Planks

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Replies

  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Remember to tuck and squeeze your booty on the planks, otherwise you're only getting 1/4th the workout.
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Just doing planks isn't going to give you a flat stomach...Lol.
  • Cold_Steel
    Cold_Steel Posts: 897 Member
    I do the Toddler Plank

    Hold the plank position for about 15 seconds, 15 seconds to long for your 2 year old to see that there is a fresh piece of dad laying on the ground and that must be jumped upon from the couch. Hold for another 45 seconds after the initial pain...

    My toddler is like a 28 lb kettle ball I guess...
  • sollyn
    sollyn Posts: 179
    planks are so beneficial for so many things. i'm still overweight, but doing them every day has significantly strengthened my core. i have better posture, my lower-back pain has diminished, and i know when i shed off the rest of my fat, i'll have nice abs waiting for me! :laugh:
    i love alternating between 30 second planks and supermans (supermen?...) because i always feel like i'm getting the entire middle section!

    What are supermens? :embarassed:
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    I do the Toddler Plank

    Hold the plank position for about 15 seconds, 15 seconds to long for your 2 year old to see that there is a fresh piece of dad laying on the ground and that must be jumped upon from the couch. Hold for another 45 seconds after the initial pain...

    My toddler is like a 28 lb kettle ball I guess...

    :laugh:
  • dane11235813
    dane11235813 Posts: 682 Member
    personally i'm not a big fan of planks. they're boring and i feel like i'm not using my core enough.

    kettlebell squats or overhead squats work way better for me.

    Typically, not saying this is the case for you, but if you don't feel like they're working then you're doing them wrong.

    Also, some people who have a very strong core need to usually make them more difficult by adding weight or alternating limbs to throw off balance.

    The rule for a good plank is that someone should be able to lay a broom stick across ur back and it touch your head, shoulders, just below your shoulder, and butt. this implies you should be in the ideal position to get the most out of it.

    i guess i should have been more clear as to why i don't like them. i have a strong enough core that it takes at least a couple minutes before i feel my core is fatiguing and by then i'm bored of just laying there on my elbows or side.
    lifting one leg off the ground or doing one arm planks does help but i'd rather do a something like a little more dynamic. to each their own though.

    Well, Just by looking at your profile photo I assumed this was the case. :love:

    EDIT: But I just wanted to let everyone else know why they may not feel this exercise is worth while and what they could do to improve it.

    haha. thanks.
    i think it's also important to switch up your ab exercises every so often so that you're not doing ONLY planks or crunches or roll outs, etc.
  • crimznrose
    crimznrose Posts: 282 Member
    I do the P90X Ab Ripper. It has a little bit of everything in there to work the abs. As Tony Horton puts it "I HATE it, but I LOVE it." :bigsmile:
  • bikechic61
    bikechic61 Posts: 39
    I have arthritis in my feet and I have a really hard time doing it. I'm very fit otherwise but I feel like a slacker when I can't do that in my strength training class.
  • bikechic61
    bikechic61 Posts: 39
    Planks that is. hurts, even with the orthopedic shoes and orthotics.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    Curious why people think crunches or planks will get you a flat stomach when you have to get body fat into single percent first.

    false. I dont think thats too healthy for the majority of chicks.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    planks are so beneficial for so many things. i'm still overweight, but doing them every day has significantly strengthened my core. i have better posture, my lower-back pain has diminished, and i know when i shed off the rest of my fat, i'll have nice abs waiting for me! :laugh:
    i love alternating between 30 second planks and supermans (supermen?...) because i always feel like i'm getting the entire middle section!

    What are supermens? :embarassed:

    Lay on the floor face down, arms over your head. Lift your legs, upper body, and head off the ground so that you are only supported on the ground on your lower belly. Basically as if you were flying like superman. It is a good back dominant core exercise.

    I personally think planks suck, but that is largely because I can hold them forever. Do L-sits (hanging, dip station, or floor) and dragon flags when planks get too easy.
  • AlmondTheGreat
    AlmondTheGreat Posts: 92
    Yeah you could do 1000 crunches a day or 10 hours planking and it would give you a bigger stomach if anything. All its going to do is push the fat out more because your building your abdominal muscle size. Diet is the key along with cardio.

    Planks are good for strengthening the core and are definitely worth doing. They also help prevent back injury but just don't think they're shredding the fat for you.
  • emmy3111
    emmy3111 Posts: 482 Member
    planks are so beneficial for so many things. i'm still overweight, but doing them every day has significantly strengthened my core. i have better posture, my lower-back pain has diminished, and i know when i shed off the rest of my fat, i'll have nice abs waiting for me! :laugh:
    i love alternating between 30 second planks and supermans (supermen?...) because i always feel like i'm getting the entire middle section!

    What are "supermans/supermen"? I have a TON of work to do on my core, and would like to learn a variety of effective excercises... thanks!
  • Jaxper
    Jaxper Posts: 23 Member
    planks are so beneficial for so many things. i'm still overweight, but doing them every day has significantly strengthened my core. i have better posture, my lower-back pain has diminished, and i know when i shed off the rest of my fat, i'll have nice abs waiting for me! :laugh:
    i love alternating between 30 second planks and supermans (supermen?...) because i always feel like i'm getting the entire middle section!

    What are supermens? :embarassed:
    What are "supermans/supermen"? I have a TON of work to do on my core, and would like to learn a variety of effective excercises... thanks!

    Supermans are sort of the opposite of planks. Rather than being on your feet and forearms/hands, you're on your core and lifting up your feet and arms. This position makes you look like the "Superman flying" pose.

    If that doesn't make sense, just do a Google image search of "superman ab exercise" and you'll see it.
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