOShjHnA
I've seen many people doing Joanna Soh's five-minute plank challenge
Classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-pxIfj1YeQ
New:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X1c79oyYV4
And here's a seven-minure plank challenge:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTpvZlDc_s
Additional Isometric Exercises:
https://youtu.be/VH5F-dKoM98
Here's an Isometric Challenge:
Happy Planking!
This is an easy plank and isometric exercise challenge that can be done at home. This challenge started as a plank challenge, but has evolved to include other isometric exercises. New members welcome! It's never too late to start.
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 amazing too! If you need to break up your planks into multiple sets of 15-30 seconds, that's complete fine! 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 or mix things up however you would like.
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, don't slouch. 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. If any of you find better examples you’d like included in the examples below, please post them and I’ll add them in next month. Want to make your own video? Go for it, I’d be super happy to post it.
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. Some of us only get time to post on the weekends or get tied up doing other things. Catch up when you can, no pressure. No spreadsheets, no groups. Easy peasy.
Last month's 60 minute plank challenge thread:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10814296/60-minutes-per-month-plank-isometric-challenge-november-2020
Welcome and get planking!!
I am continuing this challenge for @Spliner1969 who continued it 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. 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 judgmental. 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: https://www.slideshare.net/TodaysFitnessTrainer/30-day-plank-challenge
@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=ynUw0YsrmSgRebecca Louise 5 minute Plank Workout (shows nearly proper form (butt's a little too far in the air, IMO), and modified forms):
https://youtu.be/O1Ge7uGpjFYDareBee 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://youtu.be/3DNN9a5pU2ARemember, multiple sets of short duration well-executed planks will be better than longer holds:
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/are-you-holding-planks-too-long/
More excellent tips here. Thanks to @dewit for sharing!
https://youtu.be/lismOShjHnAI've seen many people doing Joanna Soh's five-minute plank challenge
Classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-pxIfj1YeQNew:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X1c79oyYV4And here's a seven-minure plank challenge:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTpvZlDc_sAdditional Isometric Exercises:
https://youtu.be/VH5F-dKoM98Here's an Isometric Challenge:
Happy Planking!
3
Replies
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This December I'm celebrating my official planking anniversary. Found this thread in the middle of last December and here i am, hoping to be good for planks until about 90yo LOL!
November 2020 121(105) added other isometrics
October 2020 146(32)
September 2020 138(31)
August 2020 108(33)
July 2020 156(64)
June 2020 171(36)
May 2020 163(30)
April 2020 160(32)
March 2020 120(32)
February 2020 90(32) added bridges
January 2020 120
December 2019 60 minutes5 -
December goal: 120 min mixed planks
(100 min other isometrics)
Dec 1: 6(4)
Total: 6(4)1 -
@lazycat2018 Happy anniversary, pleasant planking to you for many, many years!!!2
-
Fizzled out on this challenge 468,464,320,105 times before so I'm back but not setting a goal. Challenge will be just to plank every single day and see what I get at the end of the month!
Today, I did 3 one-minute forearm planks.2 -
@lazycat2018 and @LoveyChar nice work, both of you!3
-
December Goal : 90 minutes planks (avg 3 min/day), going add in other exercises as I figure that out!
12/1: 4 min mixed planks
Running total: 4 (4 running avg min/day)
2 -
Thank you so much for keeping this going, @jeffrey_ad 👍
Going for
100 min of planks and
75 min legs isometrics
Would also love to be able to do
more than 10 pushups in a rowPlanks vitae 😀 (in minutes):
November 2020: 117 planks and 111 legs isometrics. PB: 10 pushups, 6 min wall sit
Octomber 2020: 66, total 151 of isometrics
September: rest. Did some, during other workouts, but not explicitely/no counting.
August 2020: 125
July 2020: 110
June 2020: 125
May 2020: 125
Apr 2020: 117
Mar 2020: 119
Feb 2020: 115
Jan 2020: 112
Dec 2019: 125
Nov 2019: 73
Oct 2019: 63 (first planks ever!!!)2 -
@lazycat2018 Happy anniversary, pleasant planking to you for many, many years!!!
Thank you so much, I do enjoy planks
1 -
Thanks! Just finished a challenge at my gym so I am glad to join this one for December.1
-
December goal: 120 min mixed planks
(100 min other isometrics)
Dec 1: 6(4); Dec 2: 5(5);
Total: 11(9)1 -
After one day, only 3 minutes, of planks I woke up with sore stomach muscles this morning but I did get 3 more one-minute forearm planks in today.
Total: 6 minutes for December so far3 -
December Goal : 90 minutes planks (avg 3 min/day), going add in other exercises as I figure that out!
12/1: 4 min mixed planks
12/2: 3 min mixed planks
Running total: 7 (3.75 running avg min/day)
2 -
12/2 3 min plank video ✅2
-
Thank you so much for keeping this going, @jeffrey_ad 👍
Going for
100 min of planks and
75 min legs isometrics
Would also love to be able to do
more than 10 pushups in a row
Dec 1st: taking it easy - 1:30 planks during a HIIT workout
Dec 2st: legs workout, so added a 6:00 planks workout at the end and decided to be reasonable and leave the legs isometrics out for today. I should do those quick isometrics during my day rather than post workout!Planks vitae 😀 (in minutes):
November 2020: 117 planks and 111 legs isometrics. PB: 10 pushups, 6 min wall sit
Octomber 2020: 66, total 151 of isometrics
September: rest. Did some, during other workouts, but not explicitely/no counting.
