Holding the standard plank for ten seconds or longer is useless according to Dr. Stuart McGill. Unfortunately, many people still try to do planks for time.
A better way to progress this core exercise? Make it harder. The cable plank press will help you take your core strength to the next level, and you'll even build some extra upper-body muscle.
For this mechanical drop set, you'll start with the hardest exercise and, as you fatigue, move to the easiest. Works with a bar and a supinated grip too.
Ah, the elusive art of abs. These days, the "lift shirt and crunch" has replaced flexed biceps as the choice method for proving that you are, indeed, a studly man-beast. Despite this latest "muscle of the moment" craze, Americans are getting fatter. Want to know the secret reason? Okay, I'll tell you...but this is just between you and me, deal?