How long can you PLANK for?

While one might build initial strength when starting planking, being able to hold a plank for a long time works more on MUSCLE ENDURANCE and not strength. One could plank for 5 minutes, but suck badly at doing hanging leg lifts or any other exercise that involves using core for resistance training (such as squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, etc.)
Not downplaying that planks aren't useful, just saying that if the goal is increasing core STRENGTH, then do strength training exercise rather than endurance training exercises.

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Pretty much this. Once you get to a point where you can hold a plank for about a minute, you're not really accomplishing anything at all by continuing to do it for longer duration other than training endurance--and being very inefficient about how you go about it in the process. If you want to continue to strengthen it beyond that point, you have to do exercises that are so difficult you hit muscle fatigue in only a few reps. And as you continue to grow stronger, you have to keep on focusing on exercises that are so difficult you can never exceed that rep range.

then you toss on a 25# plate.
Once you get back to where you were....go 35# :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

A year and a half ago, I tried a workout that started you at 20 seconds, and worked you up to 1:30 by the end of the month. I never got past 40 consistently, and the one or two times I made 45 I was crying.

Fast forward 18 months....

I'm at 50 seconds - rest a minute - 50 seconds
Once I hit a minute, I'll add a third rep in the set, and start adding side and other kinds

Always amazes me that things can just click sometimes

6 Minutes. That was during a 30 day plank challenge a few months ago. I had already been doing 90 seconds, so I just added another 30 seconds every couple days. I hit 6 minutes about 2 1/2 weeks in, but hurt my back doing it. So I took a few days off then started over from the 3 minute mark and made it back up to 6 minutes by the last day of the challenge. I'm pretty sure I could have made it to 7 minutes or longer, but my back kept telling me not to be stupid.

Now I just do 2 minute planks. I'm just not that interested in investing the extra time and effort when I could be doing other things. But after reading through this thread, I think I'm going to start using my weighted vest on planks from now on.

5 minutes front (then 20 push ups), 1.5 minutes per side, every other day.

Boring and painful!

I started gradually and added to the time after a few days so now I'm up to about 2 minutes at a time.. Side planks around the same time.. Need to get back to these now the holidays over

3 sets, 5 reps 30 seconds each, 10 seconds between, most every day

While one might build initial strength when starting planking, being able to hold a plank for a long time works more on MUSCLE ENDURANCE and not strength. One could plank for 5 minutes, but suck badly at doing hanging leg lifts or any other exercise that involves using core for resistance training (such as squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, etc.)
Not downplaying that planks aren't useful, just saying that if the goal is increasing core STRENGTH, then do strength training exercise rather than endurance training exercises.

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Pretty much this. Once you get to a point where you can hold a plank for about a minute, you're not really accomplishing anything at all by continuing to do it for longer duration other than training endurance--and being very inefficient about how you go about it in the process. If you want to continue to strengthen it beyond that point, you have to do exercises that are so difficult you hit muscle fatigue in only a few reps. And as you continue to grow stronger, you have to keep on focusing on exercises that are so difficult you can never exceed that rep range.

What other exercises do you recommend, then? I, too, need to focus on strength now rather than just increasing plank time.

After the 30 day challenge i was able to play for 6.5 mins. Now I plank a couple of times a week for 4 minutes. What got me over the 3 minute hurdle was finding a way to distract myself so I watch videos on a table while planking.

I prefer weighted planks. If I can hold it for 45 seconds, then I up the weight.

While one might build initial strength when starting planking, being able to hold a plank for a long time works more on MUSCLE ENDURANCE and not strength. One could plank for 5 minutes, but suck badly at doing hanging leg lifts or any other exercise that involves using core for resistance training (such as squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, etc.)
Not downplaying that planks aren't useful, just saying that if the goal is increasing core STRENGTH, then do strength training exercise rather than endurance training exercises.

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Pretty much this. Once you get to a point where you can hold a plank for about a minute, you're not really accomplishing anything at all by continuing to do it for longer duration other than training endurance--and being very inefficient about how you go about it in the process. If you want to continue to strengthen it beyond that point, you have to do exercises that are so difficult you hit muscle fatigue in only a few reps. And as you continue to grow stronger, you have to keep on focusing on exercises that are so difficult you can never exceed that rep range.

What other exercises do you recommend, then? I, too, need to focus on strength now rather than just increasing plank time.

Hanging leg raise
Mason Twist
Dragon Flag (maybe beyond you)
Deadlift
Squat
Clean
Overhead press (this one is a biggie for the core!)

Agree. Wanna check your core strength? Do a barbell/body bar overhead SQUAT. If you can't, then your core isn't as strong as you think it is.

A.C.E. Certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Didn't realize the overhead presses I'm doing would make it on this list. I guess it's back to hanging leg raises.

What's your opinion on weighted sitting machine crunches?

What's your opinion on weighted sitting machine crunches?

My personal opinion...

I don't do/haven't done ab machines....
I do all body weight stuff...or with a plate/dumbbell.....(crunches, leg raises, L-sits, etc..)
And then of course squats, deads, etc...