No, I don't plank. I swim, I bike, I walk, and I garden. Sometimes, I use my hula hoop, I can do it up to 15 minutes. Sometimes, I do stretches...

I used to do stretches and weights, just free weights... but somehow got out of it. Should start it up again.... but then I am going on my long bike tour in about 3 weeks.... so, why bother starting something up now? :)

Here is a link, on how to plank: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20813896,00.html

I have no idea what "plank" is. I walk daily with the dog. In the summer, I'm working in the yard and mowing, weed eating etc. Good enough for me. I suppose it my career/livelihood depended on being perfect, I'd have to but since it doesn't....I don't care. No one cares if I have a rock hard body...least of all ME.

A plank is a good exercise for toning. You have to be very careful to not let her back sag. You can really do damage if not done correctly.

my wrists hurt so this exercise is not difficult for me.

Yikes, I looked at the link I posted.. and gave up! Way to hard looking to me. Maybe, the basic first option? I'll report back, once I started doing this... that is, if I actually will start this... LOL Moni

I'm a lazy bum. I do walk 2.5 miles a few times a week, when the weather permits. I also garden during the season. My dentist's office is over a health club. I went yesterday and heard the class instructors screaming at the students "and one, two, three, four" with music blasting. Sounded like how I imagine hell. Not going there. I tried to plank once and wow, was I sore! I should do it more often. I really must incorporate more exercise in my life.

And yes, Cher is amazing. I saw the play Sunset Blvd with Glenn Close. She is 70! How the heck does she have the stamina to do that show several times a week?

I hate planking! lol I can barely do 30 seconds. My husband could plank for an hour if he had to. I am trying to tone up as well, doing weights a few times a week and I just got a new exercise tool to try.
Good for Cher! I've always like her.

Last summer, fall and winter we took an exercise class at the parks & rec gym, and actually learned how to use all those machines. Our instructor included things like planks in the routines. It was great -- varied muscle groups, and I felt comfortable that she'd let me know if I was doing it wrong (and damaging myself instead of helping). But then she left to have a baby, and no one took over her class. I had worked up to almost a minute plank.

Debby-ab, we must be about the same age -- 14 years to catch up to Cher's 5 minute plank, lol! I'm not sure I can *ever* do that, but I'd sure like to be strong enough to hold my body straight for 2 minutes....

I have never heard of the plank before. Does one get into a position and stay for a period of time?

Summer, look at the link in Moni's post. A plank is holding your body horizontally for a period of time.

I do workouts that Cher pays to have done.

Cher is amazing. I saw a no make-up at home type shot in a magazine not long ago and I have to say her makeup artist is truly an artist! And the wigs too of course. But still even with all the various "help" she can still bring it! Her performance was like a flash back it was so good. The closest thing I can do to a plank is laying on my back on the floor and that's pretty painful!

I saw the photos of Cher and she is still as beautiful and glamorous as she was back in the 70's and 80's. I've always liked Cher and really enjoyed seeing her fun/silly side when she was doing the Sonny and Cher Show.

Haven't tried to plank and doubt that I will. I detest working out and get my exercise by walking, dancing around while doing household chores and working outside clearing and piling brush, hauling and stacking firewood and working in the yard.

I may not look as good as Cher when naked, but I look good in my clothes and that works for me! :-)

My husband & I have done yoga for a few years. We lucked into a wonderful instructor, who was very hands on. Unfortunately the place she was at closed. I do a modified plank that she helped me with because of the arthritis in my wrists. My husband can plank for 5 minutes & I can for 3 minutes. But no way do I look like Cher. I like beer so I have a beer belly. :)

I can plank on my elbows for a couple of minutes, but I don't do them regularly. I run, and I work in lawn maintenance. I get my core workout with a pitchfork. :)

I think her face has the same freakish look of excessive plastic surgery that seems to be so common for aging entertainers and I think she's looked that way for a few decades. I don't find her attractive at all.

Focusing on physical appearance and working out is something that all people in the public eye have to do. Regular people go to work or to an office, entertainers go to a gym (many have very well-equipped ones in their homes) and work with trainers. She was thin and very slightly built even as a teenager so she has more than a head start on ordinary people with broader and more proportionate body types.

I can do one minute before the swearing and praying starts LOLOL! Very proud of that fact.

Dances.

I think it's great that Cher and others keep up their fitness (and their looks) into their older age. She looks terrific imo.

If she can hold a plank position for 5 minutes, I think she's among the rare for her age. I can hold one for about 2 right now but it takes some effort. I've been doing Pilates for a while and am a runner. It takes a lot of practice and consistency. And I haven't exactly been consistent lately.

Here's a schedule for how to build up to a longer plank. I do mine on my elbows as my wrists can't take it. I haven't done them in awhile, but when I built up to the 2 min plank, I found my low-back pain went away.

I watched Cher get her award. Cher is 'da bomb! My older sister used to idolize her. To this day her song "Half Breed" gives me the chills. Ya...I'm a sucker for oldies with a beat.

I tried planking with a stop watch to see... after reading this thread....after 90 seconds I was bored. I'll try it again while watching TV and see how long I can go. I'm overweight. I need to lose about 30lbs....so working construction and running .....my resting heart rate is 57. I think THAT might be more important.

As teenagers many of us admired Cher during the 60's for her natural (despite the heavy eye make-up) but not flawless beauty. She was lucky to be born with good bone structure. Someone who wasn't a blue eyed cookie cutter blond for us to emulate. I think it's a shame she felt she had to turn herself into a plasticized caricature of her former self. I agree with Elmer. She's not what I would call attractive. Men who like Barbies might find her attractive and women who believe you can't be too thin or spackle on enough make-up may but I see her as "damaged".

I agree, watchme...I never saw her as beautiful. Cool, yes. Stylish, yes. Self confident and charismatic, yes. Disitinctive, definitely. Beautiful? Not so much.

Cher through the years