Planks - that's right, I'm bad...uh-huh...

[dss62467]

At my adult tae kwon do class last week, the instructor who was leading the class had us do planks during the warm-up. I think they were just the "on the elbow" ones, so not too difficult, and she only had us hold it for 20 seconds. At the end of the 20 seconds, she asked if we felt it (the others in the class groaned "yes") then asked if we could go longer - I piped up "yes!". She just smiled and said what a good exercise it was, and that we only did it for 20 seconds, and that the record in her Body Strong/Body Lean classes (like cardio kick-boxing) is 2 minutes 25 seconds.

So I thought, hmmmm....that doesn't seem so long. I think we definitely hold them longer than that in Cathe's workouts. The other day, I decided to test it. I did them straight-armed and at 2.5 minutes, I still felt as though I had at least another minute in me. Yeah, my arms were starting to shake a bit, but my core felt fresh as a daisy. I would have tested my actual limit, except I had to get the dog to her agility class. I'll have to test it again when I've got nowhere to go.

Made me feel a little on the "elite" side. Not to mention that I'm one of the only 2 women in class that do "real" push-ups (the other is the above referenced instructor). She's in WAY good shape - and a fantastic martial artist.

 

[fit_fairy]

Donna, that's great!! You are so right about doing real pushups. I think it's a shame that girls are taught from the start to do them from the knees instead of the toes x( They should start out doing them the full way IMO

WTG on the plank work!! Did you tell your instructor??

Catherine http://www.smileyhut.com/silly/arrowhead.gif

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[EricaH]

At our Y, one instructor had a 5 minute plank challenge and I was suprised how many people were able to hold a 5 minute plank. I definitely wasn't one of them. The instructor said two and a half minutes was her limit. Oh - and this was after an hour of kickboxing. I wish that the instructor started the challenge at the beginning of the class instead - my arms were fatigued!

Good job! It's fun to feel on the elite side!

Erica

 

[queenmaynie]

Way to go Donna!! I teach a cardio/sculpt class and the women always groan when it comes to planks!! I have them doing them with the stability ball now and it's funny, when I ask them to really challenge themselves and not give up they can do alot more than they think! The ones they always flip about is the side planks. As for push ups, I have them doing them over the stability ball and I always tell them to come out as far as they can past their thighs. They are starting to see that they can do more and more. It's very gratifying for all of us!

So, enjoy your "eliteness"! You certainly deserve it!

Oh, and we are doing a month long "Shape up" challenge with some mini challenges as well, so you gave me the idea to do a "plank holding" challenge. Thanks!!

 

[Boybert]

Okay Donna, get down & I'll come back to check on your progress at dinnertime }(


Debbie


Homer: How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
--The Simpsons