How’s your list of “gottas” doing?

“Gotta start exercising.”  “Gotta get the garage organized.” “Gotta begin looking for a better job.”

You know the answer to all such predicaments and procrastinations? Begin by starting.

Stop talking/thinking/ruminating. Instead, use that energy to start – now. Even a small start is … a start and way ahead of where you were when you were simply ruminating.

Wait a minute. I’ve spoken about this before. Several times, in fact. 2015 – April on planks; 2015 May – Series of good things; 2019 8 – how to get started. What’s going on?

Things keep popping up that need doing or need our attention. You finally get that garage cleaned out and then the bushes need trimming. Time to organize a garden. Closet contents are spilling onto the floor.

Then there are the things we’ve let go by the wayside that should have received our due diligence on a regular basis. My beloved plank exercises … where have they gone? That mushy mid-section needs to get ready for something more stylish than a tent top. What kind of healthy life-style promoter am I?

I know the answer. It involves one minute. Who does not have one minute to give? That’s how I did it before. One minute. My commitment would be one minute until I wanted to do any more. Oh, and my first cup of coffee in the morning is held hostage until my “one-minute routine” is completed!

That’s when I got a friend to be a plank buddy. We text each other a thumbs up every morning when we have done – at least – one minute of planks.

Funny thing is, we’re texting two thumbs up symbols. What happened? Well, when you conquer a little, are showing consistent effort, feel good about yourself, and are encouraging a buddy, then you just want to do more! One minute painlessly morphed into two. (Secretly…my goal is even more! Shhh!)

First, half-planks had to be reintroduced. After all, it had been over a year since I had done one, and my buddy had not done them at all. We started with 15 seconds and worked up to a full minute of half-plank. Those are done with feet/knees, and elbow/lower arms resting on the ground. When you do a full minute, text your buddy with a simple thumbs up.

Once half-planks were conquered, we started our “minute commitment” with 15 seconds of a full plank followed by a full minute of a – now easy – half planks. Gradually, the full plank time increases to a minute; still followed by a full minute half-plank. That’s when you can proudly text two thumbs up!

Since I am doing two minutes of each, I am now starting my little routine with 15 seconds of straight arm plank. You know the drill … I’m shooting for three thumbs up!

I find that planks are the most effective way for me to reconnect with my belly. When doing the half-planks, I feel my lower belly working. Full planks from elbows addresses the full core. Full planks from straight arms adds arm and shoulder involvement.

You know what a straight arm plank looks like? You got it. The starting position for a push up. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll find another minute … and if that’s too hard … there are bent knee push-ups.

Point being – sometimes we must start from scratch – again. I don’t mind. This is fun with a buddy. Certainly, a minute (or five) of morning exercise does not supplant going to my aerobics class, but it is a little something I am doing EVERY day … sometimes twice a day. As I told my plank buddy, “This is war!”

Yes! You see, not only are my pretty spring dresses going to need to be worn soon, but there’s a wedding coming up in September that I want to look good for! I get to see my daughter walk down the garden isle in Hawaii! Woohoo!

Okay – I’m off to do another round of planks. Can’t wait to send my buddy – two more thumbs up!

In health –

Deidre

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