August 2020: 125
July 2020: 110
June 2020: 125
May 2020: 125
Apr 2020: 117
Mar 2020: 119
Feb 2020: 115
Jan 2020: 112
Dec 2019: 125
Nov 2019: 73
Oct 2019: 63 (first planks ever!!!)
@lazycat2018, glad to have a motivator like you around 🔥. You've been at it almost as much at myself 🥂
@smoda61, you are so wonderful! Supportive and apprecitive of others, always finding a nice word to say❣
@LoveyChar : way to go! 👍 They work, dont they? I have developped a 6pack, though I never aimed for it. Am now happy and proud, even if I never show my tummy in public 😄.2 -
@jeffrey_ad, thanks for keeping this going, I’m back in again
Goal 120 minutes.
01/12 6 mins mixed planks
02/12 4 mins mixed planks
Total so far 10 minutes
Remaining 110 minutes
2 -
I'll go for 60 again.
Dec 1 3:00 (6x30s)
Dec 2 3:00 (6x30s)
Dec 3 3:00 (6x30s)
Total 9
Remaining 512 -
Planks December - Goal 60 minutes
2 - 30 sec x 4
3 - 30 sec x 6
Total - 5 minutes3 -
Going for
100 min of planks and
75 min legs isometrics
Would also love to be able to do
more than 10 pushups in a row
Dec 1st: taking it easy - 1:30 planks during a HIIT workout
Dec 2st: legs workout, so added a 6:00 planks workout at the end and decided to be reasonable and leave the legs isometrics out for today. I should do those quick isometrics during my day rather than post workout!
Dec 3: 6:00 planks + 4:00 wall sit + 5:00 glute bridges
Total and this month's PB:
Planks: 13:30
Legs isometrics: 9:00
Pushups : 12
Wall sit: 4:00Planks vitae 😀 (in minutes):
November 2020: 117 planks and 111 legs isometrics. PB: 10 pushups, 6 min wall sit
Octomber 2020: 66, total 151 of isometrics
September: rest. Did some, during other workouts, but not explicitely/no counting.
August 2020: 125
July 2020: 110
June 2020: 125
May 2020: 125
Apr 2020: 117
Mar 2020: 119
Feb 2020: 115
Jan 2020: 112
Dec 2019: 125
Nov 2019: 73
Oct 2019: 63 (first planks ever!!!)2 -
December Goal : 90 minutes planks (avg 3 min/day), going add in other exercises as I figure that out!
12/1: 4 min mixed planks
12/2: 3 min mixed planks
12/3: 1 – 3 min plank
Running total: 10 (3.33 running avg min/day)
2 -
12/2 3 min. plank video
12/3 3 min. plank video3 -
Three one-minute forearm planks today!2
-
December goal: 120 min mixed planks
(100 min other isometrics)
Dec 1: 6(4); Dec 2: 5(5); Dec 3: 4(3)
Total: 15(12)2 -
December goal: 120 min mixed planks
(100 min other isometrics)
Dec 1: 6(4); Dec 2: 5(5); Dec 3: 4(3)
Dec 4: 5(5);
Total: 20(17)2 -
@dewit do you do your push ups from the elbow plank position or straight arms? I have tried doing them from the elbow plank this morning and did 20 without any difficulty, maybe I'm not doing them correctly?2
-
lazycat2018 wrote: »@dewit do you do your push ups from the elbow plank position or straight arms? I have tried doing them from the elbow plank this morning and did 20 without any difficulty, maybe I'm not doing them correctly?
Ah, sorry, I found the answer on Google. It's straight arms and a lot harder than elbows 😞 still, I'm going to practise these and be able to do a couple by Christmas x2 -
@lazycat2018: I could never do a single pushup until this January. Last year (or so) I found out about modified pushups from knees and this is what I since used when doing HIIT video workouts. Wall pushups are also an wasy modification.
Now I can do 10 normal straight wide arms pushups. I always thought arms lifting is not for me, but this year I started using dumbbells and this + planks is how I managed to do by the summer the 8, then 10 pushups in a row. It's just that I am not progressing and one girl in my friends' list does 50 by now! I would be happy with 15 or 20, enough as to keep up with the instructors from the videos!
For the advanced, there exist forms like diamond pushups, one arm pushups and so on.
Have fun! 🌺2 -
What, it's not even 11 am and I've done my three one-minute forearm planks?!? Yes!!!
Which planks do you find most difficult between forearm (elbow) or straight arm planks?2 -
Goal 120 minutes.
01/12 6 mins mixed planks
02/12 4 mins mixed planks
03/12 6 mins mixed planks
04/12 6 mins mixed planks
Total 22 minutes
"Which planks do you find most difficult between forearm (elbow) or straight arm planks?"
I do lots of variations, forearms, straight arms, side plank on forearm, side plank on straight arm. I rotate the side planks and I move my feet (and hands where appropriate) side to side and do leg lifts. I find it easier if I keep on the move - not so boring, the time passes quicker. I do combine press-ups with the straight arm planks, I can't get all the way down but I can get some up and down movement.
While I can't get to the gym it's the only arm strength exercise I get, and I need to ward off osteoporosis.
Keep persevering.4 -
12/2. 3 min.
12/3 3 min.
12/4 3 min.
Planks3
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