The Weekly Health Challenge: Strategy and Learning Planks

The Weekly Challenge: Level One

Rethink your strategy:

If your goal is to lose weight or get healthier, think your methods through. If you're just going to go on a diet, perhaps you should add some exercise. If you're just going to exercise, maybe you should check out your diet. If you're going to do both, research the best way to implement them so that you don't get frustrated and quit a few days or weeks in.

The Weekly Challenge: Level Two

Learn how to do planks:

Planks are more effective than crunches. I didn't believe it at first, but after doing three sets of them, my stomach muscles ached the next day more than they would have if I'd done crunches the same amount of time. And remember, correct form is important! Pay attention to what your directions, the video, the diagrams - whatever you're using - has to say about correct form.

Extra Challenge: Do three sets of planks on three nonconsecutive days of the week - and let me know how you feel afterward! What do you think of planks versus crunches?