Planking update

Planking has transformed my body. 

The first month of Planks I was worried about my butt and my breasts getting smaller, but given my body type of square and no hips I was down for a change. 

Two months later, my body is gaining hips and my breasts look perkier. I have cleavage and my butt still looks great!

Last week I was finally able to hold a full one minute plank! After, I take a break, I usually sit, or rest on my knees for a few seconds. For the second plank, I typically last 60 seconds, then go into a downward dog to give my back and legs a quick rest and then resume the plank to finish it off. 

As a new challenge, I have incorporate "spider planks." I'm working towards that goal so for now I am gaining strength by doing plank mountain climbers. 

Plus, I've added 30 seconds of side planks and then finish off the minute with a regular plank (on each side). 

I end with calm breaths to relax my body.

I recently went to Walmart and I bought a purple dress, I bought it to lounge in the house during the hot Los Angeles weather. I typically wear a Large, but decided to purchase a Medium, since it was for lounging house and I wanted to look cute and not frumpy. 

I was shocked when the dress looked great. I bought more in other colors. My body usually carries most of the weight on my lower belly. Planks have helped bring in my waste, given me shape and boosted my confidence. I totally thing you should keep it up if you've started. If you haven't: It.is.never.too.late. 

Have a wonderful day!

Kathy

LESS than 1 minute planking challenge - Change your body (Goal: 2 minutes)

Plank pose (tee-hee)

I am a wrestling fan, an old school wrestling fan. My favorite wrestler is Stone Cold Steve Austin, and "That's the bottom line." I still enjoy watching wrestling, but with kids it is hard to keep repeating, "They aren't hurting each other,"  when it looks like they are.

Women's wrestling was a strange phenomenon in those old Stone Cold, Attitude Era, WWE days. Women were made to look either manly, or overly sexualized. The queen that was able to mesh both worlds was the 9th wonder of the world, Chyna. 

Chyna was sexy, stunning, and menacing. Degeneration X would never be the same without her, period. 

Today's female wrestler is a mesh between Chyna and your every day woman. Mean, nice, scary, crazy, pick your poison. All of them are beautiful and can kick ass. Nikki Bella is just one example of the many female wrestlers who made their names right along with the big boys. 

Nikki Bella welcomed a healthy baby boy in 2020 & named him Matteo. When she was ready to loose the baby weight she challenged everyone to try to do 300 sit ups a night.  I did 300 the first night. 

Then maybe one more time after that. 

That was it. I failed. I just don't follow through. I love Pilates, but I can't be consistent with the workouts. Perhaps it's not having the room for it, or a place dedicated to working out, but honestly it's me, more than likely. 

One morning, I read an article about a woman who tried to build up stamina to hold a two minute plank. she began with 15 seconds planks, then went up to 30 seconds, and increased the time by 15 seconds every other day, until she could hold a one minute plank. She suggested taking a one day rest in between each day, if desired. She also said your whole body will shake, but to hold the pose!

I started the day I read the article. 15 seconds! Done! I did one more 15 second rep and moved on. I counted 15 Mississippi's, lol. LOL.

Day two, I used my apple watch to take 30 seconds. I shook like heck, but I held on. 

It has been one month and I can hold on for a 1 minute plank. Due to unforeseen life crap, I stopped for about two weeks, but I'm back on! The changes I saw in my body were significant. I started to loose inches from my waist, something I had never experienced before. I would loose overall weight when running, or walking, but not inches from my waist. Honestly, I started to see a difference on my waist the first week. I always said my body shape was rectangular. No hips, just straight sides on each side, but planking has given me shape!! I highly recommend you try it. Even if you have a workout routine, incorporate planking for a complete transformation. 

Come shake like a leaf with me & plank! Its fun, and a self challenge, I like those over competing with others. 

Working towards 2 minutes! 

Have a great day!

Kathy