April 2021 Planking and Isometric Exercise Challenge

jeffrey_ad
jeffrey_ad Posts: 789 Member
If you are new to posting on this thread, or if you are new to planking and isometric exercises, we welcome you! If you are returning from a previous thread, we welcome you, too.

There are no set challenges - this is a mixed-ability / mixed-experience / everyone welcome group.

Just pick the target that you would like to achieve this month and post updates throughout the month as you work toward your target.

If you are new to planking it is a good idea to start with as little as 10 or 15 seconds and build up over time.

Here is an example 30-day plank challenge for beginners

76aron673gy9.png

Feel free to share your variations and challenges.

Happy planking!
«13456

Replies

  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
  • MaltedTea
    MaltedTea Posts: 6,286 Member
    Hello again plank pals lol! I last participated in this group in October 2020. This month, I'm going to tackle the "15 Minute Advanced Plank Workout" from Women's Mag again.

    Those planks with front raises will defeat and humble me no longer! I did some with my 8 lb DB earlier this week without crying like a baby (errm, which happened the first time I tried this workout sometime last year).

    I'll do this 15-minute workout 3x weekly (M-W-F) alongside another program I've yet to choose.

    Here goes nothing!
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    edited April 2021
    I'm in for April, because I like the side-effects 😉. My goals for the month:
    75 to 100 min (and not 1 more!) of planks
    • lower body isometrics
    (including, but not limited to, wall sits)
    • more than 10 push-ups in a row.
    Planks vitae 😀 (in minutes):

    March 2021: 125 planks + 15 push-ups in a row

    February 2021: 105 planks. Month's PR 5:30 wall sit + 10-8-8-6 pushups in a workout

    January 2021: 120 planks + 115 legs isometrics

    December 2020: 115 planks and 100 legs

    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!!!)
  • sweetdaisy13
    sweetdaisy13 Posts: 357 Member
    edited April 2021
    Hello, I'm new to this thread and looking forward to taking part in this challenge. I also run and am hoping these exercises will help with my running, increase strength and help prevent injuries.

    I don't have a specific goal in terms of how many planks I'll do this month, as I'm new to this, but I hope to do some planks each day and a short isometric workout such as Bullworker or a few of the Minus The Gym isometric exercises a couple of times a week, to get me started.

    Today I did the Bullworker Total Body Isometric Exercise Workout 8 mins), followed by 2 x 45 second straight arm planks.
  • sweetdaisy13
    sweetdaisy13 Posts: 357 Member
    Straight arm planks: 2 x 30 seconds
    Forearm planks: 2 x 30 seconds
    Press ups: 3 x 5 reps
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    My goals for the month:
    75 to 100 min (and not 1 more!) of planks
    • lower body isometrics
    • more than 10 push-ups in a row.

    4/1: 4:00 with Heather Robertson + 1:00
    4/2: 5:00 with Caroline Girvan. During workout: 1:30 wall sits.

    Total planks so far: 10:00
    Legs Isometrics: 1:30
  • lazycat2018
    lazycat2018 Posts: 1,729 Member
    April goal: 100 minutes mixed planks (100 minutes other isometrics)

    Starting a little later this month,
    Apr 3: 5(5)
  • sweetdaisy13
    sweetdaisy13 Posts: 357 Member
    Today:
    Straight arm planks: 2 x 30 seconds
    Forearm planks: 2 x 30 seconds
    Wall sit: 2 x 30 seconds
    Sumo squat: 2 x 30 seconds

    April total:
    Straight arm planks: 3 mins
    Forearm planks: 2 mins
    Wall sit: 1 minute
    Sumo squats: 1 minute
    Press-ups: 15 reps
  • lesdarts180
    lesdarts180 Posts: 2,667 Member
    Thanks @jeffrey_ad for kicking this off again.
    I am going through a difficult time but I will try to restart the planking habit. Exercise is good for my mental health as well as physical. I need all the help I can get.

    I have missed three days but I have done 4 minutes today.
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    @lesdarts180, I am thankfull for having you back! 💐 I wanted to click Hug, Like and Inspiring on your post, all at once!
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    My goals for the month:
    75 to 100 min (and not 1 more!) of planks
    • lower body isometrics
    • more than 10 push-ups in a row.
    4/1: 4:00 with Heather Robertson + 1:00
    4/2: 5:00 with Caroline Girvan. During workout: 1:30 wall sits.

    4/3: 20 min isometrics with growingannanas. I skipped the handstand. Maybe I will have the courage to try it by the end of the month? The workout was 5:00 planks and 10:00 legs.

    4/4: 5:00 planks with Lille Sabri, v. doable 👍

    Total planks so far: 20:00
    Legs Isometrics: 11:30
  • sweetdaisy13
    sweetdaisy13 Posts: 357 Member
    Today:
    Straight arm planks: 3 x 30 seconds
    Forearm planks: 3 x 30 seconds
    Calf raises: 2 x 30
    Static lunges: 2 x 30 seconds
    Active beast: 2 x 30 seconds

    April total:
    Straight arm planks: 3 mins
    Forearm planks: 2 mins
    Wall sit: 1 minute
    Sumo squats: 1 minute
    Calf raises: 1 minute
    Static lunges: 1 minute
    Active beast: 1 minute
    Press-ups: 15 reps
  • lesdarts180
    lesdarts180 Posts: 2,667 Member
    I'm going for an easy 60 minutes this month. I foresee quite a few rest days and I need to work back to my usual 6 to 8 minutes a day.

