A Plank a Day . . . A New Challenge

If you have been around this blog for a while you know how much I love a Challenge. I’m not really sure what it is about a Challenge that pulls me in, but I am such a sucker for them. I don’t consider myself a very competitive person so maybe I am secretly competitive? And joining in on some type of Challenge is probably my lame attempt at showing myself I can compete, even if it is only against myself. Surely I can beat me! So, when FitFluential came up with a new April Challenge I had to join and, of course, share with you! If you aren’t familiar with Fitfluential, check them out here. It is a great site for active folks, tips, inspiration, exercises and motivation. Recently, I was fortunate enough to be chosen as a FitFluential Ambassador – Yippee!! You’ll be reading some more here about that and from FitFluential info, product reviews and new fitness trends.

Back to the Challenge – it’s all about the abs. This tends to be the time of year we begin to focus on that area as the temps are getting warmer and our clothes seem to become smaller or, at least show more skin. And there is always the bathing suit thing hanging over our heads. So, FitFluential has joined with PUMA to challenge folks to plank every day in April, working up to a 3 minute plank by April 30th. Whew! That will be some plank! Begin TODAY with a 30 second plank and increase that time each day. A plank requires absolutely NO equipment, can be done anywhere and anytime. “To join the challenge, just use the hashtag: #FFAprilAbs. Make sure you post daily on Instagram and Twitter to be entered to win one of two sets of PUMA Soundchuck Portable Speakers*.” Check out the Fitfluential page here and also see a downloadable calendar you can use to keep track of your planking.

If you haven’t been adding a plank into your workout routine, you are in for a treat. It’s one of the best exercises out there. Here are some photos showing you proper form for your plank. You can see the different levels for the traditional plank, the side plank and the third set of photos shows you some fancier forms of the plank. Whichever variation you use remember a few things: hold in your abs like you are wearing a bikini (or Speedo), keep you shoulders and neck relaxed, keep your chin off of your chest, if your toes are on the ground press your heels back, and breathe!

There are other variations not shown here. Please let me know if you want other variations or modifications. For example, I am still babying my right shoulder from surgery so when I do a side plank on my right side, I keep my bottom knee bent and on the floor to take pressure off of the right shoulder. The key on the side plank is to keep the hips lifted as high as you can.

With all the hoopla on the plank, you may be wondering why it’s such a big deal and why we fitness folks think it’s so awesome. Well, just look at this photo below to see all the different muscles you will be working. See how awesome that is? To me, the very best exercises are those that engage multiple muscles at the same time. This is a perfect example.

So, if you haven’t already, get down and get your 30 second plank going. This is a great Challenge and I hope you’ll join me. Better yet, follow the Fitfluential instructions and join lots of other folks and try to win from PUMA. A little incentive never hurts.

Do you plank regularly? Is it an easy or difficult move for you? What is your favorite variation? Are you a Challenge sucker like me? Do you feel like the buff gal or the elephant during your plank?

Have a Great Hump Day!

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