How long can you plank for?

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  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    I'm fighting the urge to plank. I really shouldn't because my shoulders been hurting all day had to take Motrin twice. I can't let myself do it but it's getting hard cuz I feel like if I miss a day it'll start my spiral of laziness again.
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    @karlottap I hope you feel better soon. Take it easy. Sounds like thy have a good plan for going forward.
  • LiftRunRepeat22
    LiftRunRepeat22 Posts: 25 Member
    @auntstephie321 that looks like that's in high plank position (the flyer)Have you tried in a hover position? Easier on shoulders
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    @auntstephie321 that looks like that's in high plank position (the flyer)Have you tried in a hover position? Easier on shoulders

    Is the hover done on the forearms/elbows?
  • LiftRunRepeat22
    LiftRunRepeat22 Posts: 25 Member
    Yes, but cross forearms. If all else falls you can obviously reduce some weight by trying your knees. A lot of women in my class use that modification
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    Thanks I had been doing good till I pushed maybe a little too hard this week with some other exercise as well. I might not have been ready for the combo of both planks and Pilates
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    Plank today after other ab work so back at 90 secs. Muscles know I have been doing ab work n lunges n squats. Feels good though, makes me think that the muscles are building, at least a little bit.

    @auntstephie321 planks and pilates, you were crossing the beams- surprised you've survived! Good luck with recovery n love your enthusiasm
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    Just catching up on this forum (the best! why did I stop coming here every day?)

    One of the things I have not backslid on much at all is planking. I've been doing planks on a regular basis for... 9 months now? Something like that. I know for sure I can hold one at least 2 minutes if I alternate between a straight plank and side planks, and a few tiny variations that keep me from getting bored or fatiguing the same exact muscles the entire time. I'll see how long I can hold one tomorrow. I can't seem to find the end of this thread. How long are you holding planks these days, @auntstephie321?

    I'm not sure I will ever be able to hold a plank for five minutes, unless there is an actual knife underneath me. Even then, I'm not sure.
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    Karlottap wrote: »
    2:56 with arm fatigue being my only symptom! Also, I measured distance from the wall, and I'm at 19 inches. I was scared it would hurt, but am so glad it didn't!_


    That is AWESOME @Karlottap!
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    The longest straight I got to was 3:30. I've since switched to this routine, I've been doing 2 sets a day. Though I didn't do any this weekend because my shoulder is acting up
    http://darebee.com/workouts/five-minute-plank-workout.html
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    2.5 mins full plank. Dog asleep near husband in next room so undisturbed. Arms, legs n stomach all wanting me to stop. Arms more than the others. Happy. Like the idea of the 5 min mixed plank routine. Thxs for sharing.
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    2.5 mins full plank. Dog asleep near husband in next room so undisturbed. Arms, legs n stomach all wanting me to stop. Arms more than the others. Happy. Like the idea of the 5 min mixed plank routine. Thxs for sharing.

    awesome job. no dog interference is helpful lol.

    I like the mixed routine too, it really works all angles of your abs, the side planks can be a little rough but I gather you could start those in a modified pose maybe with your knee down. they really really work your oblique's though lol
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    edited February 2016
    @auntstephie321 Yes you certainly have that right! Inspired by your mix poster I did the others after the 2.5 min plank and they were ok but side is tricky for me balance wise. Upper arms not happy right now, in a good way.
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    @auntstephie321 Yes you certainly have that right! Inspired by your mix poster I did the others after the 2.5 min plank and they were ok but side is tricky for me balance wise. Upper arms not happy right now, in a good way.

    What's funny is I feel it in my upper arm too and I thought that it wasn't doing anything for my abs, then I touched my oblique and you can feel the muscle is hard as a rock engaged lol. It works
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    The longest straight I got to was 3:30. I've since switched to this routine, I've been doing 2 sets a day. Though I didn't do any this weekend because my shoulder is acting up
    http://darebee.com/workouts/five-minute-plank-workout.html

    Dang girl! That's awesome!

