“Once you can do three sets of one minute in a modified plank exercise, then progress to the low plank. If you start off at three sets of 30 seconds in a low plank, try to hold it longer and longer as the weeks go by. Same thing with the high plank.” Plank two to four times a week.
Rather than doing a single plank for 30 seconds or more, some exercise routines say there are good benefits for doing a 10- to 15-second plank, resting for 30 seconds, and doing three to five sets. Your total time spent in the plank in an exercise session should be 60 seconds or less.
As a general guideline, Doug Sklar, a certified personal trainer and founder of PhilanthroFIT in New York City, recommends striving to do three sets of up to 60 seconds. “It's OK to start with shorter sets and work up to 60 seconds,” he says. Plus, shorter planks can still give you a solid workout, Sklar says.
Most experts suggest anywhere from 10 up to 30 seconds is plenty. “Focus on doing multiple sets of smaller amounts of time,” says L'Italien. As you progress, you can extend your plank for up to one or even two minutes, but don't go beyond that.
Planks are perfect for burning belly fat because they engage multiple muscles at once, boosting the metabolic rate and benefiting core strength. All in all, a plank is an excellent choice to stimulate the whole body. Overall, a plank is a good exercise for facilitating the whole body.
Tips to Gain Maximum Benefits from Plank Exercise
Start by doing 1 plank a day to slowly 3 to 10 a day to reap the maximum benefits. Then, slowly also try side planks which can help improve your flexibility.
Yes, planks build muscle in your rectus abdominus, transverse abdominus, internal and external obliques. However, if you're looking to maximise the amount of size you add to your six-pack abs, you might also want to add some flexion-type movements like crunches.
If you are looking to get a flat belly, here is a 70-second plank you must try. The 70-second plank is a two-in-one plank. It works on your abs, obliques and lower back, the places where the fat retention usually happens.
Plank Scorecard
You're below average if . . . you can hold the standard plank for 60 seconds or more. You're about average if . . . you can hold the feet elevated plank for about 10 to 50 seconds. You're above average if . . . you can hold the feet elevated plank for 60 seconds or more.
Doing planks on the elbows puts your body more horizontal to the floor, which forces your core muscles to work harder to stabilize you. That said, planks on the hands are better for those who are new to working out, have very weak core muscles, or want to reduce stress on the lower back.
And, if you're doing them in intervals, you should hold them for 20 seconds. On another hand, New York City Equinox trainer Rob Arreaga says that you should do them for at least one minute at a time to see results. As you can see, different trainers have different perspectives on how long you should plank for.
While it's easy to get into plank position, it takes strength and endurance to pull it off for an extended time period. "Planks are popular because they work. They really fire up your core, plus your entire back. “Planks really work everything — including muscles in your arms and legs.
All in all, I lost two inches from my waistline and four inches from my belly. These results are nothing to scoff at from just 30 days of a one-minute workout. My posture also improved, which speaks to my increased core strength. As part of this process, I realized that consistency is key.
“I recommend starting with 10-second holds and then dropping to the floor and repeating a few times, then build up to 20-second holds, 30, 45, 60,” she says, “A one-minute plank is a great goal!
In general, you can burn up to 2 to 5 calories per minute of planking [2]. The total amount of calories burned also depends on your plank variation, your body weight, and your rest metabolic rate.
That's exactly why specific exercises are advised in order to enhance fat burn. One such exercise is the good old plank! A plank helps to burn fat rapidly, largely because it can engage multiple muscles at once. No wonder, it benefits the core strength of your body and boosts your metabolic rate to lose weight.
The primary cause of stomach overhang is excess fat gathered in the area around the midriff. If you wish to remove this fat, you need to reduce the fat both on the surface and also around your organs. The ideal scenario is to reduce or remove the fat, then tone the stomach area.
In addition, plank exercises recruit a better balance of muscles on the front, sides, and back of the body than sit-ups, which target just a few muscles.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON DOING PLANKS OR CRUNCHES:
Overall, the plank is a more complete exercise that will yield better results (both on core strength and overall performance) for most people. However, crunches are good for the abdominals specifically.
Planks are one of the most effective exercises you can do because they require a small time investment but offer the chance to achieve substantial results. This exercise takes less time and also gives you the possibility to get great results among shaping and toning other parts of your body.
Even though a one-minute plank can feel like a lifetime, the calories burned by planking are great. 1 minute plank calories include burning approximately 3.68 calories. Doing planks daily for at least a minute has many health benefits such as: Planks Make you Work More of your Muscles.
You don't need to do it more than three times spread out throughout the day. As you get stronger, you can start to work in a few sets. So, plank for a minute, stop and rest for a few minutes and then do another minute. You can do this 3-5 times a week but ensure you don't strain or tire your muscles.