When you’re close to two minutes, there may be weeks when your plank time doesn’t move, or even dips a little. After steady progress, that can be frustrating. It’s also one of the most normal parts of building endurance, and it rarely means you’ve stopped getting stronger.

Why progress slows near the top

Early on, your nervous system learns quickly and your time can jump week to week. As you get closer to your goal, each extra second asks more of the muscles themselves, and those changes take longer. So the gains get smaller and further apart. That’s a sign you’ve already made big early gains.

Your check-in time naturally varies

Your plank time on any one day isn’t a perfect measure. Studies testing people’s plank times on two different days show the results are fairly consistent, but not identical. Sleep, stress, what time of day it is and how your week has been all play a part. So a few seconds up or down from one week to the next can simply be a normal day-to-day swing.

Look at the trend, not one week

It helps to step back and look at your last few check-ins together. If they’re broadly level or creeping up, you’re on track. A single low week is just one data point.

Changing things up

If your time has been flat for a few weeks, a change of approach can help. Options include:

• Trying a harder version for a short hold, like a forearm plank with your elbows slightly further forward.
• Focusing on your total good-form time across a session, not your longest hold.
• Giving the side planks and other moves in the video extra attention, since they build the control your plank relies on.

Something to try this week

Before your next check-in, look back at your last few results in VIDA. Notice the overall direction over the past month, rather than the change from last week alone. 

What to take away

• Progress naturally slows as you get close to your goal.
• Check-in times vary from week to week for everyday reasons.
• Look at the average of several weeks, not one result.
• If you’ve been flat for a while, a change of approach can help.

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