Walking The Plank

Signing on the dotted line was one thing but actually getting motivated to show up for my first personal training session was another. I was almost lured by the newspaper, looking rather lonely outside on the lawn, but an appointment is an appointment so I showed up. Personal training is not a passive commitment which is good thing.

After a five minute warm-up on the treadmill, Christine introduced me to leg presses - which weren't so bad. Of course, I made sure to preface every exercise with a disclaimer stating, "Oh, I don't think I'll be able to do this!"

Despite my disclaimer, I think I held my own. Christine planned a very well-rounded routine which included warm-up on the treadmill, leg presses, shoulder presses, pull-downs, push-ups, inverted rows and planks!!

Not only have I added new words to my vocabulary, I actually did some pretty decent planks. I did forewarn Christine that I don't "do planks." I have taken innumerable exercise classes and I'm that participant in the back row who sits and relaxes while everyone else is walking the plank! This is a difficult but worthwhile exercise. A plank is the most effective abdominal exercise around, many think it's the crunch or sit-up but that's not the case. Planks work the abdominals and the entire core.

I was working hard not to make a fool of myself and not terribly worried about what parts of my body were being impacted but Christine did advise me that I was working my core. What I'm learning is certain movements work your core though it may not seem so obvious. Many think 50 crunches actually work your abs but I can tell you it never worked for me.

Stay tuned for more!