Do you plank?

karensoxfan
karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
If you do, what's your favorite variation?

And what's your PR for a classic plank (on elbows & toes)?

What's your goal (or next goal) to hold a classic plank?
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Replies

  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    Hahaha

    "Do you even plank?" Thank you for that.


    I used to, when I did muay thai. I have no idea what my limit was, I always got bored after about 90 seconds.
  • Kimjanebrooks
    Kimjanebrooks Posts: 253 Member
    I want to plank!! But i'm unsure of the correct positioning. Advice please?
  • FullOfWin
    FullOfWin Posts: 1,414 Member
    I remember a post from another user that said something like

    "If crunches are the little pink dumbbells of ab exercises, planks are the little blue ones"
  • Tricep_A_Tops
    Tricep_A_Tops Posts: 319
    No i dont but i plan on starting to plank.
  • VitVit18
    VitVit18 Posts: 103 Member
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    I want to plank!! But i'm unsure of the correct positioning. Advice please?
    When doing the basic plank, your elbows should position directly under your shoulders and your back should be straight, not arched and must be aligned with your legs. Don't let your abs hang loose, hold them up.

    As for me, I do the weighted plank. Right now I'm doing it with a 20 kg plate on my back, so far I can only do max of 1 min first set then around 45-50 mins on the next 2 sets.
  • Kimjanebrooks
    Kimjanebrooks Posts: 253 Member
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!

    Thank you!! Will give it a go for the first time this evening!
  • SweetPea482
    SweetPea482 Posts: 155 Member
    looove it!!!

    haaate the side planks with a beastly passion! but i WILL conquer them! just like i conquered 3 sets of 2min planks.

    and... planks are NOT the little blue weights of ab exercises. whoever said that, hasnt done planks the way NR makes you do them.
  • pinkgumdrop123
    pinkgumdrop123 Posts: 262 Member
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!

    wow...i think i can this for just over a minute..but I did just start about a week ago
  • JezzD1
    JezzD1 Posts: 431
    you should look up plankathon on blogilates. It is awesome for plankers.
    I have weak wrist so I usually am on my fist and toes. My fav plank move is the elbow push up and the hip dip. They are both on referenced above. Have fun!!
  • KJoy7
    KJoy7 Posts: 246
    I plank!! Everyday!!


    I love it. Right now I am working on holding a 2 min plank!!! When you are short on time and want to fit in a workout... PLANK! PLANK! PLANK!
  • JezzD1
    JezzD1 Posts: 431
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!

    Stairway to heaven is a very awesome very long song and I shall join you in that challenge when I get home =)

    wow...i think i can this for just over a minute..but I did just start about a week ago
  • mrseelmerfudd
    mrseelmerfudd Posts: 506 Member
    I love to plank :) i would usually do the classic version however with my sports sometimes end up doing slight variations- one arm/leg in air etc.
  • nturner612
    nturner612 Posts: 710 Member
    are planks truly better than sit ups?
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    I do a suspension trainer variaton that involves having feet suspended in the foot cradles of the suspension trainer about 6" off the ground. I also do the sandbag plank drag, which is where, while in a plank, you go up onto one arm while dragging a sandbag along the ground with the other, then switch.
  • DoomCakes
    DoomCakes Posts: 806 Member
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!

    7 Minutes?! AWESOME!! I'm sure you'll get to stairway of heaven status!

    I plank time to time... but for 30 seconds. I want to build it up, and I'm sure in time I will! I don't quit. :)

    EDIT: I forgot to mention I love this picture. I know planking is a great core exercise, but I didn't know if it worked anything else.
  • raerae514
    raerae514 Posts: 171 Member
    I like planks!

    I like to do it on the forearms and tippy-toes. If I do it on my hands, my shoulders get tired too quickly. Usually I will do it sometime during the work day, I just go in the bathroom and plank for 30 seconds. It's hard for me still!

    But I've read that planking is good because it kind of "trains" your abs to stay more tight or constricted, giving the appearance of a flatter belly all the time.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    are planks truly better than sit ups?
    As far as the amount of muscles being targeted, I'd say yes. Sit-ups is considered an isolation exercise that only targets our ab muscles whereas planks targets our core, thighs, shoulders, back.
  • mbcasey2009
    mbcasey2009 Posts: 52 Member
    When you get stronger and planking on your hands/toes, elbows/toes gets easier (you will, and they will) try it on a yoga ball. Either elbows on the ball, or tougher, toes on the ball, and hands on the floor. THAT will wake your core up. There are so many variations you can do, either with medicine balls, benches, etc. Sometimes I incorporate a weight plate drag under my body with the opposite arm to really hit the obliques (warning: these suck, my husband told me he didn't like me anymore after he did them with me) or sometimes I plank across two weight benches and do dumbell rows. Possibilities are endless! Happy planking :)
  • Yukongil
    Yukongil Posts: 166 Member
    I'll normally plank it in the mornings and nights, normally about 3 minutes, more if I have something to read. Those of you going past 5 minutes could probably use more fiber in your diet....just sayin'
  • ShaniWulffe
    ShaniWulffe Posts: 458 Member
    LOVE planking!! :D I go for forearms & toes!

    this-is-why-we-do-plank.jpg
    Hopefully that helps a little!

    My PR is 7 minutes, though I haven't been able to replicate it since. Currently I'm averaging around 4 minutes. My biggest goal is to plank the entirety of Stairway to Heaven!

    Sorry to be "that guy", but... Your body doesn't really get any extra benefit from holding it for more than 3 minutes at a time. Apparently you're supposed to go as long as you can up to 3 minutes, take a 30 second or longer break, and then go back into it. This is true for stretching as well as any other static exercise.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I am a fan of the traditional plank. Have only timed myself once after a full work out with my PT, and did 3 minutes continuous. Don't like planks where my feet are off the ground against a wall.
  • belladonna786
    belladonna786 Posts: 1,165 Member
    I do :) But I am new to it. Right now I can only hold it for 20 seconds on forearms and toes :) I will get better.
  • 714rah714
    714rah714 Posts: 759 Member
    Looks painful
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Vasisthasana
    (side plank) - to ramp it up, lift your upper leg straight and paralell to the floor and hold. Upper arm straight up and fingers spread, "enthusiastically".
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,749 Member
    I love planks!

    My PR for an elbow plank was 7:30 minutes. We were having a contest at the gym and the highest time was 5+ minutes and I wanted to beat that and make sure no one else beat me.

    Yup. I won. :smokin:
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    i can do it on my forearms for over a minute. haven't tried it since i began 5x5 though so i might be able to go for longer now.

    great idea to read while doing it!
  • staceywtucaz
    staceywtucaz Posts: 36 Member
    bump
  • ChristyRunStarr
    ChristyRunStarr Posts: 1,600 Member
    I have a love hate relationship with planks...I do them but I hate them at the time, love them after when I say look what I just did! I'm not sure of whta my longest is, but I usually hold them for a minute or 2, so jumping jacks for 3 minutes then do another plank again. When I do mine, I do the usual (like the picture someone posted) then switch to the side as well
  • melmckay99
    melmckay99 Posts: 358
    I can do about 45 seconds with my forarms on a BOSU ball (the soft rounded side) and my toes on a medicine ball. The unstable base at the forearms and toes make this one a fun and rewarding challenge :)

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