At the risk of dating myself, do you remember when we didn’t talk about the core, and everything was about ABS? Those were the days of hundreds of crunches. I remember a friend telling me that she’d done so many crunches a day that she had to see the doctor for the pain. She’d actually torn her abs! More is definitely not better. Even now that we know better, more planks isn’t the answer, either. Plus, it’s easy to get bored with planks. Do you just hold them forever, or what?
Not Just a Six Pack
Sure, all those incline-crunches may have given you defined abs. But your core is made up of a whole lot more than just your abdominal muscles. It includes:
- Transverse abdominis
- Multifidus
- Internal and external obliques
- Erector spinae
- Diaphragm
- Pelvic floor muscles
- YOUR ABS
- Plus your minor core muscles include the lats, traps and glutes.
These muscles literally make up an internal “corset” to support your organs, spine, and pelvis. If you just want the aesthetics of a six-pack, go ahead and keep doing those crunches. But I have a little secret: you can still get those abs and do a lot more with core work.
How to Work Your Core
I remember when planks were a new thing. I found them so hard – probably because all I was doing was crunches! The goal is to hold your body in a straight line for as long as possible, and it’s a fun way to challenge yourself. I still use planks in my workouts all the time, but what if you get bored with planks? There’s also the possibility of getting so good at them that you could hold one for twenty minutes or more. That’s not exactly a full workout, and I’m not interested in planking for half an hour and then getting around to the rest of my routine.
Lucky for us, there are tons of options for core strengthening. Even if they don’t look like it at first, these exercises do the same job as the plank – and some even work other body parts as well.
My 5 Favourite Plank Alternatives
I love these exercises if you are feeling bored with planks or want a different challenge. If they’re new to you, I’ve included links to video tutorials to get you started.
- Kettlebell (or Dumbbell) Tall Kneeling Halos – Video
- Dumbbell Single Leg Dead Bugs – Video
- Sandbag Tall Kneeling Around the World – Video
- Kettlebell Swings – Video
- Banana Hold (or Hollow Body) – Video
Working on your core muscles will help improve your posture, tone your entire midsection (not just the front), and keep your body strong and stable for all other kinds of movements. There are so many core exercises to do when you get bored with planks – or if you never liked them in the first place.
Tell me, what’s your favourite plank alternative?
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