The Plank

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I go to the gym and take a step and sculpt class.  It has really made a huge difference in a LOT of ways to my weight loss process.  In the beginning, it was really, really hard to go.  I found a million excuses NOT to go every day that my class rolled around.  But, I went anyway.  And, of course, I was the biggest person in the class. Great.  Most of the "sculpting" portion of the class...I could not do.  That was also where the hate portion of my LOVE/HATE relationship with the instructor comes in.  But, I still tried to do everything anyway.  Now, I can do most everything in the class.  I can't always do them as long, or maybe as many as everyone else, but I see major improvements.

What does this have to do with the plank and what is the plank, you ask?  Let me tell you what the plank is not first.  The plank is NOT what you commonly would think of as being what people walked off or were pushed off a pirate ship; although at times it has made me wish that I was being pushed off an actual plank into the ocean.  Anyway, what it IS is an exercise that has made a TREMENDOUS difference in the abdominal region of my body.  I mean a big difference.  Did I say huge?  Okay, you get the point.

Here's how it works.  Lay on the floor, flat on your stomach.  Then, push yourself up onto your elbows and your toes ONLY, keeping your head and neck relaxed.  Sounds simple right?  Okay, go ahead and try it really quickly.  BTW, the goal is to stay in that position for 30 seconds.  Okay, now try it... Go ahead while no one is looking...  Done yet??  Oh yeah...  Did your whole body start shaking after about the 10 second mark.  Mine does every time.  You are supposed to work up to 5 reps of 10 holding each for 30 seconds.  Talk about abs of steel.  If I ever make it that far.  So far I can do 3 reps of 8 holding each for 30 seconds.  But even now, every time I get the body shakes around the 10/12 second mark...on EVERY one of them.  Oh well, it's nice to have goals I guess.  Try them.  I am even starting to see where my abs are supposed to be.  They are trying to come out.  If they don't...I guess I'll just have to walk that plank after all...