How long can you hold plank?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
April 26, 2010 12:20pm CST
I took a new class last week, and the instructor told us she'd like us all to be able to hold a 3 minute plank by Memorial Day. Right now most of the class is up to 2 minutes!
For those that don't know, a plank is where you get down like you're going to do a push up, resting on just your hands and balls of your feet, keeping your back flat.
Last night I had my husband time me while I held plank.. I held it for 1 minute 33 seconds. I probably could have held on a little longer but my back has been bothering me so that made it difficult. I am going to challenge myself to hold that 3 minute plank along with the rest of the class by Memorial Day (end of May in USA). I'm half way there now!
Can you do it?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@syndibee (799)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I can't hold plank that long. Now I'm curious to know how long I really can hold it. I'll have to do that some time today and get back to you. I'm doing a 200 sit up challenge right now. After that I'll be doing the 100 push up challenge. I also want to be able to hold a plank pose because of the great benefits of it.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Wow! I know I can't do 100 push ups. Possibly the sit ups but I've never tried.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
26 Apr 10
No definitely not. No way could I hold plank. Take care of your back!!!!
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
26 Apr 10
It's a great exercise for the core muscles (abs mostly).
My back is getting a lot better!
@HelloMickey (1655)
• Hong Kong
5 Jul 10
Hi cynthiann, but I have heard doing plank is exactly how we gain strength, that's with strong legs, abs and back. So I agree with katsmeow that it is an excellent exercise for our core and my back is getting better after doing plank.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Apr 10
Oh heck no. Must get back into yoga, it did me a lot of good...
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Yoga is great. I've taken a few classes. Though the past few weeks I've been leaning more towards harder, cardio work outs. I should probably stick with yoga once a week though because it builds strength and flexibility.
@HelloMickey (1655)
• Hong Kong
5 Jul 10
Hello katsmeow
I have been doing plank for 2 weeks and I love this exercise, it's easy and I can do it almost everywhere, even I am on my trip.
It is good for our core, and I love it the most for its effect on my back and my abs, I have been doing plank for 2 weeks, I am getting slimmer and I feel I am even stronger. I like the way I feel myself right now, so I don't think I would stop doing plank.
At first, I can only hold for 15 seconds, which the trainer told me hold 15-60 seconds a set and 3 sets a day, I started it for 15 seconds, and now after two weeks practices, I can hold plank for 2 minutes, and I appreciate I am stronger that I can hold that long. But the trainer doesn't tell me to hold for so long, she just said I should do 3 sets of 15-60 seconds plank, I hold for longer just because I want to check if I can hold that long.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Apr 10
You are much more of a woman than I am. I tried to hold it for a minute a couple weeks ago and I was only able to go for about 45 seconds. It was so uncomfortable. Most of the other girls in my class were able to do it for a minute without a problem, but I couldn't. However, since then I've been trying to do it here at home and to hold it until I can't possibly stay up any longer. I think I've improved by a few seconds, but I still don't think I'm as far as I will be able to go.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
29 Apr 10
No I've just been practicing longer.. plus I take other classes that strengthen the abs, which is mostly what you're using to hold plank... you'll get there with more practice.
@crawler955 (26)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Yes lol it was our gym final to do it for 5 minutes. 5.23 mintues
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Awesome! I heard of a gym contest where a 60 year old woman held plank for 10 minutes.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Wow. I have no idea how long I could hold it. I probably couldn't hold it for even a minute. I have pretty much non existent arm strength right now. I probably could do it better now than 3 months ago before I joined the gym. I'll have to try it and see how long I can hold it. Good luck with your quest to hold it 3 minutes!