    01/04 rest day
    02/04 rest day
    03/04 rest day
    04/04 4 mins mixed planks
    05/04 4 mins mixed planks

    Total 8 minutes
    Remaining 52 minutes
  • lazycat2018
    lazycat2018 Posts: 1,729 Member
    April goal: 100 minutes mixed planks (100 minutes other isometrics)

    Starting a little later this month,
    Apr 3: 5(5); Apr 4: 2(2); Apr 5: 5(5)

    Total: 12(12)
    Remaining: 88(88)
  • lazycat2018
    lazycat2018 Posts: 1,729 Member
    April goal: 100 minutes mixed planks (100 minutes other isometrics)

    Starting a little later this month,
    Apr 3: 5(5); Apr 4: 2(2); Apr 5: 5(5)
    Apr 6: 6(6);

    Total: 18(18)
    Remaining: 82(82)
  • dewit
    dewit Posts: 1,468 Member
    My goals for the month:
    75 to 100 min (and not 1 more!) of planks
    • lower body isometrics
    • more than 10 push-ups in a row.
    4/1: 4:00 with Heather Robertson + 1:00
    4/2: 5:00 with Caroline Girvan. During workout: 1:30 wall sits.
    4/3: 20 min isometrics with growingannanas. I skipped the handstand. Maybe I will have the courage to try it by the end of the month? The workout was 5:00 planks and 10:00 legs.

    I ended up doing a workout on Sunday which had more planks in it... So

    4/4: 5:00 planks with Lille Sabri, v. doable 👍
    + 3:00 during HIIT (or more 🤷‍♀️)

    4/5: rest day (plank-wise), but got 15 pushups in (last 3 were a struggle, but I got myself off the ground). The strength workout had some legs isometrics in, I would say roughly 3:00 in total.


    Total planks so far: 23:00
    Legs Isometrics: 14:30
    PRs April: 15 pushups

  • lazycat2018
    lazycat2018 Posts: 1,729 Member
    April goal: 100 minutes mixed planks (100 minutes other isometrics)

    Starting a little later this month,
    Apr 3: 5(5); Apr 4: 2(2); Apr 5: 5(5)
    Apr 6: 6(6); April 7: 6(6);

    Total: 24(24)
    Remaining: 76(76)
    Starting an additional abs challenge, slightly modified from the previous time, a few years ago.

    Day 1: April 7:
    Sit ups: 20
    Crunches: 30
    Leg raises: 20
    Push ups: 20 (on my knees so far, hope to build up to proper ones)
  • MaltedTea
    MaltedTea Posts: 6,286 Member
    edited April 2021
    Mmmk, so this is the first full week of the month which means I've done the Monday and now Wednesday workouts. Somewhat: I leveled down to a smaller weight and am doing fewer rounds.
    After using my 8 lb DB with MUCH effort on Monday to do only half the workout, I went on a humbled quest to find a 5 lb DB. Workout gear is hard to find since so many people are creating their home gyms for the first time. I found a pink DB on Monday but refused to buy it.

    Yesterday, I went to my favorite local gym supplier. And while he didn't have small DBs left, there was a 5 lb kettlebell. Who knew they were even made so tiny!?

    So, I did two sets of the workout today. Yes, however only 2 rounds - STILL not three - because I realized that my issue may not be the weight. Sigh...it may be weak shoulders.

    I'll continue on with the workout but, to be safe, I'll also incorporate some shoulder strengthening exercises and set an appointment with a sports-focused physiotherapist I know.

    Now, may I introduce to you - "Katie-Bella" - the cutest KB/paperweight in the world...

    m2toowibwvcs.jpg


  • jeffrey_ad
    jeffrey_ad Posts: 789 Member
    My Goal is 60
    I do six sets of 30s planks
    Nothing to see here
    Apr 1 3:00 (6x30s)
    Apr 2 3:00 (6x30s)
    Apr 3 rest day
    Apr 4 rest day
    Apr 5 3:00 (6x30s)
    Apr 6 3:00 (6x30s)
    Apr 7 3:00 (6x30s)
    Total 15
    Remaining 45


  • sweetdaisy13
    sweetdaisy13 Posts: 357 Member
    Today:

    Straight arm planks: 1 min
    Forearm planks: 1 min
    Wall sit: 1 min
    Sumo squats: 1 min
    Calf raises: 1 min
    Active beasts: 2 x 30 seconds
    Glute bridge: 2 x 30 seconds
    Superman: 2 x 30 seconds
    Press-ups: 15 reps

    April Totals:

    Planks: 8 mins 30 seconds
    Isometric exercises: 19 mins
    Press-ups: 30 reps