It’s funny you say this–I too despise planks and any ab work outside of plain boring crunches (those don’t bother me, for whatever reason, but they’re not the most effective) but have been trying to force myself into it lately.

I was literally just looking at Bodyrock.tv–have you heard of it? They’re super high-intensity workouts and I’ve been trying to incorporate them into my routine…they’re so hard but kind of fun and definitely addicting. Anyway, they have all kinds of variations on planks and different types of ab work that help you shake it up a bit–I think the worst part of planks is just holding it with no movement or anything to distract from the pain and mind-numbing boredom!

Congrats on your huge pushup improvement ~ that’s awesome!

I’m in! I am awful with strength training and ab work, although I do enjoy it when I’m in the mood. I made myself a traning plan for my first ever marathon on April 22- and I am supposed to be doing strength and core twice a week. This week I’ve done it…zero times. :/ Gotta get goin!

Could you perhaps do a post on how to fry an egg correctly? I just tried to it this morning and they broke all over. They still tasted delicious, but I wish they looked pretty! 🙂

I want in on the plank challenge! I actually enjoy planks even though they are difficult and I generally dislike excercise in general. I’m not sure why I like them, maybe because I can be lazy while doing them?

I love doing planks! Best part–it targets those hard-get-at section, the transversus abdominus (the inner part of the abs that gives an overall smaller appearance to the waist). Planks WORK.

I am obsessed with goat cheese now….thanks 🙂

Hi HTP-
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I have been reading your blog for a while and am so excited for you! I am a certified yoga, pilates, and zumba instructor, and have been a mama for 15 years,
and I wanted to pass along a little unasked for advice. I have noticed you pushing yourself into races and physical challenges lately (the 5k, pushups, plank..). As a yoga and pilates teacher, I would encourage you to avoid strain or working to the point of tiredness. A plank is a powerful spine extensor, and puts pressure on your entire diaphragm, also, as your belly weight increases, it puts an undue strain on your back and abdominal ligaments. Wall planks and puhups can provide you with strengthening without strain. This is a very special time, and your whole body(s) echo that fact. Exercise, in my opinion, should be different, holistic. Walking is wonderful, as is swimming, yoga, and most Pilates. There are wonderful DVDs out there for expectant mothers, as well as I am sure, classes you could go to. I just hope for you that this can be a peaceful time in which you do not “push” yourself from one goal or the other, but surrender to the miracle, and feel healthy and whole in that challenge. I certainly do not mean to offend. I was very young when I had my first baby, and had struggled with overexercise and ED, but totally left those behind when I became pregnant, and it was a wonderful thing. I wish the best for you, and congratulations!

Way to go on your push up challenge and improve so much! I’ve lost a lot of my upper body strength I feel like from running so much *sigh*

We have a fitness initiative around our office where we all break at 3 p.m. every day to do group exercises. The planks come up on Tuesdays, and we’re up to a minute on them. My abbies are definitely tired by the end!

I also can do the plank for only 30 seconds! This challenge seems like a good way to increase my endurance, so I’m totally going to join you. Good idead to do this challenge now before your belly is too big 🙂

I’ll join you for the plank challenge! I’m already doing the 100 pushup challenge and the #30for60, so why not? I think it’ll fit in nicely!

Congrats on working out so diligently during your pregnancy. I think you have a great mindset and inspire others!

I’ll join! My abs could definitely use some work. 😛

I am so joining in! I delivered twins in July and now have diastasis recti 🙁 It sucks soooooooo bad. Planks are supposed to help the condition. Fingers crossed!!

Planks are such a good pregnancy exercise! Strong abdominals will keep your lower back from getting sore later in pregnancy, help with labor and delivery, and recovery! I have been doing planks a few times a week since I got pregnant!

I think I’ll try this with you!

Also, did you make that gingerbread/marshmallow snowman scene in the first photo? So cute!!

I like pushups, but hate ab work. I really want to work on my core over the next few months though, I always start to slump toward the end of my longer runs :/ time to get planking & blow up the exercise ball again!

I’m much better at doing planks if I combine them with something else. Like bringing my knee up to my elbow, kicking one leg up behind me, lifting an arm up, anything that makes the time go by faster. I lose my mind if I have to just hold it. TV does help though!

It would be fun to do a different mini challenge each month and try to continue up with past challenges too. That would definitely be enough time to target every body section!

I don’t mean to be negative, but I hate planks!! They kill me in Body Pump.

[I bet I also made your heart skip I beat thinking I was writing a critical comment!]

Oh, I forgot. So of course, I’ll be joining in doing planks! 😀 Teehee

Love the idea of a plank challenge! I’ll be joining in too! Definitely throw in some side planks for good measure 🙂

I definitely need to work on my abs a lot more, especially because it can help make me a better runner, duh! I like your challenge, and I’m going to make it my goal to do ab-work of any kinds three times a week, too!

I will join. I did this last month – working up to two minutes. Got to 90 seconds so I am continuing into December. I am going to be doing low back exercises and other abs too in order to build up to 2 minutes.

I had an egg sandwich [with ham] and pear for bfast, too! Warm sandwiches + apples/ pears seem to be my fave bfasts lately 🙂

Weird I just set myself a plank goal of 1.30 minutes for Dec. Great minds think alike and all that. Good luck!

I’ll join you! Sounds like a great challenge!

I may have to join you on that plank challenge! I have such a weak core and I hate doing ab workouts too.

The plank challenge seems simple enough (and of course, effective) so I think I’ll join you! Now that I’m able to start doing exercise again after being really sick, my abdominals feel like they could use an extra push! 😉

Yay! I will join the plank challenge too! I’ve been doing plank-a-day on and off for the last few months. Need to kick it up!

You should look at doing some dynamic plank moves, (like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjUuZHuL97M) I really found doing something a bit more exciting than just ‘holding’ the plank helped me to stay down for longer. It helps you focus on ‘doing’ the moves rather than the pain in your abs haha!!