Planking Challenge

Day 6 - 60 second plan done.

Just so you all know, I hate planks. They are hard and it feels like it will be hell getting to 300 seconds. I will pursevere though.

8/1 - 20 sec
8/2 - 20 sec
8/3 - 30 sec
8/4 - 30+ sec
8/5 - accidental rest day (we were out and I just plain forgot)
8/6 - 45 sec, 50 sec (making up for accidental rest day)
8/7 - 60 sec

Day 14 completed - 90 seconds

Day 8- ✔️

Completed Day 4,5,& 6

Day 7 - 1 set of 60secs
1 set of 20secs

I can't believe i can actually do a whole minute after just 6days whereas i could only do max 30secs on day 1

deadchipmunk wrote: »

@b3achy and others: Question for you - Where do you feel this? What muscle/body part is failing you? I started the challenge on July 26th and am just following schedule, therefore I should complete by August 24th. "...said with maniacal laughter..."
I have made no attempts to see how long I can go. Why? I will surely find out quite soon and like most, I have a feeling that 2 minute mark is going to incite the 'plank hatred' I keep hearing of. Lol. I feel good at 90 seconds, good might be a strong word, I feel ok at 90. I can feel a bit of weakness in my delts (anterior ?) and very slightly in my quads. And sometimes in my toes, I should wear shoes maybe...
Just curious where you feel it. Making sure I'm normal.

The primary muscle failing me is my brain...I know, not what you expected, right? But when I was able to 'gut' out a 2 minute plank finally (after quite a few failed attempts), I found it was as much mental as it was physical to get there.

For me, it's the full body shakes that psyche me out from continuing longer. I have noticed that my shakes don't start until after 20 seconds now (when I started they would start at about 10 seconds). The shakes start in my arms and move down until my whole body is shaking usually by 30-35 seconds.

I think, I feel it most in my arms (biceps), abs and glutes (I'll double check today when I do them later). But I do straight arm planks. You might have different muscle groups if you are doing the bent arm/elbow ones. I found doing them barefoot was better/hurt less than trying to do them with shoes on.

I also found that when I tried to push to the 2 minute plank, my form suffered. I was cheating by popping my butt in the air to take a mini-break. So I also have to focus to keep my butt/hips down because I've noticed that as my muscles start to hurt, my butt wants to rise to alleviate the pain. I decided at that point in the challenge to do multiple sets and work on form as much as time.

I want to say the 90 seconds ones were quite do-able for me also, but I was already starting to see small compromises in form at 90 seconds, which is why I typically do 60 sec sets. However, I'm already starting to feel like the 60 seconds are getting to be 'easier', so might shift to doing more 75 or 90 sec sets to push myself, and more slowly build up to a full/single 2, 3, 4, and 5 minute plank. I am also thinking about re-doing this challenge with bent arms/elbow planks since I find them harder.

Don't know if any of that helps, but it's just been my observations so far. YMMV.

@b3achy Interesting. I'm on to the 2 minute planks starting tomorrow. I 'feel' like my form is good, but I am going to have my spouse watch me tomorrow and make sure I'm not sagging OR lifting. Plus knowing I'm being watched will give me incentive to power through that extra 30 seconds... Thanks for your insight!

Forgot to post last night. Day 9 - 90 seconds

Missed doing my planks (and frankly everything) yesterday due to not feeling well. Got back on it tonight. One more day of the challenge to go!

Day 29 at 270 seconds - Done!
4 sets - 93 sec, 62 sec, 92 sec, 63 sec = 340 seconds

Day 17 completed - 120 seconds

Day 9- ✔️

@b3achy This is awesome work! This challenge is much more difficult than it appears at first look. For sure. It's been fun "watching" you complete it!

Day 18 completed - 150 seconds

Day 12 - 120 seconds done

Day 1 done, 20 second