"If you can't hold a plank for 120 seconds, you're either a) too fat; b) too weak; or c) doing something wrong in your workouts." How true is this?

@dunak The old RR had planks but for only a minute. The newer versions threw them out in favor of [have it as an early progression for the] other exercises for core work.
 
@raymo Crap, I'm still doing planks - need to go update my wall poster lol. I haven't strictly been doing the RR, but still was referring to it now and then.
 
@zondaar39 New people to body weight fitness might think this is important (2 minutes plank), or that.. hollow body for 2+ minutes is extremely important (this was such a widespread thing couple of years ago, even people that now dispute it were claiming it was The Truth back then), but after a while you'll see that it is just endurance and nothing more than that.

I can do both 2+ minutes, and it means nothing. It just means you are strong in that position and that's it. Your abs are most probably getting enough workout from the normal routines, assuming you are doing them properly. It doesn't carry to front lever, or dragon flag, or something like that. It just doesn't.

Don't stress over numbers, be mindful of your overall health and strength. Give priority to your health, there's nothing more important in this world.
 
@zondaar39 Life, like nutrition, is more complicated than we usually have time to discuss, so we say something clever to make it memorable, which has value even if not completely true.
 
@zondaar39 I work out like 5 days a week...I probably cant do this. And its because I just dont do planks period. If I did them then my body would be adapted to them and I could do it.
 
@zondaar39 No I am hella out of shape, but naturally short waisted so I can hold a plank for that long. Seriously body shape matters, my friend is in excellent shape, a runner, goes to the gym regularly, but she is a typical pear shape, very large breasts and hips, very narrow waist, makes planks difficult for her but is in no way an accurate picture of her over all health.
 
@khuleman Came here to say this. I’ve seen another article stating something along the lines that if you are holding a plank for more than 60 seconds, you’re doing it wrong. Reason being that you should be engaging your core and other muscles so well that it should always be hard to maintain for 60 seconds.
 
@zondaar39 Naw, even when I've been in the best shape of my life from climbing/working out, I struggled with a 2 minute plank. And that was at 5'10"/170lbs of semi-lean muscle, visible six pack, climbing 2 hours/working out 1 hour and doing it 4-6 days a week. I seem to have naturally mediocre core strength with decently wide shoulders and thunder thighs.
 
@zondaar39 I'd say the real statement is, "if you can plank for 30 seconds, you can plank for 120 seconds if you just practice for a few weeks." There is nothing special about planking for 2 minutes. 2 minutes is pretty arbitrary anyway, why not 5 minutes or 30 minutes? There are people who can plank for hours and hours. But who cares? If planking is a goal for you, then plank, if not, then don't.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
How is it possible for a red-blooded human being to hold a plank for 8 HOURS?? Please enlighten me..
6 7 8
Replies
147
Views
768
neilb
N
N
What is the proper scapular and thoracic positioning (aka form) for the support hold?
Replies
16
Views
92
ndubuisi
N
E
How I went from 0 to 40 seconds Handstand Hold in 12 Months
3 4 5
Replies
95
Views
625
east81
E
U
V-sit hold 1 minute press to handstand
2 3
Replies
49
Views
363
dawn16
D
L
Struggling with pushing up from bent arms in a handstand after a 90-degree hold
Replies
6
Views
99
lase3
L
Back
Top