Holy cow planks!
 

Wow I did planks for the first time today and all I can say is wow. I'm excited though, I think I may see some real improvement in my belly with these in addition to my cardio!

Ah, plank. How I love thee.

And side plank. Forearm plank. All the variations.

Those plank thingys wherein you go from forearm plank to regular plank repeatedly until death or crying.

Those can see me and my tiny waist and deliciously boney shoulders in ****. H.e.l.l.

Try them. You won't like them, but you should try them.

gosh the ones where you slightly lift one leg, or the side planks.. those are tough. But they get easier with experience, and they really make you strong. :)

My stomach hurts just thinking about it!

I love them and they are a great challenge.

Ooooooooh - how I DETEST the plank. But I face the plank (and try not to plant the face).

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Super effective. Great for all over core conditioning. Hard as you-know-what!

Jillian Michaels is a big fan on plank position in her various workouts. GOSH they are tough, but I know they are one of the reasons I'm getting the results I'm getting.

Originally Posted by cherylmn:
Ooooooooh - how I DETEST the plank. But I face the plank (and try not to plant the face).

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Super effective. Great for all over core conditioning. Hard as you-know-what!

im afraid of the day i plank my face i can feel it coming



i did them for the first time today too - jillian michaels 30 day shred level 2, it looked so easy but i was calling her every horrible name under the sun after about 5 seconds!

I learned just how the planks work the abs after attempting them following a pretty good ab routine. My abs said :no:.

I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

Love them because they work, hate them because they hurt. I too find myself calling Jillian a few not so nice things :p

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

Oy, my midsection hurts just reading this. I might be able to do one. Maybe. Just the plank to elbow plank to plank is tough enough for me, nevermind the other stuff!

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

Once again, I am in awe!!! You rock.

I love planks as well - all forms! It's something i CAN do lol love that!

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

I'm definitely giving this a try...thank you!

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

I love planks! The results and the challenge they pose with no equipment! The "walking plank" as I call it(elbow plank up to plank and down to elbow plank) are my nemasis of the moment. Though I will give this a try over the weekend making sure to take my glasses off first should I plant on the face! :dizzy:

They are son painful and so awesome! It gets easier with practice. If you stop doing them, like me, it will be just as hard as the first time. :S

LOL! I have a love/hate relationship with the plank. I know it will do wonderful things for my core strength and my arms, but doing them every day (I'm a few days into Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred) kills me! I have dropped more f-bombs (at the TV) in the last few days than I think I have all year:censored: I just keep hoping they will get easier eventually!

Haha when I read the title of this post, I had to come look because I was intrigued what "cow planks" were. Mmm... planks.

My fiance who is naturally thin and has very little body fat was bragging today about his 'six pack'. I happened to have this thread open at the time and I made him try it.

He was shaking half way through the 60 seconds and starting to drop form.

Hehe.

Planks help for back pain too. I injured my back severely in January - to the point I could not walk- and as part of my rehab I do planks and bird-dogs (the one where you get on all fours and then lift one arm and the opposite leg out straight and hold). I hold for 1 minute. I'm trying to work up to 2 minutes, but for now 1 minute has me shaking.

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

Mandalinn - I tried this routine this morning after my run and all I can say is "YOU ROCK!". I reduced my count to 10 and only made it through 2 sets...including a short break for my shoulders in between. WOW. I have a long way to go, baby! Thanks for the killer routine. Looking forward to progressing!!

Originally Posted by mandalinn82:
I do a KILLER rotation as part of my UB workout...

Plank (hold 15 sec)
Pushup
Drop to Elbow Plank (hold 15 sec)
Dolphin (while on elbows, clasp hands and push up into a downward-dog-like position) (hold 15 sec)
Lower back into an Elbow Plank
Back up to regular plank and start again!

Abs, back, AND all the pushup muscles! I can get through 5-6 without a faceplant.

etc.

Mandalinn - From the beginning of my journey you have inspired me. I will be trying this routine tonight. Looking at it from the jump I can see a face plant coming but I shall prevail!!! I'll let you know.

Oh, I just tried the plank while lifting one leg- that is HARD! I find I want to raise my hips and get out of form when I do it. I'm going to have to practice that one.

Mandalinn, you rock girl. I tried "KILLER" workout and got through one rotation BARELY!! Then I had to let it go. I decided that I will work on mastering the first two and add the next one in gradually. I will get to 5-6 rotations before Christmas...LOL

Did anyone else put "Batman" on the end of this thread title, or was it just me?

"Holy cowplanks, Batman!"

I'm glad you're all enjoying the plank set. I write out my weight lifting routines before I do them, and this set now has an official name..."Holy Cow Planks"!

Originally Posted by Robsia:
Did anyone else put "Batman" on the end of this thread title, or was it just me?

"Holy cowplanks, Batman!"

Bwah-ha-ha!!! That is too funny!!


I love that Mandalinn has inspired so many of us to get movin with those Holycow Planks. I WILL be able to complete 6 by Thanksgiving...it is now a mission ;)

Thanks for the giggles & inspiration everyone. I love this forum!!

I'm spreading the "Holy Cow Planks"!!! My Director asked me to help her loose 10 pounds. She really just needs to do some toning, in my humble opinion. So I gave her the plank workout to see how she does. I can't wait til tomorrow to see if she is as sore as I am today. It took me a minute to figure out why I was so sore around my core but I was quickly reminded when I was at the gym for lunch doing the "Holy Cow Planks". LOVE IT. I actually made it through the one full rotation without a break.

Mandalinn, you should start a "Holy Cow Plank" Challenge to see how long it takes us Rookies to get to that 5-6 rotation. I'm still sticking with Christmas.

Originally Posted by jigglefree:
I'm spreading the "Holy Cow Planks"!!! My Director asked me to help her loose 10 pounds. She really just needs to do some toning, in my humble opinion. So I gave her the plank workout to see how she does. I can't wait til tomorrow to see if she is as sore as I am today. It took me a minute to figure out why I was so sore around my core but I was quickly reminded when I was at the gym for lunch doing the "Holy Cow Planks". LOVE IT. I actually made it through the one full rotation without a break.

Mandalinn, you should start a "Holy Cow Plank" Challenge to see how long it takes us Rookies to get to that 5-6 rotation. I'm still sticking with Christmas.

This is a GREAT idea!! I'll start an official "Holy Cow Plank Challenge" thread. Please post your progress there.


ncuneo & Mandalinn: you had NO IDEA when you started this the energy you were creating!! :D Thanks!