I Must Be Planking Mad

Well I have been planking now for 26 days!!! Today is another rest day and I really do feel like I need a rest.

If you don't already know what I am talking about, take a look at my previous post, it explains what plankvember is all about. Well the end of plankvember is now in sight.

I really am starting to feel the burn from all this planking, I can't believe just how hard a short exercise can be.

Here is what I have done for the past week :

Day 20 - 2.5 minutes
Day 21 - 2.5 minutes
Day 22 - 3 minutes
Day 23 - 3 minutes
Day 24 - 3.5 minutes
Day 25 - 3.5 minutes
Day 26 - Rest Day

I have to say, I have noticed a bit more muscle definition in both my upper arms and upper legs and my mid section has been pulled in slightly. I measured my waist and I have lost one centimetre since I started doing the planking exercise. That might not seem like an awful lot but a change is a change so I'm pleased.

Now 3.5 minutes was extremely tough, it was touch and go as to whether I was going to be able to hold the plank position for that long so I'm not quite sure how I'm going to manage holding it for 4 minutes tomorrow.

Wish me luck!!

xxxx

I Can and I Will

I am still making my way through Plankvember, it is now day 19 and thankfully this is a rest day!!

Here is what I have achieved since las weeks update :

Day 13 - Rest Day
Day 14 - 1.5 minutes
Day 15 - 1.5 minutes
Day 16 - 2 minutes
Day 17 - 2 minutes
Day 18 - 2.5 minutes

I was surprised with myself that I managed to stay in the plank position for that amount of time. I have been using an interval timer on my phone to tell me when to start and finish the exercise.

I think the key for me is to not actually look at the timer. I can't believe just how long 2 and half minutes feels when I am trying to do the plank. By then end of it my legs and arms are shaking a lot. 

I am noticing that both the tops of my arms and the tops of my legs are left with an aching feeling after doing the exercise so my muscles must be getting a good work out. 

The other difference that I have noticed is that my stomach seems to have pulled in slightly, I've lost the "roundness". I would recommend any of you to give it a go, takes next to no time out of your day, so no excuses for not trying!!

xxxx

Plankvember is hard!!!!

So last week I told you that I was starting Plankvember. I thought I would give you all a little update. I am now 12 days into Plankvember and I can't believe how hard I am finding it.

For an exercise that takes very little time, it definitely takes some strength to complete, this is what I have done so far :

Day 1 - 20 seconds
Day 2 - 20 seconds
Day 3 - 30 seconds
Day 4 - 30 seconds
Day 5 - 40 seconds
Day 6 - rest day
Day 7- 45 seconds
Day 8 - 45 seconds
Day 9- 1 min
Day 10 - 1 min
Day 11 - 1 min
Day 12 - 1.5 min

Today was tough but I manage to hold the position for a whole 1 minute and 30 seconds, my arms and legs were shaking by the end of it!! It is also made harder by a 15 month old wanting to "help".

Now the idea of Plankvember isn't to lose weight, it is to help strengthen your core, now I've never been able to hold a plan position for longer than 30 seconds before so it must be working.

I've tried keeping up with some other exercise too. I started Jillian Michaels ripped in 30, I lasted 3 days and then fell ill with a cold and cough so shamefully I didn't do any other exercise the rest of last week but I am back and determined this week and restarted ripped in 30 yesterday!!

Has anyone else joined in with Plankvember? How are you finding it?

xxxx