    Off to time my plank now, though I did some planking in Pilates class this morning, so those muscles are already a little fatigued.
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    ...aaaand I am already feeling some sore spots in new places (we had a sub today). One minute into a straight plank, my inner voice warned me not to overdo it today. I listened, for once.
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    ...aaaand I am already feeling some sore spots in new places (we had a sub today). One minute into a straight plank, my inner voice warned me not to overdo it today. I listened, for once.

    good job listening to that inner voice, I never do that lol
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    Nice work everybody!
    @auntstephie321 I hope your shoulder starts to feel better soon.
    I gave jogging/walking a go this morning. Didn't quite make it a mile with the jogging, since I've mostly never really tried before. But, it's a start.
    Also got just over 2 minutes of full planking in.
    Feeling great about today!
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    Completed @auntstephie321's mixed planks this morning and 120 squats. Getting into a routine with this. Abs n arms too fatigued to do more than one min in a plank- needed the variety :)
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    Just checking in! The soreness extended into last evening, after working yesterday! So, I decided to avoid the plank again, and elected the heating pad instead!

    You are all doing so wonderfully! I have no pain right no, so hoping for a better day (plus, I'm off today! :smiley: )!! Plank on!
  • mandycat223
    mandycat223 Posts: 502 Member
    This is no doubt based entirely on the fact that 30 seconds is my max, but I happily picked up on something I just read in Shape Magazine about planking. ".... researchers at the American Council on Exercise have reported that going beyond 30 seconds doesn't offer extra benefits.... just do them for 10 seconds at a time...Do five sets daily or on alternate days."

    See? It's uncanny how I knew I shouldn't be planking for, say, half an hour at a time.
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    I finally feel better enough to try (btw: my pain was is from a repetitive motion at work, not from the planks), so I did! I did 3:00 knee plank, and did some alternate raising of my arms (that's tough!)! It's been a week since I've felt okay enough to try, so I'm proud of my time! :star:

    @mandycat1223, I don't plan on any 30 minute planks either, lol! I am happy with the results I am seeing so far though! I'm hoping the strength I seem to be building here leads me to other, tolerable, strength building exercises too. I'm sure that planking is the same as anything else and we all have to find what works for us.
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    I took the day off today. I have been trying to jog! For realz! Lol
    I went Monday and Tuesday about 10 minutes each day, jogging half that time and today my legs are sore! Felt great Tuesday. Soreness didn't set in til today.
    Everyone is making great progress! And showing a solid commitment to getting stronger. Great work!
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    @Karlottap I'm so happy your feeling better. Nice job today :)

    I'm ready to get back at it to after a flare up in my shoulder. It's finally feeling better. It wasn't the planks that hurt it either, it was the combo of repetitive movement and planks. I gotta slow it down a bit.

    @Sunny_Bunny_ way to go with the running! I'm always amazed at people who can run lol. Be sure to stretch after so you don't have problems with muscle tightness
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    I was able to get two one minute elbow planks in, I tried two different arm positions and liked the first one best. it was recommended up thread by @LiftRunRepeat22 to cross my forearms which then rotates my shoulders in a different position and worked great. thank you
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    Did my five minute plank routine yesterday, and a couple short planks today. Hope everyone is doing well :)
  • mlinton_mesapark
    mlinton_mesapark Posts: 517 Member
    Made it 3:00 just now, alternating between straight planks with a few little variations (alternating knee bends and torso twists) and about 1:00 of side planks. I guess I have my baseline now! Thanks for the reminder to try it, @auntstephie321!
  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    Made it 3:00 just now, alternating between straight planks with a few little variations (alternating knee bends and torso twists) and about 1:00 of side planks. I guess I have my baseline now! Thanks for the reminder to try it, @auntstephie321!

    :)
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    Oh man I was sore after the last post! I didn't try again until yesterday, and I only made two minutes, but I was on a tile surface, instead of carpet, and I think that's what made the difference in my ability (my hands hurt!). Haven't planked yet for today! Will report in after doing so! I will definitely be back on the carpet though!

    @auntstephie321! You ROCK!! Side planks, wow!! My hero!! :blush:

    @Mary! You're ROCKIN too!! Hope you aren't too sore!! :smiley:
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    edited March 2016
    Holding a minute at a time rather than my max of 2, but I have been mixing my weight routine so I expect my abs have had other things keeping them busy.