Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

This first workout challenge is a two-part challenge. The challenge is to do it.

Part 1: Plank Hold the plank position for 2 minutes. If you feel like you need to rest, drop to your knees for just a few seconds, then continue. When you stop, time stops. So, you will do a full 2 minutes in the actual position. Please rest as few times as possible, and feel free to share how many times you had to "break" from the plank.

This is a true plank:
More advanced people, please go on your hands:
Some tips: Keep your shoulders in line with your elbows, do not let them lean towards your ears. Keep your hips UP, don not let them droop - Keep your back straight. While doing the plank, tighten your abs and hold a kiegel..sounds funny but it helps keep your balance. Most people, keep your feet shoulder width, as in the picture. More advanced, put your feet closer together. Everyone: really focus on form, that is where the challenge comes.

Part 2: Sorry, don't have a name for this one
You will also do this for 2 minutes. The important part of this exercise is pushing your back to the floor.
* Lay flat on the floor
* Raise your arms, palms together, fingers toward the ceiling
* Shoulder blades off the floor (your head will still be on the floor
* Raise your knees, feet off the floor (creating a 90 degree angle with your knees)
**Push your lower back toward the floor. You will feel the tension in your core.** (you'll know you're doing it correctly when your whole body starts shaking..probably about 30 seconds in

Hold this position for 2 minutes. Same rules as above. I can't find a great picture, but you will look something like this:

But your arms will be UP, fingers toward the ceiling, shoulder blades off the floor.

For the more advanced: don't have such a hard bend on your knees, so move your feet more forward. Play with the position until you feel the tension. )

So, that's the challenge. I know it sounds simple, but these static exercises work every single muscle in your body. Core strength is the most important thing to any exercise, and we will build from these for future challenges.

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

I'm going to try it now!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

I'll try it, we hold the plank for 60 seconds in some of my classes, so I'll see if I can get it up to 2 minutes! Thanks for posting this!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Posted by jeanyus27

I'll try it, we hold the plank for 60 seconds in some of my classes, so I'll see if I can get it up to 2 minutes! Thanks for posting this!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Posted by pmpkn087

Posted by jeanyus27

I'll try it, we hold the plank for 60 seconds in some of my classes, so I'll see if I can get it up to 2 minutes! Thanks for posting this!

2 minutes straight is really difficult for me I usually have to break once or twice.

For those who do this all the time, to make it more challenging, you can put your forearms on a BOSU.

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Arm exercises are the DEVIL to me! Ack!!!

Workout challenge complete!!!

Did the advanced plank position. DH held the stopwatch and was laughing at me! The last 30 seconds were brutal!!!! I collapsed at the end but didn't break!

Part 2 was fun! I have a pretty strong core so this one was easier. I moved my legs out to make it tougher and my whole body was shaking starting at about 1:30.

This is fun!!! Now if only I could get DH to do it with me!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Posted by AudioLoveStory

Arm exercises are the DEVIL to me! Ack!!!

Workout challenge complete!!!

Did the advanced plank position. DH held the stopwatch and was laughing at me! The last 30 seconds were brutal!!!! I collapsed at the end but didn't break!

Part 2 was fun! I have a pretty strong core so this one was easier. I moved my legs out to make it tougher and my whole body was shaking starting at about 1:30.

This is fun!!! Now if only I could get DH to do it with me!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Plank = done! I did it on my hands with no breaks, aroud 1:45 my whole body started shaking but I stuck through it.

Going to do the other one now.

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Did #2 also.
By a minute in wasn't feeling the burn. So I outstretched my legs further and really pushed my lower back down, and felt it so much more... held this til 2:20.

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

On for tomorrow...I shall do my best! That being said..I am not at the fitness level of the others on here so I don't think I will complete the challenge on day 1. I hope by week's end I can get it done!!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

omg I didn't think much of it until I just did it..I am shaking lol

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

I couldn't get the full 2 minutes of the planks...I got about 1 1/2 minutes. And I don't think I did the second one right because I got to 2 minutes without shaking!

I will try again tomorrow!

(Love this idea!!)

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Plank done for 2 minutes on my hands. No breaks.

#2, I think I did wrong bc I wasn't feeling shaky at all and didn't really feel it in my core. I will try that one again tomrrow!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Plank done on hands for 2 minutes, no breaks! Will try the other one sometime today!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

just did the advanced plank, it was tough but I managed for the 2 minutes. Is this an everyday thing for a week?

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Did #2 for the 2 minutes but not sure if I did it correctly. I needed to lower my knees to feel it, and then I REALLY felt it in my outer thighs mostly, not core

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

I have bad shoulders so I did #2 first (lifting hands to the ceiling is good to strengthen shoulders anyway) and I was shaking from the get-go.

I came back five minutes later and did my abs too, so I should be feeling sore tomorrow!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

I did it again yesterday...still can't do the plank for 2 minutes.....my body is screaming after 1 minute.

And I did the second one correctly this time....I was able to do the full 2 minutes...barely!

I will try again today....I NEED to get those 2 minutes for the plank!

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Wow...it didn't look like much from the pictures, but I did both of the challenges and my body was shaking!
My kids did it with me. LOL! I outlasted them!

Can't wait for the next challenge!

Are we supposed to do this everyday? Or a new challenge every day?

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27

Congrats everyone!!

I'm going to try for the full two minutes no breaks today.

If you want to do it every day, by all means please do. I think we can all spare the 4 minutes

Re: Workout Challenge 1 - Week of June 27