An Annoyance

[Veronica]

I was suppose to start my workout today with trying to hold a plank for 5 minutes. We forgot until half way through my workout - after doing 3 sets of twenty leg pull ins with a push up hands on the Bosu feet in the TRX straps, lat pull downs, pull ups with the TRX, tricep and bicep work... This other woman talked me into doing it with her anyway. At three minutes in, I could feel my form starting to go - my back was caving and I stopped. The other woman continued, but her form was not good - caving back or butt up in the air. But hey - she's sticking it out. This third woman called me a quitter and that annoys me. Could I have gone another two minutes with proper form - no way! Could I have done it with my butt up, or my back curved - yeah. But I am not going to call it a five minute plank if I cheat. I didn't want to make the woman doing it with me feel badly, so I didn't say anything. But I really wanted to say something nasty to the other woman. Seriously, a three minute proper plank hold in the middle of a tough workout and I'm a quitter?!

Veronica

[marni]

my sympathy. Know in peace that you are a better evaluator of being a quitter than anyone else. Sometimes an attack is a premptive strike against feeling inadequate in one self.

[Catrin]

A 3 minute proper plank is awesome, and in the middle of the workout nonetheless! It is indeed hard to know when it is best to say something or not. Perhaps she didn't realize her form was so bad? Regardless, Marni made a good point.

[malkin]

Someone called V a quitter?!

I can think of some words to describe that person!!

[Pax]

She sounds like my old drill instructor, sure don't need that from anyone else, I'd be ticked too.

[Kathi]

I'm impressed. Due to recurrent SI Joint issues which PT didn't resolve I had my movement tested. Mobility and stability were good but core stability was downfall. As a result planks are part of my workout. They consist of 3 sets of 3 reps for a total of 3 min. Each rep is 15 sec. When I started 2 weeks ago I could barely hold the 15 sec. The killer ones though are the diagonal planks. I'm holding off on those because I don't have the strength yet to raise one leg, let alone an arm and leg. My directions specifically tell me what to avoid which indicate a loss of form.

An amazing benefit of gaining core stability is how it has impacted my skiing. I feel like I'm wearing a corset, I'm able to "brace" my middle, which results in better movement, especially at speed or in bumps.

I had a discussion with my PT about how trainers disregard good form while training clients. It may not show up immediately but somewhere down the road it will and the clients end up having to visit a person like him. Poor form is the biggest complaint of the bloggers on the Strength and Conditioning pages that I read. Even poor form on the bicycle can lead to issues.

Sounds like your friend watches "the Biggest Loser" to much and needs to get realistic about training.

[jobob]

Someone called V a quitter?!

I can think of some words to describe that person!!

Foolish.

[Veronica]

We did the planks again today. There were six of us working out and we held the first one for five minutes. But the conversation beforehand was interesting. Since it was billed as a "competition" I wanted to know if you were out if you didn't actually hold a plank - you know, flat as a board. And the crowd turned ugly. I was was told all that matters is "getting through the time however you can." Okay - I stayed flat.

We did another one at the end of our workout. I went three minutes. The two women from Monday's workout went four minutes. But their planks looked more like downward dog for that last minute. I'm going to stick to my guns about doing it correctly, but work on keeping my mouth shut. How they do their workouts is really not my concern. But it's irritating.

Veronica

[Catrin]

Yes, which brings us back to the original point. The people being trained must care as well as the coach or trainer they are wprking with. Many do, some don't. Still shocked that anyone would call Veronica a quitter!