WTG!

Hope nobody was unfortunate enough to see you cooling off via your explosed back door! I thought pups usually just panted to cool off. Weird.

Great job Pup! When I have to take multiple pills, I take them all at once in one handfull and chug about a liter of water with them. I always take protein imediately after strength training. It absorbs better and kinda helps keep the vitamin burps down.
Try your elbows in slightly different positions (forward, back, in or out) on the planks. Even 1/2 an inch in any direction can make a difference. And needless to say, the tighter your entire body is, the less the shoulders will feel it.

::hides binoculars::

The trainer has me doing planks now to replace some of my pushups. Argh, I can only hold the position really still for about 10 seconds, then maybe another 5 seconds really wobbly before I feel like I'm going to collapse.

Mani, don't hide the binoculars..you're welcome to peek if that's really what you want (one peek and you'd run!!).

Steve, a liter of water BEFORE a workout would definitely drive me straight to regurgitation of important pills. I do drink the whey protein stuff afterward. You said within 30 minutes or close to 30 minutes, right? I've been doing it as soon as I catch my breath and feel like I can choke it down.

I've only done about a dozen of them, and that is exactly where I began. Now, I start to feel it at about 30 seconds, get a little shaky at 45 and struggle at 60. Anything longer, and I'm also going to have to fight boredom.

Pushups hurt my shoulders - I dislocated the right one as a kid and now fight intermittent bursitis in it. Could someone explain these "planks" for me, pretty please?



And mani - your pic is freaking me out just a little bit.

Donna worry. He just sceered.

A push-up type form, usually resting on your forearms and toes (can be knees as needed/for beginners). You simply hold the form, trying not to let yourself sag in the middle. You will likely feel it in your shoulders, so depending on if your pain comes from the motion or simply pressure, they may or may not be of use to you. It's a great move for total core stability.

I started at 45 seconds to a minute, and it was work from 30 seconds on. A couple months of doing them 3 days a week has greatly improved me, a minute being fairly easy, 3 being my longest. Same story with side planks, progressing from 30 seconds to 60. They are mixed in with my workout though, so I'm usually pretty winded and beat by the time I get to them, making them more of a challenge for me.

I get a weekly email and video from this guy. See chapter 4: http://absblueprint.com/AbsBP-Version1.pdf

I get the shoulder thing. My left one has been rebuilt and the right one has had a nice cleaning. Wish I could tell you it gets all better...it sort of does, but only because you get used to it.
Ok, planks...More than one kind is available for your enjoyment. But the basic plank is to asume a strict, military-like pushup position except the your elbows are resting on the floor instead of the palms of your hands. Body as rigid and straight as you can get. Then....just hold it....for as long as you can. I think Freak is over 6 minutes now and that is a LONG plank. You will shiver. You will shake. Its all normal.
You just hold the position as long as you are able, as many times as you are able.

<--- shivers, shakes, falls flat on her face. And I have to do them on my knees instead of toes.

Nothin wrong with that! It will get easier, keep at it and you will see clear results in your form and stamina within weeks!

Thanks, y'all. I will have to give these a try.

This whole business about what doesn't kill ya, makes ya stronger, is bunk!

Nah! Pain is your friend! Ask someone who can't feel it how their life is...
Pain and fear keep you alive!
<---Slight adrenaline junkie

Whatshername from several years ago American Idol keeps on singing "what doesn't kill ya makes ya stronger" whenever I'm at the gym, so I believe it must be true! Can't be bunk!

Last night, my trainer had me doing more planks (ouch), lots of pushups against a bench (ouch) lots of crunches (ow ow), and something new (to me) called "butt blaster leg raises". Today, I sound like I'm 99 years old going down the stairs. Me: "ow, oh [censored], ow, ow, ow, you're kidding me, ow ow OWWWW!" with each step down. I must be getting very strong (or close to death) haha!

Lots of stretching BurntSienna! Keep those muscles warmed up!

Hydrate.

Or Mani in the morning....she has cold fingers.

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't complain if it was her!

Grim Reaper...would have to catch me first, and I'd put up a fight!

True story.

I took a Define Plus class at the gym yesterday and this morning EVERYTHING hurts. Mission Accomplished.